Landing Your First CM Role
You're one strategy away from landing that CM role (here's the playbook)
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“Kishi, I’ve Been Trying... What Do I Actually Need to Do?”
So I got this DM last week:
“Kishi, I’ve been applying to community manager roles for MONTHS. I’ve updated my CV like 5 times. I’ve taken courses. I’ve registered for every free webinar. But I’m still not getting interviews. What am I doing wrong?”
And honestly? This breaks my heart.
Because I’ve been there.
I remember applying to 30+ roles and hearing crickets.
I remember wondering if I was just not “good enough” for this field.
I remember the frustration of watching people with LESS experience land roles while I stayed stuck.
But here’s what I learned:
Getting your first community management role (or pivoting to a new one) isn’t about being the most qualified.
It’s about having the right STRATEGY.
Because here’s the thing:
Most people approach job hunting like this:
See a job posting
Send generic CV
Wait
Get rejected (or ghosted)
Repeat 100 times
Wonder why nothing’s working
That’s not a strategy. That’s hoping. And hope is not a plan.
Today, I’m giving you the ACTUAL playbook.
The tested-and-trusted method I’ve used (and taught to dozens of CMs who’ve since landed roles).
This isn’t theory. This is what WORKS.
Whether you’re:
✅ Trying to break into community management with zero experience
✅ Pivoting from another field (customer support, marketing, social media)
✅ Looking to level up to a better-paying CM role
✅ Trying to land your first remote/international opportunity
This framework applies.
So let’s dig in.
Kishi to the rescue!
Why Most People Fail to Land CM Roles (And It’s Not What You Think)
Before I give you the strategy, let’s diagnose why the “spray and pray” approach doesn’t work.
Here’s what’s actually happening:
Mistake #1: You’re Applying to Jobs You’re Not Ready For
You see a posting for “Senior Community Manager” with 5 years experience.
You have 6 months of managing a WhatsApp group.
You apply anyway because “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” right?
Wrong.
You’re wasting your time AND damaging your confidence.
The fix:
Apply to roles where you meet at least 60-70% of the requirements.
If a job asks for:
3+ years experience managing communities of 1,000+ members
Proven track record of community-led growth
Experience with analytics and reporting
And you have:
6 months managing a 50-person Discord server
No documented case studies
Never looked at community metrics
You’re not ready. Not yet.
Focus on building your foundation first.
Mistake #2: Your Application Looks Like Everyone Else’s
Your CV says:
“Managed community engagement”
“Organized events”
“Created content”
“Moderated discussions”
Cool. So did the other 200 applicants.
Why would they pick you?
The fix:
Your application needs to scream: “I understand YOUR specific problem and I know how to solve it.”
We’ll cover exactly how to do this later.
Mistake #3: You’re Only Applying Through Job Boards
LinkedIn. Indeed. AngelList. Remote job boards.
You apply. You wait. Nothing.
Why?
Because by the time a job hits a public board, hundreds of people have already applied.
You’re competing with 200+ candidates, many of whom got referred internally.
Your application is getting lost in the noise.
The fix:
Job boards should be 20% of your strategy, not 100%.
The other 80%? We’ll cover that now.
The Tested-and-Trusted Framework: How to Actually Land Your First (or Next) CM Role
Alright, enough about what doesn’t work.
Here’s what DOES work.
I’m breaking this down into 7 clear steps you can start implementing TODAY.
STEP 1: Get Crystal Clear on Your Target
Most people skip this step. Don’t.
Before you apply to ANYTHING, answer these questions:
1. What TYPE of community do I want to manage?
Remember our community types from a few weeks ago?
Brand/Product communities (SaaS, fintech, e-commerce)
Creator-led communities
Professional communities (industry networks, associations)
Communities of practice (skill-based learning communities)
Membership communities (paid access communities)
Pick ONE to start.
You can’t be great at all of them immediately. Specialize.
2. What INDUSTRY am I most interested in?
Tech/SaaS?
Fintech?
Creator economy?
Web3/Crypto?
Health/Wellness?
Education?
Why this matters:
When you say “I want to be a community manager,” you’re competing with everyone.
When you say “I want to manage product communities for African fintech companies,” you’ve narrowed your competition by 90%.
3. What SIZE of company do I want to work for?
Early-stage startup (0-20 people)?
Growing startup (20-100 people)?
Scale-up (100-500 people)?
Established company (500+ people)?
Each has different expectations:
Early-stage = You’ll wear many hats, build from scratch, high risk/high reward
Established = Clear processes exist, more resources, less autonomy
Know what you’re signing up for.
4. Remote, hybrid, or in-person?
Be realistic about what you need.
5. What’s my minimum acceptable salary?
Don’t waste time on roles that can’t pay your bills.
Action step: Write this down:
“I want to manage [TYPE] communities for [INDUSTRY] companies at the [SIZE] stage, working [REMOTE/HYBRID/IN-PERSON], earning at least [SALARY].”
Example: “I want to manage product communities for early-stage African fintech startups, working remotely, earning at least $25,000/year.”
Now you have a TARGET.
Everything else flows from this clarity.
STEP 2: Build Your Proof (Even If You Have Zero “Official” Experience)
Here’s the truth hiring managers won’t tell you:
They don’t care about your job title.
They care about proof that you can do the work.
So if you don’t have “official” experience, CREATE proof.
Here’s how:
Option 1: Become a Power Contributor in an Existing Community
Pick 2-3 communities in your target industry.
Join them. But don’t just lurk.
Become the most helpful person in that community.
Answer questions
Share resources
Welcome new members
Organize informal meetups or study groups
Create templates or guides that help others
Within 60-90 days, you’ll have:
Testimonials from grateful members
Visible proof of your community skills
Relationships with community leaders (potential referrals)
Stories to tell in interviews (”In the XYZ community, I noticed people kept asking the same questions, so I created a resource guide that got pinned and reduced repetitive questions by 40%”)
That’s a case study.
Option 2: Start (or Revive) a Small Community
You don’t need 10,000 members.
Start with 20-50 people around a specific interest.
Examples:
A WhatsApp group for junior designers in Lagos sharing job opportunities
A Discord server for people learning community management
A Telegram group for fintech founders sharing resources
A LinkedIn group for African women in tech
Run it for 90 days. Document everything:
How you recruited members
How you kept them engaged
What programs you created
What results you achieved (even if it’s “85% of members said the community helped them in our feedback survey”)
Now you have a case study for your portfolio.
Option 3: Volunteer to Manage Community for a Small Brand/Creator
Find a small business, creator, or nonprofit that NEEDS community but doesn’t have the budget for a full-time CM.
Pitch them:
“I noticed you have 5,000 followers but low engagement. I’d love to help you build a community around your audience. I’m building my portfolio and happy to do this for free for 2-3 months in exchange for a testimonial and case study.”
You get:
Real experience
A case study
A testimonial
Potentially a paid role if you prove value
They get:
Free community management
Someone who actually cares (because you’re using this to build your career)
Win-win.
Option 4: Create Spec Work
Pick a brand you admire that doesn’t have a strong community (or could improve theirs).
Create:
A community strategy document
A 90-day community roadmap
A proposal for a community program
Make it specific. Make it good.
Then:
Share it publicly (LinkedIn post, blog, Twitter thread)
Tag the brand (they might see it and reach out)
Use it as a portfolio piece
This proves you can think strategically even without a job title.
The pattern here:
You’re not waiting for permission. You’re BUILDING proof.
Pick ONE of these options and start THIS WEEK.
STEP 3: Build Your “Get Hired” Assets
You need 3 things before you start applying seriously:
1. A Killer Portfolio
We covered this last week. If you missed it, go back and read.
Your portfolio should have:
3-5 strong case studies
Metrics and impact
Testimonials
Clear positioning
No excuses. Build this.
2. A LinkedIn Profile That Positions You as a CM
Your LinkedIn should SCREAM “I’m a community manager.”
Optimize these sections:
Headline:
Not just “Community Manager” but “Community Manager | Helping [Target] Build [Outcome]”
Example: “Community Manager | Helping Fintech Startups Turn Users Into Advocates”
About Section:
Tell your story. Why community? What’s your approach? What do you care about?
Experience:
Even if you haven’t been “hired” as a CM, frame your experience in community terms.
Managed a student club? That’s community management.
Organized events? Community programming.
Ran social media for a small business? Audience building and engagement.
Frame it right.
Featured Section:
Pin your portfolio, case studies, or articles you’ve written about community.
Activity:
Post about community management at least 2-3x/week.
Share insights. Comment on others’ posts. Be VISIBLE.
3. A Pitch Email Template
You need a short, compelling email you can customize and send to opportunities.
Structure:
Subject: Quick question about [Company Name]’s community
Body:
Hi [Name],
I’ve been following [Company] for a while and I’m impressed by [specific thing they’re doing].
I noticed [observation about their community or lack thereof]. I actually think there’s a huge opportunity to [specific suggestion].
I’m a community manager specializing in [your niche], and I’d love to chat about how I could help [Company] build [specific outcome].
Would you be open to a quick 15-minute call this week?
Best,
[Your Name]
Keep it:
Short (under 100 words)
Specific (show you’ve done research)
Value-focused (what’s in it for THEM, not you)
Once you have these 3 assets, you’re ready to start actively hunting.
STEP 4: The 80/20 Job Search Strategy
Here’s where most people go wrong:
They spend 100% of their time applying to job postings.
That’s backwards.
Here’s the right split:
20% of your time: Applying to posted jobs
Yes, still apply to relevant postings on:
LinkedIn
AngelList
Remote job boards (We Work Remotely, Remote OK)
Company career pages
But CUSTOMIZE every application.
Research the company
Understand their community challenge
Tailor your cover letter to show you GET their specific situation
Include a link to your portfolio
Don’t send generic applications. Ever.
80% of your time: Proactive outreach
This is where the magic happens.
Here’s what you do:
A. Build a Target List (20-30 Companies)
Companies you’d LOVE to work for in your niche.
For each company, research:
Do they have a community? (Yes/No)
If yes, who manages it? (Find them on LinkedIn)
If no, do they NEED one? (Look for signals: lots of users, low engagement, high churn)
B. Join Their Communities (If They Exist)
Don’t just join and lurk.
Be helpful. Be visible. Be memorable.
Answer questions
Share valuable insights
Attend their events
Engage with their content on social media
Within 30-60 days, you’re a known face.
C. Create Value Before You Ask
Pick 3-5 companies from your list.
Create something valuable for them:
A community audit: “5 things [Company] could improve in their community”
A strategy doc: “How I’d build community for [Company]”
A content series: “Case study: What [Company] is doing right in community building”
Share it publicly. Tag them.
D. Reach Out Directly
Find the:
Community Manager (if they have one)
Head of Marketing
Head of Product
Founder/CEO (if small company)
Send a personalized message:
“Hi [Name], I’ve been a member of [Community] for a few weeks and I’m impressed by [specific thing]. I actually created a quick analysis of some opportunities I see to grow engagement—would you be open to a quick chat? No strings attached, just wanted to share some ideas.”
Then attach your doc/audit.
What happens:
Best case: They’re impressed and want to talk (maybe there’s an opening)
Good case: They appreciate it, keep you in mind, refer you elsewhere
Worst case: They say no (you’re no worse off than before)
E. Ask for Introductions
Tell everyone you know:
“I’m looking for community management roles at [type of companies]. Do you know anyone hiring or building in this space?”
Post on LinkedIn:
“I’m actively looking for community management opportunities with [specific type of companies]. If you know anyone building or scaling community, I’d love an intro. Here’s my portfolio: [link]”
Referrals are GOLD.
Many jobs never get posted publicly—they’re filled through referrals.
The 80/20 strategy means:
1 day/week applying to postings
4 days/week doing proactive outreach, networking, creating value, building relationships
This is how you stand out.
STEP 5: Nail the Interview (When You Get It)
Okay, your strategy worked. You got an interview!
Now don’t blow it.
Here’s how to prepare:
Before the Interview:
1. Research the company deeply
What do they do?
Who are their customers?
What’s their community like (if they have one)?
What challenges are they facing? (Check recent news, social media, reviews)
2. Prepare your stories
Have 5-7 stories ready using the STAR method:
Situation: What was the context?
Task: What needed to be done?
Action: What did YOU do?
Result: What happened? (Include metrics)
Examples:
“Tell me about a time you grew a community”
“How would you handle a conflict between members?”
“Describe a community program you designed”
“How do you measure community success?”
Practice these out loud.
3. Prepare questions to ask THEM
“What does success look like for this role in the first 90 days?”
“What’s the biggest challenge the community is facing right now?”
“How does community fit into the overall business strategy?”
“What resources and budget would I have?”
Asking smart questions shows you think strategically.
During the Interview:
1. Show you understand THEIR problem
Don’t just talk about yourself.
Talk about what you’ve observed about their community/business and how you’d approach it.
2. Connect everything back to outcomes
Don’t just say “I’d host events.”
Say “I’d host monthly virtual workshops focused on [specific pain point] because I noticed [observation]. This would drive [specific outcome].”
Always answer: So what? Why does this matter?
3. Be confident but humble
Own what you know. Admit what you don’t.
“I haven’t managed a community at this scale before, but here’s how I’d approach it based on what’s worked for me in smaller communities...”
Honesty builds trust.
After the Interview:
Send a thank-you email within 24 hours.
Thank them for their time
Reiterate your interest
Reference something specific from the conversation
Attach anything you promised (case study, strategy doc, etc.)
This is basic. But most people skip it.
Don’t.
STEP 6: Handle Rejections Like a Pro
You will get rejected.
Multiple times.
That’s part of the process.
Here’s how to handle it:
1. Ask for feedback
If you made it to the interview stage but didn’t get the job, reply:
“Thank you for letting me know. I’d really appreciate any feedback on how I can improve for future opportunities. Was there anything specific I could have done differently?”
Sometimes they’ll tell you. That’s gold.
2. Keep the door open
“I understand you went with another candidate. I’m still very interested in [Company] and would love to stay connected for future opportunities. Please keep me in mind!”
3. Learn and adjust
Did you get rejected at the application stage? → Your CV/portfolio needs work
Did you get rejected after the interview? → Your interview skills need work
Did you get rejected for lack of experience? → Build more proof
Rejections are data. Use them.
4. Keep moving
Don’t obsess over one rejection.
You should always have 5-10 active conversations going.
If one falls through, you still have options.
Never put all your eggs in one basket.
STEP 7: Stay Consistent (This Is the Real Secret)
Here’s what separates people who land roles from people who stay stuck:
Consistency.
Most people:
Apply for 2 weeks
Get discouraged
Stop
Complain nothing is working
Winners:
Apply every single week
Network every single week
Create value every single week
Improve their portfolio every single week
For 2-3 months straight.
And then things start clicking.
Your weekly routine should look like:
Monday:
Apply to 3-5 relevant job postings
Customize each application
Tuesday:
Reach out to 5 people in your target companies
Engage with their content, ask smart questions
Wednesday:
Create value (write a post, share a case study, contribute to communities)
Update your portfolio with new work
Thursday:
Network (DMs, LinkedIn comments, community participation)
Follow up on previous conversations
Friday:
Review your week
Track what’s working
Adjust your strategy
This is the SYSTEM.
Follow it for 8-12 weeks and you WILL see results.
Exclusive: Join The CM Guide Community (We Have Goodies!)
Okay, real talk for a second.
Everything I just shared? That’s the foundation.
But you know what makes this 10x easier?
Being in a community of people doing the same thing.
People who:
Share job opportunities before they’re posted publicly
Give feedback on your portfolio
Introduce you to hiring managers
Celebrate your wins and encourage you through rejections
Hold you accountable to stay consistent
That’s what The CM Guide Community is for.
And we have some MAJOR things lined up for members in March:
Coming in March: The LinkedIn Show Up Challenge (Exclusive to Members)
We’re running a 30-day LinkedIn challenge to help you:
✅ Build your personal brand as a CM
✅ Get visible to hiring managers
✅ Create content that positions you as an expert
✅ Grow your network strategically
This is ONLY for community members.
We’re kicking off March 1st.
Plus, members get:
Weekly job opportunities shared in the community
Portfolio reviews and feedback
Mock interview practice
Access to all our templates and resources
Direct support from me and other experienced CMs
If you’re serious about landing a role, you need to be in this community.
👉 Join The CM Guide Community Today
And starting March 1st: The LinkedIn Show Up Challenge
Don’t miss this.
Over to You: I want to hear where you are in your journey:
Question 1: Are you currently job hunting? If yes, what’s your biggest struggle right now?
Question 2: Which step in this framework feels most challenging for you?
Question 3: Have you joined The CM Guide Community yet? If not, what’s holding you back?
Hit reply and let me know. I read every response.
Resource of the Week
Read: “Designing Your Life” by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans
This book teaches you how to approach career transitions (like breaking into CM) with a designer’s mindset: prototype, test, iterate. Perfect for this journey.
✨ Final Thought
Landing your first community management role isn’t about luck.
It’s not about knowing the right people (though that helps).
It’s not about being the most qualified.
It’s about having a STRATEGY and executing it consistently.
Most people fail because they:
Apply randomly
Give up too soon
Don’t build proof
Don’t create value
Don’t network strategically
You’re not going to be most people.
You have the framework now.
Follow this for 8-12 weeks and I promise you’ll see results.
But you have to actually DO it.
Reading this newsletter won’t get you hired.
Taking action will.
So here’s your assignment for THIS WEEK:
✅ Define your target (Step 1)
✅ Pick ONE way to build proof and start (Step 2)
✅ Join The CM Guide Community (so you have support)
That’s it. Three things.
Start today.
You’ve got this,
Kishi Wuraola Fadeko-O
Founder, The CM Guide
👉 Explore Resources
P.P.S. Seriously, join the community. The LinkedIn Challenge starts March 1st and it’s going to be game-changing. Don’t miss it. → Join here
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I loveeeeee how in-depth you make these letters. So helpful!!!!