#HashTags? Seriously? Why should I care?
I hear the objections starting to run through your head already.
They ran through mine too.
In fact, the truth is that despite the fact that I run an online business, until recently I had only the most rudimentary knowledge of what a hashtag was. In the expectation that I am not the most naive non-techno-geek out there, and many of my readers may feel the same way, here is how Wikipedia describes hashtags:
A hashtag is a type of label or metadata tag used on social network and microblogging services which makes it easier for users to find messages with a specific theme or content. Users create and use hashtags by placing the hash character (or number sign)
#in front of a word or unspaced phrase, either in the main text of a message or at the end. Searching for that hashtag will then present each message that has been tagged with it.
Hashtags are used on social media sites and are integral to the way people communicate online. Learning to use them will allow you to organize and track content more efficiently than ever. When you are reading a post and come across a hashtag, just click on it to see all the posts related to that subject that use the hashtag. If YOU use the same hashtag in one of your posts, your content will be available to those following the hashtag as well.
Where are hashtags used? On just about every major social media platform, including:
- Google+
- YouTube
- and more
LinkedIn does not use hashtags, but if you search on a hashtag, LinkedIn will treat it as a keyword and return results as if you had done any other search.
If you are of the more technically savvy crowd, you may already already know what a hashtag (#) is and where to use it.
You may even use hashtags in your life on a regular basis, either on Twitter or when you post a picture on Instagram.
But have you ever used the power of hashtags to find a job online?
Yes, effective use of hash tags can help you find a job online.
Given how competitive today’s job market is and how integral a component use of the Internet has become to an effective job search, you need to take full advantage of all tools available to you, including #hashtags.
There are a number of ways that a hash tag can help you find a job online. It can be a mechanism for marketing yourself and for finding work.
Used correctly, you can take advantage of what is essentially a “micro blog” to demonstrate your expertise and suitability for certain types of work as well as to illustrate your social media proficiency.
Twitter is a great vehicle for following individuals involved in industries in which you want to work.
By following someone and replying to their tweets or retweeting what they’ve posted, you increase the chance that the person will, in turn, follow you. If that happens, you can develop and nurture a relationship with someone you might ordinarily never have encountered.
Twitter enhances your ability to broaden your network, something that comes in very handy when looking for a job. The more you communicate with your contacts, the more meaningful the relationships will become.
Tweeting directly with contacts is one way to advertise that you are looking for work. However, you’ll get broader exposure if you use hashtags to find a job online.
A hashtag attached to a word or term makes it searchable on Twitter. For example, if you are looking for a tech job, including hashtags such as #skilledtechprofessional or #jobsearch in your Tweet increases your exposure when someone searches either of those terms.
By organizing your content around a hashtag, you avail yourself of a tool which helps your tweet stand apart from the seemingly never ending stream of content on Twitter.
In addition to using a hashtag to gain exposure on the Internet, you can also utilize it to showcase your skills. Using a hash tag while commenting on a development in a specific industry, for example, publicizes your expertise. Linking an article and using a hash tag about the subject matter will increase the potential audience for your tweet. When you use a hash tag, your audience isn’t limited to just your followers.
Following are a few examples of hash tags that can help you find a job online:
- #trainedprofessional
- #seekingemployment
- #hireme
- #needajob
- #MBA or #JD or other degree
- #resume (if your Tweet refers to your resume).
Be aware that because employers use hash tags too Twitter can actually become a search tool when you’re trying to find a job online. To find employers that are looking to hire, there are many hash tags you can search, including:
- #hiring
- #tweetmyjobs
- #HR
- #joblisting
- #opportunity
- #employment (and, of course, #employment opportunity)
- #jobopening
- #jobsearch
- #rtjobs (job openings retweeted by other Twitter users).
Are you an expert in a certain field or are you looking for a particular type of job? Hashtags to try include:
- #consulting
- #freelancing
- #workfromhome
Hashtags can also be a great way to track educational content that will help you with the mechanics of a job search. Some ideas include:
- #jobtips
- #jobhunt
- #interview
- #career
- #recruiting
- #industry (paired with another tag like #telecom or #legal)
- #salesjobs (#accountingjobs, #marketingjobs, #engineeringjobs, etc.)
Yes, if you are new to hashtags like I am, it may at first seem confusing. But once you begin to experience the benefits of using them, you will wonder why you didn’t start using them long ago.
If you are trying to find a job online, it is without a doubt to your benefit to take advantage of tools such as hash tags to maximize the effectiveness of the Internet in your job search and uncover exciting opportunities that you may not have learned about otherwise. If you don’t, rest assured that others pursuing the same jobs will.
About the Author: Michelle Dumas
