Social Media’s Influence In Careers

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Social Media & You

With today’s technological advancements and integration, it is hard to find someone who doesn’t use or know of social media. Social media is a large portion of society’s tool for communication, content sharing, and networking. Most people use social media for personal use, and their content can be private or public depending on your career, personality, and brand. The amount of social media usage varies from person to person, however, all the actions that you take, (social media usage or non-usage) describes the type of person you are. Especially to companies you’ve applied to who are trying to figure out if you are a good fit with them. Popular social media nowadays include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Youtube. There are plenty of others that have a large presence but those are kingpins of social media as of right now. Multiple consumers generally have one of every social media to stay up-to-date and connected on different platforms.

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Social Media & Business

You may think that social media shouldn’t be associated with business, however, in today’s day and age social media has one of the biggest impacts on a business’s success. A lot of businesses are on social media and it is one of the largest communication tools between consumers and companies. Companies like Amazon and Facebook are prime examples. They post consistently and interactive with their consumers to maintain customer satisfaction. Companies also use social media as a means to build their brand, grow their business, create and distribute content, communicate and advertise, and gain insights. Different platforms offer different benefits, such as:

Instagram is a great platform for promotional images and captions. This is where all the celebrity endorsements thrive.
Twitter utilizes its direct messaging and communication. The platform is known for its consistent and updated information. Companies keep consumers updated and communicate quickly in the case of a problem.
Youtube’s content is mainly videos. A company can post promotional ads or longer videos for consumers to watch. If there are enough entertaining videos (that are posted consistently), consumers are more likely to return and watch future videos.
Facebook offers to create a page dedicated to the company. Companies can post longer types of content compared to Twitter and Instagram. Videos and long detailed posts do best here and the analytics offer a great way to gain insights. Consumers follow a companies page to have that company’s content show up on their feed.
LinkedIn is similar to Facebook but on a professional level. Companies post about career opportunities and company achievements here. They find potential employees and build themselves as a brand to other businesses on this platform.

You can use social media to your advantage if you utilize it effectively and efficiently. You can have as many personal social media accounts as you’d like and post whatever you’d like (just be careful of what you post because employers are great at finding your profile). However, there is one growing social media that you should be aware of as a professional and take advantage of.

The main appliance of this platform is to professionally network and connect. Similar to Facebook, it offers you an option to post, create, and share content. However, remember, everything needs to maintain a level of professionalism. Companies post jobs here and job seekers can post their resume and apply on LinkedIn. It is mutually beneficial to you and the company when you network with companies and recruiters. Since you are interested in applying to their job listing, connecting to them beforehand is beneficial because then they remember you. There is a common saying where people tend to hire people they like and know. You get to know more about the company and the company gets to know more about you and who you are and if you are a potential hire. You should take advantage of this platform and communicate your activities and achievements to companies and recruiters. Post engaging content also brings traffic to your profile. With an active and up-to-date LinkedIn, you have the advantage (against a similar competitor for the job application).

Pros & Cons Of Social Media

Pros

Increase Brand Awareness/ Authority/ Loyalty.
More traffic to your profile/ Higher search engine rankings.
Shows who you are as a person.

Cons

Everything is technically public so anyone can see your posts.
People have a hard time drawing the line between personal and professional.
There are negative people on the internet who hide behind a screen and bully over social media.

Things To Keep In Mind When Dealing With Social Media

Keep personal social media separate from professional social media.
Remember that nothing is private, don’t say things that could get you fired.
You can use a posting tool to help you post regularly to maintain relativity.

Keys To A Successful Social Media:

Make sure to keep your profiles up-to-date.
Cross-promote social media content.
Use analytics to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of your content.
Tap into current/trending/popular information and affairs.
Maintain a 80% fun/ 20% sell content creation. Don’t sell all the time and don’t post too much. Make sure most of your posts are fun and engaging (quality over quantity).
Use a good amount of relevant hashtags to help people find your content.
Reply in a reasonable amount of time, don’t leave anyone waiting too long for a response.

Thank you so much for reading! Make sure to connect with UHDIGM on social media! We’d love to hear how social media has impacted your life! And make sure to check out these sources for more detailed information!

Social Media’s Influence In Careers

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