Jobhop Jobhop's blog : How Did Dane Cobain Get His Job In Social Media?
Interviewers note: I had the pleasure of interviewing Dane Cobain who chats about how he got into social media, finding his first job on Gumtree, and how he exclusively used Linkedin to get placed in his second job.
We asked Dane Cobain how he got his job in social media
Hi Dane, how did you get into social media?
By accident, really – I studied creative writing at university and had vague plans to go in to journalism. I worked as an intern at a music festival site for a year which gave me some good experience, and all along I was using social media to promote my own writing online – I spend upwards of twelve hours a day on the internet anyway and so I was always up-to-date with trends. After university I applied for any job that was going, and managed to secure an entry-level spot doing social media for a PR company. From there, I just spent a lot of effort reading up on things online, going to events and generally learning the trade, which combined with hands on experience to make me pretty good at what I do!
Was it something you intentionally wanted to do?
Like most graduates, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do – all I knew was that I wanted to do something that involved a lot of writing. Social media marketing requires more copywriting than you might think, and so I’m happy with where I’ve ended up – it’s a good way to blend my writing skills with my interest in computing and the internet.
Have you got a favourite social media platform?
Each platform is good for different things – I like using Foursquare (although I’m not sure why, it’s just addictive), and I’m on Facebook all of the time to use Facebook chat to keep up with people. I’m also a big fan of Last.Fm – it’s a site which logs the data from the music that you listen to. I set up my profile in 2006, and so I have almost eight years of data, representing the entire development of my music taste. It’s just kind of interesting to know that I’ve listened to my most-played song over 500 times, for example.
Did you actively use social media to source your job or did you use it to attract your job?
I found my first job on Gumtree of all places. I applied for my current job through LinkedIn, and did all of my job-hunting at the time exclusively through LinkedIn.
Are you constantly aware of the comments you make in case it affects your job or future job prospects
Of course, but at the same time it’s basically a requirement for me to be active. I run a blog, make YouTube videos and post a hell of a lot of stuff on Twitter and other public-facing networks – I’m a bit freer on Facebook because my posts are private, but I still don’t say anything that I wouldn’t say in front of my grandmother.
Do you think social media sites changing the way people job seek?
Definitely, and it’s not just social media sites – it’s the internet in general. Consider the guy who made a fake Amazon page for his CV, for example! But in general, LinkedIn is a great way for young professionals to find a new job.
What tips would you give someone who’s thinking of using social media to find a job?
Use LinkedIn and consider blogging about your industry to establish yourself as a thought leader. Also, let your personality come out – that’s what social media is for!
Have you got any tips for someone who would like to get a job in social media marketing?
Yes, get shit-hot at writing, because that’s probably the most important skill. If you let a typo slip by, people will notice – it also looks incredibly unprofessional when a big brand like The Independent keeps making typos, which they do. Also, learn to analyse the data in Google Analytics, and read, read, read! The best way to keep up-to-date with social media trends is to follow sites like Mashable, ReadWriteWeb, TheNextWeb and TechCrunch. Also, if they live in or are willing to relocate to Bucks in the UK, drop me an e-mail – I might know someone with something coming up.
As a social media specialist is there anything you foresee in the world of social media?
More and more people are going to tailor content specifically for the network that it appears on – not enough people do that at the moment. Companies that don’t focus on personalisation, relevance and context will get left behind – also, expect to see more and more smaller businesses making a real impact with social. I would say that ‘mobile is the way forward’, but that’s common knowledge now – the next big shift is likely to be in to wearable computing, but I’m not convinced that any of the devices that are hitting the market in the next couple of years will be enough to swing it.
Dane currently works in social media, managing client accounts and developing long-term strategy plans. He also creates content for both clients and for fst.
Have you used social media to get a job or further your career? Perhaps you now have a social media job title, if that’s the case how did you get into social media? If any of these apply & you’d like to be featured in one of our interviews please email jobhop@jobhop.co.uk
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Julie Bishop Jobhop.co.uk
Picture is of Dane Cobain
In:- Social media