Social media is fast becoming an avenue for individuals to find opportunities, connect with like minds and promote their businesses.
Apps like LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and even Whatsapp provide space for women and men to position themselves in a manner where they can find career improvement in ways that may not be accessible.
Women’s online communities are also becoming a method for women to create an online space free of the toxicity often noticed in mixed online spaces.
These spaces also provide women with the tools to push their careers forward whilst in a shared space of sisterhood.
In our latest listicle, Urban Woman Magazine asked some women to share if and how social media and women’s communities improved their careers and self development.
Read their responses below.
KNA
Absolutely.
Got my first freelancing gig via social media and women communities like The Emecheta Collective.
Putting myself out there has not been easy but in this age and time you have to.
I’ve gotten a lot of jobs from social media platforms.
Recently, I got to do an interview from Pulse cause someone saw my LinkedIn and reached out.
These are more effective ways to land a job now unlike the old traditional ways of submitting CVs. A lot of recruiters want to see your work before they hire you and social media is one way you can prove yourself to them.
LL
Yes
My first paid article was for a magazine that someone recommended me for on The Emecheta Collective; the editor was also on the group.
It’s still surreal to me.
EV
I’ve gotten jobs and myriad other gigs from TEC and other women’s groups I’m in. Women are generally the only ones who’ve taught me how to fish and still given me fish.
IK
Women only groups have helped me a lot and I’m not even going to deny it.
When I joined The Emecheta Collective through X, to me, it was just a writing group because I wanted to start honing my skills but TEC has been more than that.
When it comes to personal decisions, TEC saved me from the abyss of bad decisions. I was unexposed to a lot of things, made some bad decisions and through women’s discussions, I took better decisions and I have never been prouder of myself. I realized my faults in what I did and took steps into being a better person.
TEC opened my eyes to feminism and misogyny. With knowledge gained, I started writing about women related matters which has in turn won me three awards in my career.
I have gained job opportunities through TEC. Women coming through for me without even knowing who I was, women offering fellow women helping hands and going out of their way for them. Taught me confidence, being a better person and helping me hone my skills.
The importance of women only groups cannot be overemphasized. It’s needed to maintain sanity as a woman.
Vele
When I wanted to start my content creation business, all I did was join a mum community and offer to sponsor that part of their Mother’s Day event. It was my first official event content creation gig by the way. The convener, who is now my friend, didn’t even ask for any proof of previous work.
That was the beginning of my content creation career. At one point, a lot of my clients were connected and we kept meeting at events because they were all mutual friends who kept referring me. And the chain started from that mum’s community where I got my first client’s contact.
Women’s communities mean everything to me, and I don’t joke with them. Life has just been so crazy that I can’t show up for these people the way I’d like, but I have them in my heart always. Women are the backbone of everything I do.
MI
Omg yes TEC, got my first ever well paying job from a community member here, it was with a startup, got a few projects here and there from community members. TEC women literally taught me how to pitch and earn from international magazines so hell yes.
Social media not so much cause I don’t have any professional online presence anywhere, I’m really trying to work on it.
Also beyond that, having a community of women that sometimes discuss their health has literally been pushing me to do all I possibly can.
It’s why I’m building a platform around women’s health for Nigerian women.
SR
100%
Career-wise, I learnt how to pitch publications and generally position myself better, which has greatly added value to me. This is also in addition to the solid advice amazing TEC ladies give generously on here.
Socially, the varying conversations we have are everything, really.
PN
I first learnt the basics of pitching for publications on here, TEC, especially from a badass writer here who took her precious time to teach me before learning further outside.
I got my first job from a group whose link was posted here.
I have also gotten sweet writing students from here.
I have made friends with like-minded writers with whom I frequently rub minds. TEC has been a blessing to me.❤️
Angel Nduka-Nwosu is a writer, journalist and editor. She moonlights occasionally as a podcaster on As Angel Was Sayin’. Catch her on all socials @asangelwassayin.