How to Build Your Personal Brand on Twitter
Simply Hired Staff
You’ve heard that it’s important to have a LinkedIn profile so that recruiters can find your work experience. You also know that you have to set your Facebook privacy settings so that recruiters don’t find your pictures from college. But have you heard that you should build a professional Twitter account so that recruiters can find your career interests and thoughts? According to Jobvite’s 2015 Recruiter Nation Study 47 percent of recruiters use Twitter to find potential candidates.
Here are five easy ways to use Twitter effectively to build your professional brand:
Your Twitter handle is not a AOL screen name.
While Twitter may feel like an opportunity to express your interests, it’s best to keep your handle as close to your name as possible. Save the enthusiasm and creativity for your actual tweets.
Professional pictures only please.
Think of your Twitter account as an extension of your resume. You wouldn’t hand a recruiter a picture of you rocking your bikini on the beach or enjoying the nightlife scene. Choose a simple headshot so that your face is recognizable and memorable. Ditto with your cover photo as well. Keep it classy and create a Twitter profile that you’d be proud for your grandmother to see.
Treat your bio as your resume.
The beauty of Twitter is that users are forced to share their thoughts concisely. The same is true with your Twitter bio. You have 160 characters to tell the world who you are and what you’re all about. Use that space wisely and highlight your professional interests. A good place to start is to highlight organizations you’ve worked for (tagging their Twitter handle of course), any schools you’ve attended and what kinds of opportunities you’re interested in.
Follow influencers in your field or industry.
It’s all about who you know, or in the case of Twitter, it’s all about who you follow. In order to have a truly effective professional Twitter account it’s important to be a part of the conversation. If you’re interested in being in marketing, look for people making themselves known for their marketing prowess, or follow the entrepreneurs you most look up to. It’s probably best to stay away from controversial celebrities or too many parody accounts.
Be a person.
It’s easy to scroll through the plethora of information, news and thoughts on Twitter and simply favorite and retweet what you read. However, who likes to read a robotic log of someone else’s thoughts? Nobody. The best way to increase your following and grow your influence is to share original and unique thoughts as well as content. Stand out by being you.
