Job requirement: Twitter followers

A recruitment ad for a Sr. Manager – Emerging Media Marketing Job at US retailer Best Buy includes an item under the ‘Preferred Qualifications’ heading that applicants have “250 plus followers on Twitter.”

bestbuytwitterfollowers

I guess it’s one way of noting a preference that applicants are savvy, active and connected in the twittersphere and, by implication, might have a better understanding of how social media tools like this work in a business context.

I’m not surprised to see this in a recruitment ad by Best Buy.

This is the company whose President and COO (now CEO), Brian J. Dunn – who, incidentally, is on Twitter – was awarded the IABC EXCEL Award this year and whose keynote address about communication at the IABC conference in San Francisco in early June was one of the most inspiring I’ve ever heard from a senior corporate executive of any company (here’s a taste of what Dunn said, in a brief Audioboo I recorded from my spot in the auditorium).

The IABC EXCEL Award recognizes leaders who foster excellence in communication and contribute to the development and support of organizational communication.

So, Twitter followers as a preferred ‘qualification’ when recruiting. Is this a sign of the (coming) times?

This has clearly captured many people’s imaginations this morning, judging by the number of retweets of my original post on Friendfeed about it, as well as retweets of this blog post.

(Via Nathan Driver)

[Later] A comment by Best Buy’s Joshua Kahn talked about a new development regarding this recruitment opening that would be posted today on Barry Judge’s blog. He is Best Buy’s CMO.

Sure enough, there is now a post that opens up an intriguing development in what I’d call the co-creation of a job description in a way that would make a distinct connection with people who have an interest in the company, not only those looking for a job. There’s also the huge buzz potential that gets Best Buy talked about.

[…] In following the conversation around this job posting we discovered that many people had other ideas for how this job description should look, and what the qualifications should be.  We realized that perhaps we hadn’t thought of everything.  Beyond that we thought perhaps we could find a way to enable a more pointed discussion about this relatively new job category of Emerging Media.

It seemed to us to be a natural progression to get the community involved in crafting the job description and qualifications. So that’s exactly what we’re going to do.

We’d like you, (yes all of you), to help us write the job description for our Sr Manager of Emerging Media Marketing job.

We’d also like you all to help us pick the best description.

Here’s How To Participate

1. Starting now, until Tuesday, July 14th, at 5pm central submit your job description idea to our Best Buy IdeaX site.  IdeaX is a site where people like you can share your own ideas on how to make Best Buy better – through idea posts, popular vote and discussions with the rest of the IdeaX community.

I do like the rationale Judge expresses, especially his number 2 point:

This role is a new one for us as it likely is for other companies. We have a lot of smart and social media savvy people here and amongst our partners and friends.  However, there are a larger number of smart and social media savvy people “out there”. So instead of thinking we know it all, we’d like to increase our chances of getting it right by surveying the wisdom of the industry.

Sort of an Ideastorm for HR.

This should catch on.

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134 Responses to “Job requirement: Twitter followers”

  1. jenniferlim (jenniferlim) July 8, 2009 at 23:09 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT @TwitjobsUK: Job Requirement – Twitter Followers! -> [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  2. jangles (Neville Hobson) July 8, 2009 at 23:14 #

    Twitter Comment


    @Jason_Smuvrd that’s great, Jason, thanks! Very interesting what Best Buy is doing, don’t you think? [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  3. mcf (MCF) July 8, 2009 at 23:35 #

    Twitter Comment


    @T0mRowlands Checkout this job requirement then! [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  4. darenBBC (Daren Forsyth) July 9, 2009 at 0:03 #

    Twitter Comment


    250 Followers required for the job , serious [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  5. 3MonkeysPR (3 Monkeys PR) July 9, 2009 at 0:04 #

    Twitter Comment


    Twitter followers as a preferred ‘qualification’ when recruiting – [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  6. mayankdhingra (Mayank Dhingra) July 9, 2009 at 6:36 #

    Twitter Comment


    Job Requirement: Twitter Followers > 250 Wah Wah [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  7. radostinakesova (Radostina Kesova) July 9, 2009 at 7:20 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT @elenko: Изизскване за работата – 250 последователи в Twitter: [link to post] -> не ставам за тая работа 153 followers, слаба ракия.

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  8. tottot (tottot) July 9, 2009 at 7:33 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT: @elenko: Изизскване за работата – 250 последователи в Twitter: [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  9. ngorchilov (Nikolai Gorchilov) July 9, 2009 at 7:45 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT @elenko:Изизскване за работата – 250 последователи в Twitter: [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  10. elenko (Elenko) July 9, 2009 at 8:02 #

    Twitter Comment


    Изизскване за работата – 250 последователи в Twitter: [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

    • inkscar (inkscar) July 9, 2009 at 8:04 #

      Twitter Comment


      @elenko в Щатите това е възможно. Тук джоб дискрипшъните не са мръднали в съдържание от 10 години.

      Posted using Chat Catcher

    • donpepone (Peter) July 9, 2009 at 8:05 #

      Twitter Comment


      @elenko interesni samo kato svurshi venture capital-a na twitter kakvo shte stane a projecta. Vseki mu se kefi, no nikoi ne go kupuva

      Posted using Chat Catcher

  11. gstoychev (gstoychev) July 9, 2009 at 9:02 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT @elenko: Изизскване за работата – 250 последователи в Twitter: [link to post] Яката работа :)

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  12. Nico_Lanter (Nicolas Lanter) July 9, 2009 at 9:42 #

    Twitter Comment


    Job requirement: Twitter followers! > [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  13. Ekklektik (Julien Levêque) July 9, 2009 at 9:46 #

    Twitter Comment


    [ Almost able to get a job at Best Buy ] RT @Nico_Lanter: Job requirement: Twitter followers! > [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  14. MehdiLamloum (Mehdi) July 9, 2009 at 10:02 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT @Nico_Lanter: Job requirement: Twitter followers! > [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  15. MaC_LeW (MaNieL) July 9, 2009 at 10:03 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT: @ParisComLight: hallucinant RT Nico_Lanter Job requirement: Twitter followers! > [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  16. Anelche (Anelia Mircheva) July 9, 2009 at 11:59 #

    Twitter Comment


    Ще го включа към изискванията RT@elenko Изизскване за работата – 250 последователи в Twitter: [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  17. Terri July 9, 2009 at 12:40 #

    Not surprising since Best Buy is a technology driven store. (I have over 4,000 followers and counting)

  18. danperry (Dan Perry) July 9, 2009 at 14:40 #

    Twitter Comment


    Reading: Best Buy Job Requirement is 250 Twitter followers: [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  19. robborover (Rob Crossland) July 9, 2009 at 15:02 #

    Twitter Comment


    rt @danperry: Reading: Best Buy Job Requirement is 250 Twitter followers: [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  20. sparkyfied (James Haley) July 9, 2009 at 17:07 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT Jobs starting to require applicants to have certain number of Twitter followers – [link to post] (via @LeilaMakki)

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  21. lelapin (lelapin) July 11, 2009 at 18:04 #

    FriendFeed Comment


    Job requirement: Twitter followers — NevilleHobson.com – I wouldn’t qualify… I couldn’t care less [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  22. ace July 12, 2009 at 0:18 #

    Not surprised that more and more companies are requiring their employees to be social network savvy.

  23. jodykoehler (Jody Koehler) July 13, 2009 at 13:52 #

    Twitter Comment


    Job requirement: Twitter followers [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  24. fightingmachine (Lean Mean Fighti ...) July 13, 2009 at 17:24 #

    Twitter Comment


    Lean Mean chases down “250-plus followers on Twitter” needed for job at Best Buy (a US version of Currys). [link to post].

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  25. barboraz (Barbora Zychova) July 13, 2009 at 17:33 #

    Twitter Comment


    Jsem zvedava, kdy se zacne vyzadovat neco takoveho i u nas:-) – Job requirement: 250 plusTwitter followers [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  26. MichaelBerner (Michael Berner) July 14, 2009 at 2:34 #

    Twitter Comment


    Should the # of Twitter followers you have be a requirements for emerging media jobs? [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  27. allenburt (Allen Burt) July 14, 2009 at 14:30 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT @MichaelBerner: Should the # of Twitter followers you have be a requirements for emerging media jobs? [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  28. nothingelseis (Tim Holden) July 15, 2009 at 7:29 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT @fightingmachine: Lean Mean chases down “250-plus followers” needed for job at Best Buy (a US version of Currys). [link to post].

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  29. paulsimpson1976 (paulsimpson1976) July 16, 2009 at 22:40 #

    Twitter Comment


    A preferred qualifications in a job applicants “250 plus followers on Twitter” ([link to post]) What next?

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  30. bistrekov (bistrekov) July 16, 2009 at 23:33 #

    Twitter Comment


    Is this a sign of the (coming) times?- “Job requirement: Twitter followers”- [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  31. markwbaur (Mark Baur) July 16, 2009 at 23:34 #

    Twitter Comment


    I guess I shouldn’t have been blocking all those spam followers then: [link to post] #dumbestfakemetricever (via @bistrekov)

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  32. fiona_callison (fiona_callison) July 16, 2009 at 23:35 #

    Twitter Comment


    Interesting blog by @ jangles on job advert for Sr Manager Emerging Media specifying number of Twitter followers [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  33. flyinglens (Marie Young) July 16, 2009 at 23:36 #

    Twitter Comment


    US retail Best buy crowd sources job requirement for Emerging media role [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  34. Tom_Vollebregt (Tom Vollebregt) July 16, 2009 at 23:37 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT: @jodykoehler Job requirement: 250 Twitter followers [link to post] HA!

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  35. TurtleGerms (Turtle Germs) July 20, 2009 at 15:35 #

    Twitter Comment


    [link to post]
    Wow. Its sad how people do this. Follow me. #musicmonday Moon

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  36. Cdachis (Carly Dachis) July 20, 2009 at 16:34 #

    Twitter Comment


    Need another good reason to Tweet? [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  37. debchusid (debchusid) August 1, 2009 at 1:52 #

    Twitter Comment


    If you want a job in social media, start tweeting. RT @jangles Job @€” NevilleHobson.com [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  38. Future_of_Less (Allen H. Kupetz) August 12, 2009 at 2:14 #

    Twitter Comment


    RT @jangles Job requirement: #Twitter followers [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  39. vektorz (Viktors Rožkalns) August 18, 2009 at 20:55 #

    Twitter Comment


    Best Buy darba piedāvājumā Mārketinga speciālistam bija vēlama prasība: 250 followeri [link to post] :)

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  40. camhunt (cam hunt) August 18, 2009 at 21:35 #

    Twitter Comment


    Guess my number of followers won’t help me get a job @ #bestbuy [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  41. carnagein May 7, 2010 at 16:50 #

    Excellent article, I purchased 5000 twitter followers from http://www.socialkik.com and they delivered them sooner than promised, that made a huge positive impact on my online business ! I started receiving more customers and better conversion rate because of the big number of followers which enhanced my reputation ! I highly recommend them : http://www.socialkik.com

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Will A Personal Social Media Portfolio Become A Job Requirment | Learn SEO | Search Engine Optimization Techniques - Social Networking - July 8, 2009

    [...] is a very interesting article over at NevilleHobson.com this morning titled “Job requirement: Twitter followers” that discusses a recent job posting by BestBuy in which there is a preffered qualification [...]

  2. Best Buy Lists Twitter Followers As Job Qualification - News: Everything-e - July 8, 2009

    [...] A comment by Best Buy’s Joshua Kahn talked about a new development regarding this recruitment opening that would be posted today on [...]

  3. Crowdsourcing Your Employee Requirements. | TheLetterTwo.com - July 8, 2009

    [...] more ideas than a small group.” Isn’t that basically the definition of crowdsourcing? Neville Hobson, part of the great podcast team that produces For Immediate Release seems to [...]

  4. darenBBC - July 8, 2009

    250 Followers required for the job , serious http://bit.ly/43pSOS

  5. Irida - July 8, 2009

    RT @DarenBBC 250 Followers required for the job , serious http://bit.ly/43pSOS

  6. Ollie Parsley - July 8, 2009

    RT @DarenBBC: 250 Followers required for the job , serious http://bit.ly/43pSOS

  7. Ben Tuffley - July 8, 2009

    RT @DarenBBC: 250 Followers required for the job , serious http://bit.ly/43pSOS [Interesting idea, not necessarily wrong imho]

  8. Alistair Charlton - July 8, 2009

    RT @DarenBBC: 250 Followers required for the job , serious http://bit.ly/43pSOS (via @ollieparsley)

  9. Bez Twittera nie ma pracy « FACE2Web - July 10, 2009

    [...] Twittera nie ma pracy … przynajmniej w Best Buy. Sieć handlowa opublikowała ogłoszenie rekrutacyjne na stanowisko Senior Managera w dziale marketingu i jednym z wymagań było posiadanie konta na [...]

  10. Crowdsource your Social Media Resume / CV | weconverse - July 10, 2009

    [...] [...]

  11. Evolution of a Best Buy Marketing Job Posting « MRod says: - July 10, 2009

    [...] A Best Buy job listing for a Senior Emerging Media Marketing Manager position got the blogosphere and twitterati chattering. In the original posting, a preferred qualification was for the ideal candidate to have a graduate [...]

  12. Job requirement: Twitter followers — NevilleHobson.com (2009-07-11T16:42:02Z http://tinyurl.com/lbl7hk « Lelapin’s Weblog) - July 11, 2009

    [...] lelapin Job requirement: Twitter followers — NevilleHobson.com – http://www.nevillehobson.com/2009…; [...]

  13. How To Evaluate Social Media Street Cred « LocalLab : Foire aux Infos - July 14, 2009

    [...] requirement that qualified applicants have a minimum of 250 + followers on Twitter. This launched a flurry of debate specific to this one issue, but the bigger issue as we’ve discussed here before is that [...]

  14. AmandaMDA - July 21, 2009

    RT @jangles Job requirement: Twitter followers — NevilleHobson.com http://bit.ly/9GCob

  15. debchusid - August 1, 2009

    If you want a job in social media, start tweeting. RT @jangles Job @€” NevilleHobson.com http://bit.ly/9GCob

  16. cam hunt - August 5, 2009

    Guess my number of followers won’t help me get a job @ #bestbuy http://bit.ly/2ruQyD

  17. Allen H. Kupetz - August 12, 2009

    Job requirement: Twitter followers http://bit.ly/RBJ3m

  18. Allen H. Kupetz - August 12, 2009

    RT @jangles Job requirement: #Twitter followers http://bit.ly/RBJ3m

  19. Viktors Rožkalns - August 18, 2009

    Best Buy darba piedāvājumā Mārketinga speciālistam bija vēlama prasība: 250 followeri http://bit.ly/2ruQyD :)

  20. Zeenat Rasheed - August 25, 2009

    Old, but still fascinating news for us job-hunters – Best Buy leverages social media to create a social media job req: http://bit.ly/JyzWs

  21. Quality Over Quantity (and Using Followers as a Qualifier | Social Media Strategies and Tools Explained) - September 8, 2009

    [...] thing that I’ve found, particularly in the social media and marketing space is using “number of Twitter followers” or “number of Facebook friends” as a qualifier for an experienced [...]

  22. Fabian Nagel - December 6, 2009

    Job requirement: 250+ Twitter followers http://bit.ly/7O0T8S

  23. Austin Westfall - December 17, 2009

    It seems that followers gets you jobs now! http://bit.ly/9GCob I'm running a beta for a system that gets followers DM if interested.

  24. Emre Ruhi - January 7, 2010

    ( 250)+(followers) =job requirement: http://bit.ly/gfxq7 In other news? Confusing punctuation really makes *this* tweet A True Joy To Read.

  25. Will A Personal Social Media Portfolio Become A Job Requirment at - May 12, 2010

    [...] is a very interesting article over at NevilleHobson.com this morning titled “Job requirement: Twitter followers” that discusses a recent job posting by BestBuy in which there is a preffered qualification of [...]

  26. the4mores - June 28, 2010

    Job spec: Degree, check. 2 yrs experience, check. 250 followers on twitter-that's what we want. How twitter is growing
    http://bit.ly/JyzWs

  27. Social Honesty - July 1, 2010

    Preferred job requirement for @bestbuy: 250+ Twitter followers http://ow.ly/25Dyw This still gets me thinking! #socialrecruiting #sales

  28. Social Honesty - July 1, 2010

    Preferred job requirement for @bestbuy: 250+ Twitter followers http://ow.ly/25Dyw This still gets me thinking! #socialrecruiting #sales

  29. Jeff Hilgers - July 1, 2010

    RT @SocialHonesty: Preferred job requirement for @bestbuy: 250+ Twitter followers http://ow.ly/25Dyw This still gets me thinking! #socialrecruiting #sales