Writing the Perfect Social Media Manager Resume

by Diane Gildea

What You Need to Write a Great Social Media Manager Resume

 

Picture it…. A beautiful, cohesive social media page, showcasing exactly what the company brand is about and attracting engagement and sales.

 

You can create this same type of structure with your resume, too. You just need to translate those perfected social media management skills into resume writing skills. And we’re here to help you.

 

You might be noticing many job openings these days. It may seem like you have to be a jack of all trades and manage various accounts on different social media platforms. But, just like the accounts your managing, all you need to do is understand the audience you’re creating for and make sure you are highlighting content that is engaging enough for them. That should increase the average response time from application to interview.

 

So how can you get started? What turns your resume from just another resume, to one that starts getting plenty of interviews? One of the most important things in your resume is your relevant experience in the field. Your social media manager resume should include:

 

  • A strong understanding of how to effectively use social media platforms
  • The creativity that helps you produce content ideas for posts
  • The ability to keep up with trends and news, which helps you stay relevant

 

Like social media, you get to use content to represent yourself on your resume and online. Have you ever had an authentic connection with your audience? That’s exactly what it’ll feel like when an employer reads your new resume. By the end of this you’ll know exactly what’s needed to make a showstopping Social Media Manager resume.

 

Looking for someone to help you write your resume? Check out Maximum Wage’s services HERE.

 

How to Format Your Social Media Manager Resume

 

Sure, you could include a video cover letter or be like Nina Mufleh and design your resume to look like an Airbnb host profile. But top marketing recruiters and experts suggest using a resume like the format above first and foremost, dang those pesky applicant tracking systems!

 

Your resume should be structured in a way that highlights the skills and experience you have that make you a qualified candidate for the job. Did you triple followers and view count? Great, let’s show that!

 

The aim of this resume is to get you an interview and then to get you the job. With this in mind, pay close attention to that job description you’re interested in.

 

Don’t forget that your resume should be 1-2 pages long. It should be concise, clear, and easy to read, just like a company’s webpage. As a social media manager, you may be inclined to add graphics, colors, and fancy designs. There’s no need to do that.

 

Applicant tracking systems - that employers like to use – strip all the design away, leaving just the content. So, let’s focus on that. The main sections you should include are:

 

  • Contact information
  • Headline (and a link to your portfolio)
  • Summary
  • Skills
  • Experience
  • Education

 

When you are fighting for attention on social media, everyone is your competitor. As a SMM, you need to adapt your message to specific platforms and audiences. You are used to beating the social algorithms. Now it is time to hone your resume to beat the job search algorithm!

 

Name and Contact Information

 

Include your name, contact information, and social media links. It is important to include contact information so that employers can reach out to you for interviews. (Expert tip: don’t include your contact info in your header or closer). You want to make sure to customize your LinkedIn URL, have a professional email address, and include a portfolio or website.

 

  • Jane Doe
  • Jane@maximum-wage.com
  • 555-555-5555
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/JaneDoe
  • com

 

Professional Headline

 

The headline is the first thing a hiring manager sees on your resume after the contact information. THIS is true clickbait.

 

It should be compelling and show what you can do for the company.

 

The best way to create a strong headline is by using action verb, skill, or attribute that paints a picture of what you can bring to the table. Here are a few examples:

 

  • “Engaging Social Media Manager with 10+ Expertise”
  • “Social Media Manager - Google Analytics IQ and Hootsuite Social Marketing Certified”

 

It is important that your resume introductory section stands out from other applicants and captures the attention of recruiters. It should not be too long or too short, and it should make it clear for what you are applying. Just like social media, you want to create a tailored, informative experience for the reader.

 

Professional Summary

 

As a social media manager, you most likely have tons of KPIs. Your bio is a great way to highlight the areas you specialize in. If you can include top achievements, even better, just no hashtags please!

 

In this section, less is more. While you can use 2,200 characters in your Instagram captions, I’m sure you know the ideal length for engagement is 138-150 characters. The following professional summary highlights a strong review of a social media manager’s most relevant skills and attributes:

 

“Social Media Manager with 5+ years of experience in social media management and marketing. Excellent communication skills for outreach and content creation, ensuring strong brand engagement. Obtained a B.S. in Marketing and expertise in marketing analytics. Awarded Webby Award in 2021 for Advertising, Media & PR, Branded Content.”

 

See how this statement draws you in and makes you want to keep reading? That’s how you can further your reach with your resume!

 

Skills Section

 

Every social media manager wants to create content that’s exciting, valuable, and buzz-worthy, but it takes creativity to come up with ideas that stand out. When it comes to social media skills, creativity is particularly versatile. Creativity helps social media managers.

 

You should show a diverse set of skills to be able to manage all the various aspects of social media. The following are some skills that you can include:

 

  • Excellent communication and people skills
  • A strong understanding of marketing, advertising, and branding
  • Knowledge in using social media platforms
  • Strong understanding of SEO and SEM
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Content creation
  • Marketing research
  • Analytics

 

Your resume should contain a strong mix of hard and soft skills, and a few real-life examples where possible. Try not to highlight each skill more than once in your resume summary and employment history, so spread them out among the roles and accomplishments highlighted in order of importance and relevance.

 

Work Experience

 

Show me the MONEY (well, in this case, ROI). In order to get your social media manager resume noticed, you need to showcase those results! In this case, we’re focused on content quality over quantity.

 

I’m sure you know that using social media and managing brands does not only involve using Instagram or tweeting. It also involves a lot of data collection, analytics, and technical skills which are important for your role.

 

Whether you are successfully increasing your followers or website traffic, every little victory is part of meeting marketing goals for your business. Did a post go viral? Did it turn into sales? Don’t be afraid to shine, this resume is all about you and why you’re the best fit for the role!

 

Here is an example of how you can do that with your bullet points:

 

“Increased social media engagement by 28% and web traffic 19% within 6 months by implementing innovative marketing tactics and campaigns.”

 

“Wrote, edited, and published 25 pieces of weekly content to share on company’s social media profiles and channels.”

 

Including statistics such as growth numbers, campaign reach and ROI will back up your skills and make your employer imagine what you might achieve as their newest Social Media Manager. By adding points and numbers, you can show your ability to make an impact and provide impressive results in social media marketing.

 

Education

 

Your education section is a great way to back up all of the wonderful knowledge you possess. Did you get a Digital Marketing degree or recently finish a certificate from Hootsuite? This is where to put that. Be careful of showcasing too many personal professional development courses, we want you to focus back on the needs of the employer. Let’s include:

 

  • Name of the institution
  • Location of institution
  • Dates attended (month and year)
  • Degree obtained
  • Name of program
  • Coursework completed (list major, minor, or specializations)

 

Here is an example:

 

Leet University | NYC, NY | May 2018

Bachelor of Arts in Communications

Minor: Business and Marketing Management

Relevant Coursework: Public Speaking, Marketing, Digital Media, Social Media

 

Keywords

 

The keywords for your social media manager resume will vary depending on the job description. An employer might focus on certain platforms and engagement, while another might look at ROI and KPIs. Just like trending topics, it’s important to research your employer audience and sprinkling your resume with the keywords that the recruiter may have specified. This is crucial for your resume’s CTR and passing the first stage of the selection process.

 

When creating your resume, it is best to use verbs and keywords like the positions you are interested in applying for. Here is a list of common keywords for a social media manager:

 

  • Managed
  • Developed
  • Analyze
  • Launched
  • Designed
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • WordPress
  • Social Media
  • Campaigns
  • Digital Marketing
  • SEO

 

Social Media Tools and Technical Skills

 

As SMMs, we need to consider every aesthetic of social post, from images, to links, to formatting of copy. Do not leave out all those useful tools and skills you’ve learned along the way. These are just a few examples, but you can include up to 15 tools and skills within your resume.

  1. Hootsuite - for posting content, scheduling posts, and tracking your social channels from one dashboard.

 

  1. Buffer - this allows you to schedule posts across many profiles and track statistics on performance.

 

  1. Sprout Social - a tool that offers a comprehensive suite of analytics that provides insight into your customer base, competitors, and industry trends.

 

  1. Agora Pulse - provides comprehensive analytics on all aspects of your social media strategy including content performance, engagement

 

 

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