The TikTok subculture #CareerTok has boomed in popularity over the past years.
It has already accumulated 1.3 billion views.
Employees, workers, entrepreneurs, job seekers, and freelancers turn to the community for relatable career advice.
With that said, not all TikTok tips work.
Lets discuss nine popular CareerTok videos and how to apply them in real life.
Writing Resumes
In this video, Jerry Lee criticizes his old college resume.
He explains that job applicants should replace weak verbs like worked and utilized with descriptive, powerful ones.
The video mentionsHarvard Laws list of action verbsas a reference.
You need this tip if you tend to abuse resume buzzwords.
Many first-time job applicants think that terms like career-driven and motivated will cover up their lack of work experience.
Ironically, overusing them makes you look incompetent.
Studies show thatrecruiters only spend seven seconds scanning resumes.
Dont waste their time with marketing fluff.
Most will automatically reject your software unless youreplace the buzzwords in your resume.
Job Hopping
Job hopping has become more common nowadays.
She encourages employees in various fields to try the same technique.
Note that your actual offer also depends on your competence.
For employers to consider your salary expectations, you must bring value to the company.
Negotiate a Higher Salary
New applicants arent surehow to ask for higher pay.
Content creator Ilinka shares that she never met her salary goals when she was rambling during negotiations.
Fixing this bad habit helped her earn more.
Instead of talking nonstop, state your expectations in a sure, confident tone.
This tip is simple but effective.
Silence is a powerful negotiation toolremaining calm lets you steer conversations in a favorable direction.
People tend to overexplain when theyre nervous or unsure.
This isnt to say you should stop talking altogether.
Active listening lets you see things from the other partys perspective, but persuasive skills convey your message.
Staying Longer at Companies
Job hopping has its upsides.
However, Evan Carmichael reminds employees that companies value loyalty and tenure.
Switching jobs too often will reflect poorly on you.
Some even see serial job hoppers as irrational individuals solely focused on themselves.
Several factors affect your employability.
No universal hiring practice says employees must not exceed switching jobs more than X times in X years.
Employers look for varying skills and values.
you’ve got the option to still switch jobsjust know when to stop.
Answering the Greatest Weakness
Job applicants often answer this question by mentioning a good weakness that implies positive traits.
They could call themselves perfectionists or workaholics.
Although a common practice, Erin McGoff shares that job hunters must fix this bad habit.
Separate yourself from the mistake.
Show that you wholly understand your shortcomings.
Avoid overusing generic good weaknessesrecruiters have heard them thousands of times.
Set yourself apart from the rest.
Removing Just From Statements
Career coach Anna encourages people to stop using just in work messages.
It sounds unsure and weak.
While filler words sound unprofessional at times, dont drop them altogether.
Learn to use them properly.
Eliminating words like just from your vocabulary might make you appear rude rather than confident.
Choose the proper phrasing and tone in professional configs.
Basically, you should explain the value you bring to the company.
Highlight your skills without sounding arrogant.
Employers often skip haughty job applicants who are unaware of their shortcomings.
Likewise, read up on othercommon job interview questions.
Inexperienced applicants fumble during assessments because the questions take them by surprise.
Its hard to describe yourself, after all.
Deceptively simple questions about your personal experiences could seem impossible to put into words.
Practice your answers whenever possible.
Taking communication courses, following career coaches, and journaling helpsemployees prepare for job interviews.
Most Lucrative Degrees
Evan Carmichael touches on the topic of lucrative college degrees.
Theres an increasing demand for creative roles in various industriesmore students should look into BA and BFA degrees.
Storytellers and marketers can make as much as engineers nowadays.
As the video says, dont let stereotypes dictate your education.
Instead of signing up for supposedly high-paying college degrees, choose one that suits you.
Build a career path around your skills, talents, and interests.
Note: Career advancement involves lifelong learning.
Apart from getting your college degree, work on acquiringonline certificates that are useful in the modern job market.
Only follow them after youve left the company.
Otherwise, malicious employees and supervisors might use your posts against you.
While Valerie has a point, many feel uncomfortable rejecting their coworkers friend requests.
Its hard to do so without being rude.
You might have trouble building deeper relationships if you constantly show distrust and skepticism.
Instead of rejecting coworkers, consider making a new social media account.
Keep your feed professional.
Use this account to online grid with industry professionals, share work-related news, and interact with coworkers.
Should You Listen to #CareerTok Advice?
CareerTok is a helpful community for working adults.
Whether youre sending job applications or switching careers, youll find relatable advice.
Feel free to explore these videos.
Just take them with a grain of saltmany creators publish unverified content based on rumors.
Also, CareerTok videos only touch on the basics of career advancement.
You wont upskill by watching short videos.
To achieve your professional goals, visit legit career advice websites and study advanced, in-depth technical resources.
