Career development in any field is a unique challenge, and in marketing perhaps more than most. The speedy evolution of our discipline in related years combined with the extremely diverse facets that drive it make marketing career paths uncertain and treacherous.
We’ve developed a heap of thorough career advice specifically for talented, ambitious marketers over the years, but have never formally organized it–until now. Here’s (almost) all the basics any marketer could need to create and execute a strategy for personal and professional growth. Methodically go through these categories and make sure you’re properly equipped with the knowledge you need to improve yourself as a marketer and fulfill your career goals, from junior level positions all the way to a senior marketing executive search.
Networking and Personal Branding
Even when you’re not actively looking for a new marketing gig, it’s wise to perpetually connect yourself with key decision makers and make a name for yourself as a hard working, creative thought leader. In an industry where making connections between brands and consumers is critical to success, professionals should know all too well the power of personal engagement and a strong, recognizable identity. Start here to develop your brand as an innovative marketer and build a network that brings a steady stream of new job opportunities your way.
How to Take Advantage of the Differences Between Your Marketing Resume and LinkedIn Profile
Get Career Opportunities to Come to You with an Online Personal Brand
4 Excellent Online Portfolio Options for Marketing Creatives
Job Hunting
There are many reasons you might be actively looking for a new position, but whatever your motivation you’ll need a specialized approach as a marketer. Time to start leveraging that personal brand and broad network from earlier, in conjunction with some additional advice:
Contracting and Consulting: Thinking Outside the Box With Your Career
Best Practices to Providing Professional References for Your Marketing Career
Professional Development
As a marketer it’s important to never stop learning and improving yourself personally and professionally. In such a fast-paced discipline, it doesn’t take long to fall far behind. And since so many fields of marketing are increasingly interdependent, it’s not enough to just be an expert of branding or advertising or product–you need to keep an eye on what’s happening in the rest of marketing as well. Here are some ways to keep up and navigate your career forward in an uncertain environment.
5 Podcasts to Keep Yourself on The Cutting Edge of Digital Marketing
18 Exceptional Blogs That Will Keep You Up to Speed on Digital Marketing
9 Eye-Catching Certifications that Boost Your Marketing Resume
Resumes
Your resume is one of your most valuable career growth tools, and is something you should constantly be updating and manicuring as you gain more experience. However, as experienced marketing recruiters we find that many marketers (even the really good ones) have weak resumes that don’t accurately reflect their capabilities. When you’re building and maintaining your resume, turn to these posts for guidance.
The Single Most Important Way to Make Your Marketing Resume Stand Out
3 Common Ways Old-Fashioned Resumes Make Today’s Marketers Look Outdated
5 Reasons Not to Throw Money Away on a Professionally-Written Marketing Resume
Interview Prep and Etiquette
The interview is perhaps the single most challenging aspect of marketing recruitment, both from the candidates and employers’ perspectives. However, with enough preparation it’s an opportunity to show how passionate you are about a position and express aspects of your personality that are impossible to convey through a resume. Don’t walk into an interview without checking these out:
How to Set Yourself Above the Competition in Interviews for a Senior Marketing Role
How to Prepare for a Marketing Interview If You’ve Been Recruited as a Passive Candidate
Make a Stellar Impression at Your Marketing Job Interview with the STAR Method
Stand Out in High-Stakes Marketing Interviews with a Two-Sided SWOT Analysis
How Marketers Can Prepare for the Growing Prevalence of Video Job Interviews
Questions Candidates Should Ask During a Marketing Job Interview
Job Discussion and Negotiation During Marketing Recruitment
There can be a lot of intense, high-level business discussion surrounding your consideration and acceptance of a new role. These are conversations that become more common as you climb the career ladder, but may not be prepared for as a marketer. Here’s how to handle some of the most important and common professional conversations you’re likely to have with current and future employers as you move from job to job.
The Marketer’s Guide to Negotiating Salary, Signing Bonus, and More
The Problem That’s Separating You from Your Marketing Dream Job
Marketers Should be Confident, Not Cocky, In Salary Negotiation