50 social media interview questions to ask marketers and content managers

Social media marketing is a popular field that constantly evolves. Over the past few years, more companies have turned to social media platforms to sell their products and services. Because of this, the demand for online marketers or content managers grows daily. If you’re looking to hire one of these professionals, enhancing your hiring process with skill tests is important. 

The Social Media Management test will determine which candidates have the most experience with using social media and creating content. This simple but effective assessment can help you choose candidates to interview.

Now, all you have to do is prepare for the interviews. Discover 50 social media interview questions to ask online professionals, as well as sample answers to help you hire the right person for your team.

20 common social media interview questions to ask job applicants 

Check out these 20 common social media interview questions to better understand candidates’ knowledge, skills, and experience with social media platforms. 

1. What is social media marketing?

2. Describe your process for creating a social media calendar.

3. When would you use a hashtag? 

4. How do you find new social media accounts to follow and engage with?

5. What is your approach to staying on top of the latest trends, updates, and new platforms in the social media industry?

6. Which social media platforms do you use in your own time?

7. How do you deal with a negative customer review or comment?

8.  What have you noticed about our social media presence? What could we do to improve engagement with our posts?

9. Do you currently use any project management tools?

10. How can a business benefit from social media?

11. Describe a recent campaign you promoted on social media.

12. What are some blog techniques that can boost website traffic?

13. How would you make a post go viral? 

14. Which social media brands inspire you? 

15. How can our company create a giveaway campaign on Instagram using likes and comments?

16. Why is a communications plan important?

17. When should you avoid using social media?

18. How would you build a brand voice for our company? 

19. What does KPI mean in social media? 

20. Do you have experience working with brand ambassadors or influencers?

8 sample answers to common social media interview questions

Use these sample answers to common social media interview questions when comparing candidates’ responses. 

1. What is social media marketing?

Candidates, whether they’re beginners or seniors, should answer this without hesitation. It’s a simple question that can get them comfortable at the beginning of the interview. 

Social media marketing is the use of popular social media platforms to sell products, build brands, and connect with customers. Companies can use platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to generate traffic and reach their desired target audience when selling a trending product. 

2. What is your approach to staying on top of the latest trends, updates, and new platforms in the social media industry?

Everyone discovers trends and social media advancements differently. For example, one candidate might follow influencers on Instagram and another candidate could sign up for newsletters to gain the latest gossip. There isn’t a right answer, but candidates should talk you through the steps of finding trends and creating product ideas based on those social media movements.

Candidates might also:

• Study other competitors on social media 

• Look through trending YouTube videos 

• Watch popular content creators 

• Subscribe to relevant accounts 

• Listen to podcasts regarding social media

• Sign up for trade journals 

• Follow leading digital blogs 

3. How do you deal with a negative customer review or comment?

In the world of social media, hateful comments are a regular occurrence. Those working in social media should have a positive mindset when reading negative comments online. Candidates who don’t react the right way may damage your brand and cause loyal followers to lose trust. Therefore, this question determines which candidates have a strong and professional attitude. 

For example, the ideal candidate will delete an inappropriate comment or direct message the customer to offer helpful suggestions. They might also try to continue these discussions in an offline setting. A positive reaction and strategy to diffuse tension ensures the candidate doesn’t cause unnecessary conflict and backlash. 

It’s worth sending candidates a Big 5 (OCEAN) personality test to evaluate their openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and emotional stability when resolving negative comments. 

4. Describe your process for creating a social media calendar.

A social media calendar is an organized plan of upcoming posts for your social media channels. This schedule ensures you post frequent and relevant content without overwhelming customers. Candidates should know how to create this calendar if they have experience managing content. 

For example, they might conduct a social media audit to evaluate your company’s online presence in the past week. Then, it’s a matter of planning content in a social media calendar template so every channel maintains engagement with its followers. Each candidate will have a unique process, but the focus should be on their planning and organization skills. 

A Time Management test can help determine which candidates complete tasks effectively when managing multiple deadlines.

5. What have you noticed about our social media presence? What could we do to improve engagement with our posts?

This question determines whether candidates have researched your company before the interview. Of course, it’s not the end of the world if they don’t hold much knowledge, but personal research shows determination to fill the open position. 

Candidates who follow your social media accounts may also be eager to join your projects and learn more about your products in marketing. 

The ideal candidate will suggest ways to enhance your content. They may discuss how frequent competitions keep customers engaged with your social media account. People want the chance to win products, so it helps to host a contest once every month to increase their engagement. 

6. When would you use a hashtag?

A hashtag is a keyword or phrase that helps push your content toward the right audience. Professionals should use a specific word following a # symbol in written content, such as Instagram posts or YouTube captions. But many people, even those not working in social media, should understand a hashtag since it makes posts more visible and engaging. 

7. Do you currently use any project management tools?

Project management tools are usually software applications that help you plan and delegate work in a single place. This organization means all team members can access the document and see their tasks for the day. More experienced candidates may give examples of project management tools that have helped them to complete social media tasks. 

8. How can our company create a giveaway campaign on Instagram using likes and comments?

Every social media platform has different giveaway campaign strategies that engage their followers. The candidate should understand the basic rules of these contests and how followers might enter them. For example, Instagram requires the brand to use hashtags, state the rules and terms in the caption, and provide a closing giveaway date. 

The ideal candidates will respond with an answer that matches your company’s strategies. They could suggest offering free products to random customers who like the post and tag their friends in the comments. 

15 advanced social media interview questions to ask senior professionals 

Below are 15 advanced social media interview questions to ask senior candidates with more experience and knowledge of social media marketing. 

1. Which marketing metrics are the most important to track?

2. Describe a time you promoted products or services on a social media platform. 

3. How do you write a compelling content post? 

4. What is your approach to building a social media page? 

5. Explain how social media and SEO work together for a successful brand campaign.

6. What is your approach to social media data analysis?

7. Is B2C or B2B marketing on social media more effective?

8. How can social media networks contribute to generating revenues?

9. What is an RSS feed? What is its significance?

10. How does social media relate to customer service? 

11. Describe a few common errors brands make in social media marketing.

12. How would you decide the company’s social media budget?

13. Do you think social media giveaways and contests increase brand awareness? 

14. How can you manage multiple social media accounts at once? 

15. What steps should you take to block spam and bots on social media?

6 sample answers to advanced social media interview questions 

Refer to these sample answers when reviewing candidates’ responses to advanced social media interview questions. 

1. Which marketing metrics are the most important to track?

Marketing metrics are measurable values that help social media professionals track customer engagement. It’s essential to gather data relating to daily follows, likes, and comments on specific posts when determining the success of campaigns. Whether beginners or seniors, candidates should know the importance of using marketing metrics in social media. 

Below are some important marketing metrics: 

• Keyword ranking

• Engagement 

• Conversions and clicks

• Open rate

• Click-through rate

• Productivity

• Return on Investment (ROI)

• Customer satisfaction 

Do you need a data-driven method to assess your candidates’ metrics knowledge? Send candidates a Market Analysis test to see how they gather information regarding follower engagement and social media ranking. 

2. Explain how social media and SEO work together for a successful brand campaign.

SEO, which refers to search engine optimization, is necessary for making a social media page more visible to potential consumers. Using more keywords and publishing relevant content related to current trends can help posts appear to the company’s target audience. Candidates should understand how important SEO is when creating a successful brand campaign. 

A Technical SEO test can help you determine which candidates have the most experience using SEO in social media. They can show their skills in managing algorithms and completing performance tracking. 

3. Is B2C or B2B marketing on social media more effective?

Candidates should be able to explain what B2C and B2B mean in marketing. B2C, or business-to-customer, means a company will sell and market products to individual customers. B2B, or business-to-business models, focus on selling products and services to other organizations. 

For this question, the candidate should state which model is more effective in social media campaigns. Many companies use B2C to reach a wider target audience and generate revenue from popular marketing channels. 

4. What is an RSS feed? What is its significance?

An RSS feed (really simple syndication) shows specific information behind published content. For example, online users can see a new social media post’s summary, publication date, author, and link. This type of reader increases brand awareness and drives more traffic to one website since more customers are aware of the new content. 

5. Do you think social media giveaways and contests increase brand awareness?

Social media giveaways can attract more consumers to one account. Contests are free and easy to enter, so they’re ideal for increasing brand awareness and improving employer branding. 

Candidates may provide examples of giveaways they’ve seen before from specific brands. Their answer will determine whether they have enough experience using social media for marketing. 

6. How can you manage multiple social media accounts at once?

Some companies have multiple social media accounts that target different audiences. Content creators and marketing professionals must know how to manage these accounts if this is an essential duty for the role. 

The ideal candidate will use social media management software to keep several channels active and engaged. Software is essential for uploading posts on time and responding to comments on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok, all of which rely on consumer engagement. 

15 situational social media interview questions to ask candidates 

We have put together a list of 15 situational social media interview questions to ask your candidates. Choose questions that test their knowledge of social media and help you better understand their processes in complex situations. 

1. In the middle of a social media campaign, you notice that you’re not on track to meeting the company’s targets. Describe how you would readjust your plan to ensure the campaign is successful. 

2. Tell us about a time when you failed to communicate effectively.

3. How do you take negative feedback on board? 

4. You notice that a social media post isn’t doing well. What do you do? 

5. A team member said something offensive in a social media post. How do you resolve this problem and communicate with followers? 

6. You have a great idea for a new campaign, but your manager doesn’t understand it. How can you explain and persuade your manager to try it out? 

7. How would you respond to a user harassing our company’s social media accounts?

8. Describe your experience working with your team on a digital display advertising campaign. 

9. How would you go about researching competitors? Why is that information important? 

10. A team member wants to change something about a campaign, but you disagree. How do you move forward? 

11. Talk me through the steps of managing different social media tasks. 

12. How would you use your written communication skills to sell a product on social media?

13. Higher management wants to challenge your latest social media post. How do you deal with this? 

14. How would you use leadership skills to guide a team through a new social media project? 

15. Tell me how you would monitor the data and performance of a campaign?

6 sample answers to situational social media interview questions 

Revisit these sample answers to situational social media interview questions when choosing a candidate for your open position. 

1. In the middle of a social media campaign, you notice that you’re not on track to meeting the company’s targets. Describe how you would readjust your plan to ensure the campaign is successful.

Constant self-improvement shows great determination to succeed. Candidates with this mentality should always know which targets are vital when meeting a company’s expectations.

In terms of social media campaigns, the ideal candidate will focus on creating a new plan that encourages the company to meet long-term goals. For example, they could add the campaign to another social media platform to increase awareness and attract more customers to the products. 

2. A team member said something offensive in a social media post. How do you resolve this problem and communicate with followers?

Occasionally team members will mess up when writing online posts. They could make a joke thinking it was suitable or relevant, but the company’s followers might disagree. It’s also easy to voice controversial opinions that receive backlash. 

For this social media role, candidates should be able to resolve the problem while communicating and apologizing to customers. One way to do this is to delete the problematic post quickly and reiterate the company’s morals and positive views. 

Send candidates a Problem-Solving test to see how they resolve complex situations without making more mistakes. In the social media world, candidates must know how to preserve a brand’s positive reputation. 

3. You have a great idea for a new campaign, but your manager doesn’t understand it. How can you explain and persuade your manager to try it out?

Candidates who love sharing their ideas with others may not always receive the expected response from managers. This can feel disappointing, but they should be able to negotiate ideas and explain their reasoning behind a certain campaign or marketing technique. The candidate might arrange a meeting with the manager to show them a detailed plan of their idea and how it could benefit the company.

Use a Negotiation test to determine whether candidates can communicate their ideas and persuade others to listen or consider them. The ideal candidate will have the confidence to disagree with others, especially if they’re passionate about making the best social media campaigns. 

4. Describe your experience working with your team on a digital display advertising campaign.

Digital display advertising is an online marketing technique in which a company’s product appears on third-party websites or search engines on social networks. Not every candidate will have experience with this type of campaign, but they should still understand how it works when increasing brand awareness and consumer engagement. 

Banner ads are the most common example of digital display advertising, as they show the company’s name and trending product. 

5. How would you use your written communication skills to sell a product on social media?

Candidates who want to work in social media will constantly write posts online. They need strong written communication skills to connect with consumers and sell products using the right information. Therefore, asking this question is essential for testing their technical skills and ability to create compelling content. 

A Communication Skills test will determine whether the candidates can summarize messages effectively and increase engagement with written content. 

6. How would you use leadership skills to guide a team through a new social media project?

Leadership skills are important because they encourage skilled leaders to achieve their goals and collaborate with the team. Candidates who want to take a more significant role in your company may be determined to help others improve and learn. 

When approaching a new social media project, the candidate might arrange a meeting to discuss plans and ideas. They can use their leadership skills by delegating tasks and providing feedback to those who need extra support.

Send candidates a Leadership & People Management test to see how they guide others and create goals for the entire team. They can also show how they would lead a social media project in your company. 

For which kind of roles can you use social media interview questions?

You can use social media interview questions for various marketing and content-related roles. The questions you choose depend on your company’s open position and the skills candidates need to complete specific tasks. For example, you may ask leadership questions when hiring a content manager for your team. 

The following are some examples of common roles in the social media industry for which you may use social media interview questions: 

• Social media manager 

• Content strategist 

• Social data analyst 

• Copywriter 

• Content creator 

• Influencer manager 

• Blogger

• Social media specialist 

When should you use skill tests in your hiring process?

An ideal time to use skill tests is before conducting interviews. Following this order ensures you interview candidates with in-demand skills and knowledge of social media. Pre-employment skill assessments can also tell you more about the job applicants and why they’re applying for the open position in your company. 

Adding skill tests to your hiring process can help you:

• Reduce unconscious bias when hiring

• Identify talent gaps in your company 

• Locate talented and dedicated professionals  

• Make an informed hiring decision 

• Save time when looking at job applications 

• Learn more about a candidate’s personality

Not to mention, skill tests will encourage you to hire the right candidate. You don’t have to face the consequences of a bad hire since you’ll have access to talented job applicants. Once each candidate completes the test, you can compare their results and determine which best suits the social media role best. 

Find top talent using our skill tests and social media interview questions 

Do you want to find relevant skill assessments but don’t know where to look? 

Use our test library to find tests that relate to social media roles. With TestGorilla, you can put your candidates’ knowledge of community management to the test and learn more about their personalities and mindset in the context of professional digital marketing. 

Create a free account with TestGorilla to tour our high-quality assessments and effective screening tools. This gives you plenty of opportunity to preview tests that suit your open position.  Then, hire talented professionals using our Social Media Management test and social media interview questions.