People are often warned of the negative effects that social media can have on their careers, however I don’t feel that the benefits of social media are adequately pointed out. Social media is a great tool to help you kickstart your career. Here’s how it can help.
Networking
Social media enables you to network with people, and even influencers, in your industry. Many of these connections are people you wouldn’t otherwise have access to. LinkedIn is a great way to connect with other professionals, however I personally feel it’s not the best platform to build relationships on. I find that networking on Twitter means I can have more casual conversations with people in my industry, enabling me to build a stronger relationship with them. There are less professional barriers to break through to get to know the real person.
Opportunities
I find most of my work via social media (mainly via Twitter). When people are seeking someone to fulfil a role or do a job for them, they tend to tweet it out. However, it can be a mixed bag. Some opportunities sound really good in the tweet, but aren’t that great in reality. LinkedIn is also a great place to find opportunities, whether they’re jobs, internships or just some work experience. Since there’s no character limit and a whole section of the social network devoted to jobs, you tend to get more information, so it can be easier to sift through and find the opportunities you’re interested in.
Credibility
Being well connected on social media definitely helps boost your credibility. For example, lots of Twitter followers may signify to someone that you’re knowledgeable about what you do and that’s why you have these followers.
You can also share interesting articles/thoughts about your industry to show you’re on top of what’s happening and invested in what you do. If you want to go the extra mile, you can start your own blog discussing your work and the industry and share those articles on social media.
Insight
As I mentioned earlier, I prefer to network on Twitter as it enables me to get to know a person’s true character and not just the professional persona they portray on LinkedIn. Social networking sites like Twitter are a great way to do this and build relationships, which can help you find work.
Likewise, social media enables people (such as prospective employers) to gain insight into your character so they can determined whether you suit the company’s corporate culture and get along with other colleagues. With this is mind, remember to be careful about what you post, but not so careful that you come across as a bland and uninteresting person. No one wants to work with boring people!
Have you used social media to aid your career? Tell us how in the comments.
Photo: Rosaura Ochoa / Flickr
19 year old blogger and digital marketer from London. I like writing more than I like people.
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