How to Handle the Social & Community Job Trap

It is a common frustration for when community management and social media management are lumped together into a single role.

If you are looking for a focused community manager role to truly utilize your specific skill set and do great work, seeing these jobs blended together can feel like a trap.

Because these roles are so often merged, let's break down exactly how to navigate this tricky situation.

First, Assess Your Reality

Before we get into strategy, let's be completely honest. Your next move depends entirely on your current situation.

• If you need a job right now: Sometimes we have to take on roles that are not perfectly aligned with what we want just to stay afloat, and that is absolutely okay.
• If you have breathing room: Having the luxury of being more selective gives you the power to avoid.
• If you see a job posting and aren't 100% sure if it's a hybrid role, apply anyway to keep your options open. You can always pull out later. However, if you know with absolute certainty that you don't want a blended role, don't apply and waste your time.

Step 1: Clarify the Role

Sometimes a job description makes it incredibly clear that the role is a hybrid. Other times, it isn't completely obvious until you are deep into the interview process.

Instead of assuming things, just ask for clarification. A simple question like, "Are you looking for this role to be both social media and community?" will give you the answer you need.

Step 2: Choose Your Path

If the company confirms that the role is indeed blended, you have three options:

1. Withdraw: Choose this if you are absolutely clear the role doesn't align with you, and you have the luxury of choice.
2. Go along with it: If you are in a desperate situation and need a role right now, accepting the job without jeopardizing the opportunity is a completely valid choice.
3. Educate and pitch: Try having a proactive, positive conversation to see if the company is open to changing the role to better align with your expectations.

Step 3: How to Pitch Splitting the Role

If you decide to go with Option 3, you have to approach it the right way during the interview process. Here is the step-by-step framework:

• 1. Discovery First: A lot of people miss this step. Listen to them first and ask nuanced questions to truly understand their business goals. Find out their expectations: do they expect top-tier strategies for both community and social, or just someone to do a "good enough" job?.
• 2. Ask Permission: If you sense they might be open to an alternative, gently ask, "Have you ever considered splitting this role up?". This opens a dialogue and lets you get their feedback without making you come across as overly pushy or demanding.
• 3. The Pitch: If they say they haven't considered it, or express some level of hesitation but not a complete rejection from the idea, it's your time to pitch. Keep it natural, positive, and proactive. Do not complain about industry burnout. Instead, focus entirely on the company's specific goals and explain exactly how splitting the role benefits their business. Keep it simple and treat it as a two way conversation.

The Outcome

At the end of the day, it is the company's choice and we can't force them to do anything. They might give you a hard no. Or, they might realize you are right and see the amazing opportunity a dedicated CM brings.

Regardless of the outcome, having these conversations positions you as an educator and a professional who truly knows what they are talking about.

Take the first step to fix your positioning, find the right opportunities, and actually start converting them into roles.

Why Aren’t you Getting Community Manager Roles?

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💬 And if your serious about securing the role you want, apply now.