How to Get a Social Media Manager Job [Best Ways in 2020]

The world is currently in the state of the digital revolution, and the majority of the businesses are shifting entirely or partially online to make the most out of the digitized economy and enhance their sales. It is one of the key components of the marketing strategies of businesses nowadays. Handling social media effectively and efficiently requires technical prowess and a skilled social media manager.

Whether you are a college student who wants to explore his/her career options or are considering a change in your current career path, you may be wondering what entails a social media manager’s job and how to find a managerial position that pays well.

According to Glassdoor, the average base pay of a social media manager (as of September 2020) is $50,473 per year in the US. This establishes the financial viability of starting a social media job.

Now the big question is: “How can an amateur social media enthusiast become a social media manager who is highly paid?” That is where this article comes in. So, sit tight and let us brief you about everything you need to know about how to get a job in social media and the required skill set for the job.

Duties of a social media manager

A social platform manager’s primary job is to help businesses establish and grow their digital presence and build online communities. The components of their employment are

• Crafting and scheduling posts
• Posting advertisements
• Interacting with fans and followers
• Handling queries
• Designing graphics for posts
• Analyzing social media trends
• Marketing the business on social media

Companies may give social media managers some additional duties, depending on their job description, expertise, and time. But the essential functions remain the same.

How to become a social media manager?

After getting useful insights from experienced social platforms experts, we devised some tips on how to get a job in social media as a manager. Let’s dive in.

• Get a degree in marketing or communications

This tip applies to only those who have not pursued a professional degree or are considering any short-term professional degree. According to Alice Fuller, a social platforms strategist, 

“If you truly desire to be a really good social media manager, learn the fundamentals of marketing and writing first. Learn as much as you can … then put what you learn into practice for yourself, then work with others for free or [a] low fee so you can get some real experience under your belt.”

A professional degree would enable you to see things from a different perspective, analyze the challenges facing your company, and devise strategies to make the most out of challenging circumstances. It is not a compulsory requirement but certainly a good thing to have.

• Build your own online community

One thing social media managers are good at is building and expanding social media presence and communities. What’s a better place to start practicing your skills other than yourself? 

Most successful social media managers have thriving online communities where they market themselves before marketing their clients. You should set up accounts on all major social platforms and start practicing blogging, search engine optimization, e-marketing, and graphic designing. It will serve two purposes. Firstly, it will polish your skills and give some practical experience. Secondly, it will expose you to your community, maximizing your chances of getting contacted by potential clients or employers.

• Actively look for opportunities

After developing the required skill set and setting up your own community, you need to actively look for opportunities. Various marketing and advertising agencies regularly offer social media manager positions. Moreover, many individual organizations and companies also hire in-house Instagram and Facebook managers. You need to be prepared for both types of job opportunities.

The popularity of working as a freelancer and providing services on-demand without any permanent association with any organization is increasing exponentially. According to the World Economic Forum, COVID-19 has surged the demand for work from home jobs, and social media managers are among the beneficiaries. So, keep an eye on your LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms. There will be opportunities on their way.

• Make a perfect resume and cover letter

It is immensely important to have an impressive and persuasive resume and a well-crafted cover letter to get a social media manager job. These two things are the lens through which your potential employer will judge your personality, abilities, and expertise. 

Your resume should demonstrate your skills as a social platform manager and your experience related to this particular job. Even if you are a newcomer to this field, our tip of creating your own social media community will enable you to list it as an experience to impress your potential employer. 

Writing a unique and persuasive cover letter is always a challenge for everyone. Most people make one general cover letter and send it to every job posting regardless of the nature of work or the company. But this is a bad strategy. Your cover letter should be specific to every company you apply and connect your passion and skills with its business. Only then will the employer know that you are passionate about this job. Have a look at our skillfully crafted social media manager cover letter to get started.

• Acing the interview

Now that you have created your resume and cover letter, the next step for any job is to prepare for the interview. The same goes for getting a social media job. By definition, their job is to be ‘social,’ but being social in person and the digital world are very different things. You need to develop a different skill set to communicate effectively and efficiently on social media. Similarly, the interview skills required for social media managers differ from those needed for any other job. 

Given the post-pandemic circumstances in 2020 and the nature of a social platform manager’s job, your interview would most likely be online. You need to familiarize yourself with communicating effectively during online interviews and practice it a few times with your friends or family members. 

Things to do when you get the job

Getting the job is just the start. Your real challenge will begin the moment you sign the contract with your employer or the client. To be successful at the position of a social media manager:

• Practice time management;
• Ensure proper money management;
• Develop a rapport with your clients
• Create an online fanbase;
• Build connections;
• Be comfortable working on your own;
• Develop advanced skills and keep learning. 

In a nutshell, a social media manager is a highly paid job, and the job opportunities are increasing day-by-day. In 2020, while most sectors have been getting cut, social platform manager jobs have increased significantly. If you have the required skillset and the passion for being a social platform manager, all that’s needed to do the job is a computer, a mobile phone, and a reliable internet connection. Create a community of your own and get hands-on experience for your job. Build a unique resume and a persuasive cover letter to convince your potential employer that you are the right person. Develop the interview skills specific to your field and start applying for jobs. Finally, practice time and money management, build connections, and keep learning once you get the job to be a successful social media manager.