Strategy

Writing a CV or resume for a Social Media Manager role can be a unique challenge. In a field that’s constantly evolving and highly competitive, your CV needs to not only showcase your skills and experiences but also capture the essence of what makes you a great social media professional.

This article is designed to guide you through the process of creating a CV that not only stands out but also positions you strongly for a Social Media Manager interview.

We’ll walk you through the key elements to include, common mistakes to avoid, and provide real examples to help you craft a CV that opens doors to new opportunities. Whether you’re a seasoned manager or just starting out, these tips will help you present your qualifications in the most effective way.

Read The Job Description / Advert

The first step is, of course, to read the job description. We need to know what the firm is looking for so that we can properly highlight these characteristics in our CV. So read back over the job description and try to pinpoint the important points. A lot of times a firm will call things “required”; if you see this, you need to make sure you include that in your CV. Similarly, if certain things are repeated throughout the advert, this indicates they are of high importance, so we will want to make sure our CV shows that as well.

When performing this analysis, take care to copy the ‘exact’ words and phrases that are being used by the hiring manager. We will want to pepper these into our CV later.

Research The Company

Time to put on your detective hat and do some research on your target company. Look at their website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. You are looking for any piece of intel that will give you the leg up.

• Find out about recent work/projects they have undertaken or will be embarking on (highlight your experience in these areas on your CV)
• Find out what software/processes they use and make sure you include your proficiency in them in your CV
• Learn what interview questions you might expect should you make it that far

See if you know anyone who works there and/or connect (LinkedIn) with people ahead of the interview. A little nepotism could never hurt, and you might be able to glean more information about the role/hiring process in the meantime.

Find A Good CV Template

When selecting a CV template, it’s essential to opt for a simple design and structure. Not only are straightforward layouts more compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), but they also make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to quickly identify and understand key details. A clutter-free and organized CV ensures that your most important information stands out, facilitating a smoother review process for potential employers.

This is the CV template that we recommend (click here)

Write 2 Or 3 Bullet Points As A ‘Professional Summary’

A handy approach is to craft three sentences: the first highlighting your qualifications and experience, the second showcasing your biggest professional achievement, and the third detailing your most recent experience.

Detail Your Employment History

Begin by listing your employment history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role. This allows potential employers to see your recent experience upfront, which holds greater value. Keep in mind that brevity is key.

As you go further back in time, reduce the level of detail to ensure your CV doesn’t exceed two pages. Employers are less likely to read lengthy CVs.

When writing about your responsibilities in your CV, focus on how you’ve excelled in those roles, especially as a Social Media Manager. Instead of simply stating “Managed social media accounts,” you could say “Effectively grew the company’s Instagram followers by 40% in six months by implementing creative content strategies and engaging with the audience.” This way, you’re not just telling potential employers that you handled social media, but also demonstrating your ability to significantly boost online presence and engagement. Remember, it’s about showing the impact and success of your work, not just listing your duties.

Detail Your Education History

Keep your CV concise, aiming for a two-page limit. The education section can often be streamlined.

Highlight the most relevant qualifications. For instance, if you have a degree, your A-levels become less significant. Similarly, if you’re in the U.S., having an MBA overshadows your high school GPA.

Unless an older educational milestone is crucial for the job or highly pertinent, focus on showcasing your Bachelor’s degree, post-graduate studies, or professional certifications. If you lack these, mention your latest qualifications. Remember, having a Master’s suggests you’ve finished school, so no need to state the obvious. Only include your educational background if it’s pertinent to the job.

CV Structure

Tactically structure your CV to the ‘most wanted’ attributes of the job description. For example, if the job description values “qualified”, then place your qualifications first; if they want someone with RECENT experience, put your last job up top. If they want multiple years of experience, highlight your tenure.

We always recommend that you have a Professional Summary up top (after your name/contact info), as it will be the first thing that anyone reads. As discussed earlier, this should be tailored towards the job advert and showcase your experience and skills in what the employer is looking for.

A fairly typical structure would go:

1. Name and contact info
2. Professional Summary
3. Current (or most recent employment)
4. Education & Professional Qualifications
5. Employment History

WHAT NOT TO DO

Now that we’ve discussed what you should be including in your CV, let’s look at some things that you should avoid doing.

• Do not include personal history or likes. Employers are not going to care about your hobbies, so unless you have some inside information that the hiring manager only hires people who play a particular sport, for example, then leave your extracurricular activities off your CV. This does not extend to things like volunteer or charity work. Definitely include that if you have the space.
• Do not list your skillset and the tools/applications you have experience with. It takes up valuable space and is often obvious (Skilled in Excel…?). Instead, include these in your achievements section (Example: “Used Asana to manage and coordinate tasks for a remote team of 25 members”).
• Do not include references or “references available on request”. If employers want a reference, they will ask you for them; otherwise, this is just wasted space on your CV.
• Do not include a photo of yourself unless specifically asked. In many countries, including the UK and US, you should not include a photo of yourself on your CV/resume. Companies don’t want you to do it, as it opens them up to liability, and there is absolutely nothing for you to gain by doing so – plus, you are making it easier for firms to discriminate against you, either implicitly or explicitly.
• Do not use any fancy graphic or artistic CV format. Most CVs come in a standard format, allowing Application Tracking Software, recruiters and hiring managers to easily pick out the key pieces of information they need quickly based on their experience. If you throw them a CV in an artistic format, they are more likely to get annoyed and throw your application away. This is not a situation where standing out is good. You want your skills/experience to be noted, not your CV format.
• Do not include your previous salaries. This will severely impact your negotiation abilities down the line.

Social Media Manager CV Tips – Recap

Let’s recap what we’ve discussed so far:

Understand Your Audience Before you start writing your CV, think about who will be reading it. Tailor your CV to suit the needs and expectations of potential employers in the social media industry. Highlight experiences and skills that are most relevant to the role you’re applying for.

Showcase Your Social Media Expertise Demonstrate your proficiency with various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Include any successful campaigns you’ve managed or significant growth you’ve achieved on these platforms. ?

Highlight Technical Skills Mention any tools or software you’re skilled in, such as Hootsuite, Buffer, Google Analytics, or Adobe Creative Suite. These technical skills are crucial for a Social Media Manager and will set you apart from other candidates. ?

Quantify Achievements Whenever possible, use numbers to quantify your achievements. For example, “Increased Twitter engagement by 50% over six months” is more impactful than “Improved Twitter engagement.” Numbers provide concrete evidence of your success. ?

Include Relevant Keywords Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen CVs. Make sure to include keywords relevant to social media management in your CV. This will help your CV pass through these systems and reach a human recruiter. ?

Show Your Creative Side Social media is all about creativity and engagement. If you’ve worked on creative campaigns or have unique content ideas, mention these in your CV. This showcases your ability to think outside the box. ?

Professional Summary Start with a strong professional summary that encapsulates your experience, key skills, and what you bring to the table. This is your chance to make a great first impression. ✨

Keep It Concise Recruiters often have limited time to review each CV. Keep yours concise and to the point, ideally no longer than two pages. Make sure every word counts and contributes to presenting you as the ideal candidate for the role. ?

Proofread Errors and typos can be a major turnoff for employers. Proofread your CV multiple times and, if possible, have someone else review it too. A clean, error-free CV reflects your attention to detail. ?️‍♂️

Update Regularly Keep your CV updated with your latest job experiences and any new skills you’ve acquired. An up-to-date CV is ready to go whenever an opportunity arises. ?

Social Media Manager CV Sample

Below is an example CV from someone with a number of years experience in the field. For an editable .DOCX version, click here.

Click here to see page 2…