The community manager is often the first hire when a company begins an online community initiative.
Many organizations hire Community Managers from within, re-assigning someone with the skills to be effective. They often have a communications or marketing background, but many also have customer support training. Community Managers wear many hats: creating content, engaging with members, and evangelizing community approaches within their organization. This can be exciting and fulfilling work, but long-time solo practitioners have a high incidence of burnout.

A thoughtful executive champion ensures an individual community manager has the resources (both internal and external) to be successful. A peer network like our private community The Network is often indispensable for effective Community Managers.

Online Community Manager Skills Assessment

A Community Manager is a conductor, organizing the orchestra to hit all the right notes. This individual needs many different skills and the ability to delegate jobs to others to achieve their goals. They engage product experts to chime in on customer discussions, encourage power-users to model behavior, and empower subject matter experts to create content that fuels conversations.

Community Managers must communicate the business value of the community to ensure ongoing support. This includes influencing and evangelizing, budgeting and financial management, and overall program management.

When a solo practitioner, a Community Manager is often required to make tool and user experience recommendations to ensure the community is aligned with business objectives. Once the community is active, they are involved in data collection and analysis and member database management. They also work closely with TI teams to help resolve technical issues and properly integrate the community with existing business systems.

While many Community Managers’ activities are strategic, these skills often reside with their manager or executive champion early on. Whether working alone or as part of a team, a Community Manager has a varied skill set and is still involved in al aspects of the community. Savvy organizations often
tap a seasoned business professional from within as their first Community Manager, leaning on their business skills and knowledge of the organization while leveling up their content and engagement skills with help from outside advisors.

Download the Community Careers and Compensation report to learn more about community roles, view the profile of a community manager, and explore trends in community salaries.

Community teams continue to become more common within complex and mature community ecosystems. As the “lone wolf” community manager seeks to elevate their program, build a team, and develop an operational approach, they need someone to do the heavy lifting of community engagement. This includes activities like new member onboarding, community events/programs, moderation, and metrics.

A Community Specialist fills this role and while they are often seen as a junior member of the team (and paid accordingly), they are critical to the health and growth of their community. The Community Specialist role should not be outsourced to someone wholly unfamiliar with community practices.

AKA

Community Specialists are also known as: DevRel Specialist, Engagement Specialist,
Marketing Coordinator, Community Coordinator, Customer Experience Specialist, and Communications Specialist.

Online Community Specialist Skills Assessment

Primary skills: Being comfortable with fostering engagement and managing content is foundational for community specialists. New member onboarding, behavior change programs, and gamification all are must-haves in an Online Community Specialist’s toolkit. Community Specialists are often required to write content, produce multimedia assets (video and podcasts), and curate existing content for specific community audiences. Larger community teams may have multiple individuals to focus on these areas, but often these skills are wrapped into a single role.

Secondary Skills: While technical skills are not typically a focus of the specialist role, they may be asked to work on technical projects like data collection and analysis, technical issue resolution, and tool evaluation and recommendation.

Skills to consider: Community specialists rarely own strategic projects, but can provide input and look for opportunities to get involved in roadmap planning, executive coaching (i.e. reverse mentoring), and evaluating engagement techniques. In previous editions of this research, we noted that business skills were often a weakness of community practitioners. Community Specialists with strengths in this area are more likely to move into more senior roles quickly. In particular, being comfortable selling, influencing, and evangelizing community approaches within your organization is a powerful skill to cultivate.

Download the Community Careers and Compensation report to learn more about community roles, view the profile of a community specialist, and explore trends in community careers.

Job searching is …. we don’t want to say the worst, but it’s not fun. The rise of automated applications means hiring teams are wading through a big, noisy (often unqualified) pool of interested candidates. Often, even when you apply for a job you’re highly qualified for you never even hear back. It’s frustrating at best, and more often than not leaves you feeling lost and alone.

Enter: cohort-based job searching.

This method, profiled in detail in the book Never Search Alone, involves undertaking your job search alongside a group of peers. A true community-focused approach, leveraging your community for their knowledge, support, and connections. Cohort job hunting offers unique advantages that can significantly enhance both your job search experience and your overall mental health while job searching.

We’ve started a unique job searhing cohort for online community managers in our private peer network. This cohort meets regularly to chat about how they are doing, help each other with their resumes, introduce each other to potential connections, and provide much needed moral support during a stressful transitional time.

Here are five reasons cohort-based job searching in smart for community managers:

1. There is always strength in numbers

Navigating the job market alone can be daunting and isolating. Joining a cohort of online community managers provides you with a built-in support system of individuals facing similar challenges. This collective strength not only boosts your morale but also fosters a sense of camaraderie where you can can share resources, tips, and experiences. Whether it’s reviewing resumes, conducting mock interviews, or sharing industry insights, this synergy within a cohort can accelerate your progress.

2. Staying accountable

One of the biggest hurdles when searching for a new job is maintaining a high level of motivation and accountability. It’s hard to stay positive in the face of rejection (or being ghosted). A cohort introduces a healthy level of accountability as members set goals, track progress, and celebrate milestones together. Knowing that others are relying on you can be a powerful motivator to stay proactive, check in regularly, and remain focused on your job search goals.

3. Expanded reach (i.e. networked job searching)

Your network is often your greatest asset when job hunting. In this particular case The Network is an invaluable asset for our cohort. By participating in a cohort, you expand your personal network through the connections and contacts of fellow members. Each cohort member brings their own network of professionals, mentors, and recruiters, opening doors to opportunities that may not have been accessible otherwise. Networking becomes more effective and targeted as you leverage shared connections and introductions within your specific cohort.

4. Greater than the sum of its parts

A cohort typically consists of individuals from diverse backgrounds, industries, and skill sets. This diversity enriches your job search experience by providing multiple perspectives and insights. Whether it’s brainstorming creative job search strategies or receiving feedback on your career goals, the varied viewpoints within the cohort can challenge your assumptions, broaden your horizons, and ultimately lead to more informed decisions.

5. Increased visibility

Employers and recruiters often value candidates who demonstrate proactive engagement and initiative. Being part of a job search cohort showcases your commitment to professional growth and development. It highlights your ability to collaborate, communicate effectively, and thrive in a team environment—qualities that are highly sought after in today’s competitive job market. Cohort participation can also enhance your online presence through shared content, group projects, and mutual endorsements, further boosting your visibility to potential employers.

Historically, job searching has felt like a solitary pursuit. Joining a community-based job search cohort offers so many advantages to significantly elevate your chances of success. From shared resources and accountability to expanded networks and diverse perspectives, the benefits of cohort-based job searches are clear.

Community Podcasts