- TikTok’s role in the future of work is beginning to become more defined.
- TikTok has added #TikTokResumes to its platform, which is designed to enhance users’ chances at securing a job.
- In a Q&A with Allwork.Space, Stephanie Lovell from startup hiring app Hirect explained how TikTok can be used to find employment.
TikTok: The social video app that took the world by storm and the previous American president tried to ban.
In September 2021, TikTok reported 1 billion monthly active users worldwide. The app’s influence has proved to be astounding, and its role in the future of work is beginning to become more defined.
As of 2021, there are more Gen Z users on TikTok than on Instagram; over half of the app’s user base is younger than 24 years old. Comparatively, only 19.3% of Linkedin users belong to Gen Z.
TikTok has added #TikTokResumes to its platform, which is designed to enhance users’ chances at securing a job.
By using TikTok’s easy-to-use and built-in video creating tools, the platform gives job hunters a unique way to discover career opportunities – as well as helping businesses source talent.
TikTok Resumes is a pilot program that has been launched as a way of turning the video-sharing app into a new way of recruiting and discovering employment opportunities.
“Interested candidates are encouraged to creatively and authentically showcase their skillsets and experiences, and use #TikTokResumes in their caption when publishing their video resume to TikTok,” the company said.
How does it work exactly? Well, the new TikTok resume program allows users to search for available job openings, post their video resume as an application, and submit it to the company that’s hiring.
“CareerTok is already a thriving subculture on the platform,” Nick Tran, Global Head of Marketing at TikTok, said. “We can’t wait to see how the community embraces TikTok Resumes and helps to reimagine recruiting and job discovery.”
It would seem that for some Gen Z job seekers, they’re looking to TikTok, rather than LinkedIn, to find jobs.
Stephanie Lovell, Head of Marketing at startup hiring app Hirect, has seen this not only with her team, but also with the companies Hirect works with to help recruit.
In a Q&A with Lovell, she explained just how TikTok can be used to find employment.
Allwork.Space: How are Gen Z job seekers using TikTok in their searches?
Lovell: TikTok has become incredibly popular among Gen Z and with that, has evolved into a primary resource for this generation for career advice and searches – whether through short-form videos from businesses themselves or tips from hiring experts. This is layered in with the other content they are consuming on TikTok and is in a format that is more digestible than other mediums.
Because TikTok’s user base is predominantly Gen Z, it is logical that companies and influencers use it to connect with this group. Even at Hirect, we’ve had several recent hires who reported their first interactions with our brand were through content we posted on TikTok.
Allwork.Space: Is LinkedIn becoming obsolete for Gen Z’s startup job searching?
I do not believe that LinkedIn will become obsolete, however we may see a move away from these traditional platforms. Gen Z and younger generations of job seekers do not see the same value in LinkedIn – which is solely focused on professional networking – as they do on the other channels they are actively using already, especially if they can find new opportunities and job advice on those platforms already.
Allwork.Space: How have interviews and hiring processes changed?
While there have been major strides, transparency in the hiring process still has room for improvement. While New York and other places have introduced legislation in support of salary transparency – and at Hirect, we require all job postings to include a pay band – it is not standard, and in many cases, these topics are taboo. However, with the pandemic, the move toward virtual hiring has led to slightly more informal processes as our personal and professional lives blur.
Allwork.Space: What are some hiring trends across generations and business sectors?
Regardless of the sector or generation, the future of hiring will be largely digital. The advantages include increased efficiency, convenience, and cost-effectiveness to both candidates and companies.
Taking it a step further, we’re seeing hiring happening now in the metaverse; a few weeks ago, Hirect hosted the first career fair in the metaverse, and I anticipate we’ll see more events like this happening in digital environments.
It will be interesting to see how the future pans out, but if TikTok keeps growing, it will be interesting to watch its use in job searches and hiring continue to develop.
