Platforms like LinkedIn facilitate the accumulation of social capital. Unlike traditional networking, social media allows for "weak ties"—connections with acquaintances or strangers—which are often the primary source of new job opportunities.
Now for the good news. Hiding your profiles isn't the solution. Leveraging them is.
Gone are the days when you needed a personal website or a publisher to prove your expertise. Your LinkedIn feed, your X (Twitter) threads, and even your TikTok videos are your new portfolio. OnlyFans.2023.Nana.Taipei.Christmas.Special.XXX...
"Don’t post what you feel. Post what you know."
| If you want to be seen as… | Post this… | Avoid this… | |---------------------------|-------------|--------------| | A Leader | Lessons learned, case studies, helpful frameworks | Complaints about your team | | A Learner | Questions, summaries of courses, "Day 1 of learning X" | Fake expertise or copy-paste trends | | A Hirable Pro | Portfolio snippets, process videos, work wins | Company confidential info or salary rants | Example: A junior developer who tweets their coding
Internal promotions are political. External opportunities are based on reputation. When you consistently share smart content, recruiters come to you. You stop applying for jobs and start choosing between offers.
When used intentionally, social media is a rocket fuel for your career: The rise of the "Creator Economy" has created
Example: A junior developer who tweets their coding journey daily gets hired faster than a senior with no online presence.
The rise of the "Creator Economy" has created a new career trajectory where social media content is the product.
Scholars note that individuals are now "entrepreneurs of the self." By curating content, professionals can establish themselves as thought leaders.