Five online jobs that are hard to explain to Baby boomers
20-30 years ago, when "going online" meant borrowing the entire family's phone line, "What do you do for work?" was a straightforward question. Doctor, lawyer, plumber, and teacher were perfectly normal answers and no one would be surprised what you did.
Until the internet took over our lives and gave birth to entirely new spheres of work and learning such as e-commerce and social media marketing - invisible spaces that exist only in the digital world, and make money.
With this change came new online jobs - some without even a translation in languages other than English.
If you've ever tried to explain what you do and received a blank stare in return, chances are you do something related to the digital world.
Today, however, it's perfectly normal to make a living as a PPC specialist, SEO guru, or even a tiktoker, although that sounds like magic to people for whom most of life was before Google, smartphones, and artificial intelligence.
Yet how do you explain what you are working on? Today we'll give examples of 5 online jobs that sound strange to the older generation, but the internet landscape wouldn't be the same without them.
PPC specialist - the person who spends money to make money
"How come someone pays you to spend money?", "That sounds easy, you're on the computer all day."
Yes, but no.
π» What they actually do: A PPC (Pay-Per-Click) specialist sets up online ads on Google, Facebook and Instagram so businesses can earn more. Each ad has a cost per click, and the PPC guru's job is to make that click result in a sale without emptying the entire ad budget.
It sounds easy in theory, but in practice it is a complex matter that requires good analytical skills, the ability to work under stress, creativity, and good organization.
How to explain
"Grandma, imagine you're selling jam jars. Instead of waiting for someone to randomly walk by your house, I make sure that people who love jam see your jars as soon as they Google 'homemade jam'."
SEO specialist - the person who makes Google love websites
"What is this CEO?", "Why are you even doing this?"
This is one of those online professions that makes it extremely difficult for people with its very name. Simply, "search engine optimization specialist" is so long that by the time we get to the end, we've forgotten the beginning.
π» What they actually do: A SEO (Search Engine Optimization) specialist optimizes websites to appear on the first page of Google. Without SEO, your online sock shop may remain invisible among an ocean of competitors.
How to explain
"Grandma, imagine that you make the most delicious mackerel, but nobody knows about it. I make sure that anyone who types "best mackerel" into Google finds your recipe."
UGC creator / tiktoker - online jobs that profit from shooting videos
"So you're famous on TV?"
For the older generation, television is and remains the main source of multimedia entertainment. On the other hand, Gen Z can't grasp the concept of not having all the digital content in your hands and consuming it whenever you want.
At TikTok you don't just watch, you become a creator - one of the wonders of our time is the ability to make a living by creating content online.
Again, it sounds easy, but it really isn't.
π» What they actually do: UGC (User-Generated Content) creator makes authentic content - reviews, videos and ads - that brands use for their campaigns. If you've ever watched a TikTok video where someone super enthusiastically explains why a hairbrush is "just awesome," it's probably a UGC creator.
Another of our online professions that requires a lot of creativity, organization and contacts.
How to explain
"Grandma, I shoot videos of me trying different products and companies pay me for it."
Social Media Manager - the person who "works at Facebook"
"But you sit on Facebook all day? Is that a job? And exactly how many people are you managing?"
π» What they actually do: A social media manager doesn't manage people, company profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Which is no less tricky, especially now that all businesses are using social networks and competition for the attention of consumers is fierce. The person in this position creates content, responds to comments, and monitors campaign results.
It takes a detailed knowledge of the audience, creativity that borders on magical ability and total dedication to achieve success.
How to explain
"Grandma, imagine that yarn shop downtown has a Facebook account. I'm the guy who writes the posts, uploads the pictures, and answers customer questions. Only I do it for many businesses at once."
UX designer - the person who makes the web easier to use
"What is this 'yuex'? Is it some kind of engineering?"
Something like this. There are different kinds of designers, but the job of some of them is not just to create a beautiful end result, but one that looks and works well.
π» What a UX (User Experience) designer actually does: creates intuitive and user-friendly interfaces for websites and apps. His job is to ensure that the user can easily find what they are looking for without getting confused.
How many times have you come across digital products that do not meet the above conditions? Today, the internet is so saturated with competition that no business can afford to alienate consumers with complicated navigation, slow websites and confusing information.
How to explain
"Grandma, you know how some websites are so complicated you can't figure out where to click? I make sure they're easy to use - like a well-ordered kitchen where you always know where the sugar is."
Working online is not the same as "playing on the computer"
Many people, especially older generations, still perceive working in the digital world as "something frivolous". But the reality is that these professions drive modern business. Without PPC specialists, SEO experts, social media managers, UX designers, and tiktokers, the internet would be in complete chaos and companies would be losing millions.
So the next time you're asked exactly what you do, use the ideas above.
And if all else fails... just say you "work on a computer". π