It’s no secret: Social media is powerful as a digital tool or online platform. This is why it has over five million active users globally—that’s nearly 63% of the worldwide population.
But did you know that social media isn’t only used for personal and business interactions?
Both professionals and even graduates can use this platform to find a job and establish their careers. Whether LinkedIn, Facebook, or TikTok, these channels can offer wonderful opportunities, from personal branding to professional networking.
This page tackles the use of social media for career growth. As a graduate looking to build your career, get expert advice from business leaders below. Read on!
The Use of Social Media for Career Growth
In general, social media isn’t necessarily a job search platform or a career website. Unless, of course, we’re talking about LinkedIn for job search, professional networking, and business connections. However, you can take advantage of social media channels to help build your career as a fresh graduate. Here’s how:
- Personal branding: Nearly 90% of people say a strong professional brand is key to career success. Your social media profiles can help establish your brand, especially as a fresh graduate. Employers actually check profiles to screen job candidates.
- Professional networking: Social media channels allow you to connect with other people. LinkedIn is a perfect example of this platform that could help you network with professionals and businesses. Even channels like Facebook and TikTok let you do just that!
- Job search: You can actually use social media to find a job in 2025. Sure, LinkedIn enables you to search for various work opportunities on its platform. However, even Facebook groups post open jobs, while TikTok is actively used for recruitment.
- Freelancing opportunities: LinkedIn doesn’t only post regular jobs but also freelance work. Other social media platforms enable postings for side hustles. That’s why the global gig economy market could grow from $355 billion in 2021 to $1.86 trillion by 2031.
- Knowledge enhancements: Social media is a great platform to learn. Think of YouTube for long videos and TikTok for short clips on various topics. As a fresh graduate, you can use these channels to learn and grow your career.
- Skills development: Social media not only lets you enhance your knowledge but also develops your skills. These channels can help you acquire the top skills employers look for. As a graduate, capitalize on these online resources!
- Industry trend updates: Various niches thrive on social media channels. Using these platforms lets you learn more about and keep up with the industry trends. Let’s take the job market trends in 2025—social media offers lots of resources on these.
Explore some social media platforms you can use for career growth below.
Social Media Channels for Career Development
Social media platforms are all at your disposal. Not only can you use them for personal interactions and business engagements, but you can also use these channels for career development.
Statista cites Facebook as the most popular channel, followed by YouTube as well as Instagram and WhatsApp, as shown below by number of monthly active users (in millions):
As soon as you transition from college to work life, you can use social media to help build your career in the eyes of recruiters and employers.
Wondering what social media channels to use? Here are some:
LinkedIn: Professional networking
LinkedIn has over one billion users worldwide, connecting millions of companies, schools, and professionals across 200 countries. It’s the go-to platform for job hunting, professional networking, and career building.
LinkedIn helps you connect with professionals, showcase your skills, and grow your personal brand. Start optimizing your profile by writing a recent college graduate LinkedIn headline or highlighting your educational attainment.
Facebook: Career opportunities
Facebook is a widely used social media channel, with over three billion active users monthly. This channel lets you reach out and connect with a wide range of people. With this platform, you can post, share, and like pieces of content while engaging with others.
How can you leverage Facebook for your career? This social media platform allows you to engage with businesses and other professionals. You can even check prospective employers on the platform. Even Facebook groups enable recruiters to post available jobs.
Instagram: Personal branding
Instagram is also one of the most popular social media platforms. Launched in 2010 and acquired by Meta in 2012, this platform has evolved from a photo-sharing app into a powerful platform for personal and business engagement.
You can also take advantage of Instagram, but not necessarily for job-hunting or professional networking. However, you can use this channel to build your personal brand. As a fresh graduate, you can showcase what you can bring to the table. Remember, hiring professionals now check social media profiles nowadays.
X (Twitter): Thought leadership
Now aptly called X, Twitter started as a microblogging platform. This social networking site has become a major hub for real-time news, networking, and industry conversations. How can you leverage this platform for career building?
As a fresh graduate, you can establish yourself as a thought leader as young as you are. You can do this by being vocal on social issues and sharing your insights into industry trends. Produce and publish content pieces on the platform to build a professional brand.
TikTok: Skillset showcase
TikTok is a social media app for sharing short videos, making it easy to connect, engage, and interact with others. TikTok recently faced a temporary ban in the U.S. After being shut down for 12 hours, this platform returned online after President-elect Donald Trump vowed to restore it.
There’s no denying the growing popularity of TikTok. In fact, this social media channel is used for recruiting, professional networking, and career building. You can tap into this resource to establish your professional brand and highlight your skillsets, such as freelancing jobs.
Expert Advice for Using Social Media To Grow Your Career
It’s vital to get expert advice on beginning your career after graduation. Why? Finding a job and building a career can be challenging for fresh graduates. You need to set off on the right foot as a budding professional.
Leveraging social media is one great way to establish your career. It lets you create your professional brand, connect with other professionals and creative advertising agencies, and showcase your knowledge and skills. However, you need to be as critical and strategic as possible.
That said, here’s how to grow your career, as shared by business experts:
1. Optimize your profiles for professionalism
As a fresh graduate, you probably have a handful of social media accounts. Before hitting the job market, present yourself well in your profiles, whether on LinkedIn, Facebook, or X. It’s better to start building your brand on all your platforms while you’re still a student. Professionalism is key!
Gary Hemming, Owner & Finance Director at ABC Finance, recommends starting with LinkedIn.
“LinkedIn is the best place to start building your professional presence. Keep your profile polished, highlight your skills, and make sure it reflects your career goals. First impressions matter, and your LinkedIn profile can open doors to new opportunities.”
2. Build and maintain a strong personal brand
It’s best to establish a personal brand on all your social media profiles. Don’t just create profiles for the heck of them; have a brand in mind. Who are you as a professional? What core values, ideals, and principles do you live by? What knowledge and skills can you offer? Remember, seven out of ten employers (70%) use social media to research job candidates.
David Haskins, CEO at WrongfulDeathLawyer.com, highlights the value of personal branding in social media for career development. “Your personal brand sets you apart in a competitive job market. Use social media to showcase your skills, values, and expertise so employers see the real you. A strong, consistent brand can open doors to career opportunities you never expected.”
3. Engage with business leaders and other professionals
Social media is the best platform for stakeholder engagement—it allows you to network with various people. As a fresh graduate, what better way to maximize its potential for your career than to perform professional networking? For instance, create a LinkedIn profile and connect with people in your industry or having the same profession.
Laurence Bonicalzi Bridier, CEO at ArtMajeur by YourArt, suggests connecting with industry leaders and business professionals. “Networking is key to career growth, and social media makes it easier than ever. Connect with industry leaders, engage with their content, and start meaningful conversations. The right connections can lead to mentorships, job opportunities, and valuable insights.”
4. Produce and publish high-quality content
Content is king in the digital world, which practically applies to social media as well. It has the power to educate, engage, and establish authority. Start by producing and publishing various content pieces on social media. For instance, share thought leadership on X, post your artwork on Instagram, join Facebook groups related to your niche, and connect with other LinkedIn professionals in your industry.
Conrad Wang, Managing Director at EnableU, highlights the value of social media content for branding and connections. “Sharing valuable content on social media helps you build your brand and attract the right connections. Whether it’s insights on LinkedIn, creative work on Instagram, or industry discussions on X, quality content positions you as a thought leader. The more you share, the more opportunities come your way.”
5. Showcase work experience and expertise
Did you know? About 70% of leaders claim a workforce skills gap that impacts their business performance. Harness the power of social media to showcase not only your skills but also demonstrate your knowledge. Use these platforms to show your experience and expertise as a fresh graduate. For example, list your relevant training and certifications on LinkedIn, share your articles on Facebook, or upload your promotional videos on TikTok.
Stanislav Khilobochenko, VP of Customer Services at MacKeeper, advises sharing your work experience and expertise on social media platforms. “Social media is a great way to showcase your skills and expertise, even as a fresh graduate. Share your projects, certifications, and insights to show potential employers what you bring to the table. The more you highlight your experience, the more chances of getting hired.”
6. Leverage social media for job hunting
Social media isn’t your regular job search platform or career website (except LinkedIn). However, some channels like Facebook groups and X enable employers to share job postings and even side hustles. This means that you can use these platforms if you’re looking for a job or connecting with employers.
Wojciech Ratajczak, CEO at EssayService says, “Social media isn’t just for networking—it’s a powerful job-hunting tool. Use LinkedIn to find job openings, join Facebook groups for freelance gigs, and stay active on X to catch industry opportunities. The right opportunity might be just one post away.”
Final Words
Social media is a powerful platform for career development and professional growth. You can harness its power for various reasons, from personal branding and professional development to job opportunities and skills development.
That said, consider leveraging social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok for career growth. Follow the expert advice shared by business leaders above, from optimizing your profile to using it for actual job search.
As a fresh graduate, social media can work wonders for your career—harness its power for professional growth and success! Read our blog to get more valuable insights on job opportunities and career development.
