Tweet-tastic ! Who wouldn’t want hundreds of “followers”?

I am not sure when I first heard about twitter, but I do remember the first time I took notice of it.  I signed up to see what all the buzz was about, next thing you know I am following Shaq/Shaquille O’Neal (famous basketball player).  I am following along with Shaq as he struggles through a new diet, laughing at the fact he slips once in a while and indulges in a cinnamon bun or 2.  Recently, Shaq announced that he was at a certain Starbucks and that he would give his game basketball tickets away to the first person that asked him for then.  That’s when the penny dropped for me, and I recognized Twitter’s tremendous potential and power as a recruitment vehicle.  Your first reaction might be....who cares? As recruitment professional you should care, and here’s why.

What is Twitter?

 • 140 character messages

• “status updates” - designed to mimic IM status

• messages can be sent to email, PC, phone

The Recruitment Potential

• instant communication method

• ability to reach large and small groups

• twitter site as a Knowledge hub

• live news wire and promotional avenue – “career fair tomorrow. Hiring 50 call centre reps”

• PR tool and brand builder

I won’t get into the whole new generation and social networking discussion, but yes...they are tweeting. Stats indicate that twitter growth significantly outpaced facebook group growth in the past couple of months, and that twitter is up to a reported 14+ million members now. You’re on linkedin and FB already, now it’s time to start tweeting!

Expand your personal Twitter network. You can follow me @shamus45, and be sure to follow along with RNG - @recruitnetwork.