Making career resolutions? Social media can help!
By Danielle Mellema, Chief Ghostwriter, Digital Content Manager
It’s the time of year when people are setting goals, and we’re willing to bet that you’ve got your career trajectory on your mind. Doing good, meaningful, fulfilling work and connecting with others are two essential elements of a life well lived, and your work is worthy of yearly (or even more frequent) reflection, dreaming, and goal-setting.
Social media, for all the things about it that make us roll our eyes, can be a helpful tool as you work toward those career goals. It can also be a bit intimidating. With so many options and features, it can be hard to know where to start.
Here’s a few things to try first to help you reach your career goals:
Want to participate in important conversations in your industry?
Upgrade from sharing pictures of vacations and your kids, and personal updates.
Instead, try:
Commenting on a colleague’s thoughtful post or an interesting article they shared.
Asking a question and seeing how people respond.
Tagging others in your posts who you respect and believe to be wise, reliable sources on hot topics in your industry.
Considering what content would resonate with others, and what would make it easy for them to share with their circles?
Want to prep for a potential career move?
Don’t wait until you start submitting job applications to freshen up your profile or increase your activity. Plus, recruiters are always on the hunt for excellent candidates for key positions via platforms like LinkedIn, so make sure you’re putting your best foot forward.
Try:
Updating (and proofreading!) your profile info. Take time to go the extra mile. Don’t just add your job title and call it good; share a few of your core responsibilities and accomplishments. Add skills and strengths to the Skills section. Draft an eye-catching summary.
Posting with greater consistency. And “greater” just means more than whatever you’re doing right now. If it has been crickets on your profile for a while, then try posting even once a week and liking or commenting on a post or two every few days.
Making connections. Try adding a few colleagues to your friends and connections list. Write a testimonial for a leader you respect or who has invested in you. Before you ask for letters of recommendation and introductions to companies who are hiring, be the kind of person who is willing to give encouragement and share what others are creating without being asked.
Want to be a go-to for inspiration, insight, and leadership wisdom?
If investing in the next generation of leaders is part of your next career step, then it’s time to start engaging on social media as a thought leader. There are lots of ways to do this effectively and authentically, but we have found it’s best to start by considering ways that you often find yourself called upon to encourage people in your real life and wisdom you are leaning on in your everyday work environment when there is no audience watching.
Once you’ve had some time to reflect on what you have to offer, try:
Writing an article. Don’t overthink this! What wisdom do you have to share? What would have been helpful to you early in your career? What does your experience and expertise uniquely allow you to speak to? Start there. And if you’re still stuck, here are some prompts to get your wheels turning.
Posting a video. This may be a bit out of your comfort zone, but the time investment doesn’t have to be large. You could share a favorite quotation and explain how it has guided you. You could read a letter of encouragement sent to you from a mentor (with their permission!) or written by you to your employees (if it’s widely applicable). You could share a story of a moment that shaped you as a leader.
While relying solely on social media to accomplish your career goals is not a good idea, it continues to be a helpful tool if you are willing to take small steps to leverage the opportunities it can give.
If you have a strong vision for where you want to go in your career, but want to leave the social media part of the strategy to the pros, just reach out.