Recruiting on Twitter??

Okay, so I have already seen businesses using Twitter to get the word out on new products, and to get fast feedback. And I've already seen enterprising methods of solicitation for certain other kinds of profit-making ventures. Some cutie shows up as your follower with a URL in the status message directing you to ... oh my goodness!

Um, thank you, but no. [clicks "block this user"]

But now, there are seminars geared toward HR on how you can use Twitter (and other sites) to find new employees. I got this business email today as an example:

"LinkedIn, Twitter & Social Networks: How to Recruit Your Next Superstars"
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

LinkedIn’s membership reaches over 35 million, Twitter’s more than 20 million. From newly minted college graduates to baby boomers – the best candidates for your positions are logged into these sites, creating personal profiles, posting their resumes and sharing their networks of colleagues and friends. How can you effectively use these sites to hire smarter, better, quicker, and cheaper? Join us for this 60-minute webinar where you will discover:

** Best practices for utilizing online social networks to find top talent
** How to create a presence on these sites & search for job candidates
** What's the best way to use Twitter & LinkedIn for effective recruiting?
** Quick and effective ways to separate A-players from the duds online
** Top mistakes recruiters make on social networks and how to avoid them


Hm. Now if you were looking for work... who would think that you could put yourself out on Twitter and maybe attract some HR person's attention? And what about your privacy settings? It is better to let more people (like recruiters) see you, or... practice strict privacy? Wouldn't it be good to know what the recruiters think characterizes an "A-player" versus a "dud"? Ha - maybe the first step is to stop following anything not solidly "mainstream" (unless, of course you actually WANT a job in the sex toy industry), and block any follower of yours who is a little, um... fringe-y?

But that takes all the fun out of it, doesn't it? ;) Who knew that your Twitter page would become a defacto part of your resume'? One's public persona is everywhere these days. Guess you either have to be willing to have all your peculiarities on display, or... show the world only a sanitized version of yourself.