📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Social Media Specialist
🔹 Company: Shaker Recruitment Marketing
🔹 Location: Oak Park, Illinois
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Marketing & Advertising
🔹 Date Posted: July 8, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 0-2 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Supporting community managers in content creation, scheduling, and metrics compilation
- Researching clients, competitors, and new business prospects to provide insights and recommendations
- Collaborating with team members to understand client expectations and prepare 'client-ready work'
- Contributing ideas on ways to reach and engage with audiences through social media
- Creating social assets or briefing the graphic design team on client needs for asset creation
- Managing priorities and workload effectively to meet predetermined workflow schedules and deadlines
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of social media platforms and content creation. The ideal candidate will be able to thrive in a fast-paced, high productivity environment and have a high-level of attention to detail.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Support community managers in content creation (copy and design), content scheduling, community management, and metrics retrieval and compilation
✅ Research clients, competitors, and/or new business prospects to glean insights and form recommendations
✅ Study team members' interaction with clients to gain an understanding of client expectations and preparing 'client-ready work'
✅ Share ideas on ways to reach and engage with audiences through social media
✅ Create social assets or clearly brief the graphic design team on client needs for asset creation
✅ Manage priorities and workload effectively to meet all predetermined workflow schedules and deadlines
✅ Work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced, high productivity environment, with a sense of urgency and a high-level of attention to detail
✅ Perform other duties as may be assigned
ASSUMPTION: The role involves a mix of creative and analytical tasks, requiring strong communication skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree in marketing communication field
Experience: 1 year of experience with social media platforms or creating social content
Required Skills:
- Ability to thrive under pressure
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Strong communication skills - verbal and written
- Design skills a plus but not required
- Fiercely organized
- Strong work ethic
- Hungry to receive and learn from constructive feedback
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with social media management tools
- Knowledge of SEO best practices
- Fluency in a second language
ASSUMPTION: While design skills are not required, they would be beneficial for creating engaging social media content.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $45,000 - $55,000 per year
Benefits:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Paid time off
- Professional development opportunities
Working Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday, with flexibility for occasional overtime as needed
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is based on industry standards for a Social Media Specialist role with 0-2 years of experience in the Chicago area.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Shaker Recruitment Marketing is an advertising services company specializing in employer branding, talent attraction, and recruitment marketing.
Company Size: Shaker has 51-200 employees, providing a mid-sized company environment where applicants can make a significant impact.
Founded: Shaker was founded in 1951 and has since grown to become a leading recruitment marketing agency.
Company Description:
- Shaker is a full-service agency specializing in highly customized communications and strategies for attracting and retaining the right talent.
- The company takes a data-driven approach to help clients achieve the right message, the right activation, and the right conversion.
- Shaker collaborates with its people, clients, partners, and industry to shape the world of talent.
Company Specialties:
- Employer Branding
- Web Design/Development
- Internal Communications
- Candidate Attraction
- Strategic Planning
- Measurement
- Recruitment Marketing
- Career sites
- CRM Consulting
- DEI
- Programmatic Advertising
- Social Media
- EVP Development
- Talent Attraction
- Analytics
- PPC
- and HR Tech Consulting
Company Website: http://www.shaker.com
ASSUMPTION: Shaker's focus on data-driven strategies and collaboration makes it an attractive choice for candidates interested in a dynamic and innovative work environment.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is an entry-level to mid-level position, offering opportunities for growth and development within the marketing and advertising industry.
Reporting Structure: The Social Media Specialist will report directly to the Social Media Manager and work closely with the community management team.
Work Arrangement: This role is on-site, with the opportunity for occasional remote work as needed.
Growth Opportunities:
- Advancement to a Social Media Manager or similar role with increased responsibilities and leadership opportunities
- Expansion of skills and expertise through professional development opportunities and mentorship
- Potential to work on diverse clients and projects, gaining valuable experience in various industries
ASSUMPTION: The Social Media Specialist role provides a strong foundation for a career in marketing and advertising, with ample opportunities for growth and development.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Shaker's office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity and innovation.
Office Location(s): 1100 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301, USA
Geographic Context:
- Oak Park is a vibrant suburb of Chicago, offering a mix of urban and suburban living with easy access to the city
- The area is known for its diverse culture, strong sense of community, and excellent dining and entertainment options
- Oak Park is also home to several Fortune 500 companies and offers ample opportunities for professional growth and networking
Work Schedule: The work schedule is Monday - Friday, with flexibility for occasional overtime as needed to meet project deadlines.
ASSUMPTION: The office environment at Shaker is designed to be collaborative and supportive, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and open communication.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Initial phone or video screen to assess communication skills and cultural fit
- In-person or virtual interview with the Social Media Manager to discuss the role and responsibilities in more detail
- Final interview with a member of the leadership team to discuss career growth and company culture
- Background check and reference check
Key Assessment Areas:
- Communication skills, both written and verbal
- Creativity and problem-solving abilities
- Attention to detail and organizational skills
- Adaptability and ability to thrive under pressure
- Understanding of social media platforms and content creation
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Include examples of your social media content creation and management experience
- Demonstrate your understanding of Shaker's company culture and values in your application materials
- Prepare questions to ask during the interview to show your interest in the role and company
ATS Keywords: Social Media, Content Creation, Community Management, Metrics, Research, Client Interaction, Attention to Detail, Organization, Work Ethic, Feedback
ASSUMPTION: The interview process at Shaker is designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit, with a strong emphasis on communication and collaboration.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social)
- Design tools (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)
- Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Sprout Social Analytics)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with social media management tools and design software is beneficial for this role, but not always required.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Collaboration: We believe in the power of working together to achieve great results
- Innovation: We embrace change and continuously seek new and better ways to do things
- Integrity: We act with honesty and transparency in all that we do
- Excellence: We strive for the highest standards in our work and our interactions with others
Work Style:
- Collaborative: We work closely together to achieve our goals and support each other's success
- Adaptable: We embrace change and are open to new ideas and approaches
- Results-driven: We focus on delivering meaningful outcomes and measuring our success
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a collaborative, team-oriented environment?
- Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic setting with changing priorities?
- Do you have a strong work ethic and a commitment to delivering high-quality results?
ASSUMPTION: Shaker values candidates who are collaborative, adaptable, and results-driven, with a strong commitment to integrity and excellence.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role may require working on multiple projects simultaneously, with tight deadlines and competing priorities
- The fast-paced nature of social media may necessitate quick decision-making and adaptability
- The role may involve occasional weekend or evening work to support client needs
- The company's focus on data-driven strategies may require a steep learning curve for candidates new to the industry
ASSUMPTION: While these challenges may present obstacles, they also offer opportunities for growth and development in a dynamic and innovative work environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Social Media Coordinator: Typically entry-level, focuses more on day-to-day content creation and scheduling, with less research and strategic responsibilities
- Social Media Manager: More senior role with additional responsibilities for team management, strategy development, and analytics
- Content Marketing Specialist: Focuses on creating and distributing valuable content to attract and retain customers, with a broader scope than just social media
ASSUMPTION: The Social Media Specialist role offers a unique blend of creative and analytical responsibilities, with opportunities for growth and development in various directions.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a social media content calendar for a client, including a mix of engaging and informative content tailored to their target audience
- Researching and analyzing competitors' social media strategies to identify opportunities for differentiation and improvement
- Creating and implementing a social media campaign to promote a client's employer brand and attract top talent
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the range of responsibilities and skills required for the Social Media Specialist role, from creative content development to strategic analysis and implementation.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the team structure and how this role fits within it?
- What are the most challenging aspects of this role, and how have previous incumbents succeeded in overcoming them?
- How does Shaker support the professional development and growth of its employees?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does Shaker measure the success of its social media campaigns, and what metrics are most important to track?
ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to provide insight into the role's responsibilities, the company culture, and the opportunities for growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role, including specific examples of your social media content creation and management experience
- Prepare questions to ask during the interview to demonstrate your interest in the role and company
- Follow up with a thank-you note after your interview to express your appreciation for the opportunity to discuss the role
- If selected for the final round, be prepared to present a portfolio of your work or provide examples of your social media content creation and management experience
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
