How to Get Hired as a Community Manager

You’ve probably there. Applying for role after role. Sending out CVs. Hearing nothing back.

It’s draining. And after a while, you start wondering if maybe you’re just not good enough.

The truth? You are good enough. You’re just competing with dozens of people who want the same role.

Why Good Candidates Get Ignored

I’ve hired for more than 200 community positions. And I can tell you this:

Sometimes there are more then one 'perfect' candidates applying to one role. That doesnt mean that all three get the role, still one is picked.

And that's why it's not just about you, it's also about who else is applying to the same role as you.

That means you can be perfect on paper… and still not get picked.

So if you want to stand out, you can’t just tell companies what you do. You have to show them the business value behind it.

Speak the Language of Value

If you say “I run events” or “I make members happy,” it sounds nice, but it doesn’t connect to results.

Companies hire community managers because they want things like:

• Customers staying longer
• Support costs going down
• New users onboarding faster
• A stronger brand people trust

When you talk about your work, link it to outcomes.

Instead of “I host events”, say “I ran events that increased member retention by 30%.”
Instead of “I make members happy”, say “I built onboarding flows that helped more new users become active.”

That’s the difference between sounding nice and sounding valuable.

What If You Have No Experience?

Everyone starts somewhere. If this is your first step into community management, you can still build real examples.

• Volunteer in a community you care about
• Take on a part-time moderator role
• Start your own small group around a niche you love

Even a few months of doing this gives you stories and numbers you can share with employers.

Just remember: volunteering should be a stepping stone, not a permanent state. Three months is usually enough to get what you need and move forward.

The Smarter Way to Get Hired

Here’s the method that changes everything: stop relying only on job boards.

Instead, go directly to companies you’d love to work with. Not to pitch yourself, but to start a real conversation.

Here’s how:

1. Make a list. Choose companies you genuinely care about. Smaller startups often work best.

2. Do a quick audit. Do they have a community? If yes, what’s missing? If no, how could one help them?

3. Reach out. Find the right person (often in marketing, product, or even the founder). Don’t pitch yourself, just share one observation or idea.

4. Get on a call. Use it to listen. Ask about their goals. Share one or two ways a community could help. Keep it light.

5. Follow up. Send a short note with one clear idea they could act on. Let them know you’d love to help if they’re interested.

Why This Works Better

When you do this, a few things happen:

• You’re applying in a warm environment instead of being just another CV in a pile
• You learn what different companies actually want from community (which makes you better)
• You build relationships that can open doors later
• If you land a role, it’s usually a better fit because you shaped it around their needs

It’s not easy. But it’s faster, more effective, and more human than sending out hundreds of applications.

Final Thoughts

Finding your first or next community role doesn’t have to mean waiting in silence after clicking “apply.”

If you can show your value in business terms, and start building direct relationships, you’ll stand out far more than the people relying on job boards alone.

And when you do get hired, you won’t just be filling a role. You’ll already be seen as someone who can lead and create real impact.

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