PRSSA at SIUC

By Carly Dvorak

After our guest speaker presented on Social Media a couple weeks ago, I recently started browsing the various job opportunities that are available. Not only did I find jobs in communications, public relations and marketing, but I also noticed a large number of jobs available that specifically focus on social media.

The Los Angeles Times reported the amount of social media specific jobs has increased by 75 percent in the past year. They also reported about 155 new social media positions are available each month. With the growth of social media playing a huge role in customers’ lives, companies have developed a need for experts in managing their online presence. Companies are becoming eager to reach the 800 million users on Facebook and 200 million on Twitter, so they are starting to hire professionals to do just that.

As a public relations major with an interest in social media, this information is great news to me. However, it is important for me, and others seeking a social media position, to develop the many skills required to land a social media specific job. There are so many college graduates familiar with using social networks, so as public relations students, we need to work hard to stand out.

First, it is important to become extremely familiar with Facebook and Twitter, because these are currently the most popular social networks being used by the public. On Facebook, knowing how to add photos and make posts is not enough. We must learn how to create landing pages, utilize organization fan pages and so much more. Also, become proficient in using the multiple blogging platforms available. Having experience with Blogger and WordPress will show future employers you are comfortable with various ways of using social media. Finally, make sure to stay up to date on social media trends. Because social media is constantly evolving, it is important to do the research and learn the developments as they happen. You can do this by reading social media blogs and experimenting with new platforms on the rise.