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LLJ Twitter Followers Topped Industry Engagement this May

Written by: LoveLocalJobs.com
Published on: 22 Jun 2016

LoveLocalJobs.com was founded to provide a valuable service to local communities, and although the trophie cabinet has filled up, we never lose sight of why we’re in the job! Over the years, our @LoveLocalJobs and @LLJobsFeed Twitter pages have become successful advice and recruitment portals in their own right, and we’re pleased to announce that our engagement rankings with our followers stood out in the industry this May.

The @LocalLocalJobs Twitter feed ranked higher than the likes of LinkedIn, Fish4Jobs, Indeed UK and The Guardian jobs page with an engagement rate of 78% over a 15-day period.

If you’re wondering what we mean by Twitter engagement, out of interest or for your own page, here’s a quick definition. Valuable Twitter engagement expands upon the aim of engaging with general users on the social platform. Proper engagement connects with narrower, targeted groups online, for example UK job seekers following a recruitment feed, by posting frequent and relevant mixed posts that are both creative and dynamic. You’ll find a diverse range of posts on the @LoveLocalJobs feed, from Be The Change updates and advice pieces from our job boards across the South East, to upcoming events and the latests news and job postings - it’s all there!

Third of Twitter users use platform for professional purposes

Ever since the creation of Twitter in 2006, the micro-blogging platform has gradually evolved to join the likes of Facebook and LinkedIn at the top of the social media leader board. There are now 310 million active Twitter users across the globe each month, and a total of 1.3 billion accounts have been created. So, what are people likely to share online? Well, according to internal research ahead of a jobs fair this May, a third (62%) use the site for professional purposes - staying in touch with the latest company and industry news.

The research revealed some top-line statistics that give a real insight into what followers find useful for career progression: 80% said they have read career-related information on Twitter to either assist them with a job search or progress within their current role; and 42% follow companies to keep up to date with the latest career opportunities. Finally, 58% use a Twitter stream to form an opinion about a company, and are influenced by positive and negative posts in their job searches.

Brian Lavery, Twitter’s european head of marketing for small and medium sized businesses, said: “What this research has also shown us is that there’s also a great opportunity for people on Twitter to make an impact with potential employers.”

The internal research follows an equally compelling study in 2014 by Nielsen which highlighted that 83% of business users surveyed would recommend Twitter to other SMEs, with 69% agreeing that the site is a valuable tool for business.

Twitter Tips for Job Seekers

The great thing about Twitter is that it is in the best interest of companies to post regularly to increase their follower growth and stay relevant in their industry. So how can candidates use these fast-flowing business streams to their advantage? In an age of candidate screening on social media to select the best job seekers for an interview, having a good Twitter profile can open up more opportunities than ever before. Here are our top tips on how to get noticed in the Twittersphere:

  • Make your Twitter profile part of your ‘brand’. The term self-branding may sound like a buzz term, but the process of replicating a polished profile across several prominent sites online does carry weight if you’re on the hunt for your next job. Just having a Twitter handle isn’t enough to attract attention. Include an identifiable photograph and an up-to-date bio that wouldn’t sound out of place in an interview pitch. Once you build up your profile, and you can demonstrate that you are an engaged user in your chosen industry, include your Twitter handle in your resume so that companies and recruiters can gain access to your page quickly.
  • Learn how to network effectively. Take advantage of how easy it is to freely interact with others on Twitter: if you see a piece of great content, share it; if a valued industry professional follows you follow back and maybe leave an introductory message; research local business networks and events; and join chats and initiate discussions.
  • Separate work from play. It’s easy to get distracted by big, bold headline or become interested in what has started trending that day, but all that won’t help with your job search. One of the best ways to cut through the noise when you need to is to create lists of target companies and news so that you don’t miss a potentially beneficial tweet from a specific company during the day.
  • Research. Once you catch the eye of a hiring manager, and have been offered a first interview, use Twitter to research not only the company but also your interview and potential managers prior to the meeting. Recent industry tweets can give you clues about what these individuals are interested in and what the company culture is like. You can also uncover news items that can be used to either break the ice during an interview (“Did you read the news about X on Monday?”) or promote your previous work if it is relatable. 

Browse the LoveLocalJobs.com website to read our latest industry news, and simply follow our stand-out @LoveLocalJobs and @LLJobsFeed Twitter pages for the latest job opportunities and careers guidance.