Career – Boost Your Career Through Social Media

Go beyond the number of followers, likes, shares and retweets by using the power of social media to make your career soar!

“It started from a place of anger,” says Kaya FM presenter and medical doctor, Dr Sindi van Zyl. “I joined Twitter in February 2011. I used to tweet about public sector facilities and systems that weren’t working. A Twitter user called Nyakallo Lephoto, messaged me one day and suggested I change my stance from complaining to educating. That was my Aha! moment and I haven’t looked back since!” Today, the Sidebar with Sindi presenter has a whopping 124 000 followers on Twitter and credits this to being consistent about what she talks about. “I’ve narrowed my medical tweets down to a handful of diseases. Now I focus primarily on HIV and refer other questions to my colleagues on the timeline,” she adds. The doctor says that social media has opened many doors for her – including the one at Kaya FM. “Since radio is my first love, I jumped at the opportunity to be a guest presenter for Influential Fridays at the station on 3 November 2017. Two years later, I’m hosting my own show and talking about matters close to my heart.”

NEW BRIDGE

Van Zyl is not the only one who has used social media to advance her career. A number of young people are finding employment through digital platforms. Did you know that comedian, presenter and actor Moshe Ndiki, also known as Prince on Mzansi Magic’s The Queen, started off his career journey on YouTube? He’d been unemployed after graduating and his friend suggested they post a random video that he had made on YouTube. More than 16 000 YouTube subscribers and 300 000 Instagram followers later, he quips, “The rest, as they say, is history.”

Digital media entrepreneur and founder of ClubSheIs.com Kopano Shimange says the digital world has created opportunities that reach thousands of people at a very low cost.

“The barriers of entry are low. All you need is a smart device and an internet connection. If you have a message or mission, you can get it out there and make a profit from it,” adding that South Africa is just scraping the surface of opportunities. “There are no age barriers or a need for specific qualifications. You just need to put in the work to make things happen,” she says.

TWEETING WHAT YOU LIKE

However, do keep in mind that social media can affect your reputation. Sibonginkosi Mlalazi, social media manager at Ingenious HD, says you can learn a lot about people’s behavioural patterns from what they post on online social networks, and that prospective employers “stalk” candidates to learn a bit more about them before setting up an interview.

Shimange agrees, adding that social media is a place where users are uninhibited, which reflects their priorities and true personalities. “This gives employers insight into a person’s character and mindset – you can check to see if that aligns with the type of person they want to hire. When people go to interviews, they are polished and well-prepared, but on social media, people are quite transparent about their priorities through their posts,” she says. Employers use that information to judge candidates based on their actions rather than what they say during their interviews, Shimange cautions.

GROW YOUR BRAND

Social media is a great platform to shape and influence what people know about you. Shimange suggests you first decide what you want people to know. “Draw a line between what you will and won’t do, and then take it from there,” she says.

And be deliberate about what you post, Shimange emphasises. “Don’t just post for the sake of posting. Know what message you want to get out and make sure all your content is aligned with that,” she says. If, like cookbook author Mogau Seshoene – founder of The Lazy Makoti who has 100 000 followers on Instagram – you want to get noticed in a specific field or industry, then you must post relevant content. “You need to bring something unique to the table,” Shimange advises. “What services can you offer people? Will you help them for a fee? You need to be clear about what you can offer.”

Mlalazi stresses the importance of increasing your visibility on professional platforms such as LinkedIn to connect with like-minded people. “Engage in industry-related conversations as this helps position you as an expert, and provides you with more relevant opportunities. Join groups on platforms centred around a topic of interest – you’ll get to interact with and learn from other professionals, which does go a long way,” Mlalazi recommends.

CONVERT ‘LIKES’ TO WORK

To further boost chances of getting money-making opportunities, you need to be careful with how loud you are on ‘Black Twitter’, or consider how the controversial topics you engage in may harm your prospects. People are watching, whether you like it or not, and you don’t want doors to close in your face because of your online archives. Social media is your digital CV. Van Zyl advises that the best way to reach success through social media, is by finding topics you’re passionate about, consistent content and patience. You never know who might reach out.

With this said, social media influencer, Kefilwe Mabote, couldn’t have put it better when she stated, “know your worth, and then add tax.”