How can you use social media to learn about a company's culture?

If you are looking for a career change, you might want to learn more about the culture of the companies you are interested in. Culture is the way people work, communicate, and interact within an organization. It can affect your job satisfaction, performance, and growth. But how can you find out what a company's culture is like before you apply or interview? One way is to use social media to research and connect with the company and its employees. Here are some tips on how to do that.

1 Follow the company's accounts

The first step is to follow the company's official social media accounts on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. These accounts can give you a glimpse of the company's mission, values, goals, achievements, and events. You can also see how the company engages with its customers, partners, and community. Pay attention to the tone, style, and frequency of the posts, as well as the comments and reactions they receive.

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Salman Khan

Senior Marketing Executive at Freight Systems || Brand Development & Positioning || Digital Marketing & Social Media Strategy || Performance Marketing || Budget Management & Forecasting
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LinkedIn company Page and Employee posts can help you understand how's the organization in terms of work environment, CSR and sustainability, community engagement, etc.

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2 Check out the hashtags and mentions

Another way to learn about a company's culture is to check out the hashtags and mentions related to the company on social media. Hashtags are keywords or phrases that start with a # sign and are used to categorize and find posts on a specific topic. Mentions are when someone tags or refers to another user or account in their posts. You can search for hashtags and mentions that include the company's name, products, events, or initiatives. This can help you discover what people are saying about the company, both positive and negative, and how the company responds to feedback.

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3 Follow the employees and leaders

A third way to learn about a company's culture is to follow the employees and leaders of the company on social media. You can find them by looking at the company's followers, connections, or tagged users. You can also use LinkedIn to search for people who work or have worked at the company. By following them, you can see what they share, like, and comment on social media. You can also get a sense of their personality, interests, skills, and values. You can also observe how they interact with each other and with the company.

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Sarah Vedas

Award-Winning Social Media & Employer Brand Strategist - Driving Brand Awareness and Engagement Through Storytelling & Analytics
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When writing a social strategy, it's important to examine not just the tone and style set by brand, but also what your employees and execs are saying as well as what employees and execs from peer/competitor companies talk about. This can help you build a structure and define who should take the lead/follow on certain topics. For example, the corporate handle may be the first to speak on product, but the Chief Product Officer gets to share out some interesting behind the scenes details of the product. This gives you, and your followers, a varied and in-depth look at how your company and thought leaders within your company think about various problems and opportunities.

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4 Join the conversations

A fourth way to learn about a company's culture is to join the conversations that are happening on social media. You can do this by liking, commenting, or sharing the posts from the company, its employees, or its customers. You can also ask questions, share your opinions, or offer feedback. This can help you show your interest, enthusiasm, and knowledge about the company. It can also help you build relationships and network with the people who work or are connected to the company.

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5 Be authentic and respectful

A final tip on how to use social media to learn about a company's culture is to be authentic and respectful. Don't pretend to be someone you are not or say things you don't mean. Don't spam, troll, or harass anyone. Don't post anything that is inappropriate, offensive, or confidential. Remember that your social media presence is part of your personal brand and reputation. You want to make a good impression and demonstrate your professionalism and values.

Using social media to learn about a company's culture can help you decide if the company is a good fit for you and your career goals. It can also help you prepare for your application and interview process. By following these tips, you can use social media as a tool to research and connect with the company and its culture.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you use social media to learn about a company's culture?

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1 Follow the company's accounts

2 Check out the hashtags and mentions

3 Follow the employees and leaders

4 Join the conversations

5 Be authentic and respectful

6 Here’s what else to consider

Social Media Management

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