Many of you are avid Twitter users constantly tweeting about things going on in your world. You talk about your thoughts, fun your having, and interesting articles you have read, but when looked at as a piece of work what does it say about you? What is your purpose?

Twitter is a tool towards employment, treat it as so.

I’m not asking you to take the fun out of it but think about the job you are seeking and start tweeting material that shows your interest and knowledge in that area.

The key to using Twitter correctly, is understanding where you are going and what you are looking to accomplish. Have a plan! You wouldn’t go into an interview with no preparation and neither should you with this tool. Main questions to ask yourself are: how much time can I give this tool? In what way do I plan to use it? And most importantly, who am I trying to reach?

Understand how you plan to use this tool. Are you looking to establish yourself as an expert in an industry or maybe just finding conversations about your industry and companies who are growing to best find open positions? Either way, plan to sculpt your message in a way that your potential employers will be excited and interested in.

Remember, employers will Google you before an interview and if your Twitter is one of the first things that comes up and its full of knowledgeable and thoughtful insight into your professional field it will give you a leg up.

The best laid plans can fail if you are not targeting the right people. Research the leaders in your industry to find what they are talking about. Then join the conversation and show them the knowledge and experience you can bring to their business.