I have an opportunity to apply as a social media manager for a restaurant, but I’m honestly wondering if I’m being unrealistic. Has anyone here landed a social media job with almost no experience?

Here’s where I’m at:
• I only have about 2 days to prepare.
• I use an iPhone SE, and the camera isn’t the best anymore.
• I also have an iPad and a really old Android phone.
• I have almost no experience creating reels.
• My editing skills are very basic, and I’m still making a lot of mistakes.
The one thing I do think I’m good at is aesthetics. I have a good eye for composition, colors, and the overall vibe of photos and videos. I can usually tell what looks visually appealing, but translating that into actual content is where I’m struggling.
Part of me wants to just apply anyway and learn as I go. Another part of me feels like I’m being delusional and should wait until I’m actually skilled.
Has anyone here started with almost no experience? Should I apply anyway, or would I just be wasting everyone’s time?
I’d really appreciate any tips for learning restaurant content quickly or advice from people who’ve been in a similar situation.

Comments

rwent117•4 days ago•2

Not sure how old you are, but in my experience some smaller businesses like mom and pop restaurants will look to hire someone for social who is young and they assume will do it pretty well (even if you need to learn a bit you probably know more than they do) for a pay rate that's not as high as they'd have to pay a true, experienced professional.

boggycakes•4 days ago•1

If you’re going to apply then you should be able to do one thing. Give them a reason why you’re the one to hire. The best way to do that is to show them how you would improve their feed, not tell them, show them. Pick three posts and make better sample posts with an outcome attached to each one: views, engagement, and link clicks are the three that owners care about.

edward-thompson08•4 days ago•1

honestly just apply. having a good eye for aesthetics is actually the hardest part and you already have that. camera and editing skills you can pick up fast, there are tons of free tutorials. most small restaurants just need someone who shows up and actually cares about the content

ThickD769•4 days ago•1

Apply anyway. The worst they can do is say no.

What I'd do over the next 2 days is make 5-10 sample restaurant Reels as if you already had the job. Different hooks, different editing styles, maybe even one "day in the kitchen" concept. Walking into an interview with examples is way stronger than saying "I can learn."

Most small restaurants care far more about someone who can consistently make engaging content than someone with a perfect resume.

sarabbbee•4 days ago•1

This isnhow a lot of industry veterans like me started out. Practice, practice, practice. Get everything out of the experience that you can. Take your time when creating and inprove on yourself. You can do it!!!!!

ayecl•2 days ago•1

For a restaurant, I would prep a first-month plan around real business outcomes: bookings, foot traffic, catering, events, or repeat visits. Content lanes could be dish/process clips, staff moments, specials, customer proof, and local/community posts. Shoot simple raw assets during service and drip them out, rather than trying to invent polished campaigns from scratch.

Pitiful-Ability9627•2 days ago•1

Well I believe a smaller start is also a start,, If you have good aesthetics and have already cleared in you mind that how you're gonna present the whole grid then very nice start, now for the reels part do some competitor research and see what is working in his industry and what other people all doing, like for cafes right now the engaging videos with staff involvement are working fine....use that (Yes but don't copy the content, take is as reference only and include your creativity to it)....Now the content Creation part is done!
Now for Production part I literally started with Vivo Phone and through time, learning and growing now I have all necessary equipments, so yes in starting charge less and still provide promising content, And also I believe restaurant owner or someone might have a good phone, If not joining as a agency but as a personal social media manager then ask for resources, they will provide you with that and meanwhile use iPhone SE for casual shoots.
See you'll learn only when you put yourself into it and work on it, no one has all the perfect knowledge when they start and specially in marketing, it is ever changing so learning is a part of every process.
All the best with your new job! You'll do good just be confident and keep on learning.

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Rekha_Truth_3944•2 days ago•1

Apply anyway. Creativity and a good eye matter more than perfect skills; the rest can be learned with practice.

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