How To Hire a SEM Manager
Complete with job descriptions, skill profiles, and interview templates. Use this SEM Manager hiring guide to help you make the right decisions, fast.
SEM Manager Recruitment Guide
What does a SEM Manager do?
A SEM Manager is charged with directly managing the business’s search engine marketing programs through its design, development, and management and this will involve formulation of SEM campaign structures, keyword strategy and research, landing page optimization, keyword bidding, creation of ad copy and A/B testing.
Day to day tasks of a SEM Manager
- Strategically plan, budget, execute and measure paid search marketing strategy on a national and/or global scale.
- SEM reporting, budgeting & forecasting.
- Manage and develop the search marketing team (or contractors) to hit agreed KPIs.
- Using Segment, Amplitude, Google Analytics, Tag Manager & other SEM tools / integrations.
- Manage the bidding strategy and overall account optimisation
SEM Manager definition
A SEM Managers’ primary responsibility is to manage a company’s search engine marketing initiatives. Because of this, they require key skills that enable them to be able to design, develop and manage SEM campaigns. It is a highly technical and analytical role.
HIRING PROCESS
SEM Manager Hiring Process
Build the ideal candidate profile
Skills needed for a SEM Manager
A SEM manager must be technically skilled and have a sound understanding of the metrics of search engine marketing. They will be skilled in end-to-end campaign management and be able to use various metrics to analyse the success of any campaign.
- SEM
- Campaign management
- Marketing Analytics
Pro Tip
For mid-senior-level roles, you’re likely to receive a smaller number of applications than you would for an entry level position. Ensure you provide details about what it’s like to work for your company, and what your company values are so applicants know whether your company is the right fit for them.
WRITE A JOB DESCRIPTION BASED ON SKILLS
How to write a SEM Manager job description
Once you’ve determined the skills required for the role, you can write the job description to advertise for your position. Here’s what to include in your SEM Manager job description:
Job Title: What position are you hiring for?
Summary: What makes your company unique? What would it be like to work for you?
Responsibilities: An overview of the role’s day-to-day activities, and how the position contributes to the organization
Requirements: Skills a candidate must have to perform the job successfully
Benefits: Details of compensation, benefits, and any perks on offer
Pro Tip
In building your candidate profile, remember you’ve already identified what skills are needed to succeed in the role. Here’s where to list your “must-have” skills and maybe a couple of “nice-to-have” skills. For example, a SEM Manager must understand the metrics behind website optimization, and it would be nice to have affiliate marketing experience.
SELECTING THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Sample skill tests for a SEM Manager
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Question 1
SEM
Question Type: Audio
What is SEM’s role in an integrated, multifunctional marketing plan?
Question 2
Campaign Management
Question Type: Audio
For a company like ours, what kind of platforms and campaigns would you use and why?
Question 3
Marketing Analytics
Question Type: Text
If I said that there is an Ad Group with 30,000 impressions and that it has a CTR of 0.13%, where are the problems?
INTERVIEW TOP PERFORMERS
How to interview a SEM Manager
Once your Vervoe skills assessment has surfaced the most qualified people for your open role, you can focus on interviewing these candidates. The interview should focus on any skills that require development that were highlighted from the skills assessment.
Now you know that candidates can do the job, the interview becomes more of a relationship building exercise where you can get to know the candidate on a more personal level, understand their motivations, and how they would fit in with the team.
Making An Offer
How much does it cost to hire a SEM Manager?
The US average for a SEM Manager is $56,897 according to Salary.com while the reported average salary on Indeed amounts to $70,571. According to ZipRecruiter, the majority of SEM Manager salaries currently range between $56,000 (25th percentile) to $82,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $101,000 annually across the US.
SEM Manager Salary United States
SEM Manager salaries in the United States range from $48,933 – $66,754 (USD). SEM Manager salaries in the U.S will vary depending on the location and scope of the role.
Source: Salary.com
SEM Manager Salary United Kingdom
SEM Manager salaries in the United Kingdom range from £27,500 – £80000 (GBP). SEM Manager salaries in the UK will vary depending on the location and scope of the role.
Source: Check Salary UK
SEM Manager Salary Australia
SEM Manager salaries in Australia range from $46,000 – $65,000 (AUD). SEM Manager salaries in Australia will vary depending on the location and scope of the role.
