Social media is one of the most important ways for brands to communicate, engage and build relationships with their customers. Over 3.6 billion people worldwide use social media to connect with like-minded communities, stay on top of trends, and consume content in 2021 alone. Of course, being present on several social media platforms is a norm for most brands now, but this wasn’t always the case- thus, the job of a ‘social media manager’ was born.
Oh, I forgot to introduce myself!
Hi, my name is Angel, and I’m the social media assistant for Capital Placement. My job is to increase CP’s brand awareness and manage CP’s social media presence by developing and implementing social media strategies by producing creative content and conducting analyses using data analytics.
I started my career just like you, not really sure what I am supposed to do. So I conducted my very own SWOT analysis where I looked at my strengths and weaknesses. This is how I decided to be a content creator and social media strategist because I love creating content, building a relationship with customers, and I’m good at it!
So, if you are considering pursuing a career in social media marketing as well, I’ve got you covered! Here are some tips on how to get a job on social media.
What qualifications and skills are needed?
Most companies may require you to have a bachelor degree in marketing or business and a minimum of 1-year of experience working in social media and content creation.
Here are some of the key hard skills for social media marketers.
- Copywriting- which is to write content with a branded tone of voice
- Data analytics– which is the ability to analyse data across all platforms and implement strategies for growth; and last but not least,
- Visual native- which is an understanding of creative imagery.
For soft skills, communication, time management and organisational skills are probably the most valued skills for social media roles, but attention to detail and teamwork are equally important. These are the keywords you can include in your cover letter or CV personal summary to show that you have what it takes to land this job.
How to get related working experience in social media marketing
Most of you might be wondering, how can you get 1 to 2 years of working experience in social media marketing upon graduation? Here are a few ways for you to kick start your social media career and build your skills in social media marketing as a university student or recent graduate.
1) Internship in Social Media
An internship is probably the most direct way for you to get valuable working experience in the field you are interested in. In addition, you have the opportunity to get trained by marketing experts and get hands-on experience in running marketing campaigns. This experience is valuable on your CV and valuable to you because you get to experience what it’s like to work in marketing. Need some help getting started? Learn more about our marketing internship program here.
2) Run a website or a blog
If you are passionate about something, you can create a blog and share your viewpoint about it! It could be your photography portfolio, your insight into mental health, or even your opinions about the movies you’ve watched. The key is to start posting and stay consistent. Check out Squarespace, WordPress and Wix; they are perfect for beginners as they are relatively easy to use.
3) Run a social media account
If you are social media savvy and love to post on social media, you can start treating it as a working experience and create content that could build your following. You can learn how to adapt your content to different platforms and learn about graphic design or video editing. There are online courses where you can learn about it more professionally or learn on Youtube for free. Remember, there is no one right way to make creative content. The skills are just here to help you deliver your ideas.
4) Volunteer as a university ambassador
Most universities nowadays have social media channels, and they love to have more students be a part of it! You can find out where you can apply to be a university ambassador and help run your university’s social media. This is an excellent way to learn more about content creation and be comfortable speaking in front of the camera. You might get paid too as some universities would regard this as a student job!
Final Thoughts
And there we go! These are the ways for you to get a job in social media marketing. Hopefully, it’s not as difficult as you think and enough to get you started on your career in social media marketing. But, trust me, it’s a career that will keep you on your toes!
