Job hunting? Yes.
Resume done? Yes.
LinkedIn profile polished? Yes.
Facebook profile built? Yes.
Now it’s time for Twitter bio ideas to help recruiters find you!
Why do I encourage this? Per the 2021 Jobvite Recruiter Nation Survey, 45% of recruiters source candidates on Twitter.
We’re not talking about fancy Twitter bios or funny Twitter bios.
You need a job seeker bio if you’re looking for a job.
Also, this isn’t about making you spend time on Twitter. I just want you to set up a good account that recruiters can find when searching Twitter by keywords.
Sign Up for Twitter
- First, if you aren’t on Twitter yet, sign up.
- Next, enter your first and last name, not The Dude or Tango Diva.
- Then, enter your Twitter handle. Again, use your real name.
- You can add a bit of branding. Credentials are best: TomHallMD.
- You can also brand with your functional area: OliviaSanchezHR.
- Pick a handle you can use for years.
- Next, enter your password and email address.
- Then, check the box that promises Twitter your firstborn.
Voila! You’re a Twitter user.
Think of Twitter as a Database
Now, it’s time to craft your Twitter profile. Click here.
For recruiters, Twitter is a target-rich environment. They use Twitter “People Search” and keywords to find potential candidates. Thus, give them the information they want on your profile.
The main profile sections are your:
- Name
- Bio
- Location
- Web address
I address each of those components in the following paragraphs.
Your Twitter Name
Use your real name here (see above).
Twitter Bio Ideas
Your Twitter bio is the section of your profile you can load up with keywords.
I have listed 10 types of terms recruiters search for below:
- Organizational Function (Finance, HR, Purchasing)
- Job Title (Engineer, Executive Assistant, Sales)
- Industry (Airlines, Consumer Goods, Nonprofit)
- Credentials (CPA, MBA, PhD, MD, JD)
- Programming Languages (only those which are currently marketable)
- Software Applications (only those which are currently marketable)
- Employer Brand Names (General Electric, Cisco, American Express)
- Schools (University of Michigan, Penn State, Brown)
- Location (do repeat your location in your bio)
- Other Keywords (only those which are currently marketable!)
Check out these examples of bios that make it easy for recruiters to find you:
- Senior Social Media Strategist — Blogger — Edelman — Remote
- Commercial Loan Officer — Biotech — Bank of America — San Diego, CA
- Journalist — Health & Science Writer — Northwestern Alum — Virtual
- Chemical Engineer — PhD — Dow — Houston, TX
- Financial Analyst — MBA — Power Excel User — Cisco — San Jose, CA
- Compensation & Benefits — CEBS — HR — Manufacturing — Portland, OR
- Vice President, Business Development — Netflix — San Jose, CA
- Consumer Goods Marketing — Proctor & Gamble Alum — Cleveland, OH
- ER Nurse — Austin, TX
- Narrator & Voice Actor — Los Angeles, CA
Location
Use your metro area name here — Seattle, not “Puget Sound Area” or “Craft Beer Capital of the World.” Why? Because recruiters search for prominent place names first.
If you’re looking for remote work, say “Remote.” While “Virtual” used to work, it’s considered outdated (as in, pre-pandemic) now.
Twitter Web Address
Include a link to your LinkedIn vanity URL here so that recruiters can click through to your LinkedIn profile.
Then, be sure to include current contact info on your LinkedIn profile so they can get in touch with you.
If you’re afraid of becoming an email marketing target, try it. You’ll probably find it’s not a problem — nothing ventured, nothing gained (like job opportunities).
Your Twitter Picture
That’s it. Except, wait, quickly upload your LinkedIn picture to your Twitter profile. You want to be recognizable on both sites.
Then hit the “Save” button, and you are on Twitter in a way that makes it easy for recruiters to find you and get to your LinkedIn profile and resume.
More
Of course, if this is all you do, you will be missing huge benefits that Twitter offers to job seekers, such as just-in-time job search education.
First, it’s a good idea to follow Phyllis Mufson for excellent career content. You can also follow me. I tweet the best job search and career articles I see.
Second, try your hand at tweeting. While Twitter used to limit tweets to 160 characters, now they give you a limit of up to 280 characters.
If you can’t think of anything, retweet something helpful from Phyllis or me!
Image Courtesy of natanaelginting
Updated December 2022
© 2010 – 2023, Donna Svei. All rights reserved.
Donna Svei, an executive resume writer and former C-level executive, retained search consultant, and CPA, authors all of AvidCareerist’s posts.
She is a Fast Company Contributor and has written for and been quoted by 100+ business and general media outlets, including Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, CNBC, the New York Times, USA Today, Time, US News & World Report, CBS, the BBC, Lifehacker, Social Media Today, IT World, and Business News Daily.
Let her expertise inform your job search strategy and decision-making.
Contact Donna here to learn more about her resume and LinkedIn profile services and fee structure.
Comments 14
Thank you for sharing your tips with us, Donna!
Nina,
My pleasure. Thank you for all of your comments.
Cheers,
Donna
Great post Donna – even if I wasn’t mentioned :)
keep up the great/informative columns!
Skip
Great article! The example of searchable bios is extremely helpful! I learn so darn much about Twitter every day! Love it. Thanks so much for all the great and useful content you are constantly putting out!
Thank you Betty Jean. I love writing AvidCareerist and I love all the comments. Reading readers’ comments is my favorite part of the day!
Donna
Thanks for the repost on Twitter. Never hurts to double check what others are thinking against what we have done.
So true. Thank you Aidan.
Donna
Great tips – thanks! I’ve tried to implement as much as I can. (Except the below-100-words bit… I’m working on it!)
Regards
Cassie
Thanks Cassie! Donna
Excellent post Donna! Now if the perfect A+ candidate that I’m currently searching for will take this advice I will be all set. ;) For the good will of all job seekers, recruiters and hiring managers I will be retweeting this @AMcGeachy. Thanks again!
Thanks Amy. Good luck finding your client’s perfect 10. Donna
This is fantastic. I joined Twitter because I read it was a good tool in my career search, but had no idea how to even set it up. The common-sense thing was using my real name (versus something else). I didn’t even consider my LinkedIn profile as my Web address or the position I’m seeking as my Bio. Thank you!
You’re welcome Jeff. Thank you for your kind words! Donna
Really good to see advice like this. Great opportunities to get noticed on twitter if you do it right.
Matt,
Thank you. I agree. Recruiters hunt for candidates on social media. And HR and hiring managers check people out on Twitter. Thus, it’s good to have a professional presence.
Donna
How did I ever miss this? Succinct, clear, actionable information as always. Thanks for the mention. Phyllis @PhyllisMufson.
Phyllis, Thank you! Donna