Why You May Not Want A Job In Social Media

Photo courtesy of Flickr user JCOlivera

It doesn’t surprise me that most TV stars don’t watch television. Unlike stage actors or even film actors, regulars on a successful TV series are constantly filming with little downtime in between seasons. That leaves little time to enjoy the television they aren’t making.

There’s also an interesting effect of doing what you love every day 9-5. It becomes less of a passion and more work. It is like a sweet tooth working in a candy store, no longer craving dessert when he/she returns home.

It’s been awhile since I’ve written over here- my life has been a bit of a jumble this summer between my new job and my show. All my time commitments have left me burnt around the edges.

Last week a couple of co-workers brought up an interesting point: after working with Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube all day is it possible I’ve become burnt out from social media?

It makes total sense: what was once your passion has become work. I felt that’s what happened to me with video. I’ve been producing videos since I was in middle school, and I was always making videos all throughout high school. However as a film student in college, it became less fun and more work. That’s why I became less of a the stereotypical film major, always shooting films, and more into extracurriculars like Student Government. It was something different than what I was learning in the classroom.

When I got my job at TMG I was making videos for clients 9-5 and even though I was very good at what I did and I made awesome work for my clients- I felt less compelled to finish my personal projects on the side. I was video’d out.

Now that I have an amazing job in Social Media, that spark I’ve always had for video is a bit stronger now. But did that come at the cost of my love for social media?

I look at other bloggers around me, those that raised their profile through their blogging and as a result finding amazing jobs with PR/Social Media firms getting paid to do what they have been doing for free. Some of them have blogged less- and I can’t blame them. Maybe they too have become too busy to blog, or perhaps too tired to blog after spending all day in the blogosphere.

There is also another crowd- those that are out there blogging, twittering, and social networking and looking for a coveted job in the industry. I wonder what will happen to them when they get that dream job. I am not saying they would be unhappy but is it possible that all those casual social media geeks would see their social media jobs as a blessing and a curse?

After thinking about this I’ve decided that it’s not always the case. Finding work doing something you love is still rewarding but it is also a test. A test of your passion. A test of how much you really love what it is you are doing.

In the end I still love social media- in fact I may have grown to love it more through working at NMS. Even though I may feel less inclined to check Facebook after work- I am learning new things working in the industry and in the end I am still sitting here at a Barnes & Noble in Clarendon, blogging to my heart’s content.

Because after the 9-5 I still want to get out there in the blogosphere, a sign I think that my love for social media must be that strong.

Has your job made you less interested in your hobbies? What will happen to you personal interests once you find that dream job?

Tagged as: Noises Off!, Social Media, Stress, Theatre, Work