Gloss:
For my Op-Ed, I chose to look at a topic of social media that applies more and more to the everyday college student – professionalism. As all of us spend 4 years preparing to go into the job market, we sometimes forget that our personal and professional lives are almost never separate. When writing this piece, I wanted to speak to the average college student not in an intimidating way, but also make them understand the seriousness of the matter. In my revisions, I focused on creating a better flow to my paper by moving around some sections to better accommodate the topic help readers move through the piece with a better understanding. I moved some sentences discussing my background in social media to the top to of the piece to increase my credibility as an author on the subject. I also revised and removed some awkward phrases, added some details, and really reworked a lot of the piece as a whole. I also added in some more links to help get more information on the subjects addressed.
As the public relations and social media intern for Pittsburgh’s esports team, my job relies on writing and monitoring social media content daily. My social communication is dependent on Facebook for my family, Twitter for news, Snapchat for my friends, Instagram for my image, and LinkedIn for my career. Occasionally, they do overlap. Even when I am at home casually scrolling through my personal social media, a part of me is monitoring our players and company social media presence. So yes, social media can be just a pastime – but as I have evolved as a social media user, and as a budding professional, I have begun to see how social media can be so much more.
I recently read an opinion piece in the New York Times titled “Quit Your Social Media. Your Career May Depend On It” by Cal Newport, claiming that social media is a distraction from doing real work and developing your career. And in response, I say, you’re wrong. Social media, if anything, greatly helps your career. In fact, I would go as far as to say it is the future of career development. The best way to understand it, as Patrick Gillooly of the New York Times summarizes, “Your social media presence — and, really, your whole digital footprint — is no longer just an extension of your résumé. It’s as important as your résumé. Social media use is now a standard of the hiring process, and there’s little chance of going back.”
However, there is a valid point Newport is trying to make – don’t post things on social media you wouldn’t want an employer to see. According to a study by Career Builder, 70% of employers use social media to screen their candidates. Just think about every picture and post on your social – every revealing outfit from the weekend with beer cans in the background, or picture of you flipping off the camera – would become your potential employer’s perception of you. Now, this is not to say stop having fun and make your social media a work product, but just be conscious when you post. Think – would I want my grandmother to see this?
Most people nowadays either are ignorant of the effects of social media and use it blissfully, or they understand it all too well and fear it. I hope eventually those two extremes can meet in the middle and create a class of citizens who understand the benefits and pitfalls of social media and can utilize it responsibly to benefit themselves. This applies especially to career advancement.
According to eMarketer, social media has become a 36 billion-dollar industry in 2017, with its own network of companies, career opportunities, and expertise – and no matter where you work, it can make or break your career. Employers have taken more and more to looking at a candidate’s social media before hiring them as part of their company. Even once you get hired, you’re still under surveillance and can be terminated for posting or being linked to something online that reflects negatively on your organization.
Last year, Juli Briskman was photographed flipping off President Trump’s motorcade in Virginia, and the photo quickly went viral. When her employer, a company contracted by the government, found out she was the woman in the photograph, she was quickly terminated. If this had happened 20 years ago, it likely would not have warranted such a strict consequence. However, today it is not just what you do and how it reflects on your employer, but also how the subsequent employer responds. Had they not fired her, they could have faced just as much backlash. Even though you may not have flipped off the president, think of all the images or things you have posted that may not represent the “values” of your future employer.
Although it can seem daunting, people often don’t understand the amazing benefits social media can have, especially for a professional. Many people have crafted careers by successfully using social media to amass a following and create a brand with whom their followers connect. Not to mention, you can reach out to companies and connect with employees through social media. I was able to get in touch with the director of public relations at my favorite video game production company simply by sending him a message on LinkedIn (I only freaked out for a few days). The truth is, social media has become an integral part of the professional experience and will only continue to be embedded into our career pursuits in the future. I encourage you not to fear or isolate yourself from social media, but to embrace it, understand it, and make it work for you.
Personally, I keep my career interests and extracurriculars incorporated in my posts. Wait – that does not mean post a picture of your Friday night binge drink with your fraternity brothers. Instead post a picture of a charity event your fraternity organized, or just a nice picture of some of you and your brothers together. I post about my PR firm, or being in Pitt’s Crossfit club; something that creates a good and wholesome picture of my college experience.
I will admit, my social media is not the most fascinating, and I do not have an extensive number of followers. However, I would feel comfortable with an employer looking at any of my social media accounts at any time. I still post pictures of my friends, family, and nerdy video game obsessions, but I censor anything that might be damaging to a professional image. Any of the girls wore ripped t-shirts and fake blood to dress up as The Purge for Halloween, I’m looking at you.
Additionally, social media is a great place to stay involved in your industry. Follow companies you would hope to work for who lead in that industry so you can understand trends and popular topics. Once you go in to interview, you can mention things you have seen on their social media or appearing in their industry. The fact that you’ve done your research is impressive.
As someone born and raised during the height of digital evolution, every facet of my life has some connection to social media. I have run social media for companies and organizations, operate my own well-received personal profile, and make professional connections and find career opportunities using these platforms. I can tell you, without hesitation, the benefits are endless. Just as Gillooly asserts, social media is the future of professional communication, and can take you far in your career. However, if used wrong, Newport will be right in his assertion that it can cost you your career. So, just like every other privilege you possess, be smart about it.
Resources:
Gillooly, Patrick. “Don’t Quit Social Media. Put It to Work for Your Career Instead.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 3 Dec. 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/03/jobs/dont-quit-social-media-put-it-to-work-for-your-career-instead.html.
Newport, Cal. “Quit Social Media. Your Career May Depend on It.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 19 Nov. 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/jobs/quit-social-media-your-career-may-depend-on-it.html.
“Number of Employers Using Social Media to Screen Candidates at All-Time High, Finds Latest CareerBuilder Study.” PR Newswire, Career Builder, 15 June 2017, http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/number-of-employers-using-social-media-to-screen-candidates-at-all-time-high-finds-latest-careerbuilder-study-300474228.html.
“Social Network Ad Spending to Hit $23.68 Billion Worldwide in 2015.” EMarketer, Media Buying, 15 Apr. 2015, http://www.emarketer.com/Article/Social-Network-Ad-Spending-Hit-2368-Billion-Worldwide-2015/1012357.
Original Draft:
As someone born and raised during the height of digital evolution, every facet of my life has some connection to social media. My social communication is dependent on Facebook for my family, Twitter for news, Snapchat for my friends, Instagram for my image, and LinkedIn for my career. Occasionally, they do overlap. As I have evolved as a social media user, and as a budding professional, I have begun to see how social media is more than just a social pastime. I recently read an article in the New York Times titled “Quit Your Social Media. Your Career May Depend On It” that claim social media is a distraction from doing real work and developing your career. And in response, I say, you’re wrong. Social media, if anything, greatly helps your career. The best way to understand it, as Patrick Gillooly of the New York Times summarizes, “Your social media presence — and, really, your whole digital footprint — is no longer just an extension of your résumé. It’s as important as your résumé. Social media use is now a standard of the hiring process, and there’s little chance of going back.”
Most people nowadays either are ignorant of the effects of social media and use it blissfully, or they understand it all too well and fear it. I hope eventually those two extremes can meet in the middle and create a class of citizens who understand the benefits and pitfalls of social media and can utilize it to benefit themselves. This applies especially to career advancement.
According to eMarketer, social media has become admit a 36 billion-dollar industry in 2017, with its own network of companies, career opportunities, and expertise. And it can make or break your career, no matter where you work. Employers have taken more and more to looking at candidate’s social media before hiring them as part of their company. Even once you get hired, you’re still under surveillance and can be terminated for posting something that reflects negatively on the organization you work for.
Last year, Juli Briskman was photographed flipping off President Trump’s motorcade in Virginia, and the photo quickly went viral. When her employer, a company contracted by the government, found out she was the woman in the photograph, she was quickly terminated. If this had happened 20 years ago, it likely would not have warranted such a strict consequence. However, today it is not just what you do and how it reflects on your employer, but also how the subsequent employer responds. Had they not fired her, they could have faced just as much backlash.
Although it can seem daunting, many people don’t understand the amazing benefits social media can have, especially as a professional. Many people have crafted careers by successfully using social media to amass a following and create a brand with whom their followers connect. Not to mention, you can reach out to companies and connect with employees through social media. I was able to get in touch with the direct of public relations at my favorite video game production company simply by sending him a message on LinkedIn (I only freaked out for a few days). The truth is, social media has become an integral part of the professional experience and will only continue to be embedded into our career pursuits in the future. I encourage you not to fear or isolate yourself from social media, but to embrace it, understand it, and make the most of it.
While most students want to have the college experience and share it on their personal social media, it is important to remember that nothing in the digital age is every really personal. And yes, even if you have your account set to private.
According to a study by Career Builder, 70% of employers use social media to screen their candidates. Just think about every picture and post on your social media-every revealing outfit from the weekend with beer cans in the background, or picture of you flipping off the camera that seems just a little too hazy- would become your potential employer’s perception of you. Now, this is not to say stop having fun and make your social media a work product, but just be conscious of this when you post.
I will admit, my social media is not the most fascinating, and I do not have an extensive number of followers. However, I would feel comfortable with an employer looking at any of my social media accounts at any time. I still post pictures of my friends, family, and nerdy video game obsessions, but I censor anything that might be damaging to a professional image. Any of the girls with the ripped t shirts and fake blood that dressed up as The Purge for Halloween, I’m looking at you.
I also keep my career interests and extracurriculars incorporated in my posts. Now, that does not mean a picture of your Friday night binge drink with your fraternity brothers, but maybe a picture of a charity event your frat organized, or just a nice picture of some of you and your brothers together. I post about my PR firm, or being in Pitt’s Crossfit club; something that creates a good and wholesome picture of your college experience.
Social media is also a great place to stay involved in your industry. Follow companies you would hope to work for or are leaders in that industry so you can understand trends and popular topics. Once you go in to interview, you can mention things you have seen on their social media or appearing in their industry. The fact that you’ve done your research is impressive.
As someone who has run social media for companies and organizations, operates a well-received personal profile, and has made professional connections and found career opportunities using these platforms, I can tell you the benefits are endless. Now, looking to work as a social media intern at a local video game start-up I found on Twitter, trust me-social media is the future of career development, as well as, communication in general, but that’s another talk for another time.
Professional Uses of Social Media 