Social media jobs are very popular right now, and the reason behind this is obvious. Every day we learn about how social media has altered the landscape of how companies do business, and even how people communicate to each other all the time. Then, you might wonder who you can get one of those fascinating social media jobs at a exciting social media agency or online marketing firm in New York or San Francisco. The truth is that it is both difficult and incredibly easy.

First off, chances are that you are a college graduate. In my experience, the exact major that you had doesn’t seem to be very important, but it never hurts to go with something related. Public relations, communications, or even a social media major seem to be perfect fits. I personally majored in English Lit, which gave me a whole lot of writing skills. As you can see, there is no “one path” for becoming a social media expert, so don’t worry too much about what your particular background is.

However, the most critical thing you can get is experience. If you can land an internship at a social media agency, that would be great. This could turn into a paying job if you do a good enough job and, at the very least, you’ll be able to put something onto your resume. However, internships can be verycompetitive, so it makes sense that you try to make your resume as attractive as possible for any potential employer.

And that’s where my little tactic comes in. While going to school I came across a nonprofit that preserved lighthouse. They were doing a lot of wonderful work, but nobody was hearing about them. Therefore I called them up and offered my services. Suddenly I was creating a Twitter and Facebook page for them and doing everything in my power to make them (and me) look good. When it came time to apply to internships, I really had something to tell them. Even if you’ve done an internship, consider offering your services for free: at the very least it will be something to add to your resume.

Finally (although, it should be first) you should make sure that you know how social media works inside and out. Go to blogs. Read books. Work on your own Facebook and Twitter pages. Chances are that you already know the medium if you want to work in it, but everybody could use a refresher course.

So, do you think you would care to find out more about hiring an online marketing firm? Would you care to find out more about finding a social media agency? Check us out at Fishbat.com to find out more!. Also published at Social Media Jobs: How I Got Mine.