Top Social Media Manager Interview Questions and Answers [2023]

Don’t sweat by your blazer: right here’s every part it is advisable to know to your social media supervisor job interview.

You’ve got the skills, you’ve created a kickass resume and portfolio, you’ve scheduled an interview. Now, the ultimate step to securing the job is answering the questions your potential new employer fires at you. Then, you possibly can benefit from the fabulous lifetime of a social media supervisor (77% of social entrepreneurs are completely satisfied of their jobs… and hey, the salary’s not bad, either).

This weblog publish covers ceaselessly requested questions and what sorts of solutions employers are on the lookout for. It’s a must-read for interview prep—the truth is, we guess your new boss-to-be is studying it for inspo.

As mentioned above, this question is the natural follow up to “What is your favorite social media platform to use personally.” When answering this one, be sure to point to the strengths of the platform when it comes to business: for example, “I like Instagram because of all the opportunities for user-generated content” or “I like Linkedin as a result of it makes it straightforward to attach with different recruiters.”

It’s okay in case your reply to each this query and the one earlier than it’s the identical—simply make it possible for the “whys” are totally different. For example, you would possibly like TikTok personally since you’re a sucker for a goofy pattern, however professionally due to the link in bio that drives traffic.

What social media certifications do you will have?

A simple one—so long as you do have certifications. This isn’t essentially required for each job in social media, but it surely’s definitely an asset, so taking a free tutorial or two can go a good distance with regards to your interview.

Hootsuite gives certifications in social marketing, DEI in social media, social selling and more.

Questions concerning the model

These interview questions are all about analysis: ensure you do your homework so you possibly can knock them out of the park.

How would you describe our model?

Any place you interview for goes to require some analysis concerning the firm. Do as a lot digging as you possibly can on the model earlier than the interview, and make word of the supposed viewers, model voice, and even the color palette and vibe. This query is the interviewer ensuring you “get” the model.

Who do you assume our model’s rivals are?

Show your data of the business when answering this query: you must know what different companies serve the identical market. When answering this query, it’s good to be detailed and give attention to the viewers. For instance, a small, accessibly priced make-up model isn’t essentially competing with a luxurious cosmetics label—simply because two manufacturers are in the identical business doesn’t imply they’re competing for a similar viewers.

Which social media platforms would you advocate for our model and why?

To reply this query, level out the targets and the viewers of the model, then communicate to how that interprets to a selected platform (our social media demographics blog post is a wonderful useful resource for this—and can make you sound like a genius).

Right here’s an instance: A model attempting to succeed in 15 to 25-year-olds within the US would possibly need to think about Youtube, as a result of 77% of American web customers in that age vary use that platform.

Why do you need to work for our firm?

Right here’s slightly secret: Your interviewer is completely fishing for compliments right here. Answering this query is an effective alternative to show that you simply’ve completed analysis into the corporate, to level out features of the corporate you admire, and to share a bit about your self.

For instance, you may reward the model’s dedication to sustainability and word that being as eco-friendly as doable is a private purpose of yours.

What are your favorite manufacturers on social media proper now, and why?

When answering this query, ensure you contact on particular issues that your favorite manufacturers are doing to extend engagement and make gross sales, but in addition what they’re doing to construct neighborhood — creating a optimistic relationship with prospects is an important a part of the social media puzzle, and your employer needs you to know that.

Questions on content material creation

It’s the one a part of your career your loved ones actually understands—ensure you nail each query about social media content creation and do them proud.

What sort of content material would you advocate for our model, and why?

Much like the questions above, one of the best ways to arrange for this one is analysis. Check out the sort of content material that the model already posts, and make suggestions based mostly on areas you assume they may develop in. Educating your self about content material on newer or rising platforms (for instance, Threads) is an asset right here.

The why of this query is simply as necessary. Stating the corporate’s social media viewers and targets—and why this specific sort of content material caters to them—is essential.

What’s your course of for content material creation?

Content material creation ought to begin with a purpose in thoughts, and a selected social media marketing strategy lays that every one out for you. Define targets, time-frame, scheduling, photograph and video property, copy and the rest you’ll must create superior content material.

Relying on the model, it is perhaps worthwhile to say that your content material creation course of leaves room for flexibility: if there’s a pattern going viral that you simply need to bounce on, you’ll be prepared.

What’s your course of for paid advertisements?

Similar to with content material creation, your course of for paid advertisements ought to contain purpose setting, a sport plan, organizing property, posting and extra. Learn up on paid advertisements on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) and cite your personal expertise with paid advertisements when answering this query.

Your response ought to embrace a autopsy, too—word how you’ll learn the analytics after your advert marketing campaign is completed, and what you possibly can study from that info.

What can we study from our rivals’ social media?

Ooh, sneaky. That is your probability to show your skill to study new methods and adapt them for the model you’re interviewing for. Take note of social media trends within the business, word the social media voice and presence of the model’s rivals and description how you may translate these classes into profitable content material. Or, if there’s a competitor that’s not doing so sizzling, clarify how you may do it higher.

Questions on technique

What’s your sport plan? These questions assist your interviewer get to know the tactic behind your social media insanity.

Stroll me by your course of for creating a brand new social media technique for a model.

Be particular and succinct when answering this query—and if doable, use an instance out of your previous expertise to stipulate every step you are taking. If the thought of working by a technique like this makes your coronary heart race, perform a little research beforehand: here’s everything you need to know to create a killer social media strategy (template included).

Most significantly, define setting targets, steps you’d take to realize them, and the way you’d consider the outcomes.

How do you keep on high of the newest developments and updates within the social media business?

A part of this reply is probably going “I’m chronically on-line” (hey, it’s a way of life), however you possibly can spherical out your reply by pointing to a acknowledged business useful resource, weblog or information supply. Say, for instance, the Hootsuite blog. You too can keep up to date by commonly checking the newsrooms for Meta, TikTok and different platforms.

Inform me a few time you’ve needed to work in a group. What methods did you employ to collaborate?

Communication reigns supreme when answering this query: take into consideration the way you’ve communicated with coworkers, supervisors, and people you’ve managed. It’s at all times spectacular to make use of a big mission for example, so select an expertise that challenged you, and one which had an consequence you’re happy with.

Technique-wise, word ways in which you labored in a group each in-person and just about (even in a non-remote office, there’s nonetheless loads of digital communication wanted), and methods during which you’ve problem-solved in group conditions.

What technique do you employ for social media budgeting?

Speaking cash could make folks uncomfortable, however your future employer will need to know that you simply spend well. When explaining your plan, embrace finances for content material creation, software program and instruments, paid social media campaigns and influencer advertising and marketing in addition to coaching and improvement.

Should you’re unsure the place to start out, we’ve an entire social media budget breakdown for you.

What course of do you employ to find out and monitor social media targets?

This one comes again to your social media marketing strategy: go over areas that you simply need to see progress in, do analysis to find out how finest to succeed in these targets, set deadlines and consider. It’s useful to say instruments right here, too—you probably have a sure software program you employ to trace progress, share it.

What methods do you employ to extend viewers engagement?

You understand this one: the best ways to increase engagement are to create useful content material, know your your viewers, reply promptly and schedule your posts for instances when your viewers is prone to be on-line. When you possibly can, give particular examples for a way every of those methods will profit the model you’re interviewing for.

What are your social media listening methods?

Time to indicate off your data of social listening (that’s the place you monitor social media for references to your model, rivals, and associated key phrases, after all). It’s web stalking you get to do at work. The only reply for this query is to make use of a software program that does it routinely (BTW, Hootsuite does this) and to observe the correct phrases and matters, even when they’re misspelled.

Right here’s everything you need to know to be a good (social) listener.

How would you cope with a model popularity disaster on social media?

It occurs to the perfect of us: the power for information to unfold quick on social media is a blessing and a curse. You probably have particular expertise with a model popularity disaster, you possibly can define what you’ve completed prior to now. This can be a great alternative to display that you simply’re capable of study from prior expertise: if there’s one thing you’ve completed prior to now that you’d do in another way now, word that.

In any other case, do as a lot analysis on social media disaster administration as you possibly can (here’s a good place to start), and word how you’ll implement what you’ve realized for this particular model. For instance, placing beforehand scheduled posts on pause is a simple however necessary first step.

Inform me a few time you resolved a buyer situation on social media.

This can be a lower-stakes model of the query above. When answering this query, level out what the problem was and the steps you took to unravel it (together with how environment friendly, considerate and compassionate you had been). Should you labored with one other particular person or a social media group to unravel the problem, ensure that to focus on that — it’s a intelligent solution to assert what a group participant you might be.

What technique do you employ to attach and construct relationships with influencers?

First, you’ve acquired to seek out the suitable influencers. Show to your potential future employer that you’ll analysis of us earlier than reaching out (and keep away from a PR nightmare) and the way you’ll decide that the influencers that you simply work with are a great match to your model. Then, checklist the methods you’ll join with them—take into consideration e mail, DM, video chat, in-person occasions. Lastly, inform them the way you’ll make it possible for the connection is optimistic: be clear however pleasant, communicative and genuine, all that great things.

Questions on reporting and analytics

Typically, it is all concerning the numbers. Be sure you know your metrics earlier than the massive interview.

What metrics do you employ to trace social media efficiency?

The reply to this query can set you other than any common ol’ social media person. Benchmarks like likes and views, for instance, are usually considered much less useful than feedback, shares and followers: engagement is key when monitoring social media efficiency.

/a>How would you carry out a aggressive evaluation of a social media account?

First, clarify how you’ll select the competitor to research (this ought to be a model that operates in your identical business and has the identical or comparable viewers). Then, take the interviewer by every of the 4 steps—for those who want a refresher, there’s a template here.

How would you analyze our audience?

Much like the above, you’d first need to establish who the model’s audience is: who’re they promoting to, who’s in the neighborhood that they’re fostering? Then, take them by how you’ll first analyze the model’s present viewers, then the model’s competitor’s viewers, and evaluate the 2. Then, concrete plans will be made about how to hit that target.

Questions on expertise with social media instruments

The important thing to being the sharpest instrument within the shed? Choosing the proper instruments to work with.

Which social media instruments are you accustomed to?

All social media platforms have their very own native administration tech (for instance, Instagram analytics or Meta’s Business Suite) however there are additionally loads of different platforms that present extra highly effective instruments (like, ahem, Hootsuite).

Your data of supporting instruments reveals your resourcefulness, effectivity and whether or not or not you will have your finger on the heartbeat of the business. Should you haven’t used a social media instrument earlier than, think about getting a free trial of one to test it out pre-interview.

How do you schedule social media posts?

Whew, one other straightforward one. For this query, word what social media administration tools you’d use to schedule posts and what assets you’d depend on to find out the best time to schedule posts.

Time administration, group and work type questions

These questions are widespread in any job interview, however significantly necessary when hiring a social media supervisor.

How do you prioritize and keep organized?

To reply this one, checklist your methods for maintaining on schedule. Do you write lists? Are you married to your Google calendar? Do you employ any apps to maintain you on monitor?

Observe strategies you employ to make sure each long run and quick time period targets are met, and the way you get again on schedule when plans go awry. It’s additionally useful to say any methods you will have for once you really feel overwhelmed: it occurs to everybody, and understanding how you can handle your psychological well being reveals maturity and duty.

Should you’re assigned a mission or duty that you simply don’t have expertise in, how do you guarantee it’s completed efficiently?

Studying methods are high of thoughts right here—make your employer really feel assured you could full duties you haven’t completed earlier than by exhibiting your willingness to study. You probably have an instance from a previous job or volunteer alternative, word what you probably did in that scenario. Record assets you need to use to study independently so your employer is aware of that you’ll do your finest to problem-solve by yourself.

Communication can also be paramount on this response. Define how you’ll ask clarifying questions, alter your plan when given suggestions, and request assist for those who really feel caught.

What are your strengths as a social media supervisor, and what are your weaknesses?

Your strengths ought to be a no brainer—they’re why you utilized for this social media supervisor function within the first place, proper? Noting qualities which are listed within the job description is a useful hack right here. (Oh, your model values a self-starter? What a coincidence, that’s precisely what I’m).

In relation to weaknesses, be trustworthy however optimistic: weaknesses are sometimes our strengths overplayed. Please don’t say you’re a perfectionist… although the truth that you’ve learn this weblog publish to the tip signifies that you simply most likely are.

Hootsuite makes your life as a social media supervisor simpler. Handle all of your social channels, acquire real-time knowledge, and interact together with your viewers multi function place — so that you keep organized, ready, and impressed.

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