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Raritan Valley Community College student Ruby Dennis started out at the College studying video game design, but eventually realized it wasn’t the right major for her. “I think I had fallen out of love with that industry, but I really liked the aspect of storytelling,” she says.

During a visit to RVCC’s Office of Career Success & Experiential Learning, Ruby mentioned  that she was following a bunch of social media accounts and enjoyed seeing what different brands were doing in that space.

As luck would have it, Ruby’s counselor let her know that the College was launching a social media certificate program the very next semester. “I was super fortunate to be one of the first people to be a part of the social media program,” says Ruby,” who is set to receive her certificate next month.

The Social Media Specialist certificate program is part of RVCC’s Communication and Media career pathway, which attracts students who are interested in digital media, public relations, advertising, broadcasting, or a marketing program. Many students choose to get a Communication Studies associate degree in tandem with their social media certificate.

“If you’re already getting a Communications degree, there’s no reason not to get the social media certificate,” says Ruby. “Most of the courses coincide with what you’re already taking anyways, and the certificate can help narrow your focus since Communications is so broad. By getting the certificate, you’re choosing a path where there’s a lot of growth.”

And growth there is. According to Zippia, the projected marketing/social media manager job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028, with about 33,700 new jobs projected over the next decade.

What does a social media specialist do? While it varies from job to job, these professionals are typically responsible for creating and sharing content on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more in order to raise awareness of a brand and foster community interaction. Some positions require technical skills such as graphic design or video production, while others are more focused on brainstorming topics, scheduling posts, and interacting with community members.

Students of RVCC’s certificate program take classes in social media theory and social media production, along with marketing classes, writing classes, and more. They are required to run and maintain their own social media account in an area that interests them. 

“In the theory class, we talk about meme culture, what makes something go viral, and why we share what we share,” says Ruby. “There is a lot of discussion between students and professors, which is great because we’re all learning together.”

After receiving her social media specialist certification at RVCC, Ruby plans to transfer to West Chester University in Pennsylvania to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Media and Culture with a focus in social media marketing and a minor in Communications. She hopes to intern during her time at West Chester and then secure a job as a social media manager for a brand.

“Brands are starting to realize they can get more value with social media vs. TV, and there continues to be rapid growth,” says Ruby. “The cool thing is you don’t have to be a big brand to market on social media. Smaller brands are getting the same amount of traction if not more, depending on audience engagement and authenticity,” she says. 

“At the end of the day, social media is essentially free advertising for brands who may not have the means to place traditional ads,” says Ruby. “It’s the future of where advertising is headed.”

To learn more about how to become a social media manager, explore RVCC’s Social Media Specialist certificate program today!

The RVCC Difference

If you’ve been researching “schools near me,” you know there are an overwhelming number of options throughout New Jersey. Rest assured that Raritan Valley Community College is the best choice!

RVCC is ranked the #1 community college in New Jersey by WalletHub.com and Intelligent.com. The College offers more than 90 degree and certificate programs, small class sizes, affordable tuition, a vibrant campus life, and more.

RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. Apply today or visit https://www.raritanval.edu for further information.