Not on Twitter? Find out What You’re Missing.

If you still think Twitter is a social media tool mainly used to discuss the details of your latest meal, think again. The Global Language Monitor selected Twitter as “Word of the Year,” above Obama and H1N1, to name a few. It has evolved into a sophisticated resource to network, manage your career, and find a new job using 140 characters or less. Before you sign up, here are a few pointers to guide you along.

Some do’s:

• Browse Twitter and read several streams to get a feel for what the community is like. Then decide what you want to accomplish – networking, job seeking, research, fun?
• Choose a professional screen name, whether it’s your first and last name, or one that captures your brand (like me for example: @Resume_Writer).
• Shoot for a 70%-30% business-personal tweet ratio, particularly when you are new. Remember, potential managers and customers will be reading your stream, so "think before you tweet.”
• Engage in interesting conversations, and offer advice to promote your expertise.
• Tweet with regularity and make sure your comments demonstrate your skills and interests. Try to set aside 15 minutes per day to establish a consistent presence.

Some don’ts:

• Don’t be negative, depressing, or share too much personal information. Don’t tweet anything you wouldn’t want a boss or customer to see.
• Don’t expect Twitter to land you a job or increase your network overnight. As with all social media tools, building relationships takes time.
• Don’t forget to learn the basic rules and terminology before you start. “The Twitter Job Search Guide”* is a comprehensive resource if you want to use Twitter for career management.

Some myths:

• Myth: Twitter really isn’t that valuable if you are looking for work. Truth: More than 1,000,000 jobs are posted on Twitter every month (tweetmyjobs.com).
• Myth: I don’t need Twitter for business when I’m already on LinkedIn. Truth: Twitter is the only social media tool that doesn’t require permission to network. This allows you unhindered access to more companies and connections than LinkedIn.
• Myth: No one that can help me with my career or job search is on Twitter – it’s just kids and people with too much time on their hands. Truth: Fortune companies, recruiters, business leaders, hiring managers, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and more are on Twitter.

As with all social media tools, the more you invest, the bigger the return. Now that you have some tips to get you started, join in the conversation and don’t be afraid to ask someone, “follow me!”

August Cohen is an award-winning, triple certified resume expert and executive coach guiding determined professionals to their next-level career goals. Supporting jobseekers in all aspects of modern career management, her services encompass powerful branded resumes, focused interview practice sessions, and targeted job search strategies. August is a frequent guest on career-related blog talk radio shows and is a contributor to the upcoming books, “The Twitter Job Search Guide” and “Step-by-Step Cover Letters,” both from JIST Publishing, 2010.

*”The Twitter Job Search Guide: Find a Job and Advance Your Career in just 15 Minutes a Day” by Susan Britton Whitcomb, Chandlee Bryan, and Deb Dib was published in March 2010.