Social Media Manager CV Guide, Tips and Examples

What is a Social Media Manager?

With the increased need for companies to have an engaging online presence, social media managers have become ever-more in-demand. They’re responsible for managing a company’s social media platforms. The role involves developing strategies to engage customers and attract new ones, and delivering content in line with wider marketing objectives.

The job requires specialist knowledge of social media platforms, search engine optimisation (SEO), algorithms for engagement and paid social media advertising. It also tends to require excellent writing and editing skills and some experience of video and graphic design. Social media managers tend to have an organised, analytical and strategic mindset to create social media plans, deliver them to schedule and analyse the results of campaigns.

Key Sections to Include in a Social Media Manager CV

Your CV for social media manager job applications should include all the same sections as a standard CV. These are typically a CV header, a CV summary or objective, a work experience section, your education, a list of skills and some additional optional sections.

The structure you choose to place these in will depend on your experience levels. The two most popular CV formats are reverse-chronological and functional. A reverse-chronological CV format prioritises your work experience, while a functional CV format places your skills and education at the forefront of the document. For a role in social media management, you may also choose a more creative CV format, which showcases your graphic design skills and ability to create engaging content in various ways.

Whichever CV format you pick, make sure your social media manager CV contains the following sections:

CV header

In the document header, include your name, your phone number and your email address. You could use your name as the heading for the document, adding it in a larger font, a different typeface or a contrasting colour to the rest of the document. If you have a LinkedIn profile or a portfolio showcasing your work, add links to these in the header. It’s not typically recommended to add any personal details or a photo.

CV summary

The CV summary or objective provides a short, sharp introduction to your CV, and will hopefully encourage the hiring manager to read on. Write two or three sentences outlining your experience, your key skills and your career ambitions, to show the employer you’re right for the role.

Take a look at this example CV summary for a social media manager job application:

Work experience

Typically, the work experience section is the most important part of any CV. It shows how your previous roles and achievements make you suitable for the job you’re applying for. Add any relevant positions in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role.

Write your job title, the name of your employer, its location and the dates you worked there. Underneath each entry, add some bullet points highlighting your responsibilities and achievements in the role. Use the job description as a guide for what to include, and start each bullet point with a strong action word that showcases the impact you made, while reflecting the key skills listed in the job advert.

Here’s a work experience section from a social media manager CV example:

Education

The education section tends to include your highest or most recent qualification, or any qualifications that are particularly relevant to the role. For social media managers, this could be a degree in marketing, media, PR or journalism, or a postgraduate qualification in digital marketing. For each entry in this section, include the name and level of the award, the institution name, its location and your dates of study or graduation. If you have space available, you could also add some bullet points to showcase any specialist areas of study, awards you won or societies you were a member of during your studies.

Use the format below for your CV’s education section:

Skills

Your CV’s skills section is a list of the skills you possess that are relevant for the job. The job description will give you an indication of the most essential and desirable skills the employer is looking for. Your skills list should reflect this, while still allowing you to show some unique personal traits and qualities that set you apart from other candidates. You can present your skills in one single list, or split them out into separate lists of hard and soft skills.

Some skills you might include in a social media manager CV are:

• Social media management tools
• Data analysis
• SEO
• Audience research
• Copywriting skills
• Video production and editing
• Project management
• Graphic design
• Campaign design
• Social media strategy
• Project evaluation
• Attention to detail
• Working under pressure
• Multitasking
• Customer service
• Teamwork
• Flexibility
• Creative mindset

Optional sections

In addition to the core sections, there are some optional sections you could include in your social media manager CV. These can help you prove your skills and experience beyond your work experience and qualifications. You could add certifications or training you’ve undertaken, any foreign language skills, volunteer work or hobbies and interests. Only add any of these sections if they help show the employer how you fulfill the job description.

Tips for Writing a Social Media Manager CV

These simple tips can help you to write a social media manager CV that makes a strong positive impression with hiring managers:

• Choose a suitable CV format: if you have plenty of work experience, the traditional, reverse-chronological CV format is usually the most suitable. If you’re lacking experience or applying for social media manager roles as a change of career, a functional CV could be more effective. You may also consider a creative CV, which introduces icons, graphs, images and other creative elements to highlight the quality of your communication skills.
• Tailor your CV: always tailor your CV to every application. This means consulting the job description and adapting your CV content accordingly, using keywords that will appeal to the hiring manager and show you understand what’s required of candidates. Tailoring your CV for each application also helps keep your document fresh and up-to-date with your latest career developments.
• Quantify your achievements: instead of simply listing your responsibilities and everyday tasks, try to focus on your achievements in each role. You could do this by quoting project performance indicators such as engagement statistics, customer satisfaction scores, return on investment for campaigns and projects or your own personal performance metrics.
• Use a clear structure and language: use simple language and avoid jargon and business clichés wherever possible. Make your heading as clear as possible and use a well-organised structure. These can make your document easier to read, while also making it easier for ATS software to scan, assess and rank your CV compared to other applicants.
• Proofread your CV: before sending your application, proofread your CV and correct for any errors in spelling or grammar. If you send a CV with errors, this can seriously undermine your chances of success.
• Write a strong cover letter: a strong, compelling cover letter can support your CV and help convince the employer you’re right for the job. Pick out one or two key skills and achievements to focus on, and explain why you’re interested in the role and how it fits with your career ambitions.
• Use a professional CV template: a clean, attractive CV design can enhance your application and catch the eye of employers. Using CV templates from CVwizard makes it easy to create a stylish CV in minutes.

Key Takeaways for a Winning Social Media Manager CV

Your CV for social media manager applications should reflect your ability to craft compelling, engaging content. Review the job description carefully and tailor your CV for each application, focusing on quantifying your achievements with campaign KPIs and other performance metrics. Use an online CV maker like CVwizard to craft a professional-looking CV in just a few clicks. Sign up and gain access to a wealth of CV examples, templates and articles to help you create a successful social media manager job application.