Technology and creativity intertwined: Working in Social Media Management

We love to uncover the ins and outs of different roles – and today with pleasure we’re bringing in a case study from a Senior Social Media Manager at Born Social. What’s it like to work – and get work – in the industry, balancing technological skills with creativity?

“I’m a Senior Social Media Manager at Born Social. My role is two-fold; I spend most of my time on account work; leading project management of our internal teams and acting as the bridge between the client and the delivery teams at Born Social. The other side of my role as a Senior is setting the standard for what best practise social media management looks like at Born Social. I am responsible for establishing any gaps in the team and then giving the tools the team needs to deliver their best work.

 

My career journey

I knew I wanted to work in marketing fairly early on, so whilst I was at university, I got a part-time job as a Student Brand Manager at a food start-up brand. After I graduated, I spent the summer working as a Brand Educator, and from there I got a full-time job working as a Marketing Executive for a young food startup. After working in food for a few years I realised I was keen to diversify the type of brands I worked with, and made the move from in house to agency, to work at Born Social and have been here since then.

 

Technology and creativity hand in hand

What is really exciting about social media is that it is constantly evolving, and I feel like it is really shaping how creativity is now shared online. When social media started, it was a space for fairly basic communication with others – seeing how it has gone from having a shared space to speak with friends, to having platforms like TikTok where one is able to share their creativity with millions is a really exciting industry to be a part of.

Skillsets that are in demand for my sector will vary depending on the role you are in, but having a growth mindset and passion for the work you are doing is in my eyes the attributes which come out on top time every time. Being invested in your own learning, and seeking feedback allows you to develop hard skills over time you won’t have had before.

Laptop and notebook with phone
Photo by Jessica Lewis from Pexels

Finding your next steps after university

Keep an open mind – it’s really difficult to know what you want to do coming out of university, and you have plenty of time to figure that out. The job you may “end up” in may be one which doesn’t even exist right now, so it’s worth spending the first few years of your career exploring interests and seeing where it goes. It’s totally OK not to have a solid plan, I prefer not to.

It’s been a difficult year, but what we have seen is that the usage of digital platforms has increased as a result of it – whilst real-life experiences were put on hold, brands were pivoting to bring that experience online. So, the good news is that there is still very much a place for digital and there will still be opportunities for graduates to start building their careers in the industry.

 

My advice for my younger self…

It’s really overwhelming coming out of university and looking at job applications, seeing all of the requirements, and telling yourself you’re not right for it. My advice would be to ignore the voice in your head which is telling you not to go for things, and to pitch yourself higher. “

 

King’s Careers Take: Many students in univesity may feel this way – but you would be surprised how many employable skills and attributes you already have. Our online course helps you map out your knowledge, skills, attributes and experiences, helping you realise what you offer and how your potential is already incredibly varied.

 

Graduating from The University of Sheffield with a BSc in Psychology in 2015, Steph Ross moved to work in Marketing and Brand Management with Proppercorn, Candy Kittens and Vita Coco. She is now a Senior Social Media Manager at Born Social, and has worked there for 3.5 years, where she is responsible for leading the project management of her accounts, and working with clients to realise their business goals through social media. 

 

 

 

Written by Steph Ross

Edited by Laura Patari