Be Your Own Influencer
In the last 25 years, social media has grown, evolved, and become firmly anchored in the culture of every society connected to the World Wide Web. Since the first social media site, Six Degrees, launched in 1997 there has been an explosion of social media apps available and social media usage continues to expand worldwide. DataReportal’s analysis suggests that globally, more than 77% of the eligible (age 13+) population is using social media and 5.5 new users open an account every second.
As a career development professional, my advice on engaging and using social media has also grown and evolved. In the early years, the social media landscape was a bit like the Wild West. Where anything goes and few rules exist to govern behavior and content. When working with students trying to launch their careers, my focus was on cleaning up digital dirt:
- Don’t post any pictures you wouldn’t want (your mother) future employer to see.
- Once you’ve shared something digitally, it can continue to haunt you long after you take it down.
- Privacy settings exist for a reason – use them.
Today’s college students have grown up with social media. They are more tech-savvy and capable of protecting their privacy. So, while cleaning up digital dirt is still important, my advice now centers on leveraging social media for career development. Just as influencers engage the masses to promote a brand, you too can use social media to engage recruiters to promote your professional brand and launch your career.
Recruiters will search the digital footprint of top candidates to gain additional information. Although you will want to keep personal or polarizing content private to select groups, you still need to have a public presence. Review your public profiles of the social media platforms you use as though you were a recruiter. Remove or set to private any content that you would not want a recruiter to see before they had a chance to interview you and learn directly about your experience and qualifications.
Since many platforms are used to connect with friends and family or simply for entertainment, make sure that you also utilize professional networking sites like LinkedIn to ensure your professional expertise is visible. A purposefully crafted profile on LinkedIn will act as your résumé. Follow companies to keep informed of industry trends, start growing your professional network, contribute to group discussions, and share relevant content to demonstrate your knowledge base. For more details on how to use LinkedIn effectively, check out this Mindtool article.
Think strategically about how you can use your current social media accounts to promote your professional brand. In 2021 TikTok partnered with a handful of companies and experimented with video resume uploads. While this did not become a permanent feature of the platform, the concept of a short video introduction is a unique way to grab a recruiter’s attention. Video content can be quicker to consume and more engaging than written content. Create a general video introducing yourself to potential recruiters and then use a video share platform such as YouTube to post to all your social media channels. When applying to specific opportunities with a traditional résumé include a link to a tailored video where you can address the company directly and touch on specific skill sets that will benefit the company. Learn more about creating video résumés here and consider adding this unique approach to your job search plan.
Social media is a global phenomenon with a powerful capability to connect people. Become your own influencer by using social media to market your professionalism, skills, training, and experience and recruiters will take notice.
The Worksmith: Crafting your Ideal Career Path is a blog series by Herkimer College's Director of Career Services, Suzanne Paddock. For more information on Career Services at the College, visit us here.