TikTok helped me get a job. No, seriously. When I started applying to internships in fall 2022, my initial approach was very surface-level: find a job opening, submit a resume, and wait to hear back. But after I started watching career advice videos on TikTok, I changed my entire approach, which led to me landing my first professional role.Â
Gen Z college students and recent grads are battling for jobs and internships, filling out hundreds of applications and hoping to stand out among a vast sea of candidates. It doesn’t help that companies all over the country have frozen hiring or completely cut their internship programs this year amid layoffs and economic instability.Â
Thankfully, there’s a corner of TikTok called #CareerTok that is giving Gen Z the tools to land highly-coveted entry-level roles and internships. Early twentysomethings are turning to the app for interview tips, cover letter advice, negotiation tactics, and more to help them land that first internship or post-grad gig. Here are a few top tips that I learned from TikTok, which helped me land a role as a Content Marketing Assistant at Quizlet, a company using AI to help students study.
Develop your personal brand.
As an advertising student, I’ve learned that brand storytelling is not only important for companies, but can also apply to individuals. TikTok agrees with me. Your personal brand makes it easier for employers to figure out what you’re interested in and if you’re a good fit for the organization.
I interviewed with four different companies during my job search, and used this advice to develop some high-level talking points about myself to use in interviews, highlighting my past experience, my background, and my goals.
Send thank you notes.
Make sending thank you emails (or handwritten notes) to your interviewers a habit. Use it as an opportunity to highlight what you learned in the interview, express your interest in the role, and explain how you can bring value to the organization and the team you’d potentially be working with. It’s another great way to stand out in a large pool of interviewers.Â
Network. Network. Network.
Everyone tells you it’s important to network – and they’re right. Connecting with older peers who work in your preferred industry is a great way to get your foot in the door, especially for college students and recent grads. Ask them what their day-to-day is like, and how they worked their way up to their current role.Â
While good grades are important, when it comes to finding a job, experience is everything. Employers looking for entry-level candidates find previous internships and work experience highly valuable, and when hundreds of people are applying for one job opening, it’s important to stand out.Â
I’ve already learned so much in my role as a Content Marketing Assistant at Quizlet. Being in an office setting has taught me how to balance different projects and work cross-functionally with other teams, which is an essential skill in any work environment. I’ve also been able to challenge myself creatively through writing blog posts, developing social media copy, and creating video content.
My position has helped me feel more confident about going into the workforce after I graduate, and I wouldn’t have gotten here if it weren’t for TikTok.Â