Social Media as a Career? Hit the Books!

KANSAS CITY, Missouri - Amy Goodnow spends her work days on Facebook, Twitter, Google and other websites. She isn't goofing off. It's her job.

"As the years pass, social media's become huge, and there's social media jobs available everywhere you look now, " she said.

She works for VML, a digital marketing and PR firm. Her job is to help her clients use social media. They market to customers on Twitter, Facebook and other sites. Goodnow says social media isn't an end by itself, but one of many marketing tools. It’s the technology platforms that they use to get their clients the results that they're looking for.

That leaves some college students wondering how they can break into the professional social media world. A recent study from SocialMediaInfluence.com showed that 59 of the Fortune 100 companies have at least one full-time social media employee. showed that 59 of the Fortune 100 companies have at least one full-time social media employee.

Employers come to Johnson County Community College and other universities looking for well-rounded workers. LeAnn Cunningham, the Employment Relations and Internship Coordinator at Johnson County Community College, says businesses want to keep up with the latest trends, including social media.

"They're coming to colleges recruiting for students because they're assuming that those students are tech-savvy," she said.

Companies don't want workers with just strong social networking skills, they need strong business skills too.

"Employers are looking for students who can help market their companies in that fashion," Cunningham said.

Because while some applicants come in and brag about their online prowess, that isn't enough.

The SocialMediaInfluence.com study also shows that while more businesses look for social media workers, most applicants aren't qualified.

That’s good news for those with business or marketing backgrounds because it makes them more competitive for the jobs. The study also shows that while more businesses look for social media workers, most applicants aren't qualified. That’s good news for those with business or marketing backgrounds because it makes them more competitive for the jobs.