The “I Have a New Job” Announcement Art

The entire "I have a new cool job!" job announcement thing on social media is one enormous trend that I've totally missed out on over the previous 12 years.

I've never had a new job in the social media age since I began as an independent social media consultant 12 years ago. "Hey, I got a new job!" I never got to say. I feel like I've been robbed!

However, jokes aside, this has become a really serious matter on which many people have spent a great deal of time and thought. In fact, it seems that TWO postings are becoming the norm.

The first is announcing your departure from your present employment and thanking everyone you've worked with throughout your time there. The second is an announcement of your new employment. I'm exhausted just thinking about how much effort everyone has put into this!

In all seriousness, this social media job posting stuff has now become an important aspect of our professional life. So, I though I'd spend some time today discussing how I would approach this if I were changing professions in 2022 (since I'm sure a lot of others would be doing so in the next year!). As you work on your announcement, consider the following five questions.

Is it really worth it to go through all of this? Is it really necessary for me to promote my new job on social media? Is anybody going to notice?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes People really care about you finding a new job–even if they are unaware of your quest. So, at the very least, you should consider creating a rudimentary announcement.

What are the best channels to share it on?

That depends on your target demographic and the social media platforms you use. For practically everyone (at least in the PR/comms/social industry), I'd recommend LinkedIn.

After all, it's on that channel that breaking news like this makes sense to broadcast! So, at the very least, LinkedIn. If you're a power user and, more than likely, if you're a little older, consider Facebook as well.

Although Instagram makes sense, I don't notice many fresh job postings there. Twitter is the same way. TikTok is appealing to the younger generation, and you may have a lot of fun with it. Finally, I believe it's LinkedIn plus one other place where you're very engaged.

Is it truly necessary for me to send two messages?

I'm going to say "no" right now. In reality, I believe that two messages is a little excessive (and this is just my opinion). Wait till you start your new work and then send out a single message announcing everything.

What should I mention in my message, specifically?

Start with the good news: YOU'VE GOTTEN A NEW JOB! After you've shared those crucial information, follow up with your old employer (assuming you parted ways amicably; heck, even if you didn't, it's still a good idea to recognize them). Thank your supervisor and coworkers for assisting you in growing and learning at that company–after all, every job is a chance to learn.

No one succeeds in this profession by himself, so make sure you thank a lot of people. While you're thanking folks, make a special note of those who were very helpful throughout the job hunt.

They'll appreciate it, and you'll most likely need to contact them again later in your career. Finally, demonstrate your enthusiasm for the new work by discussing WHY you are thrilled and what you are looking forward to.

This will energize your new team! Above everything things, keep your message modest. It bears noting that no one succeeds in our industry without the assistance of a large number of individuals.

What should I use for a photograph? Should I consider video?

I wouldn't go with a video for a post like this; I believe a snapshot works better. And, ideally, if you have the corporate sign/logo, the money shot.

For example, when I announced that I would be beginning as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota in the autumn, I shared this photo of Goldy and myself at the West Bank mall (widely recognized by anyone who lives in Minnesota).

That's exactly what I'd do. But, in the end, this is a personal decision. You are not obligated to post your news on social media. And no, you are not required to have a photo of yourself with the corporate logo.

Job changes, on the other hand, are a huge event, and you want to celebrate them. So, have a good time with it and rejoice! Just make sure you acknowledge the folks that assisted you in getting to where you are now.

Thanks to Arik Hanson at Business 2 Community whose reporting provided the original basis for this story.