What does a social media internship do?
In a social media internship, the primary role is to take part in managing a brand's social media platforms for public relations. One of their primary duties is to craft informative and captivating content while under the supervision and guidelines of a manager or supervisor. Furthermore, there may also be instances where an intern must participate in devising strategies that would bring more public recognition to the brand, such as social media campaigns to boost sales and improve client base.
Social media internship responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real social media internship resumes:
- Manage accounts for clients by monitoring, engaging, digital copywriting, and generating content.
- Create posts on company's Tumblr blog, manage to gain dozens of notes on posts and followers
- Reach minimum requirement in sales every month, run social media accounts, and develop and manage online marketing campaigns
- Develop and manage social media program leveraging Facebook and Pinterest.
- Manage Facebook account including fielding inquiries and generating overall positive engagement.
- Help manage the Concrete2Green official blog and create multimedia PowerPoint presentations for promotional purposes
- Utilize a content calendar to schedule tweets and Facebook posts via HootSuite and TweetDeck within tight deadlines.
- Used POS system to make cash transactions.
- Optimize content following search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC).
- Create a Snapchat account to promote shows that increase exposure to events and ticket sales.
- Research social media tools to increase social media presence; with a focus on Snapchat.
- Help to brainstorm and execute social media campaigns to entice fan support during sports games.
- Update the twitter page, photograph for upcoming events and brainstorm with other members on creative advertising.
- Research new social media platforms and websites relevant to client's field and create/maintain listings/profiles to increase SEO.
- Assist, when necessary, with sales invoicing, credit returns and memo returns using a POS system.
Social media internship skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Social Media Interns are proficient in Instagram, Facebook Insights, and Twitter. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Social Media Interns that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Instagram, 18%
Authored attention grabbing tweets and posted eye catching Instagram posts to promote product awareness and marketability
- Facebook Insights, 15%
Utilize Facebook insights for analyzing trends within user growth and demographics, consumption of content, and creation of content.
- Twitter, 14%
Developed new social media strategies towards increased customer outreach and community and potential viral marketing possibilities on both Twitter and Facebook.
- Social Media Marketing, 6%
Promoted and managed online social media marketing for our product directed at incoming freshmen students at several assigned North American universities.
- Linkedin, 4%
Facilitated seminars educating peers about social media, focusing on Facebook and LinkedIn.
- YouTube, 4%
Assisted with strategic marketing, social media/market research, YouTube production and social-media account development.
Common skills that a social media internship uses to do their job include "instagram," "facebook insights," and "twitter." You can find details on the most important social media internship responsibilities below.
Organizational skills. A big part of what social media interns do relies on "organizational skills." You can see how essential it is to social media internship responsibilities because "public relations specialists are often in charge of managing several events or communications at the same time, which requires excellent skills in coordinating arrangements." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical social media internship tasks: "managed organizational presence and content on all departmental social media sites -facebook, twitter, and youtube. "
Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for social media internship responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of social media interns all the time, as "public relations specialists sometimes must explain how a company or client is handling sensitive issues." An excerpt from a real social media internship resume shows how this skill is central to what a social media internship does: "assess social media marketing strategies to determine rate of return -develop conflict resolution strategies to maintain viewership along with developing new clientele"
Speaking skills. While "speaking skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to social media internship responsibilities. Much of what a social media internship does relies on this skill, seeing as "public relations specialists regularly speak on behalf of clients or their organization." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of social media interns: "presented and lead a meeting on how companies and brands are utilizing pinterest. "
The three companies that hire the most social media internships are:
- Microsoft6 social media interns jobs
- Compass Group USA4 social media interns jobs
- UWorld4 social media interns jobs
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Compare different social media interns
Social media internship vs. Content creator
A content creator is primarily responsible for producing written, verbal, and visual materials that promote products and services to a particular audience. In a company setting, a content creator adheres to managers or senior creators' directives, fact-check and review data, coordinate with other staff such as graphic artists, and participate in developing promotional materials. Moreover, a content creator utilizes social media for brand awareness. They must maintain knowledge of the latest trends, create content that captures the public's interest, and engage with clients, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between social media interns and content creator. For instance, social media internship responsibilities require skills such as "facebook insights," "hootsuite," "social platforms," and "content calendar." Whereas a content creator is skilled in "digital content," "digital marketing," "photography," and "facebook." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Content creators tend to make the most money working in the internet industry, where they earn an average salary of $73,393. In contrast, social media interns make the biggest average salary, $33,136, in the education industry.On average, content creators reach similar levels of education than social media interns. Content creators are 2.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Social media internship vs. Public relations coordinator
A public relations coordinator is responsible for developing brand awareness for the organization's brand image. Public relations coordinators work closely with the marketing department to manage marketing campaigns, mainly social media platforms and events, promoting the organization. A public relations coordinator assists with press releases, media coverage, investor relations, and responding to clients' inquiries and concerns. Public relations coordinators also analyze current market trends to identify business opportunities that would meet public demands. They must have excellent communication skills, as well as be highly organized with meeting deadlines under minimal supervision.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real social media internship resumes. While social media internship responsibilities can utilize skills like "facebook insights," "social media marketing," "hootsuite," and "social platforms," public relations coordinators use skills like "facebook," "press materials," "press clippings," and "writing press releases."
Public relations coordinators may earn a higher salary than social media interns, but public relations coordinators earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $48,390. On the other hand, social media interns receive higher pay in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $33,136.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Public relations coordinators tend to reach similar levels of education than social media interns. In fact, they're 2.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.6% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Social media internship vs. Media specialist
Media specialists are individuals who establish and administer content on various social media platforms. The job involves monitoring site metrics, overseeing creative design, and responding to reader comments. Specialists offer advice to administrators and teachers on the use of non-print social media. They work for huge enterprises with multimedia departments, new media departments, and in-house websites. The skills the job requires include trend awareness, social media ads, community management, strong visual aesthetic, and understanding SEO.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from social media internship resumes include skills like "facebook insights," "social media marketing," "hootsuite," and "social platforms," whereas a media specialist is more likely to list skills in "digital marketing," "video production," "customer service," and "seo. "
Media specialists earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $57,470. Comparatively, social media interns have the highest earning potential in the education industry, with an average salary of $33,136.media specialists typically earn higher educational levels compared to social media interns. Specifically, they're 6.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Social media internship vs. Media relations specialist
A media relations specialist's role is to help a company maintain good public relations through various forms of media, ensuring to convey their brand's purpose and message. Their responsibilities typically revolve around developing strategies and opportunities, producing newsletters and press releases, remaining updated with the latest trends, and even managing the company's social media platforms. A media relations specialist may also delegate tasks to writers and graphic designers, arrange schedules, and ensure that all goals are met within the expected deadline and budget.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between social media interns and media relations specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a social media internship might have more use for skills like "facebook insights," "social media marketing," "linkedin," and "pinterest." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of media relations specialists require skills like "patients," "compassion," "excellent interpersonal," and "data entry. "
The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for media relations specialists, with average annual pay of $65,925. Comparatively, the highest social media internship annual salary comes from the education industry.In general, media relations specialists hold similar degree levels compared to social media interns. Media relations specialists are 4.2% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of social media internship
Updated January 8, 2025
