If you are reading this you are either a part of or aspiring to get into the digital marketing industry. You probably also know that now is the best time to be a digital marketer. The field is still young and growing. The scope ahead is tremendous as more and more businesses, large or small, are adopting digital marketing strategies to position their brands. The ever-evolving nature of digital marketing means there is still so much to explore.
Unlike other professions, you won’t be required to do the same job day after day meaning things will stay fresh and interesting. Moreover, one does not need a formal degree in order to land a job as a digital marketer. However, it is not easy as the competition is getting fierce with each passing day.
Although knowledge and expertise are crucial in landing a job in the digital marketing field, employers also look for particular traits while short listing candidates. Here are a few traits that rank high on an employer’s list:
5 Traits Every Employer Looks in a Digital Marketer
1. Adaptability
The digital marketing world runs at a lightning fast speed. New updates and changes keep taking place in the digital space on a regular basis. The way the role of SEO has evolved from being a mere technical tool to a full-fledged marketing tool in the past few years is the perfect example of this. This is precisely why digital companies look for people who not just keep up but also match the speed at which the industry runs.
If you wish to make it big in the field, you not just need to be open to change but embrace it completely. Stay up to date with the latest trends and keep a track on the changing Google algorithm so that you can adapt your digital strategy accordingly.
2. Curiosity
The evolving nature of the digital marketing industry opens unlimited possibilities for the marketers to try and test new strategies. There is still so much left to discover that it doesn’t matter what you know. What matters more is what you don’t know yet. Companies are looking for individuals who are bold enough to not just try out new things but also curious to know why some strategies work and why some don’t work. When you continue to learn this way, you are more likely to avoid repeating mistakes and produce better results with an improved strategy. A bold attitude like this also assures employers that you are comfortable with taking risks – a trait employers look for in digital marketing job candidates.
3. Creativity
Employers don’t usually put this on the job description but creativity is absolutely necessary. If you think outside the box and look at problems in a unique and different way, you are more likely to catch the attention of potential employers. The industry needs people who can present a fresh perspective to business problems and come up with unconventional solutions to solve them.
New technologies are introduced every now and then in the digital space. Hence, employers need creative individuals who can think of creative ways to utilize these to the advantage of their businesses.
4. Collaborative
Being a great communicator is crucial for performing any job well. The same applies for digital marketers too as it requires you to work together with people who may have different opinions. Great communicators are able to build and maintain relationships easily as others find them to be more approachable and easy to communicate with. However, employers are not looking for people who are good at collaborating and communicating with people face-to-face only. The nature of the job and the scale of the organizations may require teams to communicate with team members and clients sitting in different locations. So, you must be good at communicating clearly via phone, email, messaging apps, etc., as well.
5. Analytical abilities
Digital marketers are required to study a lot of data presented to them. There is no substitute for having good analytical abilities as a part of your job will require you to draw out insights from a huge pile of data. You will be required to understand consumer behavior and identify opportunities to use these insights as a basis for carving out future marketing strategies. You will need to decide which platform will work best for a particular strategy, deliver your message clearly to the target audience and meet the overall objectives of the business effectively.
Of course, hands-on skills are important but they are not enough for getting you the desired job. The fast-paced industry requires dynamic individuals who are prepared to face any challenge that may come their way. If you wish to make it big in the field, ask yourself whether you possess the traits listed above or not. Even if you don’t have all the traits, you can highlight those you have and strive hard to work on the traits you are not too confident about.
All the best!
Guest Post by Megha Raizada
