Using Twitter as a Jobseeker or Employee

I will admit to being a bit of a newbie on Twitter, as I don’t have a ton of followers yet, but there are several things I have learned using this social media tool that I believe will help jobseekers and employees alike.  Here are 10 practical tips to help you get more out of Twitter.

1)      Get a real picture and write a real bio, even my slightly out of focus picture is far, far better than the twitter egg or some silly picture that makes no sense. While a little whimsy in your bio can be cute, don’t go too far – be professional, and think keywords.

2)      Don’t judge a potential follower by their profession (within reason of course), but by their tweets and bio.  Are they positive, in no way trying to take advantage of someone (i.e. buy 10,000 followers), avoiding constant cussing, racial slurs and bizarre remarks in their tweets, not overly political or religious, and can you speak their language at least enough to understand their tweets?  Likewise, just because someone follows you doesn’t mean you have to follow them back.

3)      Please don’t spam people by trying to sell them something via Twitter, especially when you are not connected. 

4)      Don’t engage in arguments and any other negative conversations (on any social media), it just makes you look bad to your workplace or potential employers that might hire you.  

5)      Use Twitter to link with people you might not be able to contact easily via LinkedIn – if they follow you back, you can invite them to connect with you on LinkedIn as well. 

6)      Don’t run your Twitter feed on your phone, as just like your Facebook feed it will take up too much of your precious free time, instead visit Twitter directly a few times a week.

7)      Do post information about your area of expertise, whether you create the content yourself or share it from another source (retweet).  Think work expertise specifically, and try to post at least a couple of times a week so you look active.

8)      Avoid over-sharing, no one needs to know where you are 24/7, or that you really, really, really like hot dogs with sauerkraut.

9)      Use hashtags # to learn and connect with others.  Hashtags are essentially a subject area, like #JobSearch, where you can learn lots of great tips for a job search.  You can also use hashtags in your own posts to help promote yourself to other followers.

10)  Use Twitter to follow company’s you might want to target for employment, as most large and some medium-sized organizations have a career-related Twitter feed that posts jobs available regularly. 

Be positive and professional in your posts and in those you follow and you will see your Twitter grow with quality connections and be seen as a knowledgeable and qualified in your field. 

The Difference between Job Boards and Job Board Aggregators

Like them or not, job boards are not going away, and continue to be a popular way for people to search for new positions being advertised.  They can come with a few issues such as reverse spamming (you join and put your resume on one site, and now it’s on 25 partner sites too), fake ads and job scams, and just like any other site, occasionally someone may hack them, but they do provide a good service.  The reason for this post is to learn a better way to use the job boards while protecting yourself from the above mentioned issues.

I am big promoter of Job Board Aggregators.  They still allow the jobseeker to use the job boards, but in a different way.  Instead of searching dozens of different job boards for potential positions, you can now use an aggregator to search hundreds, if not, thousands of job boards at a time.  Think of them like a database gathering the jobs posted on all the sites it searches and stores information from, and then allowing you to do ONE search.  Like in hospitality industry aggregator ads on TV, and I quote, “search one and done.”

So, here are a few recommendations:  www.Indeed.com, www.SimplyHired.com, and www.Linkup.com.  Indeed.com is the number one job board aggregator online, and acts as a job board too, as does SimplyHired.  My suggestion is you use them as aggregators only and then go direct to the company advertising and post your resume on their site.  To be more effective in your search use multiple job titles for the same job for which you are searching, such as:  Administrative Assistant, Administrative Coordinator, Secretary, Office Manager, Office Coordinator, Office Assistant, and Executive Assistant.  If you use only one title, you will limit your search significantly.  All of the above titles will fit in the search bar, and you can then sign up at the bottom of the first page with email only for daily updates of the new jobs posted.  The only different type of aggregator I listed is Linkup.com which actually aggregates company job boards.  If the company job board doesn’t require you to sign up before seeing the jobs they offer, then it will aggregate their content.  It works the same as a job board aggregator, you can sign up for the same type of daily digest email, but it is just for company-specific job boards like H&R Block, Sprint and Garmin.  I counsel jobseekers to use at least one job board aggregator and Linkup.com as there will be some different returns.

I hope this helps you refine both your job search, and saves a lot of time in your overall searching online.  Any time that is saved can be used to network, personalize your resume and cover letter for specific job applications, apply for jobs, and practice interviewing skills. 

The Purpose of a Parent Teacher Organization

Throughout his career, Karl Eric Kandt has worked with various higher educational institutions as an admissions counselor, recruitment coordinator, and career advisor, among other roles. His participation in school activities extends to Herington Grade School, where his son attends. Karl Kandt is a member of the school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).

A PTO is a group that plans activities in an effort to support a school, its teachers, and students. A primary function of a PTO is fundraising. Money raised through organized events, such as golf tournaments and auctions, are used to purchase school necessities, finance enrichment programs, and plan appreciation events.

PTOs also offer administrative support. Members of the group volunteer for a range of activities, including chaperoning field trips and assisting with library donations. The group’s primary goal is to help maintain the school to the best of its ability, so the school can continue daily business routines.

What is the KAB Distinguished Service Award?

Karl Eric Kandt spent more than 20 years as an academic advisor at Kansas State University, Wichita State University, and Emporia State University. Beyond his role as an advisor, Karl Kandt achieved success as a radio analyst at Wichita State and Emporia State, and earned first place in the Medium Market category from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters in 1996.

Below is a brief overview of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters’ Distinguished Service Award.

Question #1: What is the Kansas Association of Broadcasters (KAB)?

Answer #1: Representing broadcasting professionals in the state of Kansas, KAB is dedicated to serving as a valuable resource for its members and ensuring their success in the broadcasting profession.

Question #2: What is the Distinguished Service Award?

Answer #2: As the highest honor of the KAB, the Distinguished Service Award is given to members who demonstrate outstanding service to the broadcasting industry, the community, and the state.

Question #3: What are the judging criteria for the Distinguished Service Award?

Answer #3: The Distinguished Service Award is awarded based on achievements in the broadcasting profession; service within the local community and at the state and national levels; and previous awards and recognition.