From quiet quitting to lazy girl jobs, it’s clear that social media is influencing the way we work — and there is always a new work phenomenon that gets people talking.
As well as starting new workplace trends, TikTok has become a common place for job-seekers to get advice on challenging topics like discrimination or taxes.
A recent survey by Resume Builder of 1,000 Gen Z TikTok users found that 70% encountered career advice weekly. A further 41% said they had made a career-related decision based on TikTok advice.
But not all advice is good advice. Researchers at the Swiss Financial Institute analysed finance tips from 29,000 social media accounts and found that more than half of the influencers were "anti-skilled" — meaning that following their advice would likely lead to losing money.
Read more: Why workers may be hardwired to 'quiet quit'
So what are the pros and cons of following TikTok advice — and are there any tips you should actively avoid?
Networking opportunities and job offers
Although there are some networking events to meet peers in-person, most connections are now made online. Networking is crucial in job searching, and social media platforms like LinkedIn and TikTok have revolutionised how professionals connect.
According to research by Resume Builder, four in five Gen Zers have used TikTok to network and 15% have received a job offer for an opportunity they found on TikTok.
“We have to remember that the biggest demographic consuming the likes of CareerTok is Gen Z,” says Victoria McLean, CEO & founder of award-winning career consultancy City CV. “For them, social media is woven into every facet of their lives. Using these platforms to glean career insights or have vulnerable conversations about the workplace is more than just convenient — it’s a given.”
TikTok can provide a sense of community to talk about tricky subjects with like-minded people, like how to navigate a pay rise and maintain a work-life balance.
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“It feels safer, more authentic, especially for those in the early stages of their career who need a quick way to gain confidence,” says McLean.
“When this content is delivered correctly by bona fide experts, social media is a fantastic way to democratise career knowledge and offer diverse perspectives. Sadly, this often isn’t the case.”
Legitimacy of influencers
No matter how career influencers might describe themselves in their online bios, there is simply no way of knowing if they’re credible.
“The biggest downside for me is that the quality of career and financial advice circulating on social media is pretty poor,” says McLean. “This leads to all sorts of issues — a meteoric rise in misinformation, candidates getting rejected for interviews, or even losing their jobs as a result of following this questionable advice.”
Another problem is that the advice on offer is general, rather than tailored to a person’s specific needs. General advice can be helpful for reflecting on a problem, but any decisions need to be carefully thought-through before actions are taken.
“I urge candidates to practise caution when taking career advice from TikTok or Instagram,” McLean adds. “If they’re struggling with a real problem, they’d be far better off in the hands of a qualified expert who knows what they’re talking about and can provide tailored, actionable advice.”
TikTok advice can limit authenticity
Many social media influencers offer interview tips for job seekers. However, when this content is viewed by thousands of hopeful candidates, people end up using the same approaches.
Sophie O’Brien, Gen Z hiring expert and founder of Pollen Careers, says people may end up "copying and pasting" advice — making it difficult for them to stand out.
“We’re seeing many candidates who take career advice from TikTok adopt a ‘copy and paste’ approach when it comes to interview guidance,” says O’Brien. “Many will use answers and end-of-interview questions that TikTok creators suggest, in the hopes that this will make them stand out, when in reality, it has the opposite effect.”
Instead, O’Brien advises job seekers to really think about why you want the role, why you want to work at the company, and what you can bring to the job in terms of your experiences and achievements.
Is there any advice in particular that is risky?
One tip to avoid is following a "quantity over quality" approach to job applications, according to O’Brien.
“We’ve recently seen advice on TikTok before telling candidates to apply to as many jobs as you can to secure a role, suggesting that finding a job is a numbers game, and the more applications you send, the more likely you are to be hired,” she explains.
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The problem with this is that employers can spot a genetic or irrelevant application and will likely reject it. And, if you end up with a job that isn’t applicable to your skills or interests, you may end up hating it.
“Instead, we advise you to really think about what you want from an employer and a job, and start researching companies that align with that,” says O’Brien.
Additionally, employees and former employees have increasingly turned to social media to publicise allegations of toxic, abusive, or discriminatory workplace environments, making it more difficult for employers to get away with poor behaviour.
There’s no question that speaking out about workplace problems is important. However, it’s worth considering the personal implications of whistleblowing.
“There’s a real risk that people who engage in call-out behaviour, like recording their redundancy meeting and posting it online, will miss out on future opportunities because a recruiter saw their video and labelled them a potential hazard,” says McLean. “There may be other avenues for resolving conflicts, like seeking legal advice, mediation or using internal grievance procedures.”
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