Twitter: a Gate Keeper to the Job Market?

We've all been told time and time again that it is imperative to be active in social media channels in order to be qualified for a position in the PR field post-graduation.

Some companies are taking this premise to the next level and emphasizing social media even further. Here is an excerpt from an article I read in the Wall Street Journal, "A New Job Just a Tweet Away":

"As online job boards have grown crowded amid the recession, many big companies, including Microsoft Corp., Verizon Communications Inc., Raytheon Corp. and Viacom Inc.'s MTV Networks, now list job openings on the Twitter micorblogging site.

For employers, Twitter - where users post updates, or "tweets," of no more than 140 characters - offers one more way to find and attract candidates, and a cheaper alternative to big online job boards. It also helps companies target social-media-savvy job hunters and convey an innovative image. For job seekers, Twitter offers the chance to interact one-on-one with companies' recruiters and can be more convenient than job boards.

Job hunters can sign up to follow a company's listings on Twitter or receive tweets about jobs through a third-party service. They usually need to click a link in the tweet to access the listing online, where they can submit their resume or application. They can also reply to the tweet with a question or comment; sometimes, employers tweet back."

The article also goes on to point out that this process makes it easier for employers to screen applications. However, recruiters also recognize that "the more popular Twitter gets, the more applicants it will likely attract."

Regardless, this new business practice speaks to the level of prominence social media has attained in our lives and has the potential to revolutionize the way we approach the job search in the near future.