Social media plays an important role in everyone’s career these days, no matter what level you’re at or what type of career you’re in. As an entry-level employee, you may use social media to market your employer’s business, or as part of your job search to market yourself. Even senior managers use social media to connect with their staff, customers and partners in innovative ways. Here are five ways social media can help your career.
1. Networking
The fact that the world is smaller now – with our ever growing online connections, the world feels like a much smaller place. Careers are increasingly focused on networking, an internet presence is vital and something you should consider. After all, you never know when someone will connect you with a job opportunity or client. If your CV is strong, networking is a great way to be discovered by potential employers and industry leaders who might not have even been looking for talent when they come across your profile. Read our tips and tactics to make networking more successful here!
2. Build Trust
By building relationships with your colleagues and potential clients on social media, you’re putting yourself out there. When you can show that you trust someone enough to share personal information on a public forum like Facebook or Twitter, it makes them more likely to trust you. And when people see that others are willing to vouch for your credibility, they’ll feel inclined to give you a shot too.
3. Open Up New Opportunities
Using social media to get involved in different projects and communities is a great way to open up new opportunities for yourself. By building an online presence and participating in relevant conversations, you will begin to build your network—and those connections may even lead to opportunities that weren’t previously available to you.
4. Show Personality
If you want to set yourself apart from other job seekers, showing your personality on social media is a great way to do so. Use your profile pictures and cover photos to showcase yourself (and don’t forget about videos!) You’ll build a solid foundation for future employers to get an idea of who you are as a person and how you work. You never know, people may like what they see so much that they’ll want to offer you a job!
5. Practice Self-Care
Look, it’s easy to forget about yourself and let your job take over your life, especially when you’re new. But if you don’t take out time for self-care, burnout is inevitable. So make sure to log off every once in a while.
Though there are many benefits to utilising social media platforms for your career, you also have to remember that these platforms can be used as a weapon. Always choose your battles wisely and play it safe on social media. It’s a great tool for networking but don’t let people easily take advantage of you. Be cautious with what you post and who you connect with, social media is only beneficial if you are able to utilise it effectively, safely, and wisely.
