It happens too often. A great social media manager lands at what they think will be their dream job. They’re excited for the work and they’re excited about the organization. And then they start. It quickly becomes very clear why the previous social media manager is no longer there. Maybe it’s working in a silo or maybe it’s just not having a lot of respect for social media. Whatever it is, the organization is not providing the kind of support a social media manager needs. And a dream job slowly turns into a nightmare.

So what do you do? Can you turn this organization and this job around?

Accept there is a lack of support

My first step in attacking any problem is to give it a name. It may seem silly, but taking the time to do that sometimes reveals an obvious path forward. So it’s worth it to start here, at the very beginning.

If you’re not sure that this is what it is, think about some of the common signs. You could be feeling burnt out, left out of important conversations, not getting the tools you need to do your job, getting unrealistic goals, dealing with having to do EVERYTHING, and of course, being told that your job is just posting stuff. This does not include every sign, but chances are good that you’re dealing with one of these signs if you aren’t getting the support you need. Accept it so you can move to the next step.

Ask for what you need

You can’t get the kind of support you need if you don’t ask for it. Sometimes this is a problem where your superiors just don’t know what you need. I would enter into this problem thinking all involved have the best of intentions.

Make a list of what would make your job more doable and what would help you not suffer from burn out. Especially if there is a lack of understanding of social media, I wouldn’t shoot for the moon with this list. I would just put together anything that will move the needle and then plan to do this meeting again in the future.

It’s not fun asking for what you want, especially when you believe the answer might be no. But the economy is not great right now. It’s better to try to improve your circumstances rather than hop into another job that may be even worse than the one you are currently in. So be open to people changing and see what happens.

Find support elsewhere

As a person who has social media clients rather than a traditional employer, I can’t really get the kind of support I need from my clients. So I’ve joined groups that include people doing the same kind of work as I do as well as those in the same industry. From these groups, I’ve developed relationships that have given me support countless times.

Something that is of course important with these relationships is that I don’t give them specific details. But because our jobs and/or industries overlap, I can give them enough that they have a feel for what is going on. And there is always someone who has gone through something similar to what I am experiencing.

The key to this is that you make sure you are giving just as much support as you are receiving. If these are simply one-sided relationships, they will not last long. And if you have plans to stay in social media, you want those relationships to have some longevity.

Create relationships within the organization

Every once in awhile you do need to talk specifics though. So get to know everyone you can within the organization. You might find someone who could be an unconventional ally. Maybe they work in a totally different department that doesn’t touch social media.

I would tread into a relationship like this carefully though. Don’t give them every thought and feeling at first. Go into it guarded and remembering that not everyone has great intentions. Keep everything as positive as possible while you talk out anything you need to get out. It is doable even if it seems impossible. And eventually, if you stick around, you will end up with truer relationships where you can share a little more.

Quietly make an exit plan

If you’ve tried everything above and you still feel unsupported, then it’s time to start thinking about the next step. I would begin by describing what your next dream job would look like and then start looking for it. You don’t have to send your resumé everywhere. Just keep your name out there by networking and meeting everyone you can. Keep what you want in the back of your mind and promote yourself as the kind of person who would excel at that kind of job. You don’t have to say you’re looking for a job. Simply remind those in your network every so often of your capabilities and that should be enough while you’re doing the legwork of applying to those jobs that are a perfect fit. Eventually you will get there and hopefully this job will be more supportive.

What do you do when your job is not supporting you?