Application Guide
How to Apply for Associate, Social Media
at Active Minds
🏢 About Active Minds
Active Minds is unique as the largest U.S. nonprofit mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms through peer advocacy. Working here means directly contributing to programs like the Active Minds Chapter Network and Send Silence Packing, which empower the next generation to change societal attitudes toward mental health. This role offers the chance to amplify mental health awareness on a national scale while working remotely.
About This Role
This Associate, Social Media role involves creating at least two weekly content pieces across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Threads, and YouTube, plus daily community management and bi-weekly content calendar updates. It's impactful because you'll shape how Active Minds engages millions on mental health topics, monitor social trends to keep messaging relevant, and directly interact with the audience to foster a supportive community.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start by checking Sprout Social for comments and DMs across platforms, responding to audience inquiries about mental health resources. You'd then design a TikTok video in Canva for an upcoming campaign, update the content calendar in ClickUp to align with Active Minds' programming, and monitor social trends to brainstorm next week's posts. The day wraps with publishing scheduled content and reviewing engagement metrics to inform future strategy.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Active Minds Is Looking For
- Has 1-2 years of professional social media experience with a portfolio showing video, image, and graphic creation for platforms like TikTok and Instagram
- Is proficient with Canva for asset design, Sprout Social for community management, and ClickUp for content planning, as specified in the requirements
- Demonstrates creativity and detail-orientation through examples of trend-spotting and strategic content that aligns with nonprofit or mental health advocacy goals
- Shows strong communication skills through experience responding to comments/DMs and collaborating digitally via Microsoft/Google tools
📝 Tips for Applying to Active Minds
Include a link to a portfolio or examples of social media content you've created, especially videos/graphics related to mental health, youth advocacy, or nonprofit causes
Tailor your resume to highlight experience with Canva, Sprout Social, and ClickUp—mention specific projects where you used these tools for content creation or scheduling
Research Active Minds' recent social media campaigns (e.g., on Instagram or TikTok) and reference one in your application to show you understand their tone and audience
Emphasize any experience with daily community management, such as responding to sensitive comments on mental health topics, to align with their audience engagement needs
If you have remote work experience, detail how you've used digital collaboration tools effectively, as this is a fully remote position in the U.S.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your passion for mental health advocacy and how it aligns with Active Minds' mission to transform norms through youth engagement", 'Specific examples of creating social media content (e.g., videos, graphics) that drove engagement or supported a cause, referencing their required platforms like TikTok or Instagram', 'Experience with social media management tools like Sprout Social for community monitoring and Canva for design, tying it to their bi-weekly calendar updates', "How you've kept a pulse on social trends to inform content strategy, especially related to mental health or nonprofit sectors"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore Active Minds' social media channels (e.g., @active_minds on Instagram) to analyze their content style, tone, and recent campaigns like #MentalHealthMatters
- → Review their programs like the Active Minds Chapter Network and Send Silence Packing to understand how social media might promote these initiatives
- → Look into their impact reports or news sections to grasp their goals, such as youth mobilization stats or mental health advocacy milestones
- → Familiarize yourself with mental health trends they engage with, such as peer support or stigma reduction, to align your application with their mission
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application without mentioning Active Minds' specific programs or mental health focus—this shows lack of research
- Failing to provide concrete examples of content creation or tool proficiency (e.g., no portfolio links or vague descriptions of Canva/Sprout Social use)
- Overlooking the community management aspect by not addressing experience with daily comment/DM response, especially for sensitive topics
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!