27 essential social media manager interview questions (and answers)

Social media managers (SMMs) play a pivotal role for any modern brand; they are responsible for much of the business’s external communication and engagement with existing and potential customers.

When it’s time to hire a social media manager, a solid job description and asking the right questions can help you hire a qualified professional who will take your social strategy to the next level.

The following list of social media manager interview questions is a great place to start. We broke it down based on the most important skills and capabilities needed to excel. We also share our thoughts on what to look for in candidates’ answers.

Plus, if you’re a social media manager in search of your next gig, this list can help you prepare for upcoming interviews.

Table of contents

General experience and social media knowledgeOrganization and time managementSocial media content and strategyGoal settingReporting and analyticsCommunication and collaborationChallenging situations

General experience and social media knowledge questions

The first step in most interviews is to understand the candidate’s basic social media knowledge and their general professional experience.

1. What social media accounts have you managed in the past?

This will inform which social platforms the candidate has experience with, what industries they’ve worked in and if they’re used to working with large or small follower bases. Ideally, you want to know that the interviewee has experience in the platforms you use.

While appropriate experience is certainly something to look for in a candidate, depending on the level of the role, it might not be the most critical. Balance the answer to this question with the ones below to achieve a deeper understanding of the individual’s training, drive and critical thinking skills.

2. When given a task you’ve never performed before, what steps do you take to ensure it gets done?

Look for concrete examples of situations where the candidate has actually had to learn something new and avoided letting any major balls drop. Also look for evidence of the candidate's willingness to ask for help or be self-sufficient—both are good signs they will thoughtfully approach a difficult task.

9 skills every social media manager must have

✅Communication✅Writing✅Creativity✅Customer care✅ Making connections✅Data analysis✅ Project Management✅Community Management ✅Strategic Thinking

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— kamran Hassan (@Rana_kamran43) October 6, 2022