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Profession Influencer

Exploring New Professional Identities
Professione influencer

Venice Film Festival. The red carpet is filled with VIPs. Among them, only a few are recognizable to the public and the press. And the question arises spontaneously: who is that? An influencer! On various social platforms, I follow different profiles: some are singers, some talk about cultural diversity, some about cinema, and so on. Almost all of them, at least those with a large following, proudly display their photos on the Venice red carpet on their pages. Among the many comments, one stands out: why were you invited to the Venice Film Festival?

In reality, as I recently discovered, anyone with a ticket to a screening can walk the red carpet. But why influencers in particular? The sponsors of the Biennale, including some of the most famous fashion brands, have the right to tickets for films in competition, and they distribute them among their brand ambassadors. Accustomed to actors, models, and those featured in Forbes for their entrepreneurial abilities, it feels "strange" to see influencers as brand ambassadors, and yet we buy those products (see the entire makeup section) precisely because we follow those profiles where advertisements pop up like mushrooms, complete with alerts.


Chiara Ferragni, for example (who actually gave two lectures at Harvard Business School), is considered one of the most influential people under 30 in the world, according to Forbes. She was a pioneer of this new profession.


There are various definitions of influencers: we can say they are individuals who have gained authority, credibility, and followers on social media platforms. Their main activity is the ability to influence the opinions, choices, and behaviors of the people who follow them.

Each of us can influence others' lives: "writing is a political act," one of my podcast guests told me, "through which we can influence others' opinions and behaviors." The only thing that changes is the context in which we do it: from politics to education to commerce and so on. All influencers share at least two characteristics: authority in their field (we recognize their opinion as valid, perhaps because it confirms our ideas, our lifestyle, our values, or our beliefs) and popularity. However, this professional figure is often labeled as idle: "What does it take to turn on a phone?"

True, but building authority requires consistency, knowledge of the tools and the subject matter, and the ability to respond to the audience's needs.

Does this sound strangely familiar? All professionals, from freelancers to companies, the same ones that seek influencers as their brand ambassadors, are invited to follow this process


But what are the new professions?

In addition to the influencer profession, in recent years, other working roles have emerged. Thanks to technological development and the ease of use (speaking for the younger generation, we are still scratching our heads between Boomers and Millennials), and due to the pandemic which pushed for widespread online channel usage even for daily expenses (this year, forecasts say that online purchases will be worth 54 billion euros), many professions have emerged, and demand from companies has grown. If you're wondering where to start to rebuild your career, a good starting point could be this: getting to know the new sought-after job roles and their characteristics to see if there are commonalities, not only with your skills but also with your aspirations. Based on LinkedIn data (you can find the link at the end of the article) and online research, we can divide the new professions into 12 main categories:

1. Technology and IT

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Developer

  • Blockchain Expert

  • Mobile Application Developer

  • Cybersecurity Expert

2. Data and Analytics

  • Data Analyst

  • Data Scientist

  • Business Intelligence Analyst

3. Sustainability and Environment

  • Sustainability Expert

  • Environmental Engineer

  • Renewable Energy Consultant

4. Communication and Digital Marketing

  • Digital Content Copywriter

  • Digital Marketing Specialists

  • Influencer Marketing Managers


5. Design and User Experience (UX/UI)

  • User Interface (UI) Designer

  • User Experience (UX) Expert

  • Multimedia Graphic Designer

6. Healthcare and Telemedicine

  • Telemedicine Therapist

  • Digital Health Professionals

  • Telemedicine Specialist

7. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

  • VR/AR Developer

  • VR/AR Experience Designer

  • Virtual Reality Expert

8. Social Media and Online Communities

  • Online Community Manager

  • Social Media Manager

  • Online Engagement Expert

9. Finance and Cryptocurrencies

  • Digital Financial Consultant

  • Cryptocurrency Expert

  • Quantitative Financial Analyst

10. Online Education and Training (literally exploded during the pandemic)

  • Online Teacher

  • E-Learning Course Designer

  • Virtual Tutor

11. Health Sciences and Biotechnology

  • Health Data Scientist

  • Biotechnology Researcher

  • Clinical Telemedicine Expert

12. Innovations in the Travel Sector

  • Virtual Travel Planner

  • Digital Tourism Expert

  • Travel Blogger


These categories represent some of the main areas where new professions are emerging. There is a wide range of constantly evolving opportunities in multiple sectors, due to technological innovation and social and economic changes.

If, while reading them, you thought, "What are we talking about?" you're in good company.


What can help you?

  1. LinkedIn's research provides explanations for each role, required skills, years of experience, etc. for a more complete picture.

  2. LinkedIn and Google offer free courses to acquire some of the necessary skills.

  3. Alternatively, platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and edX offer affordable courses.

  4. You can search online, on various social platforms, for industry experts who can give you an idea of their work and career path.

  5. You can participate in online communities, forums, or discussion groups dedicated to the profession of interest, thus obtaining first-hand information from industry professionals.

  6. Attending events, conferences, webinars (living abroad, I participate in many online sessions, and it's a great way to reconnect), or industry meetups in your area can help you build your network with professionals in the field and potential employers.

  7. Or you can turn to a coach! I know, I'm biased, but it's a path I'm also pursuing in the podcasting world.


Had you ever heard of these professions before?



 
 
 

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