HiredBy is always looking for more female leaders to take over their Instagram stories for a day, but the takeover is only as good as the person creating the content, so here are some of the Takeover Basics that you should know before throwing your hat in the ring to do a takeover:
1) Create A Plan
Most people do this, but during my freshman year of college I learned the hard way that if you don’t at least plan out your day a little bit then your takeover can easily flop. You don’t need to do anything crazy to impress your audience, but make sure you have time to show off your early morning coffee/tea, your fabulous WFH setup, and any other perks about your job.
2) Collaborate
If you have a meeting going on the day that you have your takeover, ask the group to say a quick “hello” to your viewers! Better yet, ask some of your co-workers to hop on the takeover to share a bit about their jobs and why they enjoy working for the same company that you do. This can also be a great way to take a break if you have a busy afternoon- just doublecheck that you have someone else filling in while you’re off saving the world (aka doing your best at work).
3) Feel Free to Brag
HiredBy is showcasing you, as well as your workplace- but mainly you! Don’t be afraid to show off all of your cool accomplishments, whether that’s having multiple degrees, going back to school, how you have overcome the obstacles in your life, etc. Viewers like to know that you are just a regular person like they are, because that means it’s possible for them to achieve their dream job too, so feel free to make things a bit personal.
4) Expose the Nitty Gritty Things
I’m not saying you should list every terrible thing about the company that you work for, but it’s okay to let your audience know that everything isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. Sharing your least favorite thing about your company can make your takeover standout, especially to potential job applicants who are looking into working for your company.
5) Give the People What They Want
If possible, try to answer all of the questions and comments that you receive! Sometimes it’s not possible to go into an in-depth answer due to time constraints, but your audience is truly interested in what you have to say so don’t shy away from answering all of the messages that you get. Sometimes when I’m watching a takeover, I end up enjoying answers to the questions that I didn’t submit more than the answers to my own questions!
6) Helping People Get Hired is Key
People watch these takeovers for many reasons, but one of the main ones is because they are interested in working for your company, so make sure they know what to expect during the hiring process. Any tips or tricks that you can provide might make the difference between someone getting an interview or not, so any advice that you can offer to your audience is greatly appreciated.
7) Everyone Has Fun
I’m not just saying that because I work for HiredBy, I swear. I have honestly never heard a single complaint or about a bad experience after someone has done a takeover. Instead, there is always a response about how fun or engaging the experience was, and every time I see one of those emails or Instagram comments it makes my heart grow a bit more, just like the Grinch’s did.
Written By
Madeline Thomas
Writing intern at Hired By, Ohio University student studying journalism and music production/industry recording, and writer for Odyssey Online.
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