Social Media Influencer: The Career Aspiration for Gen Z
More than half of Gen Zers surveyed expressed a desire to become influencers, compared to 41% of adults in other age groups.
The job market is constantly changing, and with artificial intelligence growing, the job landscape is likely to evolve even further. So what are the careers chosen by young people today? Is it a doctor, engineer, creative profession or CEO?
The answer is no. For Gen Z, one industry that reigns supreme is "social media influencing."
According to a recent report by Morning Consult, which surveyed more than 2,000 adults in the US, 57% of Gen Z said they would like to become an influencer if given the opportunity, compared to 41% of adults. all ages.
TikTok is now considered the leading platform for promoting products through influencers among Gen Z and Millennial consumers.
According to a 2022 survey by influencer marketing firm IZEA, TikTok is now considered the top platform for promoting products through influencers among Gen Z and millennial consumers Millennials.
The survey, which involved more than 1,200 US consumers and took place in December 2022, also found that 42% of young respondents use TikTok while looking for recommendations before making purchases important, while only 25% said they consulted friends and family. (YouTube is second with 40%.)
TikTok has also made being an influencer a viable career .
Simple, direct and minimally edited content works well on TikTok, so it has expanded the number of people who feel they can increase their influence.
With the popularity of the Internet over the past 25 years, the job market we enter today is significantly different. On the one hand, with the democratization of information, Gen Z has the ability to access more information than any generation in history to build their careers. This is why you can see kids as young as 14 or 15 years old running online businesses and generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue, while Gen Z is the generation with the highest entrepreneurial spirit. ever.
In 2020, recruiters analysed resumes for an average of 6 seconds before making a decision to hire a candidate. The average job today also receives 250 applications for a role. Companies like Microsoft and Google receive two million job applications annually.
Now, Gen Z's hearts need to be stronger to enter the workforce amid a global recession, a fierce job market, and an uncertain future over the next few years.
With all these factors in mind, it's no wonder we aspire to or pursue less traditional career paths like entrepreneurs or influencers.
Influencers play a very important role in shaping the daily lives of Gen Z. They are definitely the celebrities of this generation, so it is not surprising that young people consider this a desirable career path. It's important to note that smaller creators are also making a lot of money. Because of all the monetisation options available, smaller creators are making money from advertising, brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, selling their content, and even from courses or their own brand.
Change is happening and influencers are playing a role in how young people view education and future careers.