According to valuwalk website reports, some job searchers are finding it easier to use Twitter rather than LinkedIn in their search to find work.
Twitter Inc has been looking for ways to expand its user base, and it appears like the micro-blogging platform is a sleeper in the one area that happens to be LinkedIn Corp’s bread and butter: job searching.
Twitter a job searcher’s paradise
LinkedIn has carved a niche for itself in the job search market, as professionals look to keep their profiles updated with all their work experience and make connections that could further their careers. However, when it comes to actually finding a job, Forbes contributor Ian Morris said Twitter beats LinkedIn, hands down.
He suggests that Twitter may make it easier to find a job because it doesn’t require users to be so pushy, which he thinks is LinkedIn’s downfall. One thing I’ve noticed with finding jobs on Twitter is that it takes a bit of getting used to, but then, since it works differently than LinkedIn and people have learned how to use LinkedIn, perhaps the job leads posted on Twitter are more valuable since fewer people see them.
Survey suggests Brits like Twitter for job hunting
Morris isn’t the only one who thinks Twitter is an excellent tool for job searching. He states that 77% of the Twitter users in the U.K. who participated in a recent survey said they believe the micro-blogging platform could be helpful in finding a job. Twitter has apparently heeded the results of this survey, has it is planning its first job fair in the U.K. along with the U.K. National Careers Service and The Apprentice U.K. winner.
Morris said he did receive some job offers through Twitter, although he feels like the time he spent on his LinkedIn profile was largely wasted. Indeed, freelancers like Morris will feel at home searching for clients on Twitter. It does seem to lend itself to the rapidly-growing freelance market, serving as a sort of online classifieds for job listings.
Those seeking a traditional job as well will also enjoy another benefit to using Twitter instead of LinkedIn, according to Morris. He said a former employer told him that an employee’s LinkedIn activity provided clues about whether they were looking for a new job. Of course this isn’t good for those who want to find another job before they leave their current one. It’s never good to tip off a current boss that you might be preparing to leave.
As of this writing, shares of Twitter were up by 0.66% to $48.79, while LinkedIn shares were down by 0.32% to $263.37 per share.
