Career Advice for a Social Media Manager

Working as a Social Media Manager, you will run advertising campaigns and drive engagement to increase your company’s social media presence.

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How to Become a Social Media Manager

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become a Social Media Manager

Should you wish to work as a Social Media Manager you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Social Media Manager

  • At least four GCSEs.
  • Two A Levels.
  • A Degree in Digital and Social Media Marketing, Marketing and Public Relations, Advertising, Business Management, Journalism, or Internet Design.

Key Responsibilities for a Social Media Manager

  • Running the company’s social media advertising and awareness campaigns.
  • Building the brand’s presence on social media.
  • Creating written and visual content for campaigns.
  • Responding to comments from the social media audience.
  • Providing customer service on social media.
  • Analysing visitor and engagement data to assess performance and if the business’s objectives are met.

What to expect as a Social Media Manager

When you become a Social Media Manager, you will work in an office, agency, or remotely. You will use your knowledge of communication and media production to find success, using your business management, reasoning, and written communication skills.

Recommended Social Media Manager Jobs

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How to get Social Media Manager Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Social Media Manager job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Social Media Manager application. If you have not held a Social Media Manager position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Social Media Manager role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Social Media Manager CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Social Media Manager application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Social Media Manager in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Social Media Manager 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Social Media Manager and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Social Media Manager experience.

How to get Social Media Manager Experience

What does it take to be a Social Media Manager? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Social Media Manager jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Social Media Manager through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Social Media Manager Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Social Media Manager part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Social Media Manager or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Social Media Manager freelance work

If you have impressive Social Media Manager qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.