Stem- An Exciting Career Opportunity For The Future

25-year-old Anushka is an MBA in HR. She is also a social media influencer who is into make-up and beauty. She shares her journey and everything you need to know before taking up a career as an influencer. So let's get some influencing done!

Hello Anushka! It's very nice of you to speak with us. Please tell us about yourself.

Hi, I am Anushka; I completed my MBA in Human resources in 2020. I am currently doing a corporate job and simultaneously working as a social media influencer.

How did you start your career as a social media influencer?

I had got very interested in makeup and beauty some five-six years ago. Even during my MBA, I often used to think whether I should start my makeup vlog on social media, but I was pretty much uncertain about it.

When the covid pandemic happened, I could not get placed at any job. I was very stressed, and at that point, I decided to step into social media influencing.

At first researched video editing, presentation, etc., and then uploaded just 2-3 videos. I had fun doing them. And was happy with the way they turned out.

Surprisingly I got a good response from the people. I got motivated by the people's support and appreciation. So I continued doing it and gradually became known as a beauty influencer.

Very interesting! Anushka, if someone did not know about this field, how would you educate them?

If you want to start a career as an influencer, proper research and practice are essential.

For example, if you are a girl who does not know anything about makeup, you must watch YouTube videos and start practising. Makeup is an art. And you master it by practising. Even I was terrible at makeup earlier. But I practised a lot.

You don't need to enrol for expensive courses or training

If you are determined to do, you can also train yourself at your home! Consistency and patience are required; that's it!

You have a full-time corporate job as an HR professional. And now you also work as a social media influencer. So tell me, how do you manage and organise your day?

On the weekdays I am busy with my office work.

But on the weekends, I shoot and edit my vlogs. This way, my weekends are all about shooting and content creation which, of course, I love!

Tell us more about being a social influencer as a career opportunity

Being an influencer is like a dream job! You can work from anywhere and at any time. There are no restrictions.

Also, many people support and praise us, which pushes us to work harder.

In fact, you get paid for what you love, and you need not take any particular degree or course to get into this career.

You need to make a bare minimum investment while starting as an influencer. A ring light, an android phone, or a camera if you have and you are done!

I have always wanted to work with big brands. This dream of mine is accomplished by being an influencer! I have collaborated with the brands like Nykaa, Purplle Mac cosmetics, etc.

Also, the support of my social media followers is immense! So these are the things I will never forget.

In my view, being an influencer is not always very happy-go-lucky!

There will be hatred; there will be negative comments flowing out in the comment section of your page. A courageous person who can take all this more realistically can choose this career.

Also, if you only love doing something and start your vlog page and then stop when you get bored, it will not help. Continuation and the will to inspire people should be there inside you.

Moreover, you need to learn skills like editing, presentation, shooting, etc. You should have that spark to learn things. Even I handle all the things by myself. In the end, people will watch you for 2-3 mins, and you should stand out and stick to their attention!

What is your message to the young girls out there?

I see a lot of girls getting confused about their careers. I would say that go slow, analyse what you love.

Due to the pandemic, many businesses and companies have moved online. The time right now is perfect to look for work online. So, if you are a girl looking to work from home in an online job, now is the best time! Working from home has an essential condition - you must be comfortable with online communication apps like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc. You can refer to YouTube for free tutorial videos. Here are the 8 best jobs that you can apply for and work for in the comfort of your home.

1. Human Resource Manager: An HR manager is in charge of the people working in an organisation. From hiring and placements to complaints and exits, they take care of it all. As an HR, you will need to know your company and its employment roles very well. You must be unbiased towards both the company and its employees. To apply, you will need a bachelor's degree or a diploma.The average salary per annum is ₹4,55,783.

1. Social Media Manager: A Social Media Manager manages a brand or company's social media channels. These include Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, etc. They are responsible for making social media strategies using good content and marketing. The average salary per annum is ₹4,20,000.

1. Copy/ Content writer: If you can write well and are creative, this job is for you. As a writer, you will need to engage the target audience and gain their interest. A copywriter writes taglines, social media captions, video scripts, product descriptions, emailers, ad text, etc. In comparison, content writers work on long-form content like blogs, newspaper articles, case studies, eBooks, etc. The average salary per annum is ₹4,00,000.

1. Designer: A designer's job is to visualise and interpret a message through art. Design is an essential part of any brand strategy used in social media, websites, packaging, etc.You will need to be good at art and creatively showcase everyday things. An online course in Photoshop, Illustrator, UX/UI design will help you out greatly. The average salary per annum is ₹3,50,000.

1. Product Manager: A Product Managers' job includes learning the customer's needs, defining what objectives the product will fulfil, and steps to turn that vision into a reality.You will need a relevant bachelor's or master's degree.The average salary of a beginner per annum is ₹5,20,000.

1. Customer Service Representative. Almost every brand promises to be there for its customers. A CSR is responsible for helping a brand's customers. They solve complaints and guide customers to have an easy and pleasant experience.The average salary per annum is ₹2,19,480.

1. Social Media Influencer: A social media influencer is an expert in a particular skill or field and uses it to influence people. They are trendsetters. As an influencer, you will have to create content on social media to promote a particular product that you believe in. This is a freelance job and requires you to have many followers before you generate any income.The salary per annum depends on followers and brand endorsements. Micro-influencers usually charge around 10k per post.