How I Got a Job in Social Media

I get a lot of questions when I’m out and about, but the one I get the most is how I got my job. WCNC asked me (most important takeaway: a top-down camera angle will make you look like Jabba the Hut’s girlfriend) and The Charlotte Observer wants me to help others learn how to find jobs at an upcoming conference.

The truth is, I don’t know how you can get a job in social media, but I can tell you the steps I took to get my job as a social media specialist at Duke Energy, a challenging, rewarding job I really love. Here are the things I did:

Spent Lots of Time Reading, Listening and Learning

I’m a professional interrupter (read: not a great listener), but I squashed my garrulous tendencies long and often enough to spend plenty of time listening to what others ahead of me on the learning curve (and there are plenty) had to say. And I asked lots of questions, zipping my lip when people were gracious enough to answer.

Took on Clients Before I Thought I was Ready

Don’t call yourself an expert if you don’t want to, but go ahead and take on a client or two. You won’t be able to bill $150/hour, but you’ll take away at least that much in learnings. Social media for business use is far more challenging than it is for personal use. And the questions you get will surprise you, opening your eyes to how early we are in this evolution.

Networked Like Crazy

And I mean like crazy. My kids thought my hair had grown completely over my face because all they saw was the back of my head as I tapped away online, or walked away to a gathering or event. Online networking can open doors, but it doesn’t replace face-to-face meetings. Live it.

Put Myself Out There

This was the hardest part for me, because I rarely think I have anything earth-shattering enough to warrant sharing via formal presentation. But when people asked me to come talk to  a group – any group – about anything related to social media, I forced myself to say yes. Waging your own personal PR campaign will put you on the fast track.

Asked for Help

We “social media people” are good at offering help but not very good asking for it. If you’re looking for a job, now is the time to call in all that social capital you’ve built with your network. You are building capital, right?

Looked for a Job While I Still had a Job

If you’re lucky enough to have a job, keep it until you find a better fit. Conduct your job search while you’re still employed. It ’s not easy, but it is smart. Especially now. The bonus is that you’ll probably interview better without the specter of unpaid bills drifting around the room.

Recognized and Embraced the Unsexy Side of Social Media

Do not, under any circumstances, believe that social media is “all about the conversation.” As Jason Falls so adeptly pointed out at Social Fresh Nashville in his presentation “Move the Needle,” if you’re not using social media to meet concrete business objectives, then it’s just a hobby.* Not only is no one going to pay you to practice your hobby, you’ll look green and foolish suggesting that they do.

*Thanks to Eric Brown for the hit-it-on-the-head quote