So, you want to be a marketer. Do you have what it takes to be a superstar? Marketing is a tough job and it has a direct impact on sales and revenue. It isn’t for the faint of heart. That’s why marketing recruiters look for very specific skills and qualities in their candidates.
It’s a great time to be on the search for a marketing job. There are plenty of positions available in a wide variety of industries. However, you need to have specific skills if you want to impress recruiters and land interviews at top companies. Here are some of the qualities recruiters are looking for.
1. Effective Communication Skills
In marketing, communication is an art form. You’ll be required to write blog posts, video scripts, e-books, web copy, ads, and more on a daily basis. You may even appear on video. You’ll need to be able to weave a brand story effortlessly to really make an impact on your audience.
It’s only natural, then, that recruiters would be looking for effective communication skills. Ensure your resume is polished, with no spelling and grammar mistakes. You could also consider sending some of your writing samples along with your resume and cover letter.
2. On Top of the Trends
Marketing today is unlike marketing of the past. The industry has drastically changed over the past decade or so. Though you might still be taking care of billboard ads and radio marketing campaigns, you’ll also be expected to know about content marketing, SEO, social media marketing, influencer marketing, and other inbound strategies.
Companies want to ensure their marketing is always ahead of the competition’s, so make sure you read up on the latest trends before an interview.
3. A Personal Online Brand
If you can market yourself well, recruiters will be more likely to believe you can effectively market a brand. That’s why it’s so important to have a personal brand online these days. Take some time to ensure your social media profiles are professional and up to date. Consider building your own website and sharing your thoughts on a blog, or even guest blogging.
These are all opportunities to show marketing recruiters you know how to market in the 21st century.
4. Adaptability
Adaptability is huge in marketing. The industry is always in flux. Strategies that used to work well may not be effective just a few months or a year later. New trends are always coming out of the woodwork.
Recruiters want to know you can keep up with whatever changes are thrown your way and that you can change your strategy on the fly if it isn’t working anymore.
If you enjoy learning and evolving, if you don’t resist change, and if you love new challenges, you’ll likely be a great marketing superstar—and recruiters will see that.
5. An Analytical Mind
This quality is becoming more and more important in the digital age. In the past, marketers built campaigns, hoped they worked, and moved onto other campaigns shortly after. But with online marketing today, you can track and analyze a wealth of data about your campaigns and marketing efforts to inform your future decisions.
Recruiters know the most successful recruiters are those who are data-driven.
6. Creativity
Most companies don’t just want to do what the competition is doing. They want to go above and beyond. With so much competition online, you need to be able to build creative campaigns if you expect to gain consumers’ attention.
That’s why creativity is such an important quality in marketing professionals. You need to be able to think outside the box to really make your mark.
7. Boldness
Finally, sales recruiters are looking for bold candidates. Because success in marketing hinges on creativity, you need to be able to take chances and not be afraid to fail. Companies are looking for marketers who can make quick decisions, take action, and move forward to lead change, come up with innovative ideas, and shake up the status quo.
