6 Common Resume Mistakes Social Media Pros Make (and How to Fix Them)
If you’re applying for social media jobs and not getting bites, it might not be your experience. It might be your resume. Let’s talk about the common mistakes we’ve seen and how to fix them so you stand out for all the right reasons.
Remember, this is not about looking perfect. This is about showing up in a way that actually reflects the work you do and the value you bring.
Mistake #1: Listing Tasks Instead of Impact
Saying “managed Instagram account” doesn’t cut it anymore. That just tells people what platform you touched. It doesn’t show the results you drove or the strategy behind your work.
Fix it:
Show impact. Use action verbs and results.
Before: “Posted on Twitter daily.”
After: “Developed Twitter content that increased engagement by 35% in three months.”
Mistake #2: Forgetting the Metrics
We get it, not everything in social is measurable. But when you can measure something, it matters.
Include metrics where you can. Even estimates are better than nothing.
Increased story views by 60% quarter-over-quarter
Reduced response time to DMs by 50%
Launched a campaign that drove 500 new email signups
If you're new and don’t have these metrics from a full-time role, pull them from personal projects, internships, or freelance work.
Mistake #3: Overloading the Skills Section
Listing every platform and tool you’ve ever touched doesn’t help. In fact, it can overwhelm whoever’s (or whatever AI resume reader) reading your resume.
Keep the skills list clean and relevant. Focus on the tools you’re actually confident in. Group them in categories if it helps: “Analytics,” “Design,” “Scheduling,” “Community Management.”
Even better, if you include skills listed in the job description. Most likely, those will be matched to the role and you’ll have a better chance of getting to the interview stage.
Mistake #4: Making It Look Like Every Other Resume
Social media is creative work. So why is your resume stuck in Times New Roman?
Use clean, modern formatting. You don’t need neon colors and emojis, but a resume that’s easy to scan, visually balanced, and clearly sectioned makes a difference.
Bonus if you include a hyperlink to your portfolio or LinkedIn. Extra bonus if your LinkedIn isn’t just a copy-paste of your resume.
Mistake #5: Leaving Out Freelance, Contract, or Volunteer Work
Tbh, a lot of people in social start by managing accounts for friends, nonprofits, or small businesses. That still counts. Don’t sell yourself short.
Include relevant freelance or volunteer gigs, even if they weren’t full-time. If you created content, built a strategy, or managed a campaign, it deserves a spot on the docket.
Mistake #6: Not Tailoring Your Resume to the Role
Earlier in the “Skills” section we touched on this. Social roles can vary a lot. What a community manager does at a startup might be totally different from the same title at a nonprofit.
Read the job description and tailor your resume for it. Use similar language, highlight relevant experience, and move your most aligned wins to the top.
Yes, it takes more time. But the difference it makes might equal an interview.
Bonus Tips for Getting Noticed
Rename your resume file with your name and the job title (e.g., “Taylor_SocialMediaManager_Resume.pdf”)
Double-check your contact info — typos in your email are more common than you’d think
Don’t rely only on the resume. Reach out on LinkedIn or send a short personal note with your application
Warm the team to your presence by engaging (commenting) on their social media content
You Deserve to Get Seen
We know this space is competitive. But the work you do matters. Your resume should reflect that. At the end of the day, it’s not about perfection, it’s about clarity, confidence, and showing up like the strategic powerhouse you are.
Need a second pair of eyes? Pass it to a friend, mentor, or someone in the Bham Social Media Club community. We’ve got you.
