Why Social Media Career Advice Could Be Sabotaging Your Job Search

It’s 10 p.m., and you’re scrolling through TikTok when a video pops up on your screen.

“The cold email I sent that turned into an internship offer,” the text reads.

It feels like a breakthrough—maybe all those hours spent applying for jobs and internships are over. You save the video for later, thinking you’ve found a shortcut to avoid the hard work of crafting your own materials.

However, when it comes to career development, students need to be cautious about relying on social media advice and should instead focus on building personal professional experiences.

The Problem with Social Media Career Content

Social media videos often skip the most crucial part of career growth: introspection. According to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, 36% of young people use social media for career and job decisions, more than official resources like career fairs or university portals.

On TikTok, a platform highlighted in the study, there’s a growing trend called “CareerTok.” The hashtag #careertok has over 176,000 videos covering job-hunting tips, resume-building, and interview strategies.

Catherine Di, a fourth-year computer science and linguistics student, shares that she watches tech-related videos on social media. These clips discuss work culture and offer tips for technical interviews, which she finds motivating. “I’m looking at advice on how to get a job,” she says.

But here’s the catch: these videos can prevent students from doing the necessary self-reflection for career exploration. Heather Loyd, a lecturer in anthropology, emphasizes, “You need to understand what your skills are, what you bring to the table.”

Passively consuming this content might lead students to skip this step, especially when videos promote ready-made templates for things like cold emails or cover letters.

Why Generic Advice Falls Short

Career content on social media is often generic by design. It’s made to appeal to a broad audience, so it lacks personalized feedback tailored to individual circumstances. This one-sided nature means the advice might not fit every student’s unique situation.

Another issue is accessibility: if a popular video suggests questions to ask at the end of an interview, many candidates might use the same ones, which could hurt their performance by making them seem unoriginal.

Better Alternatives to Social Media

Students should center their job search on personal experience and seek qualified advice from sources like career counselors and industry professionals. Kimberly Terrill from the UCLA Career Center notes that counselors provide customized assistance based on their understanding of professional development nuances.

Some argue social media can still be useful, especially for those without access to traditional resources. But if you can’t avoid it, exercise discernment. Jeff Share, a senior lecturer, stresses that media literacy is key: “Understanding the motive and the designs of these tools is essential.”

Prioritize content from creators with established careers in your field, rather than influencers who might prioritize views over accuracy. “A lot of times, they’re going to just tell you whatever they think you want to hear,” Share warns.

In short, avoid the shortcuts promoted on social media. Rely on professional resources and your own experiences for meaningful career exploration. After all, as university students, you don’t have time to waste on unreliable advice.