Quick Tips to Get Started Using Twitter For Your Job Search -

Quick Tips to Get Started Using Twitter For Your Job Search -Do you Tweet? If not, maybe you should.Perhaps it would be misleading to say that as a job searcher you MUST be on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or other social and geschftliches miteinander networking sites. But, assuming that you use social media in appropriate and professional ways, being connected and networking in these ways can only help. And, few people would argue that you shouldnt seize on any edge that you can give yourself in a job market that is widely being called the most competitive in a quarter-century.Twitter, for those unfamiliar, is a service that allows you to communicate and stay connected with your colleagues, current and former co-workers, friends, family, and other contacts through the exchange of quick, simple answers (140 characters or less) to the question, What are you doing now? While the premise is simple-so simple that you might at first question how Tweeting (Twitter-speak for posting an updat e to Twitter) could be helpful in your job search-I would urge you to take another look. Twitter has become vastly popular and you might be surprised at how many of your colleagues, friends, and even top experts in your field or profession are on Twitter.If you are actively involved with managing your career or conducting a job search, here are just a few benefits that will justify the time you spend situation up your free Twitter account and learning how to use it1) Twitter can be a great tool to help you build, enhance, and promote your personal brand. Briefly, your personal brand (as it relates to your career) is what differentiates you and makes you and your contributions uniquely valuable in the workplace. As a job searcher, you can use Twitter to make your followers aware of your expertise, post links to interesting news stories about your industry, or post tips related to your profession. All of these are brand-building activities that will make you memorable to your contacts , boost your credibility, and help set you apart as a leader in your field.2) Twitter is an extraordinary networking tool. Remember that networking is all about building relationships. Twitter helps you stay in contact with people in your network in a quick and easy way that was never before possible. It will allow you to keep your contacts up-to-date on your job search, it is a great way to learn about unadvertised job openings, and it is often an easy way to get referrals to people you should talk to. Of course, it is important to remember that networking is also about providing reciprocal help, and Twitter allows you a fast, easy way to let people in your network know about job openings youve heard about, or give other help or advice to your contacts when they need it.3) Twitter provides you with a way to connect almost instantly with recruiters and other hiring authorities in your field. More and more recruiters are using Twitter and other social media tools to find candidates f or job postings. Some companies are actively encouraging their employees to Tweet about (or discuss on LinkedIn or Facebook) job openings that they are trying to fill. If you are regularly Tweeting about your job search and posting other on-brand Twitter posts, it is just a matter of time before you start uncovering and being referred for attractive job or geschftlicher umgang opportunities.Are you convinced? Even for the time-challenged professional (does that describe nearly all of us?), Twitter is easy to use. You dont even need to be sitting at your computer as Twitter is mobile and can easily be used on your iPhone, Blackberry, or cell phone.When you are ready to get started, here are some quick tips1. Sign up for your free Twitter account and fill out your profile. Remember that you will be using your account for networking and professional purposes, so use discretion and only include information or a photo that you would be comfortable sharing with recruiters, your colleagues , and the world. If you have a reason to keep your business and personal life separate, you should create separate accounts.2. Search for and follow people that you know. Twitter provides easy tools and instructions for doing this. Consider friends, family, current and former co-workers, industry contacts, people you went to college with, etc. Once you are following these people, look through their contacts and selectively follow some of their contacts. Even if you dont know someone, if you have a reason to do so, follow them. This is a way to build new relationships.3. As you begin to build your list of people you are following, many will begin to follow you. When you are getting started, try to post Tweets daily-perhaps twice daily. Besides just answering the basic question What are you doing now? (always keeping in mind that your Tweets should be appropriate and follow basic rules of etiquette) try to regularly post useful, on-brand information and links.4. When your contacts Twe et, respond if you can answer a question or have useful information or tips for them. Twitter gives you two ways to do this direct messages and replies. Be selective about which method you use. A direct message will only be seen by the person you are responding to. A reply will go to everyone that follows you.5. Search Twitter for keywords. This is a good way to find out what is going on and being discussed on topics of interest to you among people that you arent already following. You may also find interesting people that you will want to follow. The place to do that is search.twitter.com5. Do you have a Facebook account, a LinkedIn profile, a blog, or another website? There are options to link them all and post position updates simultaneously to all of them. This can be a great timesaver, so it is worth taking the time to learn how to link them. You could also consider including your Twitter user name in your email signature files or on business cards. Doing so will quickly build your following, and the larger your following, the more beneficial Twitter will be to your job search and career.As one of the leading authorities on resume writing, personal branding, and job searching, Michelle Dumas is the founder of Distinctive Career Services LLC. Since 1996, Michelle and her gruppe have empowered thousands of professionals worldwide with results-generating resumes, cover letters, and job search strategies. Visit http//www.distinctiveweb.com to get your free Revive Your Resume audio mini-seminar. You can connect with and follow Michelle on Twitter at michelledumas

Working Mom Shares Secrets for Balancing Her Home and Work Life

Working Mom Shares Secrets for Balancing Her Home and Work Life Like mostworking moms, Laela Widner, an Accounts Payable Specialist at Terex Global geschftlicher umgang Services, has learned a thing or two about juggling multiple priorities. To me, balance is ensuring that my home and work life stay separate, she explains, adding that shes fortunate to work at a company that offers employees the flexibility to balance their work and home lives.Widner takes advantage of Terexs Works for Me program, which gives employees more ownership over their schedule, and also gets to work with managers who understand that she has a life outside of the office.Terex is Hiring Now Browse OpportunitiesShe shared with Fairygodboss her pre-work morning routine, the tricks she uses to draw boundaries between work and family time, and her go-to stress relief activity (which we shouldalladopt...ASAP).Tell me a bit about your current role. What are your priorities?I am an Accounts Payable Specialist. My ma in function is to take care of the accounts payable for our Corporate office. I ensure their bills get paid, respond to team member and supplier inquiries and do a variety of other things to ensure everything functions correctly.Paint a picture of a typical day in your life. Whats the first thing you do when you wake up and the last thing you do before you go to sleep?Im a mother of two, so my mornings involve getting up entirely too earlier to squeeze in a workout. I then wake my kids, and ensure everyone gets dressed and fed. After that I watch the kids get on the school bus and follow them out of the neighborhood and make the 35-minute drive into work, where I spend the next eight to nine hours answering calls and emails and doing various AP duties. I then drive back home, make supper, do laundry, play with the kids, get the kids ready for bed, take an hour to myself to read or watch TV before I go to sleep. It doesnt sound that exciting in print, does it?What does balance mean t o you, and in what ways do you feel like youve achieved it?To me, balance is ensuring that my home life and work life stay separate. I work when I am at work, and although I work from home sometimes, I schedule that into my day so it doesnt interfere with the time I have set aside for my family. When I get home to my family at night, I want to know that I have time to devote to them.Attaining work-life balance cant be done solo. What people, resources, and tools do you rely on to get it all done?I have a great husband who is very supportive. He also works and understands that occasionally something does come up that requires me to work a little later or to put in a couple of hours on the weekend. When that happens, he is there to take charge of the kids.Whats one misconception you think exists around work-life balance today?That work takes top priority over everything. We all have bills to pay so we know how important work is however, in my opinion, you work to support your family. The lucky people in the world enjoy their work, but I dont think that should ever take priority over your family. A work/home balance is essential.Lets talk about your companys culture. Whats your favorite aspect of it, and how does Terex aid you in achieving balance?Terex has made many changes in the last couple of years that show it is dedicated to ensuring that its employees have balance. I do feel there is some flexibility in our working environment. I have found my managers to be very understanding with any appointments or any last minute emergency situations. The Works for Me program gives employees more ownership over their schedule, which has allowed many of us to schedule work in a way that allows more time with family. I have a work from home day and flexible scheduling day on Tuesday which means that not only can I save myself some gas money, but as I dont have to drive home at the end of the day, I can actually be off work and already at home by the time my kids get off of school, which is fantastic.Whats something you think most people (perhaps even current employees) dont know about Terex that you think they should?We have awesome and caring people here. It is a great distributionspolitik to work because the people we work with make it that way.Whats your go-to stress-relief activity or routine?To de-stress, I find it helpful to walk away from the thing that is causing me stress and just take a quiet breather. Five minutes away can work wonders, and generally, by the time I come back, I am ready to look at the situation again with fresh eyes.Whats your favorite part of your work day (or your favorite aspect of your job)?My favorite time of the day is time spent talking with my coworkers. Whether it is discussing an issue to resolve it or chatting during break time, it is just nice to communicate with people who have become my friends over the years.Whats been your favorite career mistake?After I graduated high school, I actually went to college t o become an English Teacher. I graduated with that degree and substitute taught for a couple of years. I realized during that time that it just wasnt the job for me. That mistake led me to a front desk job that eventually led into the Accounts Payable area. It wasnt a place I thought I would ever be, but I found that I really enjoyed it and I have been doing it ever since. I even went back to school and recently picked up a degree in Accounting.Whats the No. 1 piece of advice you would give to other women who want to excel professionally and personally?Find your balance. I love work for many reasons, and I love my family more than anything. I can have both without them interfering with each other. Occasionally I may have to bend time to work when I would normally be home or to be home when I would normally work, but if you keep a cool head and plan well, it can all work out just fine.--Fairygodboss is proud to partner with Terex. Find a job there today