The Most Marketable Skills (in marketing) for 2015

The Most Marketable Skills (in marketing) for 2015

Webucator (www.webucator.com) asked me to blog on skills that would be most needed in 2015 and I agreed to write about Marketing.

The basic skills of marketing: strategic thinking, analytics, product and project management--haven’t changed. The tools and tactics that marketers use have changed dramatically. Online channels (Internet, phone, interactive TV, etc) have been added to the mix—in some cases dominate the mix.

How we obtain data and the speed it’s acquired has forced marketers to move quickly to adjust. Marketers have to be aware of what’s new and what is changing and seize on the opportunity. 

 Having some of these key skills before leaving college will give you a huge leg up on getting your first marketing job.

A recent look at available jobs on Linked In in the NYC metro area shows the following: 3,000+ openings in Marketing Analytics, 2,500+ Digital Analytics, 6,000+ in various areas of social media, 1,000+ for UX/UI people, 6,000+ Digital Marketing, 800+ Channel or Multi-Channel Marketing, 1,400+ Mobile App Development.

What does this mean for the recent grad or someone with a little experience? 

  1.     Have some experience before you start your job search. If you can’t get a paid internship, work for free. If you need to earn money, work during the day and intern on weekends and the evening. Ask to work with the person who is doing the analysis, the social media plan, the UX development.

   2. Investigate what software and measurement tools are needed and in high demand. You can do that quickly by looking up the open positions on Linked In, corporate websites, indeed. They all list what is required in the job description.

  3. Know all the social media outlets: what’s hot, what’s new. Be the expert on how companies use their twitter feeds and blogs to their benefit.

  4.   Know the terminology: SEM, SEO, PPC, Paid Search, google adwords, site catalyst, webtrends, facebook analytics, CCS, Java, Ruby on Rails—the list is endless.

  5. Marketing strategy: How does the digital channel fit with other channels (Uber is an app that uses email marketing, advertising and direct marketing).

 

  6.  How do we sell stuff and what stuff do we sell; again analytics and research.

  7.  Nimbleness—ability to learn new things as they come—the world changes so fast that you need to know what's next before the person next to you.

  8.     Doing more with less—budgets have decreased or been diverted to cheaper alternatives; much easier and cheaper to test on the web/phone than sending out a direct mail package.

  9.  CRM across the board: keep your customers coming back; cheaper to keep them than to get new ones.

Ellen Weber | Managing Director | CareerPath Executive Recruiters | Digital, Direct and Marketing Talent Acquisitions  

https://www.linkedin.com/company/careerpath-executive-recruiters

ellen@careerpathassociates.com|www.careerpathexecutiverecruiters.com
Blogs: ellenweber.wordpress.com |collegegradjobsearch.blogspot.com |Twitter: @lnwebr| Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/ellenweber

New Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/careerpathexecutiverecruiters

And link to my Linked In profile: 
www.linkedin.com/in/ellenweber 

And Linked In Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3184464?trk=tyah&trkInfo=tarId%3A1421249921376%2Ctas%3ACareerpath%20executive%20%2Cidx%3A1-1-1

How to double your salary (Linked In article)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-double-your-salary-hiring-j.t.-o%2527donnell.

Thought this was really good--especially for those starting out your career. Not sure the disruptive cover letter will work anymore but if it's as detailed in actual specifics about the job the you want, maybe it would (hard to get anyone to look at that stuff anymore....)

40 Incorrectly Used Words That Can Make You Look Dumb

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20141203134446-20017018-40-incorrectly-used-words-that-can-make-you-look-dumb.

I would love for someone to write the same for oral/verbal usage .... We can start with "me and Mary went to the store"

College Majors and Lifetime Earnings

And for those of you who are looking to change careers.....

http://www.hamiltonproject.org/papers/major_decisions_what_graduates_earn_over_their_lifetimes/.

When Google speaks, people listen

The Biggest Mistakes I see on a resume (from a google HR person). I'm going to check my resume now...

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140917045901-24454816-the-5-biggest-mistakes-i-see-on-resumes-and-how-to-correct-them.

Remember this is from a company that hires engineers. Other companies will give you some slack--but check for anything obvious....

Resume Tips for recent grads and interesting blog

This is an informative blog and a re-post--couldn't have said it better myself.

http://www.youtern.com/

10 Things That Aren’t On Your Resume (But Should Be)

This post was originally posted on YouTern written by Mark Babbitt .
Many young careerists – even those with a couple internships under their belt – feel as though their resume and LinkedIn profiles are, for lack of a better word… lacking.
And sometimes this is true – especially when you’re up against someone with three, five and even ten years of at least semi-relevant experience. In that case, how do you compete?
You compete – and win – by including on your resume the achievements, projects and assignments you may have overlooked, or chose not to put on your resume because they were short-term, campus-only related or “not a real job.”
Here are nine great examples (and one thing that probably is on your resume, but shouldn’t be):

Social Media Savviness

No. You aren’t a guru, ninja or an expert. But you do know your way around Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Pinterest. Your profiles may be the envy of all your friends and colleagues; the number of followers is respectful. Throw in your knowledge of Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Twitter Chats, LinkedIn Groups, Facebook ads – and whatever else you’ve dabbled in so far – and you just might impress the social media novice whose organization needs social help, right now.

Self-Learning

In today’s job market, there isn’t a single employer who doesn’t respect someone who took it upon themselves to learn a skill, or master a software program relevant to their organization. Demonstration of expertise using project management, Photoshop, Salesforce, Infusionsoft, Google Analytics – and maybe even a little coding – can take your resume from “meh” to “marvelous!”

Freelance Projects

Remember that project you did for the business near your campus? Or the couple of weeks you spent at that non-profit solving its biggest problem? Those mini-projects weren’t real jobs, no… but they were real experience. List every relevant project you’ve ever taken on. Display the impact you had on the organization you served (quantify!). Show your entrepreneurial spirit! And you’ll catch the attention of a hiring manager looking for someone not afraid to take on a project alone.

Theses, Studies and White Papers

Did you head up a research project? Write an industry relevant thesis that blew your professor away? Did you lead an on-campus or community-based study? Each of these projects shows attention to detail, problem solving and analytical thinking – three skills in high demand by nearly every employer. Again, show the impact of your work; and talk passionately about the mission. Employers don’t only want to know what you did… they want to know why you did it.

Content Creation

Have you begun blogging? Guest blogging? Have you begun to show your subject matter expertise in a podcast, or a video blog? Maybe a YouTube channel? Have you built a community of followers? All of those things go on your resume! Employers will respect that you are willing to let your thoughts be known, and aren’t afraid to stick your neck out. They’ll get a glimpse of your personality and passion. And – if the fit is right – they’ll develop a bond with the digital you, well before they call for an interview.

Industry Relevant Competitions

Speaking of not being afraid to stick your neck out: relevant competitions – online, through your community, industry associations, the local chamber of commerce, and your fraternity or sorority – are a great way to punch up your resume. Although a bonus (instant credibility), winning isn’t necessary!
Just show that you have competed for the third consecutive time at the regional business plan competition, for example, and entrepreneurial minded employers will be impressed. These organizations also make for great networking and keyword elements on your resume. An employer might say, “You were in the Alpha Kappa Psi CASE competitions? So was I!” And, just like that, a relationship has started – and an advantage gained.

Anything Leadership

On-campus clubs, volunteer assignments, part-time retail jobs, heading up a fund-raiser or a committee, campus ambassadorships… anything that shows you were leading from out front must go on your resume. Again, be sure to show your impact; don’t just say you are a lifelong learner, show your impact and talk about what you learned.

Conferences Attended

That person with the three to five years of experience on their resume… have they attended your industries’ annual convention this year? Last year? Ever? Probably not, but perhaps you did – giving you another advantage over the competition. While you were out there listening to Seth Godin, Dan Pink and Matt Cutts, your competition was watching Wheel of Fortune in their pajamas. Who would you hire?

Reverse Mentorship

All that social media and blogging experience you’ve obtained… ever put it to good use? Ever walk a CEO through a Twitter chat? Or set up a WordPress blog for a solopreneur? Maybe helped get a Mom and Pop shop’s books in order, then show them how to run Quickbooks? Each of these instances of reverse mentorship shows you are willing to give back and teach across generational boundaries – a fine, and marketable, skill in today’s workforce.

Bonus: Remove THIS from Your Resume

When you’re all done with the newest version of resume – when you’ve added all your relevant accomplishments – you’re going to take one more step guaranteed to help you compete better…
Unless you are going into a field where these things still matter (medical, engineering, law, etc.), you are going to get rid of everything that makes you look like a current or recent student. Everything!
GPA, relevant coursework, expected graduation dates – all of it. Why? Because no one hires students. They hire capable, work-ready young professionals prepared to help them achieve their goals and solve their problems. On your resume and LinkedIn profile: Don’t be a student.
How does your resume look now? More professional? More complete? Perhaps less… lacking?