5 Steps to Make Lasting Connections With Recruiters on Twitter

5 Steps to Make Lasting Connections With Recruiters on Twitter 270 Flares 270 Flares When it comes to making connections with recruiters through social media channels, the line between annoying and impressing is very thin.  Today I want to look at Twitter specifically, and provide a few steps for you to not only reach recruiters, but also get on their radar.  Here are the 5 steps: Step 1: Find Recruiters to Follow Half the battle is finding a recruiter that is specific to your interests and location.  While some recruiters need applicants on a global level, many only search for talent in a specific geographic location. Here are some quick tips for finding recruiters to follow: Use Twitter Search and type in the word Recruiter and your city.  Example: Recruiter Philadelphia. Use FollowerWonk.com  and click on Search Twitter Bios.  Enter the same search string in the example above. Search hashtags for things like #PhillyJobs, #ChicagoJobs, #ITJobs, #BostonRecruiter, and #JobHuntChat.  Play around with this until you find the right formula. Recruiters love to follow each other, so go through their following list and youll absolutely find more Recruiters and HR professionals. Oh, and dont forget to click the follow button! Step 2: RT and Share Their Content After following, avoid asking for help immediately.  I can guarantee that if you do this right away, theyll be annoyed.  However, if they do have a current opening that youre a fit for, then you might want to send a tweet about it. In most cases, youll want to RT and share out their content to your own networks.  Start out first by RTing a few times a week, and then possibly once per day.  Youll receive a few thank you messages back, and possibly even a question about who you are and what you do.  Congratulations, youre on their radar! Step 3: RT and Share Their Open Jobs Even if youre not a fit for their openings, be sure to spread the word and help them fill open jobs theyve posted online.  This can go a long way and is similar to the strategy in number two.  Simply put, if youre able to help them, they will happily return the favor without you needing to ask. Step 4: Find them on Linkedin and Connect Its perfectly acceptable to find a recruiter on Linkedin and add them to your connections.  You can either go right ahead and leave them a connection request on Linkedin, or send a tweet to ask if it would be OK.  Either is fine in my honest opinion. Critical Tip:  When you connect on Linkedin, make sure to write out a message and delete the standard Linkedin connection text.  Remind them that youre from Twitter and provide your Twitter name.  Quick example: John, it has been great connecting on Twitter and learning from your tweets.  Wanted to network here as well! Rich aka @CornOnTheJob Step 5: Wait For the Perfect Job Maybe it doesnt happen day 1, day 10, or day 50, but eventually theyll post a job through Twitter and/or Linkedin that is perfect for you.  If youve done a great job of getting on their radar, sharing their information, and helping them with openings, then you might even be the first person they think of. Just send them a Tweet or Linkedin message to confirm interest and then hang tight while waiting for their response! Please keep in mind that making just one connection with a recruiter through these steps may not be enough.  Increase your odds and look to make 5-10 new recruiter friends on Twitter per month.  The power in numbers will only help, just make sure they are targeted and the kind of recruiters that you need to be in touch with. Go get em! Oh, and make sure you follow me, Ill help out when I can!