Twitter Unplugged! 4 New Ways to Use Twitter to Search for Anything

While this blog is dedicated to those searching for work, we thought we'd share some new ways in which you can exploit the advanced search features in Twitter to find just about anything you're searching for today.

You already use Google and Yahoo when searching broadly for companies, places, data, jobs, etc. But there's another way where you can obtain real-time results: here's what you can do:

Use Twitter Search Operators for An Advanced Search.

After you’ve performed a general Twitter search and exhausted your options, you’re ready to search deeper within the Twitter sphere by using specialized search commands that pinpoint exactly the job you want, the skills that will get you the job, and where you wish to work. These specialized commands are called “operators” and although the major search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing) each employ similar functionality, in Twitter the search operators greatly enhance your results. A few of the most useful Twitter search operators are explored below:

• Hashtag Search Operator: Type “#_____” in the Twitter general search field to search by a hashtag you wish to follow. Example would be “#databaseadminjobs” to search for current conversations regarding database administrator jobs. This is the broadest search. The more specific your hashtag search term is the more narrow results it will return. Remember--hashtags don’t have spaces between the terms--just a long string of text.

• “At” Search Operator. Type “@_____” in the Twitter general search field to search by a specific person, place, company, or any particular item you wish to target with your search. An example would be to search “@microsoftjobs” to return a search that included Microsoft’s official Twitter site as well as all tweets and pages that reference Microsoft Jobs.

• “Near” Search Operator. Type “near:_____” in the Twitter general search field to search items by proximity to a certain location. Examples of an effective “near:” search could include entering dba jobs near:Atlanta to return results specific to database administrator jobs in or around the Atlanta, GA area. This search operator is a powerful tool when you know a city or metropolitan area where you wish to work.

• Limiting your scope can give your search added focus. (Note: use an additional search operator (“-”) to further filter the “Near” search. The “-” sign in front of a search term means “not” so in effect, entering DBA jobs near:Atlanta -Macon returns database administrator jobs in or around Atlanta, GA area, but not from the Macon, GA area.)

• “Since” Search Operator. Type “since :( year-month-date)” in the Twitter general search field to search a date range for when a Twitter feed was sent or posted. An example of using this operator to perform a job-related search is to enter dba jobs since:2012-12-01. This search query will return Twitter feeds related or referenced to database administrator jobs and sent, posted, or retweeted since December 1, 2012.

This search operator adds value to the general job search you performed above, as it allows you control over only the most current and up-to-date postings. You want a job now. You don’t want the job that was posted or retweeted five months ago and is not relevant any longer.

Use these advanced search tools to quickly find what you need to be successful today. For more search strategies visit us at www.clicktogethired.com.

You also can check out our new eBook "Click to Get Hired: Three Secrets to an Online Job Search" now available exclusively at Amazon and free to borrow for Amazon Prime members.

Until next time,