Unlock the Potential of Social Media for Your Career Transition

Last updated on May 7, 2023

Photo by Timothy Hales Bennett on Unsplash

Transitioning into a new career can be daunting, especially for those who are stuck in the same job for a long period of time and feel like they have exhausted all their options. In such situations, the best option for a career transition could be leveraging the potential of social media. Nowadays, it’s a commonplace for recruiters to search for potential candidates on social media. At the same time, social media provides various perks such as professional networking with like-minded individuals, peer assistance while searching for a job, and career advice.

Salary Insights in INR for Career Transitioning in Social Media

The pay scale for social media roles is dependent on the years of experience, job location, and skillset. However, some rough salary estimates in INR include:

• Social media executor – 3 - 5 lakhs
• Social media strategist – 5 - 8 lakhs
• Social media manager – 6 - 10 lakhs
• Social media director – more than 10 lakhs

Real-Life Examples of People Who Used Social Media During Their Career Transitions

Meet Sachin Kochhar, who used professional networking to find his dream job. He was active on LinkedIn and leveraged the platform to interact with people in his industry and find job leads. During his job hunt, he reached out to many recruiters, shared his resume, and interacted with others attending the same job expositions, thanks to which he connected with the right contact person at his current job and was soon hired. Now, he heads the digital marketing team in a Hyderabad-based media agency.

Another inspiring story is that of Jignesh Chheda, who has transitioned into social media marketing. He was initially an artist, who later realized that his skill set matched the requirements of digital marketing. He decided to join the fray and reach out to digital marketers with customized LinkedIn messages and also took up job shadowing to gain quick insights into the industry. Later, he picked up additional skills in SEO, SEM, and website analytics, which landed him his current job at a media agency in Ahmedabad.

Possible Challenges and Tips to Overcome Them

While embarking on a career transition journey with the help of social media, one needs to be aware of the numerous challenges that could come along. Here are a few of them:

• Finding the right job: Searching for job opportunities on various job portals and platforms can be daunting. It’s important to consistently look for job options and sift through them to find the right one.
• Making connections: Networking can be difficult, especially for those who are new to the industry. It can take numerous attempts and face-to-face interactions to make the right connections
• Keeping up: It’s essential to be up-to-date with the changing trends in the digital space to maintain relevancy and develop new skillsets.

Here are some tips to overcome these challenges and make the transition smoother:

• Be active and engage on social media platforms: Be consistent with your posts, interaction with others, and hashtags to stay top-of-mind.
• Join communities and industry meet-ups: Attend and start conversations with people in the same line of work that can help you stay updated and make use of any networking opportunities available.
• Take online courses and webinars: Leverage online learning tools to pick up new skills, even if you’re stuck in a job for the time being.
• Be open to new opportunities: Identify the companies and industries you are interested in and keep an eye out for job openings. Don’t be afraid to apply for them without having a specific job title in mind.

Actionable Steps for Career Transition

If you’re planning to make the shift and create a career for yourself, here are some actionable steps to get started:

• Build an all-star profile: Compile all your accomplishments in one spot and make sure your entire profile stands out.
• Go on a networking spree: Use social media to reach out to people, connect with influencers, and make acquaintances in your chosen field.
• Attend industry events: Put yourself out there, engage with people, and see how things work.
• Be consistent: Ensuring consistency during and after the initial transition is equally important.

Conclusion

Social media is a great tool to use for any career transition. It gives you more freedom to find the right fit for you and helps you build relationships with influential people who can be a great source of support. Don’t be afraid to testify your worth, join new communities and start conversations and never give up. With the right plan, tactics, and consistency, you can be sure to unlock the potential of social media for your career transition in India.