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How to Turn Your Love for Social Media into a Career

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at McGill chapter.

Don’t you love posting constant updates to show how much fun you’re having or to rant about something that is bothering you? You can speak your mind or upload a photo with the click of a button, from anywhere in the world with Internet or cell service (I love you, technology). Let’s be real—we’re all obsessed. I love social media so much; I often wish I could just get paid to be on it all day.

With the rise in popularity of social media, it has become a really influential tool that organizations are using to spread their message. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon, from funky startup companies to the Prime Minister. With this new sector comes a whole host of new jobs that generations before us have never encountered. Skills for navigating every corner of these networking platforms seem to be built into our generation’s minds. Just think of the brands you follow on Instagram, for example. Someone is being paid to create and post those photos and videos. This new area of jobs is basically made for us, so it is something to keep our eye on as we near graduation.

How do I make my dreams into a reality, you ask? Showcasing your talents on social media, as well as making your profiles accessible to potential employers can be really beneficial in job-hunting these days. Including your Twitter handle or your LinkedIn URL on your CV is a good way to bring them to the employer’s attention. If other social media platforms are applicable to the job, include the URL or username corresponding to them, and make sure your profile or page showcases the best of your talents. With personal accounts like Facebook, or another account that isn’t something you want to showcase to your employer, it is best to activate the platform’s privacy settings. I also suggest making sure that nothing goes on your page that you wouldn’t like a potential employer to see. After a night out, we all know the types of photos that can appear on our Facebook page (#regrets), so hit the “untag” button if something sketchy comes up. It could save you some embarrassment in the future, when you become amazingly successful and famous like I know you will.

Once you’ve landed this awesome job, a great way to show what a social media maven you are is to constantly strive to bring new angles, ideas and ways of doing things to the table. The online world is literally evolving every second, and the best way to stand out among the many voices online is to stay on top of developments, such as releases of new apps. If a new app comes out, try to think of a way that you can use it to put a fresh spin on the organization’s current message. Bringing this new idea, along with your production plan for it to your boss is a sure way to show your expertise. The fast pace of the online world requires participants to adapt at a crazy speed, or else something newer and more interesting will capture the attention of the digital audience. For this reason, creativity and a constant supply of new ideas are the best things you can bring to the table.

This growing industry is exciting and really is tailored for us.  Job-hunting just got a lot more fun.

 

 

Images obtained from: http://nycprgirls.com/pr-girl-texting-donts/

 

 

 

 

 

 

First-year McGill student with a fondness for Instagram (@emiliemacfie)