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- 08 March 2017

While social media is often an important part of a broader role in marketing, promotions, communications or PR, increasingly businesses, not-for-profits, government organisations, and political campaigns, are hiring social media specialists.

So what does a job in social media really involve?

Do people just sit on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Snapchat all day posting and liking and whatever else!? Tweeting?? Well, yes, and no...

First stop, wikipedia:

"Social media marketing is the use of social media platforms and websites to promote a product or service. Organisations address a range of stakeholders through social media marketing including current and potential customers, current and potential employees, journalists, bloggers, and the general public. While social media marketing is often associated with companies, increasingly not-for-profit organizations and government organizations are engaging in social media marketing of their programs or services."

NEXT - I jumped on a job board to see who was advertising jobs in this area and what those job ads asked people to be able to do. Amongst the current vacancies, social media roles were available in a broad range of business, organisations and industries.

My favourite was an ad for a Global Social Media Community Coordinator with Icebreaker. 

I particularly liked this ad, because, being a relatively junior role, it gave some useful guidelines to young people interested in a social media career about the qualifications, skills, experience and personal attributes required, as well as the types of social media, technology and software that is commonly used and the day to day job tasks involved. This content would be a great help to any young person trying to map out an action plan for a career in this area (and to help them build some understanding of what the job entails). 

Snap, Tweet, Post - you are totally amongst it.

Our customers are connected online around the globe through every social media platform possible. The key for us is to deliver up what they want where they want it about stuff that will make them want to hear more from us. 

You will be responsible for getting people talking about our brand across both traditional media and social media platforms using engaging and creative content.

What your CV, says about you:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Marketing, Journalism, Communications, Advertising or related field
  • Equivalent of 2-4 years previous experience in similar role including public relations, social media, marketing, content production and copywriting
  • Experience in content production and copywriting for social media
  • Skilled at building and delivering against a calendar of activity
  • Skilled at developing strong rapport and building trust quickly
  • Proficient with social media management software and digital analytics packages including Sprout Social, Onlypult, HootSuite (or similar), Facebook Insights, Adobe Social, WordPress, Radian6, and Google Analytics
  • Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Products

What you rock at:

  • Proven success producing compelling written and visual content
  • Detail oriented
  • Well connected and well networked across the markets within assigned region
  • Excels in problem solving, managing multiple projects and producing content under tight timeframes
  • Superior interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team environment.

This will keep you busy doing the following:

  • Build and manage the company's social media profiles and presence, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
  • Create shareable content appropriate for specific networks to spread both our brand and our content.
  • Monitor and engage in relevant social discussions about our company, competitors, and/or industry.
  • Run regular social promotions and campaigns and track their success (e.g., Twitter chats, LinkedIn discussions, etc.)
  • Manage the social media activity to budget

Social Media Careers in Real Life

For even more from a 'day in the life perspective' meet Amelia Ritchie, Digital Engagement Specialist.

Finally, as social media careers seem (to me anyway) like they would be mostly the domain of the young, I checked out the 2017 Forbes 30 under 30 in the media, marketing and political sectors to see what the 'cool kids' are up to, here are a few I found interesting: