How to apply for Creative Content & Social Lead

About Connecting Research to Development

Connecting Research to Development (CRD) is a mission-driven organization that bridges academic research and practical development solutions. They value creativity and experimentation, as shown by their unconventional job ad that prioritizes portfolio over CV. Working here means contributing to projects that make a real-world impact while having the freedom to push creative boundaries in content and social media.

About the role

As the Creative Content & Social Lead, you'll be the driving force behind CRD's online presence, from concept to execution. You'll shoot, edit, and publish short-form content, engage with the community, and experiment with formats to grow the audience. This role is perfect for someone who lives and breathes internet culture and can turn ordinary moments into scroll-stopping stories.

A typical day

Your day might start with a quick scan of trending topics and social feeds, followed by a brainstorming session for a new campaign. You'll shoot and edit a short video on your phone, then collaborate with the team on captions and hooks in both Arabic and English. After publishing, you'll engage with comments, analyze performance, and iterate on what works—all while keeping an eye out for the next big trend.

Who Connecting Research to Development is looking for

• A creative powerhouse with a slightly crazy brain who sees content opportunities everywhere and can generate 10 ideas from a single moment.
• Skilled in shooting and editing short-form video (e.g., Reels, TikToks) with a strong visual taste and the ability to balance polished and raw aesthetics.
• Deeply online, trend-savvy, and affected by FOMO—you understand what makes people stop scrolling and can write hooks that don't sound like AI.
• Bilingual in Arabic and English, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both languages.

Tips for this application

• Skip the CV entirely—CRD explicitly states they won't review them. Instead, send a portfolio, social media links, or a specific piece of content you're proud of.
• Answer the question 'You have 30 seconds to stop someone scrolling. What do you make?' with a creative, concrete idea. Don't just describe it—show it if possible (e.g., a mockup, script, or storyboard).
• Demonstrate your bilingual ability by including content or captions in both Arabic and English in your application materials.
• Show your personality and creativity in the application itself—avoid generic cover letters. Consider a video application or an interactive portfolio.
• Highlight your ability to experiment and adapt by sharing examples of content that performed well and what you learned from them.

What to cover in your cover letter

Since CRD doesn't want a cover letter, focus on these points in your portfolio or application message: 1) Your unique creative approach to content creation. 2) Specific examples of short-form content you've made that stopped people from scrolling. 3) Your understanding of trends and how you use them without being generic. 4) Your bilingual capability and how you can create content for both Arabic and English audiences.

Research before applying

• Explore Connecting Research to Development's website and social media channels to understand their mission, projects, and current content style.
• Identify their target audience and analyze what type of content might resonate with them.
• Research recent trends in short-form video and social media engagement, especially in the development/research sector.
• Look into the Arabic and English content landscape to understand cultural nuances and opportunities.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Your creative process: How do you come up with ideas, and how do you decide which ones to execute?
• Trend analysis: Give an example of a trend you leveraged successfully and how you adapted it to your brand's voice.
• Content critique: They might show you a piece of content and ask how you would improve it or repurpose it for different platforms.
• Bilingual content: How would you create a campaign that resonates with both Arabic and English speakers?
• Metrics and experimentation: How do you measure success, and what's an experiment that failed but taught you something valuable?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a traditional CV or cover letter—this will immediately disqualify you as it shows you didn't read the instructions.
• Being generic in your application—not showcasing your unique creative voice or providing specific examples of your work.
• Ignoring the bilingual requirement—failing to demonstrate proficiency in both Arabic and English could be a dealbreaker.