Social Media Manager job requirements vary from title to title, company to company, and industry to industry. However, some non-negotiable requirements cut across virtually every industry and sector. Read on to learn more about what Social Media Managers do, the education they may require, and the skills needed to get one of these highly desirable positions.

What is a Social Media Manager?

Most Social Media Managers combine their marketing expertise with management skills. They may design, curate, and manage an organization’s social media content, especially in smaller companies. Larger organizations may require a Social Media Manager to partner with a creative team and outside agencies to oversee everything from short-form videos to marketing campaign strategies.

Education

Education is essential to many careers, both formal schooling and on-the-job training. Social media management training can include practical experience as well as theoretical training.

Although a bachelor’s or master's degree may be a standard requirement for some positions, this is not always the case with social media management. Scan online job postings, and you will find some Social Media Manager roles that require an associate degree or do not list any degree whatsoever.

Supervisory positions in well-known companies typically require college degrees, but not as a hard and fast rule before hiring. For example, a company that employs a valued Social Media Strategist might promote them to management or reimburse them for needed schooling before promoting them.

Social Media Managers with degrees often come from communications, journalism, marketing, or public relations backgrounds. Some positions require experience, while salary is commensurate with a particular set of skills or industry-specific knowledge in others. However, the lack of a formal degree does not necessarily exclude strong candidates from specific social media management roles. A certificate of completion from a respected course provider can often open the door to a full-time position that includes healthcare benefits and paid time off (PTO).

Experience

Experience and skills are two of the most essential factors that determine whether a candidate qualifies for a social media management role, often eclipsing education. Most people think of real-world, on-the-job paid experience when creating a CV or resume. However, this would be a mistake. Time spent working in the field can include internships, volunteering, or part-time paid work. Consider each of these categories and how one or more of them might fit into a Social Media Manager career path.

Internships

Internships are a great way for those new to social media management to gain experience. Recent college graduates often contact local companies to see whether an internship is available, or whether the company can create one. Employers like to see initiative, as it makes a good impression.

Although most people think of internships as volunteering, or working for free, this is not always the case. For example, many employers seeking summer internships advertise paid positions on job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed, even listing pay rates and letting candidates know they will not have to work evenings or weekends. Internships can also be convenient, sometimes as few as five or six hours per week.

Volunteering

Major corporations and governmental agencies rarely welcome volunteers, but smaller companies like non-profits may need them to thrive. The differences between an internship and a volunteer role are subtle but important.

First, an internship is a formal, short-term arrangement, whether paid or unpaid. The company agrees to provide the intern with practical experience, which may lead to more advanced paid work with that or another company. By contrast, volunteers may be long-term, do not receive payment, and might apply mainly to help rather than with a goal in mind. Finally, volunteer roles may expect even fewer hours than internships, sometimes only two to four hours weekly.

Part-Time Work

Part-time social media jobs can also benefit new social media novices. Freelancing part-time is another way to gain experience. Many social media pros work a full-time job in another role while taking on freelance projects during off hours.

Qualifying for an entry-level role can take from one to two years, whereas higher-level positions take longer. Scan job listings for Senior Social Media Managers in your area, and you will typically find three to five years or longer as minimum requirements. Read on to learn more about essential skills for Social Media Managers.

Skills

Social Media Marketing

Social media management means social media marketing, among other responsibilities. While many Social Media Managers come to their roles from the tech world, even more come from marketing positions. Consider marketing the top priority for any social media management role.

SEO/SEM

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is an essential skill set that typically goes along with search engine marketing (SEM). A Social Media Manager should be proficient in these areas, regardless of background.

Google Ads & Analytics

If you plan to work in social media management, you must know how to use Google Ads, as many companies require it. The newest iteration of Google Analytics, GA4, features numerous tools, from tracking video engagement to landing page performance.

Adobe Creative Cloud

Video editing with Premiere Pro, managing images with Photoshop or Illustrator, and After Effects for motion graphics are all common features of the Adobe Creative Cloud. The platform is essential to many digital marketing strategists and analysts, especially Social Media Managers.

Soft skills for Social Media Managers include creativity, teamwork, and communication skills.

Portfolio

The portfolio is another essential aspect of the Social Media Manager career path. From the perspective of a hiring manager or recruiter, every job candidate should have a solid, easily accessible portfolio featuring projects that demonstrate the kind of work the Social Media Manager is skilled in producing. A polished portfolio is among many attributes recruiters evaluate, along with how well a candidate interviews, their education, and any relevant experience. If you learn through a bootcamp or certificate program like the Social Media Marketing Certificate, you can get an in-depth portfolio review from an expert in the field.

Portfolio projects vary by industry and individual, but some aspects of professional portfolios are universal. For example, each portfolio project should differentiate a job candidate from others. While there is no practical way to tell what other candidates present, the need to include only the best work is self-evident. Portfolio projects include ad campaigns, effective social media copywriting, and links to online content (including screenshots). Consider creating a simple portfolio website using a tool like Copyfolio, Clippings.me, or Contently.

Resume & LinkedIn Profile

Two essential requirements for Social Media Managers are their LinkedIn profile and resume. If you want to work for a particular company, consider customizing the resume you submit to spotlight work relevant to the job you are applying for. Research the company by reading about them on their LinkedIn page, the About tab on their website, and their content on social media platforms.

Always follow up on your application. Hiring managers and recruiters are often surprised when an otherwise promising candidate fails to follow up with a thank you message. Taking the time to do so demonstrates persistence, politeness, and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty. 

Your resumes should generally be no longer than two pages, while LinkedIn Profiles can account for all your work. Consider the difference between the two. While a resume should be more informational and formal, a LinkedIn profile can show your creativity. For example, instead of listing your title as Social Media Manager, you can add terms like Content Creator | Marketing Superstar | Social Platforms Expert.

For more ideas on how to make your LinkedIn profile stand out from the crowd, check the profiles of people with titles like Brand Strategist or Career Brand Strategist. Their profiles often contain additional titles like Resume and LinkedIn Profile Writer, Career Growth Advisor, or Senior Career Consultant. You can use their profiles as a template without copying them directly. If you take a bootcamp or certificate program featuring mentoring sessions, ask for advice on tweaking your resume and LinkedIn profiles so they shine.

References

References are as essential as a strong resume, engaging LinkedIn profile, and polished portfolio. An employer will be more likely to trust you to do an excellent job if you present several good things people have said about you. Use care when choosing among potential references.

There are two kinds of references: character and work. Character references are people who can speak to your integrity but have no experience working with you. Do not use these unless you have no other options.

Work references are ideally the only references on your resume. They should be people who have supervised you, but if a colleague knows your work better or would be more positive, you can include them. If you have no work history and are starting a career in social media, consider asking a teacher or professor to write a letter of recommendation for you.

Once you compile a short list of people who can speak positively and in detail about your work ethic, ask them if they are willing to have their names and numbers or email addresses listed. Never assume someone wants to be a reference.

Learn the Skills to Become a Social Media Manager at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers numerous training options for students to learn social media management in person or online through teleconferencing. Topics include marketing, SEO, and Google Analytics, to name a few. Consider the following programs:

  • Digital Marketing Certificate - Noble’s Digital Marketing Certificate program is Noble Desktop's primary program for students looking to get on the marketing career track. You and your classmates will gain a deep understanding of digital marketing from every angle. Topics include Google Ads and Analytics, SEO, email marketing, and social media marketing campaigns, to name a few.
  • Social Media Marketing Certificate - The Social Media Marketing Certificate emphasizes social without delving into SEO or Google Ads/Analytics. This immersive 72-hour certificate covers LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms alongside social media content marketing. Attendees learn hands-on as they create a professional-level portfolio.
  • Google Analytics Bootcamp - The Google Analytics Bootcamp introduces students to GA4, the newest analytics service from the tech giant. Topics include determining key performance indicators (KPIs), tracking ROI (return on investment) on marketing campaigns, and Google Analytics Reports. You can save by taking this bootcamp as part of the Digital Marketing Certificate program.
  • SEO Bootcamp - Also available through the Digital Marketing Certificate, Noble’s SEO Bootcamp is a 12-hour dive into the importance of search engine optimization. You'll learn keyword research techniques with Semrush, SEO for mobile, and numerous other subjects.
  • AI for Marketing - AI For Marketing is one of Noble Desktop’s most popular new courses, covering popular platforms like ChatGPT, Salesforce Einstein, and Google's Gemini AI. Applicants should understand social media marketing, SEO, and analytics before enrolling. You can save by taking AI for Marketing as part of the Generative AI Certificate program.