Must have skills for the social media manager job search
As PR practitioners and marketers enter into the social media management field, they must solidify their digital skillsets.
Many millennials believe that since they grew up in the digital age, employers assume they are social media gurus by nature. While this may have been the case at the start of the online age, today’s employers expect more.
Today’s social media managers must have a strong grasp on the digital landscape and be able to prove it. Here are some tips to make you stand out when interviewing for a social media manager position.
Know your platforms
As far as the social media giants, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, social managers need to know these like the back of their hand. Messaging on these platforms varies from site to site, and being able to write compelling 140 charter Twitter posts is just as vital as well-crafted, longer Facebook posts.
However, knowing your platforms goes beyond mastering the giants. According to Jeff Bullas, “Social media is not a singularity. The social web is made up of intersecting trends as it matures and evolves.”
Being well versed in new and growing platforms makes you competitive in your job search. Here is a list of 20 popular social media sites. Know these well, but keep exploring for new platforms popping up.
Be able to show ROI
Return on investment, or ROI, has spread from the business world into the everyday lives of social media managers. Marketers must be able to show how efforts online contribute to an increase in sales or customer retention.
Knowledge of software such as Google Analytics and 
Hootsuite Analytics will help you stand out to employers.
These skills prove to future employers that you not only understand the importance of analytics reports, but you are able to provide them with this information without training.
Have portfolio material
It is not enough to say you know how to do something, you have to prove to employers that you’ve had success in digital relations in the past. Therefore, creating a portfolio to give employers is a must.
According to Undercover Recruiter, “A work portfolio not only sets job seekers apart from the competition, it does a better job of relaying why you may be right for the job by providing solid evidence as opposed to beating around the bush about it.”
Make a folder, document or online portfolio of all your work in past internships, jobs and class assignments. These give physical proof to your skillsets.
More Information
For more information, visit The Muse, Social Media Today and Undercover Recruiter.
– Happy Job Search!