Skip to main content

Do You Want to Become a Social Media Officer?

Image
By
I posted two news videos before about an emerging occupation --- social media officer (one is in hotels; the other is in the public service sector). Today, I am sharing with you another Fox News video about a social media entrepreneur, a person who started a business by helping companies manage their social media presence.

Many job seekers have been using social media regularly, but having accounts on social networking sites or having great interest in a social media officer position alone will NOT qualify a candidate for the position. The challenge for candidates is how they can convince their potential employers that they are able to leverage the power of social media in business. Here, I am offering some more suggestions in addition to my previous discussions on social media job-search tactics and building a personal brand on social media. I hope the following suggestions may help.
  • Be “sociable” on social media. A candidate needs to network with those social media professionals as well as potential employers. A social media professional very likely knows someone who is hiring. Most of all, how would an employer hire anyone for a social media officer position if this person is not really active on social media at all?
  • Build a large network on social media. The larger the network, the more influence a candidate has on social media.
  • Demonstrate the social media skills and knowledge on social media. For example, can the candidate communicate on social media in a professional manner? Once a candidate is hired, s/he will represent the organization on social media; so, being professional on social media matters. Does the candidate know social media? Have the candidate offered valuable thoughts and suggestions to help business use social media tools? Where does this candidate share his/her professional opinions? On blogs, online forums, or other social networking sites? It would be even better if the candidate has established a personal brand as a “social media expert.”
  • Tie a candidate’s previous work experience with the social media officer position. An organization probably hires a social media officer to engage with its stakeholders on social media and/or to market the organization’s online reputation. Sales/marketing, guest-service, and administrative experience are applicable.
Last but not least, I have to remind job seekers that it may take a long time before they can build up the credentials as a good candidate for the social media officer position. Being consistent and persistent is important. What other suggestions will you offer for those who want to become a social media officer?

Labels:

Comments

  1. Tiffany MaApril 17, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    I think this is an interesting new idea for a budding job industry. So many companies and influential people use social media websites to promote their ideas and projects. I am extremely active on both Facebook and Twitter and think I would make a great candidate for a job like this. I have a pretty loyal following on Twitter and my fan-base is steadily growing. I have recently expressed interest in going into the Public Relations department because many people have commented on how promising I am as a promoter. I often get comments on how I am an extremely social person. The people I know and the connections I have to social websites, blogs and media sites and music industry professionals have gotten me pretty far.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is It OK for Hotel Staff to Wear Piercings and Tattoos?

By
Time has changed. I see more and more college students wearing piercings and tattoos nowadays, but is it OK for hotel staff to wear piercings and tattoos? The answer is “no, no, no.” According a report at USAToday.com, customers across the board do not want to see any hotel workers with pierced eyebrow, pierced tongue, tattooed arm, or nose ring. Some may argue that tattooed and pierced workers may seem more acceptable in edgy boutique hotels as compared to the big franchised hotels, but the survey results did not find any differences among a variety of lodging products. Many respondents believe people who wear visible tattoos and piercings are taking a high risk of their professional lives. If you stay in a hotel, do you mind being served by tattooed and/or pierced staff? What if you are the one who makes the hiring decision? References: USAToday.com: http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok08042010 Picture was downloaded from http://tinyurl.com/linchikwok08042010P
28 comments
Read more

Where Coffee Meets Culture: My Experience with Orientation, Socialization, and Culture at Dutch Bros (by Karina Martinez)

By
When people think of Dutch Bros, they usually picture colorful drinks, loud music, free stickers, and baristas so friendly they’ll jump in the car with you.  As someone who has had the opportunity to work for Dutch Bros, I can say that the energy customers feel isn’t an act; it is the result of intentional and effective HR practices that are focused on orientation, socialization, and culture. From your very first day, you experience how these practices shape the entire Dutch experience.  Orientation, Socialization, Culture   In HR management, orientation is the introduction of the role and company to new hires. This is intended to help them feel welcomed and informed. Socialization goes beyond the initial training process; it’s how new hires grasp the organization’s values, behaviors, and traditions over time. Together, these fun...
5 comments
Read more

Average/Below-Average Looking People Can Earn as Much as the Attractive Ones

By
Research has shown that attractive people can not only charm interviewers (and thus get hired easier), they are also more likely to earn more as compared to those with average or below-average looks. Accordingly to a Wall Street Journal report , attractive people can earn 3% - 4% more than a person with below-average look. If such difference adds up over a person’s lifetime, an attractive person can earn up to $230,000 more than an ugly worker; even an average-looking person can make $140,000 more. Another relevant Wall Street Journal report also suggests that workers who exercise regularly can earn 9% more than those who do not. If that is the fact (I believe it is), is it legal? Can employers do that? Linchi Kwok and Otto @SyracuseU Career Fair To my knowledge, no law or regulation under EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) considers a person’s look as a protective class. It is true that people in general have an idea of what kind of person they feel attract...
33 comments
Read more