Social media is no longer a way to connect with friends and share funny memes. It has become an integral part of modern business and personal branding strategies. 

For recent graduates entering the job market, having up-to-date social media skills is valued by today’s employers, so mastering these skills can help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of securing a job. 

This article explores what it means to be proficient in social media platforms in the business world and why grasping how to communicate effectively on them is an asset.

Boost recruitment opportunities

Social media has transformed the way companies recruit talent and promote their brands. Platforms like LinkedIn have become essential tools for job seekers and recruiters alike, allowing them to connect and share career opportunities. In fact, LinkedIn had 42.2 million users in April 2024, so optimising your social media profile to align with a career you’re interested in, and to be more visible in, can be incredibly worthwhile. 

Having an active and effective social media presence can help you to connect with professionals in your desired industry, learn from them, and share relevant content to network with industry members. However, it’s not just about having a presence on platforms, rather that you need to understand how to effectively use them to showcase your skills or any relevant job experience.

Beyond LinkedIn, companies are increasingly using social media channels like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter / X to connect with their target audiences. As a graduate, demonstrating an understanding of how these platforms work and how to create engaging content for them can, therefore, be a significant advantage.

Engage with companies 

If you are interested in a particular company or have registered job alerts to be sent to you, and even applied for a job somewhere, you’ll want the company to remember you. The simplest way to make your presence known is by following their social media pages and engaging with their posts. 

Engaging with online communities can also help to expand your professional network and grow your knowledge in a specific field. However, avoid over-engaging with or commenting too much, and only respond to posts that genuinely interest you.

Know your online community

There are, however, some key social media skills to develop whatever industry you’re interested in. Rather than wasting your time, work on the right social media skills for the sector or job you’re hoping to get into. Much like a business working in a large industry or niche sector, they’ll choose the right platform for their business. You might need to adapt and keep your career goals in mind. 

Social media platforms are effective and the posts and content you post can be shaped and considered depending on an industry or role. Above all else, knowing your audience and the online community is paramount. If you’re writing a blog for a sports site, make sure it’s easy to read and formatted correctly to share on multiple channels. It also needs to be informative and clear, especially if you’re demonstrating something like how to hit a chip shot to golfers.

Keep posts professional 

Learn how to communicate effectively and professionally across all social media platforms. In a survey, 71% of employers said that good communication on channels is one of the most important skills for their business. Furthermore, be mindful of the community you’re engaging with, the followers you have, and post responsible content. 

Understanding how to create respectful and compelling posts for different platforms and industry settings is important, whether you’re using images, videos, and blogs or a combination of them. Employers value how their employees tackle stressful situations and online crisis management is a key skill. Likewise, knowing how to respond to positive and negative comments in a timely manner to show you can handle a social media crisis.

Similarly, be mindful that any content posted is not culturally offensive and is always inclusive. Digital platforms and online engagement can be a powerful and positive medium for attracting disadvantaged people into underrepresented sectors or to sign up for activities and ventures that they wouldn’t have previously considered was suitable for them.. 

Master popular platforms 

Adjusting your posts and social media behaviour accordingly is a skill to develop whether you’re using online channels for personal or professional reasons. Mastering popular social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter / X, and LinkedIn and familiarising the best practices for each platform can help. 

From an employer’s perspective, it’s great to demonstrate a deep understanding of how different social media channels work and what audiences they cater to. This might include posting schedules, hashtag usage, and learning a variety of content formats. It is also important to achieve the right personal and professional balance on social media.

Enhance your job search

Social media skills are not only valuable for companies but can also benefit graduates in their job search process. If you’re applying for a job or preparing for an interview, social media platforms and online resources can support your career moves. They are useful research tools for finding out about a company or gaining further insights that you can use to tailor your job search, application or interview.

Facebook is the top social media platform with over two billion active daily users, so building a strong online presence can help to showcase your skills, experience, and personality online. For example, posting a visually appealing online portfolio on social media can be a successful way to share your creative work, ideas, and talents.

If you are proficient in creating engaging content on social media channels, you can have a significant advantage over your peers. However, with platforms constantly evolving or existing ones falling out of favour, stay up-to-date with the latest trends. By mastering social media skills, you’ll increase your chances of securing a dream job and set yourselves up for long-term success in an increasingly digital world.

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Thank you to Dakota for writing this blog!

Dakota Murphey is an established freelance writer who regularly contributes to a number of authoritative resources online. She specialises in eCommerce, Digital Business, Marketing, Public Relations, Human Resources, Company Growth and Cybersecurity.

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