70. Hiring a Community Manager and Avoiding Payroll Disasters
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Click the button below to download the Community Manager Job Description.
Here are some notes from this episode:
Job Description
Be clear
Sell, but don’t over-sell
Include pay (why waste everyone’s time?)
The full GWA survey has salary benchmarking. If you’re a GWA member and don’t have your copy, email answers@globalworkspace.org
Download - sample job description PDF
Test different titles depending on your market - is “Community Manager” a term that people search for? Go to Indeed.com with the mindset of a job searcher. Search for community manager and marketing jobs in your area. Assess the pay range, job descriptions, experience requirements, etc. and get a sense for where you sit vs. others offering similar positions.
Where to Post
Ask your members!
Social Media - Facebook ads (include screenshot of ours)
Indeed.com
Craigs List
Local FB networking groups
Be patient but consistent with posting and outreach
Screening Process
Resume
Open-mind. Screen anyone that follows directions
Put a specific call to action at the end of your job description to test the applicants
Don’t rule out unusual candidates, i.e., PHD and law school candidates.
Phone Screen
Have a process - a list of quesitons
Book - (example, but the point is to have a plan - don’t just bull$hit for 30 minutes)
What are you best at
What are you not best at?
How would your last 5 managers rate you on a scale from 1-10
Be candid about the role - expectations, career path, next steps, average tenure
Hire for attitude. You can train almost any part of this job
Looking for authentic interest and a “why” that aligns with the role - the experience, the network, the hours, something that gives me an indication of tenure.
In-Person
Offer
Have a legally-reviewed offer letter
Include salary, vacation time, hour expectations
Classification
1099 vs. W2
Avoid lawsuits - classify conservatively
Payroll
Use a company. Avoid confusing state/federal issues (Reference FB post of me with piles of paper on a desk, head in hands)
ADP
Benefits, Payroll, 401k - Trinet
Training
Have videos of all processes - use Loom, it’s a free Google Chrome extension - super simple to use
Have all operating standards as files in Dropbox
Use Lastpass to easily transfer passwords
Relationship with Manager
Be open with your manager so that they'll be open with you. Periodically check in on their future plans so that you stay in the loop.
Resources for this episode:
Episode - Interview with Tiffany Knight, (Former) Community Manager at WorkBar
The hiring framework I like to use (with tweaks)
Episode - WHAT THE HECK DOES A COWORKING COMMUNITY MANAGER DO ALL DAY?
Episode - INSIDE THE WORK LIFE OF BRYCE HILL, US WINNER OF THE COMMUNITY MANAGER AWARD
Looking for a specific episode? Go to the episode index here.
Click the button below to download the Community Manager Job Description.