Is social media marketing a valuable career skill outside of marketing?

I've been building my social media presence on the side and it's had a surprisingly big impact on my career. Curious if others have experienced this.

I started creating content on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok about my industry. The skills I picked up:

- Copywriting and communication (writing hooks, captions, emails)

- Video production basics (filming, editing, presenting on camera)

- Data analysis (understanding analytics, A/B testing content)

- Audience research (figuring out what people actually want)

- Personal branding (being known for something specific)

These skills transfer to almost any role. My manager noticed my communication improved. I got asked to present at a company event because I was comfortable on camera. A recruiter reached out because they saw my content.

The time investment was about 15-20 minutes per day for engagement and a few hours per week for creating content. I treated it like a skill-building project rather than trying to become an influencer.

Has anyone else found that building a social media presence helped their career in unexpected ways? Or is this only useful for people in marketing/creative fields?