Don’t sweat by your blazer: right here’s the whole lot you must know in your social media supervisor job interview.
You’ve got the skills, you’ve created a kickass resume and portfolio, you’ve scheduled an interview. Now, the ultimate step to securing the job is answering the questions your potential new employer fires at you. Then, you may benefit from the fabulous lifetime of a social media supervisor (77% of social entrepreneurs are completely happy of their jobs… and hey, the salary’s not bad, either).
This weblog put up covers continuously requested questions and what sorts of solutions employers are in search of. It’s a must-read for interview prep—in actual fact, we wager your new boss-to-be is studying it for inspo.
Bonus: Our free social media manager career toolkit includes resume, cover letter, and portfolio templates, along with a complete guide to social media job descriptions and frequently asked interview questions. You got this!
Background and experience questions
This is the “tell me a bit about yourself” section: here’s all the bits to tell.
How did you get into social media?
This introductory question is a classic interview kickoff—no matter what kind of job you’re interviewing for, it’s standard that you’ll be asked how you got your start in the industry. Every question in an interview is an opportunity to showcase your strengths, so approach this first one with enthusiasm: you’ll want to show you care about social media from the get-go.
Tell me about the social media accounts or channels you have managed in the past.
When answering a question about your past experience with managing social media channels, it’s best to be as specific as possible. List what brands you’ve worked with, which platforms you’ve used, and brief details about their followings. If you can throw in a concrete, numerical achievement (for example, “I increased this brand’s Instagram follower count by 5%,” or “I doubled engagement rate on TikTok for this brand in three months”), even better.
Tell me about a strategy or campaign you created that you’re most proud of.
Time to brag! This kind of question is your opportunity to celebrate your wins. Explain the planning and execution of a successful strategy or campaign, and point to specific actions you took that helped make it awesome. Outline your goals for the project, what you did to achieve them, and what the results were.
As always, listing specific statistics or numbers here is ideal: saying something was successful is one thing, but being able to quote data that proves success is preferred.
What is your favorite social media platform to use personally, and why?
This question and the one that follows it go hand-in-hand. The purpose of it is to give your interviewer an idea of how you can distinguish personal vs. professional social media use. What’s important here is the why: what do you look for when you’re using social media recreationally vs. for work?
What is your favorite social media platform to use for brands, and why?
As mentioned above, this question is the natural follow up to “What is your favorite social media platform to use personally.” When answering this one, be sure to point to the strengths of the platform when it comes to business: for example, “I like Instagram because of all the opportunities for user-generated content” or “I like Linkedin as a result of it makes it simple to attach with different recruiters.”
It’s okay in case your reply to each this query and the one earlier than it’s the similar—simply make it possible for the “whys” are totally different. For example, you would possibly like TikTok personally since you’re a sucker for a goofy development, however professionally due to the link in bio that drives traffic.
What social media certifications do you’ve?
A simple one—so long as you do have certifications. This isn’t essentially required for each job in social media, however it’s actually an asset, so taking a free tutorial or two can go a good distance with regards to your interview.
Hootsuite affords certifications in social marketing, DEI in social media, social selling and more.
Questions concerning the model
These interview questions are all about analysis: be sure you do your homework so you may knock them out of the park.
How would you describe our model?
Any place you interview for goes to require some analysis concerning the firm. Do as a lot digging as you may on the model earlier than the interview, and make observe of the meant viewers, model voice, and even the color palette and vibe. This query is the interviewer ensuring you “get” the model.
Who do you assume our model’s rivals are?
Exhibit your information of the business when answering this query: it’s best to know what different companies serve the identical market. When answering this query, it’s good to be detailed and concentrate on the viewers. For instance, a small, accessibly priced make-up model isn’t essentially competing with a luxurious cosmetics label—simply because two manufacturers are in the identical business doesn’t imply they’re competing for a similar viewers.
Which social media platforms would you suggest for our model and why?
To reply this query, level out the objectives and the viewers of the model, then communicate to how that interprets to a particular platform (our social media demographics blog post is a superb useful resource for this—and can make you sound like a genius).
Right here’s an instance: A model attempting to achieve 15 to 25-year-olds within the US would possibly need to contemplate Youtube, as a result of 77% of American web customers in that age vary use that platform.
Why do you need to work for our firm?
Right here’s just a little secret: Your interviewer is completely fishing for compliments right here. Answering this query is an efficient alternative to show that you just’ve carried out analysis into the corporate, to level out points of the corporate you admire, and to share a bit about your self.
For instance, you possibly can reward the model’s dedication to sustainability and observe that being as eco-friendly as doable is a private purpose of yours.
What are your favorite manufacturers on social media proper now, and why?
When answering this query, be sure you contact on particular issues that your favorite manufacturers are doing to extend engagement and make gross sales, but in addition what they’re doing to construct neighborhood — growing a constructive relationship with prospects is an important a part of the social media puzzle, and your employer desires you to grasp that.
Questions on content material creation
It’s the one a part of your occupation your loved ones actually understands—be sure you nail each query about social media content creation and do them proud.
What sort of content material would you suggest for our model, and why?
Much like the questions above, one of the best ways to arrange for this one is analysis. Check out the sort of content material that the model already posts, and make suggestions based mostly on areas you assume they might develop in. Educating your self about content material on newer or rising platforms (for instance, Threads) is an asset right here.
The why of this query is simply as necessary. Stating the corporate’s social media viewers and objectives—and why this specific sort of content material caters to them—is vital.
What’s your course of for content material creation?
Content material creation ought to begin with a purpose in thoughts, and a particular social media marketing strategy lays that every one out for you. Define objectives, time-frame, scheduling, photograph and video belongings, copy and the rest you’ll must create superior content material.
Relying on the model, it may be worthwhile to say that your content material creation course of leaves room for flexibility: if there’s a development going viral that you just need to soar on, you’ll be prepared.
What’s your course of for paid adverts?
Similar to with content material creation, your course of for paid adverts ought to contain purpose setting, a recreation plan, organizing belongings, posting and extra. Learn up on paid adverts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) and cite your individual expertise with paid adverts when answering this query.
Your response ought to embody a autopsy, too—observe how you’ll learn the analytics after your advert marketing campaign is finished, and what you may study from that info.
What can we study from our rivals’ social media?
Ooh, sneaky. That is your probability to show your capacity to study new methods and adapt them for the model you’re interviewing for. Take note of social media trends within the business, observe the social media voice and presence of the model’s rivals and description how you possibly can translate these classes into profitable content material. Or, if there’s a competitor that’s not doing so sizzling, clarify how you possibly can do it higher.
Questions on technique
What’s your recreation plan? These questions assist your interviewer get to know the tactic behind your social media insanity.
Stroll me by your course of for creating a brand new social media technique for a model.
Be particular and succinct when answering this query—and if doable, use an instance out of your previous expertise to stipulate every step you are taking. If the concept of operating by a method like this makes your coronary heart race, perform a little research beforehand: here’s everything you need to know to create a killer social media strategy (template included).
Most significantly, define setting objectives, steps you’d take to realize them, and the way you’d consider the outcomes.
How do you keep on high of the most recent tendencies and updates within the social media business?
A part of this reply is probably going “I’m chronically on-line” (hey, it’s a life-style), however you may spherical out your reply by pointing to a acknowledged business useful resource, weblog or information supply. Say, for instance, the Hootsuite blog. You may also keep up to date by frequently checking the newsrooms for Meta, TikTok and different platforms.
Inform me a few time you’ve needed to work in a group. What methods did you employ to collaborate?
Communication reigns supreme when answering this query: take into consideration the way you’ve communicated with coworkers, supervisors, and folk you’ve managed. It’s at all times spectacular to make use of a big mission for example, so select an expertise that challenged you, and one which had an end result you’re happy with.
Technique-wise, observe ways in which you labored in a group each in-person and nearly (even in a non-remote office, there’s nonetheless loads of digital communication wanted), and methods wherein you’ve problem-solved in group conditions.
What technique do you employ for social media budgeting?
Speaking cash could make individuals uncomfortable, however your future employer will need to know that you just spend neatly. When explaining your plan, embody finances for content material creation, software program and instruments, paid social media campaigns and influencer advertising and marketing in addition to coaching and growth.
If you happen to’re unsure the place to start out, we have now a whole social media budget breakdown for you.
What course of do you employ to find out and monitor social media objectives?
This one comes again to your social media marketing strategy: go over areas that you just need to see progress in, do analysis to find out how greatest to achieve these objectives, set deadlines and consider. It’s useful to say instruments right here, too—when you have a sure software program you employ to trace progress, share it.
What methods do you employ to extend viewers engagement?
this one: the best ways to increase engagement are to create worthwhile content material, know your your viewers, reply promptly and schedule your posts for occasions when your viewers is more likely to be on-line. When you may, give particular examples for a way every of those methods will profit the model you’re interviewing for.
What are your social media listening methods?
Time to indicate off your information of social listening (that’s the place you monitor social media for references to your model, rivals, and associated key phrases, after all). It’s web stalking you get to do at work. The only reply for this query is to make use of a software program that does it robotically (BTW, Hootsuite does this) and to watch the right phrases and matters, even when they’re misspelled.
Right here’s everything you need to know to be a good (social) listener.
How would you take care of a model fame disaster on social media?
It occurs to the most effective of us: the flexibility for information to unfold quick on social media is a blessing and a curse. In case you have particular expertise with a model fame disaster, you may define what you’ve carried out up to now. This will also be a great alternative to show that you just’re in a position to study from prior expertise: if there’s one thing you’ve carried out up to now that you’d do otherwise now, observe that.
In any other case, do as a lot analysis on social media disaster administration as you may (here’s a good place to start), and observe how you’d implement what you’ve discovered for this particular model. For instance, placing beforehand scheduled posts on pause is a simple however necessary first step.
Inform me a few time you resolved a buyer situation on social media.
It is a lower-stakes model of the query above. When answering this query, level out what the difficulty was and the steps you took to resolve it (together with how environment friendly, considerate and compassionate you had been). If you happen to labored with one other particular person or a social media group to resolve the difficulty, be certain to focus on that — it’s a intelligent strategy to assert what a group participant you’re.
What technique do you employ to attach and construct relationships with influencers?
First, you’ve received to seek out the proper influencers. Exhibit to your potential future employer that you’ll analysis of us earlier than reaching out (and keep away from a PR nightmare) and the way you’ll decide that the influencers that you just work with are a great match in your model. Then, checklist the methods you’ll join with them—take into consideration e-mail, DM, video chat, in-person occasions. Lastly, inform them the way you’ll make it possible for the connection is constructive: be clear however pleasant, communicative and genuine, all that great things.
Questions on reporting and analytics
Typically, it is all concerning the numbers. Be sure you know your metrics earlier than the massive interview.
What metrics do you employ to trace social media efficiency?
The reply to this query can set you aside from any common ol’ social media person. Benchmarks like likes and views, for instance, are typically considered much less worthwhile than feedback, shares and followers: engagement is key when monitoring social media efficiency.
/a>How would you carry out a aggressive evaluation of a social media account?
First, clarify how you’d select the competitor to investigate (this ought to be a model that operates in your similar business and has the identical or comparable viewers). Then, take the interviewer by every of the 4 steps—in case you want a refresher, there’s a template here.
How would you analyze our audience?
Much like the above, you’d first need to determine who the model’s audience is: who’re they promoting to, who’s locally that they’re fostering? Then, take them by how you’d first analyze the model’s present viewers, then the model’s competitor’s viewers, and examine the 2. Then, concrete plans might be made about how to hit that target.
The important thing to being the sharpest device within the shed? Selecting the best instruments to work with.
Which social media instruments are you acquainted with?
All social media platforms have their very own native administration tech (for instance, Instagram analytics or Meta’s Business Suite) however there are additionally loads of different platforms that present extra highly effective instruments (like, ahem, Hootsuite).
Your information of supporting instruments reveals your resourcefulness, effectivity and whether or not or not you’ve your finger on the heart beat of the business. If you happen to haven’t used a social media device earlier than, contemplate getting a free trial of one to test it out pre-interview.
How do you schedule social media posts?
Whew, one other simple one. For this query, observe what social media administration tools you’d use to schedule posts and what sources you’d depend on to find out the best time to schedule posts.
Time administration, group and work model questions
These questions are widespread in any job interview, however significantly necessary when hiring a social media supervisor.
How do you prioritize and keep organized?
To reply this one, checklist your methods for conserving on schedule. Do you write lists? Are you married to your Google calendar? Do you employ any apps to maintain you on monitor?
Word strategies you employ to make sure each long run and quick time period objectives are met, and the way you get again on schedule when plans go awry. It’s additionally worthwhile to say any methods you’ve for once you really feel overwhelmed: it occurs to everybody, and understanding find out how to handle your psychological well being reveals maturity and duty.
If you happen to’re assigned a mission or duty that you just don’t have expertise in, how do you guarantee it’s carried out efficiently?
Studying methods are high of thoughts right here—make your employer really feel assured you can full duties you haven’t carried out earlier than by exhibiting your willingness to study. In case you have an instance from a previous job or volunteer alternative, observe what you probably did in that state of affairs. Checklist sources you should use to study independently so your employer is aware of that you’ll do your greatest to problem-solve by yourself.
Communication can also be paramount on this response. Define how you’ll ask clarifying questions, alter your plan when given suggestions, and request assist in case you really feel caught.
What are your strengths as a social media supervisor, and what are your weaknesses?
Your strengths ought to be a no brainer—they’re why you utilized for this social media supervisor function within the first place, proper? Noting qualities which might be listed within the job description is a useful hack right here. (Oh, your model values a self-starter? What a coincidence, that’s precisely what I’m).
In relation to weaknesses, be sincere however constructive: weaknesses are sometimes our strengths overplayed. Please don’t say you’re a perfectionist… although the truth that you’ve learn this weblog put up to the top signifies that you just in all probability are.
Hootsuite makes your life as a social media supervisor simpler. Handle all of your social channels, gather real-time information, and have interaction together with your viewers multi functional place — so that you keep organized, ready, and impressed.
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