TikTok Is Helping A Majority Of Young Professionals Build Careers
In today’s fast-paced job market, career advice is coming from a variety of sources. Many used to get their advice from professors, career counselors, or LinkedIn posts – but today, it turns out that a majority of job-seeking young adults are turning to advice on social media.
TikTok, the app that used to have a reputation as a platform for dance trends and viral challenges, has evolved into a career coaching hub for Gen Z and millennials. A recent survey conducted on behalf of Youngstown State University found that, all-in-all, 66% of Gen Z young professionals have reported using advice from TikTok for career or job search advice.
The study showed that nearly one in five respondents said they’ve used TikTok as a “career cushion,” – quietly preparing for layoffs or job changes by upskilling, saving job leads, or searching in stealth mode. Hashtags like #jobsearch, #resumetips, and #careertok are fueling this movement, with 30% of young professionals modifying their resumes based on TikTok content.
In industries like tech and healthcare, more than half of respondents said they’ve tapped into the app for career guidance, and nearly one in four tech professionals reported landing a job thanks to TikTok.
THE FLIP SIDE TO TIKTOK CAREER ADVICE
While the app is giving valuable career advice, the study also found that one in three young professionals admitted feeling behind in their job search after seeing others post success stories. “I saw all of their internships and experience … and immediately felt like I was 10 steps behind everyone else in my classes,” says Hazel Polanco, a University of Illinois student, on the site Her Campus, a digital media site for college women.
The pressure to “aestheticize” the process – curating perfect resumes, LinkedIn updates, and job offer announcements – has become a real source of stress. In fact, 8% of respondents said they took a break from TikTok due to job-search burnout. Still, 64% said the advice they found on the app had never backfired, which is a testament for the effectiveness of the advice offered on the platform. While the platform may be imperfect and have negative effects for some, it’s still a valuable tool for many.
Interestingly, TikTok’s rise as a career resource hasn’t dethroned traditional platforms. LinkedIn remains the most trusted source for job search advice, followed by Indeed and Glassdoor. Communities like Reddit and peer networks also play a strong role, while only 16% of young professionals said they trust TikTok most for career guidance. As the digital content creation site ForCreators notes, the app’s appeal lies in its authenticity — creators speak directly to their audience, offering real-world insight in a format that feels relatable and refreshingly unfiltered.
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