5 ways that social media can facilitate your return to work
In the digital age, your online presence can be advantageous to your job hunt after a break, if done right. We’ll show you how.
What role does social media play in your life? Whether you are tweeting by the hour or just checking your Facebook once a month, there is no denying that it has brought us closer to each other. People use social media to share stories, be heard and feel a sense of community with like-minded people. Whether you are a business trying to sell something, or just someone sharing tips that you think might be of value to a group of people, social media has proved to be an important channel to communicate, time and again.
If you have embarked on a job hunt after years, social media can pave the way for a successful outcome, which in this case is getting that job you’ve wanted! So, how do you go about building your social presence or even deciding what to talk about? Here’s how.
By showcasing what you are good at —
I came across the profile of a plus-size influencer and stylist recently, Shweta Agarwal who goes by @style4prettyplus on Instagram. She is helping women become more confident in their skin. Going by her 10k plus followers, it’s safe to assume that there is a group of people finding this information really valuable. So, if you have an interest that no one else seems to be pursuing, don’t stop — share it, it makes you original. For starters, social platforms like Instagram are intuitive, you can start by making reels while you paint or IGTV videos for obscure recipes or a WordPress blog about architecture. Don’t overthink it. Passion follows consistency. Just be at it, and you will get a sense of whether people find it useful! You could be the next social media star — you will never know till you try!
(Pro tip: If you want to think about it before you begin, share it with 5 friends, see what they say. If you feel they are interested, others will likely find it useful too.)
Why should this matter to you? This gives employers a reference point for how you grow your community, the challenges you face, the ways you deal with setbacks etc. Especially when you are out of the workforce for a while, it’s important to give employers something to relate to. Useful to a social media role you are looking to apply to, right? Even if it’s not a social media role, it shows your potential employer what transferable skills you have, for the role you are applying to.
You won’t be considered a fresher —
If you are trying to switch to a new domain after a break, even if you’ve got prior experience of 5+ years — there’s often a problem of employers wanting you to start afresh. Showcasing your ability through your social media channel is your opportunity to make the employer believe otherwise. Creating actively on social media is a great way to build your narrative, most brands and individuals today depend on social media storytelling as an effective method of connecting with their audience. What is it about your craft or business that gets you excited to face the day? What makes it special? What is it about you that enriches your audience’s life? When you answer these questions you display proficiency and dedication.
And so, when you apply to a company, they are fully aware of your potential and capabilities. This on-the-job experience gives you leverage to receive appropriate remuneration based on your skillset, without having to start from the bottom.
Updating your public profiles to reflect your skills —
Social profiles are nothing but a carefully curated representation of you, so make it your best. Platforms like LinkedIn provide opportunities to talk about your interests and experience, while also allowing you to engage in conversations, and trends in your industry. For those who want to display their artistic side, Instagram is your friend! Like @kolampodu by Bhargavi Manii, who displays her beautiful Kolam art and has built a following of 20k+ people. Now, with the reputation and reach that she has, it is relatively easy for her to start her own course, channel or get hired by institutes as a teacher. So, we’d like to think her possibilities have increased extensively. We believe that having a page or portfolio which showcases your best work is more impactful than a CV!
Following industry experts and news to upskill yourself if needed —
Domain experts across different industries are active on social platforms, and following them can help you be in touch with ongoing trends or inform you about new ones. For eg: Elon Musk talking about cryptocurrency has intrigued many people from non-crypto backgrounds to learn about how it functions by taking a small introductory course. Similarly, you can explore new facets and learn new skills that will help you become an all-rounder candidate and upskill yourself to keep up with the competitive market.
(Pro tip: Keep your push notifications for updates/listings from your favourite company)
Bonus: Tips to ace that interview
Learning something new about a domain also helps you have interesting conversations with hiring managers. We often make the mistake of thinking it’s about your domain knowledge but your ability to also keep a conversation going that’s beyond the scope of the role, gives your brownie points in an interview.
Also, by having your own social media presence, you automatically start learning about new trends, and people’s opinions. Hearing others’ opinions can help you shape your own opinions. Another great way to score additional brownie points in an interview.
Building your social-media arsenal —
After you build yourself a sizable audience, they can become your potential customers and you can start monetising on this opportunity. They’ll like and share your work, and also give you honest feedback when something doesn’t work. This feedback, whether negative or positive, can be constructive and will help you improve and become a better content creator. Once your work is online, potential employers can go through it and see your growth first-hand, which further makes your resume fool-proof, and you — a must-have employee.
Joining a community of people who are working in your field —
Women thrive together, hence joining groups on Facebook or all-women communities like indePenn, can provide you with a peer group and a support system that is in the same boat as you. Doing so, will provide you with an opportunity to safely navigate your options, with suggestions and guidance from people who have done it before.
indePenn’s founder, Ms Rajani Seshadri is an executive coach, who has trained many senior managers and has been awarded CEO Coach by Coaching Foundation India. indePenn’s vision is to bring capable women like you back to the workforce. To know more about how you can restart your career, you can visit us at https://indepenn.com/ or mail us at connect@indepenn.com.
So, are you ready to dive in? Let’s take an example. Here are a few social platforms and ways in which they can be utilised to reach a wider audience:
Ideally, you can start experimenting with one of them and focus solely on creating content for that channel instead of trying to be present everywhere and getting overwhelmed.
Today, being able to optimally use the internet can definitely make your job search easier. Even those who aren’t looking for a traditional job can benefit from the resources and virtual peer support that it provides. It can bring recognition and opportunities to monetize your talent if what you create is original and unique to you.
Summing it up —
Using social media can go beyond news updates and cute-baby videos. Social media platforms can help every individual — even if you are returning to your career in software design, or realizing your life-long dream of opening a home bakery, it can work wonders, if used strategically. Communities like indePenn are dedicated to making your new career journey easy, if you want to attend a workshop on using social media to boost your career, sign-up here.
