Don’t sweat by your blazer: right here’s all the pieces you want to know in your social media supervisor job interview.
You’ve received the abilities, 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 comfortable of their jobs… and hey, the wage’s not dangerous, both).
This weblog publish covers often requested questions and what sorts of solutions employers are on the lookout for. It’s a must-read for interview prep—in actual fact, we guess your new boss-to-be is studying it for inspo.
Bonus: Our free social media supervisor profession toolkit contains resume, cowl letter, and portfolio templates, together with an entire information to social media job descriptions and often requested interview questions. You bought this!
Background and expertise questions
That is the “inform me a bit about your self” part: right here’s all of the bits to inform.
How did you get into social media?
This introductory query is a traditional interview kickoff—it doesn’t matter what form of job you’re interviewing for, it’s normal that you just’ll be requested how you bought your begin within the trade. Each query in an interview is a chance to showcase your strengths, so strategy this primary one with enthusiasm: you’ll wish to present you care about social media from the get-go.
Inform me concerning the social media accounts or channels you have got managed previously.
When answering a query about your previous expertise with managing social media channels, it’s greatest to be as particular as potential. Checklist what manufacturers you’ve labored with, which platforms you’ve used, and temporary particulars about their followings. When you can throw in a concrete, numerical achievement (for instance, “I elevated this model’s Instagram follower rely by 5%,” or “I doubled engagement charge on TikTok for this model in three months”), even higher.
Inform me a couple of technique or marketing campaign you created that you just’re most pleased with.
Time to brag! This sort of query is your alternative to have a good time your wins. Clarify the planning and execution of a profitable technique or marketing campaign, and level to particular actions you took that helped make it superior. Define your objectives for the undertaking, what you probably did to attain them, and what the outcomes have been.
As all the time, itemizing particular statistics or numbers right here is good: saying one thing was profitable is one factor, however having the ability to quote knowledge that proves success is most popular.
What’s your favourite social media platform to make use of personally, and why?
This query and the one which follows it go hand-in-hand. The aim of it’s to present your interviewer an concept of how one can distinguish private vs. skilled social media use. What’s essential right here is the why: what do you search for once you’re utilizing social media recreationally vs. for work?
What’s your favourite social media platform to make use of for manufacturers, and why?
As talked about above, this query is the pure comply with as much as “What’s your favourite social media platform to make use of personally.” When answering this one, you’ll want to level to the strengths of the platform in relation to enterprise: for instance, “I like Instagram due to all of the alternatives for user-generated content material” or “I like Linkedin as a result of it makes it straightforward to attach with different recruiters.”
It’s okay in case your reply to each this query and the one earlier than it’s the identical—simply guarantee that the “whys” are completely different. As an example, you would possibly like TikTok personally since you’re a sucker for a goofy pattern, however professionally due to the hyperlink in bio that drives site visitors.
What social media certifications do you have got?
A simple one—so long as you do have certifications. This isn’t essentially required for each job in social media, but it surely’s definitely an asset, so taking a free tutorial or two can go a good distance in relation to your interview.
Hootsuite provides certifications in social advertising and marketing, DEI in social media, social promoting and extra.
Questions concerning the model
These interview questions are all about analysis: be sure to 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 notice of the supposed viewers, model voice, and even the color palette and vibe. This query is the interviewer ensuring you “get” the model.
Who do you suppose our model’s opponents are?
Exhibit your data of the trade when answering this query: you must 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 trade doesn’t imply they’re competing for a similar viewers.
Which social media platforms would you advocate for our model and why?
To reply this query, level out the objectives and the viewers of the model, then converse to how that interprets to a particular platform (our social media demographics weblog publish 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 wish to think about Youtube, as a result of 77% of American web customers in that age vary use that platform.
Why do you wish to work for our firm?
Right here’s slightly secret: Your interviewer is completely fishing for compliments right here. Answering this query is an effective alternative to show that you just’ve finished analysis into the corporate, to level out facets of the corporate you admire, and to share a bit about your self.
For instance, you could possibly reward the model’s dedication to sustainability and notice that being as eco-friendly as potential is a private purpose of yours.
What are your favorite manufacturers on social media proper now, and why?
When answering this query, be sure to contact on particular issues that your favorite manufacturers are doing to extend engagement and make gross sales, but additionally what they’re doing to construct neighborhood — creating a optimistic relationship with clients is a vital a part of the social media puzzle, and your employer desires you to know that.
Questions on content material creation
It’s the one a part of your occupation your loved ones actually understands—be sure to nail each query about social media content material creation and do them proud.
What sort of content material would you advocate for our model, and why?
Much like the questions above, one of the simplest ways to arrange for this one is analysis. Check out the form of content material that the model already posts, and make suggestions primarily based on areas you suppose 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 essential. Stating the corporate’s social media viewers and objectives—and why this explicit form 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 advertising and marketing technique lays that each one out for you. Define objectives, time-frame, scheduling, photograph and video property, copy and anything you’ll have to create superior content material.
Relying on the model, it is perhaps worthwhile to say that your content material creation course of leaves room for flexibility: if there’s a pattern going viral that you just wish to leap on, you’ll be prepared.
What’s your course of for paid adverts?
Identical to with content material creation, your course of for paid adverts ought to contain purpose setting, a recreation plan, organizing property, posting and extra. Learn up on paid adverts on Instagram, Fb, TikTok, LinkedIn and X (previously Twitter) and cite your individual expertise with paid adverts when answering this query.
Your response ought to embrace a autopsy, too—notice how you’ll learn the analytics after your advert marketing campaign is finished, and what you may be taught from that info.
What can we be taught from our opponents’ social media?
Ooh, sneaky. That is your probability to show your potential to be taught new methods and adapt them for the model you’re interviewing for. Take note of social media tendencies within the trade, notice the social media voice and presence of the model’s opponents and description how you could possibly translate these classes into profitable content material. Or, if there’s a competitor that’s not doing so sizzling, clarify how you could possibly do it higher.
Questions on technique
What’s your recreation plan? These questions assist your interviewer get to know the strategy 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 potential, use an instance out of your previous expertise to stipulate every step you’re taking. If the thought of operating by a technique like this makes your coronary heart race, do a little analysis beforehand: right here’s all the pieces you want to know to create a killer social media technique (template included).
Most significantly, define setting objectives, steps you’d take to attain them, and the way you’d consider the outcomes.
How do you keep on prime of the newest tendencies and updates within the social media trade?
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 trade useful resource, weblog or information supply. Say, for instance, the Hootsuite weblog. You may also keep up to date by often checking the newsrooms for Meta, TikTok and different platforms.
Inform me a couple of time you’ve needed to work in a crew. 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 people you’ve managed. It’s all the time spectacular to make use of a big undertaking for example, so select an expertise that challenged you, and one which had an final result you’re pleased with.
Technique-wise, notice ways in which you labored in a crew each in-person and just about (even in a non-remote office, there’s nonetheless loads of digital communication wanted), and methods through which you’ve problem-solved in crew conditions.
What technique do you employ for social media budgeting?
Speaking cash could make folks uncomfortable, however your future employer will wish to know that you just spend neatly. When explaining your plan, embrace finances for content material creation, software program and instruments, paid social media campaigns and influencer advertising and marketing in addition to coaching and growth.
When you’re unsure the place to start out, we’ve got an entire social media finances 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 advertising and marketing technique: go over areas that you just wish 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—if in case you have a sure software program you employ to trace progress, share it.
What methods do you employ to extend viewers engagement?
You recognize this one: the greatest methods to extend engagement are to create useful 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 the 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 data of social listening (that’s the place you monitor social media for references to your model, opponents, and associated key phrases, in fact). It’s web stalking you get to do at work. The best reply for this query is to make use of a software program that does it mechanically (BTW, Hootsuite does this) and to watch the right phrases and matters, even when they’re misspelled.
Right here’s all the pieces you want to know to be an excellent (social) listener.
How would you take care of a model repute disaster on social media?
It occurs to one of the best of us: the power for information to unfold quick on social media is a blessing and a curse. When you’ve got particular expertise with a model repute disaster, you may define what you’ve finished previously. This can be an excellent alternative to reveal that you just’re in a position to be taught from prior expertise: if there’s one thing you’ve finished previously that you’d do in another way now, notice that.
In any other case, do as a lot analysis on social media disaster administration as you may (right here’s an excellent place to start out), and notice how you’ll implement what you’ve discovered for this particular model. For instance, placing beforehand scheduled posts on pause is a simple however essential first step.
Inform me a couple of time you resolved a buyer challenge on social media.
This can be a lower-stakes model of the query above. When answering this query, level out what the problem was and the steps you took to unravel it (together with how environment friendly, considerate and compassionate you have been). When you labored with one other particular person or a social media crew to unravel the problem, ensure that to focus on that — it’s a intelligent approach to assert what a crew participant you might be.
What technique do you employ to attach and construct relationships with influencers?
First, you’ve received to seek out the appropriate 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 an excellent match in your model. Then, listing 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 guarantee that the connection is optimistic: be clear however pleasant, communicative and genuine, all that good things.
Questions on reporting and analytics
Generally, it is all concerning the numbers. Ensure you know your metrics earlier than the large 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 consumer. Benchmarks like likes and views, for instance, are typically regarded as much less useful than feedback, shares and followers: engagement is vital when monitoring social media efficiency.
/a>How would you carry out a aggressive evaluation of a social media account?
First, clarify how you’ll select the competitor to investigate (this needs to be a model that operates in your identical trade and has the identical or related viewers). Then, take the interviewer by every of the 4 steps—for those who want a refresher, there’s a template right here.
How would you analyze our audience?
Much like the above, you’d first wish to determine who the model’s audience is: who’re they promoting to, who’s in the neighborhood that they’re fostering? Then, take them by how you’ll first analyze the model’s present viewers, then the model’s competitor’s viewers, and evaluate the 2. Then, concrete plans might be made about find out how to hit that concentrate on.
The important thing to being the sharpest instrument within the shed? Choosing the proper instruments to work with.
Which social media instruments are you accustomed to?
All social media platforms have their very own native administration tech (for instance, Instagram analytics or Meta’s Enterprise Suite) however there are additionally loads of different platforms that present extra highly effective instruments (like, ahem, Hootsuite).
Your data of supporting instruments reveals your resourcefulness, effectivity and whether or not or not you have got your finger on the heart beat of the trade. When you haven’t used a social media instrument earlier than, think about getting a free trial of 1 to try it out pre-interview.
How do you schedule social media posts?
Whew, one other straightforward one. For this query, notice what social media administration instruments you’d use to schedule posts and what sources you’d depend on to find out the greatest time to schedule posts.
Time administration, group and work model questions
These questions are frequent in any job interview, however notably essential when hiring a social media supervisor.
How do you prioritize and keep organized?
To reply this one, listing your methods for maintaining on schedule. Do you write lists? Are you married to your Google calendar? Do you employ any apps to maintain you on monitor?
Notice 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 useful to say any methods you have got 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.
When you’re assigned a undertaking or duty that you just don’t have expertise in, how do you guarantee it’s finished efficiently?
Studying methods are prime of thoughts right here—make your employer really feel assured that you could full duties you haven’t finished earlier than by exhibiting your willingness to be taught. When you’ve got an instance from a previous job or volunteer alternative, notice what you probably did in that scenario. Checklist sources you should use to be taught 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 for those who really feel caught.
What are your strengths as a social media supervisor, and what are your weaknesses?
Your strengths needs to be a no brainer—they’re why you utilized for this social media supervisor position 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 optimistic: weaknesses are sometimes our strengths overplayed. Please don’t say you’re a perfectionist… although the truth that you’ve learn this weblog publish to the top signifies that you just most likely are.
Hootsuite makes your life as a social media supervisor simpler. Handle all of your social channels, accumulate real-time knowledge, and have interaction along with your viewers multi functional place — so that you keep organized, ready, and impressed.
Do it higher with Hootsuite, the all-in-one social media instrument. Keep up to the mark, develop, and beat the competitors.
