The popular platform offers more than dance trends

TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media channels, with a massive 732 million monthly active users around the world as at April 2021. Whether you're a convert, have tried to avoid it, or have dipped your dancing feet into its waters, one thing's for sure: you've certainly heard of it. Whilst it would be all too easy to overlook the platform as Gen Z's private party, the truth of the matter is that it's also a treasure chest of valuable career advice. Yes, you read that last line correctly.

Finding the latest tips, advice and business trends is a cinch when you're on TikTok. If you're itching to see more than lip-synced clips, skincare routines, and trendy dance moves, you've come to the right place. In this guide, we'll take a look at how to find the best advice on the platform, as well as some of the creators you should be checking out.

Explore the right hashtags 

When on TikTok, scrolling through your "For You" page is likely to give you a rainbow variety of content. If you're looking for specifically work-related clips, you're going to need to be more specific in your search. That's where hashtags come into play.

Exploring career-centric hashtags will help you to find the advice, help and support you're looking for. Popular hashtags on the topics include #careerdevelopment, #careeradvice, #leadership, #hr, #training, #nowhiring and #jobsearch.

Follow career coaches on TikTok 

Aside from looking up trending career hashtags, one of the quickest ways to get some handy advice is to follow coaches on the platform. Professional advice has become a huge trend on TikTok, which means that there's no shortage of gurus ready to share. These are some of the top coaches and why you should follow each of them.

J.T. O'Donnell

With a whopping million followers and that signature blue tick, J.T. O'Donnell is a renowned Career Coach and CEO of WorkItDaily.com. Her channel packs a load of advice from how to act in interviews, to what to do when your boss says that you're underperforming, to how to find legitimate remote jobs. Wherever you are in your career, following this career influencer can help you to get quick and easy job-related advice whenever you have some downtime. As a former HR Executive with more than 18 years of industry experience, she is in a prime position to dish out advice. 

If you're looking for one of O'Donnell's videos to get you started, try this clip on what to do when your dream job doesn't pay you enough money. In the short and sweet advice piece, the coach explains why taking a job that doesn't meet your salary expectations is a bad move. As she puts it, "If you really know what you're worth and this doesn't suit your needs, you have to walk away." As hard as it might be to hear that, it's a rule that many of us should be living by.

Cynthia Huang

Next up, let's take a minute to talk about Cynthia Huang, also known as Careerbabe. Her account has become a huge hit, notorious for its real-life advice. In her videos, Huang speaks about her own experiences in the working world, in which she made the career jump she'd been dreaming of. If she can do it, so can you. Having quit her job working in finance at JPMorgan Chase to move into marketing for Benefit Cosmetics, she knows the realities of switching things up.

If you're new to her channel, take a peek at her TikTok post on how to reach people through LinkedIn. Sending a cold message can be intimidating. However, as Huang puts it, it's all about finding a mutual connection. For example, maybe you interned at the same place or went to the same university. Highlighting your similarities will show that you have reached out to them specifically, rather than spamming a load of people on the networking channel. Huang also suggests keeping your message brief and asking a direct question.

Cathryn Patterson

Having been featured in The New York Times, Bloomberg, ABC News, Sparrows, MSN, and Yahoo News, Cathryn Patterson has made a huge name for herself. The ex-tech VP offers advice on how to answer the toughest interview questions out there. Head to her account on TikTok and you'll find a wealth of information on her main profile. Then, go to the link in her bio to find interesting career-led resources including the best certifications to get and how to move forward with 30-, 60-, and 90-day plans.

To kick things off, check out Patterson's video on imposter syndrome. When you're looking for a new role and applying for jobs, it's natural to doubt yourself. We've all been there. However, if you don't believe that you're good enough for a certain position, there's no way that you're going to convince a potential employer that you are. With that in mind, Patterson gives some tips on how to get over this problem, including applying for roles even if you're only 50% qualified ‒ without not being intimidated.

Jenny Logullo

The self-proclaimed "career hype girl," Jenny Logullo boasts tens of thousands of followers on TikTok.  Having founded Workplace Worth Academy™, the Career Coach specialises in working with solopreneurs and creative workers. On her channel, you can expect a range of job-search advice, including how to deal with job-search paralysis and how to create an interview-winning cover letter.

One of Lugullo's most insightful video series is on personal branding. Many professionals don't understand or appreciate its significance. In her introduction to the topic, Logullo explains how building up a personal brand can make a big difference when it comes to your career prospects. As she says, it helps to create a sense of trust and consistency and means that you stand for something. When potential employers see all of the above, you're sure to pique their interest.

The takeaway

Next time you're idly scrolling through TikTok, why not gain some advice along the way? By exploring some niche hashtags and following these creators, you can get some additional career support. There are hundreds more qualified voices offering advice on the platform, but this list is a good place to start. So get scrolling!

TopCV is here to offer CV advice as well. Click here to get free feedback on your CV.

Recommended reading:

Related Articles: