Created by CakeWhilst starting out in a professional field, many people think about their long-term career plans, aiming for high-level roles or high salaries. This career growth mindset can be motivating for many people who have big professional goals, but oftentimes, what can be done in the short-term to achieve this is overlooked. Whilst career growth is at the forefront of many workers’ aspirations, the short term skill building, networking and experience required to reach career goals is known as career development, and is equally as important. We will discuss what the key differences between career growth vs career development are, as well as how you can work on both to achieve your professional goals.Table of Contents:What Is Career Growth?What Is Career Development?Career Development vs. Career GrowthWhy Career Growth and Career Development Are Important?Tips for Achieving Career Growth and DevelopmentWhat Is Career Growth?Career growth involves advancing in your job position or company, to reach the highest level of seniority for your department or industry. This is what is commonly referred to as “climbing the corporate ladder”, where you aim to progress through the ranks of your company. Career growth involves receiving promotions to job roles which involve more responsibility; these promotions are highly sought after since they come with increases in salary. Although this might seem like the main reason for striving for career growth, many opportunities to lead, develop or make changes in your industry come with the many years of experience that comes from career growth. If you have a big goal for a project, product or idea you want to develop, this is also considered a goal in career growth. Career growth occurs from all levels in a company, and even small steps are positives in achieving long-term career growth ambitions. Examples of career growth include moving from an intern position to a junior full-time staff, or from mid-level managerial positions to senior positions such as head of a department.What Is Career Development?Career development is related to improving skills, knowledge and capabilities which can help you with broadening your job scope in the short-term. Building these skills can allow for personal and professional development beyond your current role, leading to career growth in the long-term. By building unique skills and expertise, you become an invaluable employee to your current company, and also allows for job mobility if you want to make lateral shifts in your industry. Career development can involve upskilling in both hard and soft skills, depending on the type of role you want to achieve in the long-term. Career development skills can be self-taught, or a skill which needs to be accredited by an organization. Examples of career development include a manager taking a short course in leadership, or a software developer learning a new in-demand programming language.Career Development vs. Career GrowthTo put it simply, career development involves expanding your skills and expertise which can allow you to flourish in your current role, whereas career growth involves climbing the corporate hierarchy to be promoted into a high-level role. Career development is necessary for career growth, but can be worked on continuously either through actively learning new skills or passively from experience. You can potentially fast-track the career growth process by actively working on your career development, gaining experiences and qualifications which are needed for senior positions. An example of career development for a graphic designer can include learning a new software to improve their design skills at a faster rate, whilst career growth would involve a promotion to become head of design for a company.Why Career Growth and Career Development Are Important?Career growth is often what employees strive for, to achieve promotions and salary increases. Career growth can also involve more job satisfaction for employees who want to expand their responsibilities and stay at their company. This ambition is favorable, as employees have job satisfaction and employers can retain employees. In order to achieve the promotion you desire, it is important to understand that career development is necessary. Having ambition alone is not enough to fulfill a job’s requirements, and sometimes career development involves learning skills which are difficult or unfamiliar. Although career development involves short-term skill building which can help in the long term for career growth, your career development plan requires time and effort. The good thing about having career development goals and working towards them is that you are showing that you want to advance professionally, which will help you work towards career growth. Encouraging both career growth and development means that employers can foster a skilled and adaptable workforce which encourages participation and innovation.Tips for Achieving Career Growth and DevelopmentIn order to foster both career growth and development, personal reflection of your ambitions and goals is necessary. Although they are linked, career growth and development require different planning on your part to achieve goals both now and in the long-term. We’ve gathered the best tips for achieving both career growth and development, and how you can apply them: 1. Set clear goals Think about what you want to achieve professionally in your industry, both now and in the future. Try to think about goals related to your career development, such as a project you want to handle, responsibilities you’d like to have, or a skill or software you want to learn, rather than rewards such as a pay rise or bonus. Developing your career first can allow for career growth in the future, where promotions and raises will follow. Once you gather some goals, prioritize them and think of clear pathways to achieve them. Some example goals you could use for career development include: Learn 2 more programming languages by the end of this yearLearn from the design how to use graphic design tools more efficientlyComplete a management certificate As for career growth, goals include: Receive a raise which is a 15% increase of my current salaryManage a team of more than 12 peopleBecome a Team Lead for the finance department2. Continuously learn Career development is about constant learning, whether it be actively taking on a course, or learning from others in your team. Search for in-demand skills online or ask your managers what skills you should be learning or other ways you can develop your career. You don’t have to go back to university or take any expensive formal classes; there are many online communities where you can learn digital skills. Be open to feedback and actively seek out opportunities to learn; don’t be afraid to take on offers to learn which seem a bit out of your comfort zone, either. Hard skills you could learn include: New, in-demand programming languagesAnalytical or statistical softwareSEO, google analyticsGraphic design or editing skillsBudgeting and time scheduling Soft skills for career development include: Leadership and management coursesCommunication skillsConflict resolutionNegotiation with stakeholders and staffPlanningThese skills, no matter how easy they seem, need more than just taking a certificate or course to develop. Career development isn't about checking off a bunch of skills and then asking for a promotion. The skills you learn for career development need to be put into practice, such as through a new project which wasn’t available to you before. Gaining more opportunity and responsibility is a key to career development, as it is the valuable experience which allows for career growth. Aside from gaining new skills, being able to handle the responsibility of important projects is essential to achieving career growth as well, as promotions will only be offered to employees who can confidently take on the role. 3. Seek mentorship The skills mentioned above to assist in career development can’t always be learnt online or through a course; this is where mentorship can come in. If there is a skill you want to learn, think of who in your workplace can provide any advice regarding learning this skill for career development. They might be able to point you towards a program or course you can use to learn hard skills. As for soft skills, you can ask people in HR or managerial positions in your department if there are any resources they used, or experiences they had which helped them to develop these skills. Think of who you look up to in your workplace, and ask if they would be interested in or able to provide you with feedback or guidance as you upskill. Mention you are looking to develop in your professional career, and believe that their expertise would be valuable to them. Some workplaces offer to subsidize your career development; so talking to managers first and mentioning that you have clear career development goals is worthwhile. Seeking mentorship can help you with career development as you can gain industry insights from experienced people. If there isn’t anyone in your workplace who can mentor you, consider talking to a careers counselor in the industry you are in. Using mentorship for career development isn’t about copying everything your mentor does and expecting to achieve the same things; it's about learning from their experiences and applying that to your work. Try to maintain an organized, professional relationship with scheduled check-ins, and be mindful of their time; you not only want to develop the hard skills you need, but also to develop as a professional also.4. Network and build connections You might have heard the saying ‘Your network is your net worth’ – which just shows that networking can help you with career growth! By building a network of like minded people, you gain access to opportunities, ideas or industry events which are not readily available in your workplace, which can help you with career growth and development. Although you might want to network with the top leaders of companies across your industry, they are likely too busy to offer one-on-one career development advice. Try to make a network of people who are around the same level as you professionally, or also want to develop their career. Don’t expect everyone will want to connect or network with you – some people are busy or simply uninterested in assisting in your career development. Maintaining strong and genuine connections in your network is much more worthwhile than having a lot of connections or contacts with people you don’t know very well. Fostering strong relationships will allow you to achieve career growth, as they will be more inclined to think of you first if they come across an opportunity that suits you. Avoid coming across as entitled to know someone's career development story and asking intrusive questions; you can gain insights into other’s career growth, or ideas for your own career development passively through career sites too. Connecting with people in your industry, and staying updated with the latest industry trends can help you when coming up with career development goals. Sharing your career development journey on career social networking sites will also allow you to document your upskilling and get suggestions from your peers. Try sites like Cake or LinkedIn, or a chamber of commerce in your city to build connections online and in person.5. Take initiative Although the support of others through mentorship or networking can help you in your career growth and development, the onus is on you to take the lead. Your peers and mentors can provide insight and advice, but ultimately, you have to study, upskill, network and reach your career development goals yourself. Opportunities come to those who seek them; so take initiative in your career development journey to maintain a mindset of growth and learning, which will pay off in the long-term. Taking initiative is valued by employers also, as it shows you are ambitious, capable and hard-working.🔑 Key Takeaways:Career growth and development are two different, yet very important aspects of your professional career. Having a growth and development mindset allows you to maintain job satisfaction in the short term, whilst achieving goals in the long term. Investing in yourself through constant learning, taking feedback earnestly, building connections and having goals can allow you to achieve both career growth and development in your industry. With a bit of planning, initiative, and utilizing tools like Cake to build knowledge and make connections, you can have a fulfilling and interesting career.With Cake, we provide you with the best free resume builder, hundreds of free resume templates, and great resume examples that help showcase the best you. Landing your dream job will be a piece of cake!Create Resume--- Originally written by Bronte McNamara ---

7 Social Media Marketing Skills You Need to Become a Great Social Media ManagerJust in case you need any greater indication of how major social media marketing is for a company’s digital marketing strategy, just take a look at the numbers: 4.9 billion people use social media. And, while it’s popularized the endless scroll, marketing on social platforms has also experienced a boom, making social media marketing an extremely well-regarded profession. But with such a dynamic environment at play that requires continuous improvement of strategies, what social media skills do social media marketers actually need to survive this digital landscape? Navigating the ever-evolving social media landscape requires a robust understanding of social media management and digital marketing. In the social media world, marketers must quickly adapt to new trends and audience behaviors to stay relevant and effective. Mastery of these disciplines enables professionals to craft engaging social media content, leverage analytics for strategic decisions, and manage brand reputation across different social media platforms. This comprehensive skill set is essential for anyone looking to succeed in today’s digital-focused marketing environment. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of the whos and whats of social media marketers, exactly what essential skills you need, and where to find jobs for social media marketers.Table of Contents:What Are the Tasks of a Social Media Manager?7 Key Social Media Marketing SkillsAdvice When Searching for Jobs as Social Media ManagersConclusion What Are the Tasks of a Social Media Manager? Similar to digital marketers, social media managers are geniuses when it comes to marketing team dynamics, business strategy, writing copy, and managing customers. They need to excel in these areas, as their daily tasks vary greatly, from handling customer complaints with the finesse of a customer service pro to securing a marketing budget or designing the perfect infographic for Instagram. In other words, social media marketers play a crucial role in everything from brand promotion to audience engagement and lead generation, contributing significantly to business growth. They create content and express a consistent tone, character, and voice for the brand across different platforms, managing content and customer interactions as they post content. Possessing strong skills in communication, design, and analytics for effective social media marketing strategies is therefore seen as a considerable advantage.7 Key Social Media Marketing Skills Mastering the essential social media skills to become one of the great social media managers can seem overwhelming, yet there are precisely seven crucial abilities you must possess. These skills are pivotal for engaging and growing an online community: 1. Audience Research and Making Connections Social media is fundamentally a platform to engage your target audience, which essentially means that you need strong audience engagement skills. There are many effective ways to demonstrate these skills, such as using online polls on social media platforms to interact with your audience and generate insights for future campaigns. QA sessions also fall into this category of engagement, fostering a building connections between the customer and the brand. This not only enhances user engagement but also strengthens brand connections, making customers 77% more likely to increase their spending with that brand. Customer Relationship Management tools like Hubspot and Sprout Social are invaluable in helping social media managers keep their audience engaged through consistent posting, replying, or sharing videos. To improve the skills necessary for social media marketing, marketers and managers are encouraged to adopt a more analytical approach. Conducting customer analysis enhances research skills, provides insights into potential customers' behaviors and social media preferences, and influences the strategies a proficient social media marketer will use to produce engaging content and building relationships. 2. Data Analytics Data analysis is a cornerstone of marketing, especially in the realm of social media marketing. Social media marketers and managers employ analytics tools to gauge brand strength and performance across various social media channels, which is crucial for targeted campaigns and managing both organic and paid media. Although each marketing analytics platform has its unique KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) for assessing social media performance, there are several key social media metrics you can leverage to interpret data and devise actionable strategies. This can be done without the need for a sophisticated (and often paid) service, whether it's analyzing social posts or refining your overall social strategy. Such indicators include, but are not limited to: Impressions, which indicate the number of times your content has been seen, reflecting your social media effortsReach, which measures how many people have viewed your content, showcasing your social media presenceEngagement Rate, which captures instances where a viewer interacts with your content, like sharing or liking, demonstrating effective social media outreachVideo views, straightforwardly the count of how many times a video has been watchedConversion Rate, which tracks how many people completed a desired action, such as clicking a link and subscribing Tools for data analytics and interpretationHubspotGoogle AnalyticsBuffer 3. Content Creation and Curation Content marketing for social media isn't vastly different from promoting blog content, particularly when it involves creating compelling and shareable viral content for your audience. However, unlike blog content, social media marketing demands creativity across various content formats, including writing, design, video production, live streaming, and audio editing. Creative multimedia content is crucial for catching the eye, a key attribute for any social media marketer. Thus, social media managers must have a keen eye for detail, aesthetics, and creativity. Fortunately, developing these skills is straightforward with numerous online resources available from Canva, Adobe, and Hubspot, covering everything from video creation to social media post design and graphic design.Tools for content creationCanvaAdobe 4. Design Skills With a picture saying a thousand words and 65% of the population being visual learners, you can bet that design plays an important role in social media marketing. In fact, design is crucial in the daily development of social media content, utilizing similar tools from the social media marketing toolkit to effectively convey your brand's voice. Moreover, in the realm of social media, crafting visually appealing marketing materials is an excellent strategy to capture attention and generate interest, and honing your design skills is essential for this purpose. A wide array of tools is available to enhance your content creation and graphic design abilities, including platforms like Canva and Adobe, which cater to comprehensive graphic needs. Those seeking to advance their social media marketing skills should consider enrolling in courses offered by Canva’s Design School and exploring Adobe’s Creative Cloud solutions.Tools for graphic designCanvaAdobe PhotoshopGiphy 5. Writing Skills Social media is fundamentally about good communication skills, and there’s no better way to communicate a message than through words—we’re doing it right now! The ability to write concise copy with a professional tone not only engages and persuades your customers but is also an essential skill in social media marketing. From effectively conveying a brand's story to maintaining a more professional tone and voice, social media marketers must possess excellent copywriting skills to continuously engage their audience. It is crucial that they are also well-versed in SEO best practices, as writing optimized for SEO is a primary method for getting your content and brand noticed. With an array of content types like tweets, posts, infographics, video scripts, captions, and responses to comments and complaints, there are numerous instances where outstanding writing ability is necessary on social media. However, it also boils down to how you utilize these skills because, as any skilled social media marketer will understand, adhering to best practices for social media posts due to character limitations is vital. Therefore, a social media manager’s skills in writing must include being adept in creating content tailored for specific social media platforms and staying informed about industry news, such as the ideal 50-character post length for Instagram, showcasing their storytelling abilities.Tools for writing skillsGrammarlyHemingway AppYoast’s Real-time Content Analysis Tool 6. Budgeting When considering 'social media marketing skills,' budgeting might not initially seem relevant. However, it is a crucial skill for social media managers. Here's why. Social media marketers are not just posting on social media; they meticulously plan and social strategy, and manage organic and paid media across social networks. This involves handling their own content, creating advertisements, coordinating promotional content with or from influencers, and managing content produced by freelancers, along with all other aspects of content production. In other words, a significant amount of time and effort is invested in social media, requiring adequate compensation. This compensation varies based on the number of freelancers involved, their fees, the reach and quality of your influencers, and the location of your brand. This is why budgeting emerges as a pivotal social media strategy skill—it allows you to maintain control over your finances and prevents any unwelcome surprises from your boss regarding excessive spending. 7. Trend Awareness Nothing drives clicks and impressions like current content, which underscores the importance of staying up-to-date and on-trend on social media. But which social media marketing skills are essential for keeping your finger on the pulse of society? The competencies necessary for an adept social media manager are akin to those required for trend awareness: curiosity, a deep interest in current events and developments, digital literacy, research, networking, communication, and creativity. Enhancing these pivotal social media marketing skills can be achieved in several ways. Soft skills such as curiosity and communication can be honed through social listening, and monitoring competitors and customers to detect market shifts. This insight can guide your content strategy to better align with audience preferences and emerging trends. For trend awareness in social media marketing, maintaining vigilance on the Twitter Trends sidebar for #TrendingTopics and crafting content that anticipates or reacts to these updates can be crucial. Additional skills for social media managers include keeping up with the daily news cycle and consuming content from industry leaders to continuously refine strategies and enhance platform expertise.Tools for trend awarenessTwitter TrendsBrandwatchKeyhole Advice When Searching for Jobs as Social Media Managers When searching for social media marketing jobs, it’s crucial to highlight your successful social media manager skills in your resume and during interviews. This involves detailing daily activities such as developing plans and strategies for content marketing, creating content, and analyzing data. In presenting these skills on your resume, it's vital to underscore your achievements quantitatively. Be sure to also list the common tools you utilized for these tasks. If you're at the beginning of your successful career in social media marketing and lack tangible achievements, you should certainly discuss key insights from an internship or university project relevant to the role in your social media marketing resume. For those preparing for an interview, ensure you're on the same page with basic social media marketing knowledge beforehand. Practice using the STAR method to describe your experiences, clearly articulating the situation, task, actions taken, or other skills employed, and the outcomes. Finally, to thoroughly demonstrate your expertise in all facets of social media marketing, remember to mention several essential tools or courses we've discussed in this article, solidifying your status as adept in writing social media managers.📚Further reading: How to Use Mock Interviews to Land Your Dream Job Conclusion In this article, we've delved into what it takes to be a social media manager, detailing not only their daily responsibilities but also highlighting the seven key social media marketing skills vital for every exemplary marketing professional. Among these skills, budgeting may come as a surprise, yet it's integral alongside audience engagement, data analytics, content creation, design, writing, and trend awareness. These skills are straightforward to acquire and hone, particularly with the support of advanced social media marketing tools. Additionally, the role of a social media manager involves constant adaptation and learning. As digital landscapes evolve, so must your strategies and tools. Keeping abreast of the latest platforms, algorithm changes, and social media trends is not just beneficial; it's necessary to stay competitive and effective in this dynamic field. Engaging regularly with industry experts, attending workshops, and participating in relevant webinars can greatly enhance your skill set and ensure you remain a great social media manager. With these continuous efforts, you'll not only meet but exceed the modern demands of social media marketing, setting a high standard within the industry. Furthermore, by leveraging the career resources available on Cake, you are taking significant steps towards securing your ideal job, enhancing your visibility and appeal to prospective employers.With Cake, an online resume builder, we provide you with hundreds of professional resume templates (free download) and various great resume examples that help showcase the best you. Landing your dream job will be a piece of cake!Create Resume --- Originally Written by Eva O'Mara ---

Created by CakeNavigating the corporate and professional landscapes can be a formidable challenge. The ever-present pressure to acquire new hard and soft skills, advance into higher positions, and seamlessly assimilate into the office environment demands a constant awareness of your career growth. Indeed, maximizing your professional capacity is crucial at every stage of your journey. But what exactly does career growth entail? It is often confused with career development, yet it stands apart with its distinct scope, measurable metrics, and fundamental purpose. Career growth revolves around our long-term career aspirations, which are typically reflected in your plan to improve your salary, job title, and overall responsibilities. Understanding the significance of career growth in the professional world is key to unlocking your true potential. In this article, we will delve into the significance of employee career growth and explore the various types of career growth paths. By the end of this article, you will have gained valuable insights into the pivotal role career growth plays in shaping your professional life.Table of Contents:Career Growth vs Career DevelopmentTypes of Career GrowthWhy Employee Career Growth Matters?Best Practices for Getting Started (for Employers)ConclusionCareer Growth vs Career DevelopmentGiving attention to your career growth and career development is an essential part of your professional development. Understanding the difference between these two concepts will allow you to create effective career growth and development plans. Career growth focuses on long-term progression in job roles and responsibilities, and plays a pivotal role in defining one's overall professional trajectory. Planned career growth allows you to reach higher positions, take on greater responsibilities, and achieve career milestones. This upward movement in your career provides you with a clear sense of purpose and direction and is a great motivator to perform at your best consistently. A great example of career growth is progressing through the hierarchy of a company. For example, if you start as a sales associate, following a career growth plan will allow you to be promoted through the ranks until you are in a sales director or managerial position! On the other hand, career development is equally critical as it encompasses the short-term enhancement of your skill set and technical knowledge relevant to your current position. By continually investing in your technical skill set, intentionally-driven career development allows you to tackle new challenges, adapt to changes in the workplace, and remain relevant in your professional fields. An example of career development would be taking courses or professional workshops to develop a particular skill that can give you an edge in your position over your coworkers. When both career growth and career development are both given equal consideration, your professional life will inevitably become more balanced and intentional. The combination of striving for higher positions and continuously honing your professional skills keeps you in a constant state of competitiveness and is great at preventing burnout or professional stagnation. Moreover, this dual focus on growth and development fosters a positive work environment, as employees tend to feel supported in their pursuit of meaningful and rewarding careers.Types of Career GrowthCareer growth is an umbrella term that manifests itself in various forms. Here are the most common types of career growth models. Pay attention to these as they are distinct. 1. Vertical Career Growth Vertical career growth is one of the more common types of career growth and encompasses a vertical movement through the hierarchical structure of a department or field within a company. Employees typically start in a junior position within the company and rise through the ranks as their experience and skill sets develop. Having a good career growth plan can facilitate this process and employees can be aware of the skills needed to transition into a more challenging and qualified role. Examples of vertical career growth include a legal intern progressing to a partner position, or a chemical engineering assistant researcher progressing through to a researcher responsible for an entire department or team.2. Horizontal Career Growth Horizontal career growth involves the process of acquiring skills that are desirable or required to laterally transition to another position or job role that is at the same level as you are currently. Horizontal career growth is great for professionals wishing to diversify their marketable skill set or transition into a job role that is more comfortable for them. An example of horizontal career growth would be a marketing specialist horizontally transitioning into a sales position. Both positions require similar skill sets, so a lateral transition is a lot easier!3. Steady-State Experts There are also career growth plans for professionals wishing to specialize deeply in their current field! Steady-state experts are those professionals who commit to one field and become an expert in it. For example, a researcher may specialize in Asia-Pacific relations and become incredibly specialized in that field. Steady-state experts are highly valued for their depth of knowledge in their field, so these types of professionals are always desired and in demand!4. Spiral Career Paths Spiral career paths encompass the trajectory that employees take when they are trying to find which job role best suits them. They typically engage in a multitude of positions and develop a broad range of skills in the process. Spiral career paths are useful for gaining a wide array of skills, the knowledge of which can come in quite handy when they decide to settle into a more focused career growth path. An example of a spiral career path would be a young professional working in the marketing, sales, accounting, and finance departments while they are figuring out which role suits them best.5. T-shaped Career Growth T-shaped career growth is a path chosen by professionals who have deep preexisting knowledge in a certain field. These professionals “branch out” and learn a broad range of skills to complement their expertise. An example of T-shaped career growth would be a marketing expert acquiring a diverse range of digital art and photography skills to complement their proficiency in advertising.6. Transitory Career Paths While traditional work culture places emphasis on loyalty or commitment to one company, many contemporary workers opt to move between companies or industries to experience diverse opportunities and develop a more varied skill set. In the modern workplace, such employees are highly desired for their nuanced experience! Employees can also leverage their work experiences, previous salaries, and job titles into more lucrative ones in each company transition. An instance of a transitory career path would be an architect moving between firms to learn different styles of building construction.Why Employee Career Growth Matters?The importance of career growth extends past the employee and directly to the employer! Employers should provide every opportunity possible for their employees to professionally develop. Focusing on employee career growth is beneficial for many reasons; here are the main advantages: Help Attract Top Talent A company that offers its employees the opportunity to develop through tangible career growth is a company that will always attract high-level and competitive talent. Employees will always be motivated to work hard and earn towards their career growth. E.g. A law firm offering partner positions and training will attract more applications than those offering no opportunities for lateral or vertical career growth.Boost Employee Retention Employees care about being cared about. If an employee sees their employer prioritizing their career goals and development, they will be less likely to leave the company as they are already in a familiar environment that allows them to grow comfortably. For instance, a sales associate working in a progressive company offering professional development courses is less likely to move to another company, especially one not offering such benefits.Further reading📚:10 Employee Retention Strategies for Your Company in 2023 [+ Examples]Build a Sense of Stability Employees working in an environment that promotes their career growth fosters a sense of job stability and professional security. Employees are more likely to stay loyal to a company that cares for their future and ensures that they can maintain a stable job while progressing through the company! Increases Their Skill Sets Career growth expands an employee's skill set, making them a more valuable asset to the organization. This provides the employer with a more specialized and professional workforce and satisfies the employee’s desire to progress and develop professionally. Employers could increase the skill set of their employees through paid training or workshops. Greater Employee Satisfaction When an employee feels positively challenged and engages in thought-provoking exercises that develop their skill, they are likely to feel much more satisfied than a boring job that does not offer anything more than a salary. Career growth matters as it gives an employee something to work towards, both for their personal betterment and the betterment of the company. Boost Productivity The prospect of furthering one's career and earning a higher salary, obtaining a better position, and gaining rapport within a company is an alluring offer. Employers that offer career growth opportunities to their employers will motivate a substantial boost in productivity as employees will be motivated to perform at their best. Improved Knowledge Transfer A hallmark of professional growth and development is the ability to teach others and be a point of information transfer within a company. Employers seek out those who possess this quality and strive to promote them through the ranks of the company. This growth can translate directly into higher positions within the company!Best Practices for Getting Started (for Employers)As an employer, you should focus time and resources on helping your employees realize their career growth. That said, it may be a lot easier said than done, as there are many factors that must be taken into consideration. Here are some great places to start: 1. Find the Intersection Between Employee Career Goals and Business Needs The first step to supporting your employee’s career growth is finding the intersection between your company’s business needs and your employee’s career goals. See the areas of career growth that your employees can undergo that will boost your company’s performance and provide opportunities for your employees to receive the training needed to accomplish this! 2. Suggest Career Development Opportunities As an employer, it is in your best interest to retain highly skilled and high-functioning employees. To incentivize and motivate your workforce, offer training programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities to ensure that your employees are meeting their career growth goals. For instance, the CEO of a hospital should ensure that CME courses are always available for doctors wishing to further their professional knowledge and skill set.3. Offer Internal Mobility (Career Progression) As an employer, make sure that you pay attention to the individual development of each employee. Hold regular discussions with your employees on how they can improve and progress through your company. After all, professional stagnation is one of the worst things that can happen to an employee and is a large contributor to work burnout. On the flip side, if your employees understand they have the potential to experience positive vertical career growth in your company, they will be more likely to work harder and smarter! 4. Encourage a Fair Work-Life Balance Companies that overwork their employees typically see diminishing returns on their investments. Part of retaining a strong workforce is ensuring that their work-life balance is in order. This allows employees to unwind and can also provide the time needed for them to work towards furthering their own career development and growth goals. 5. Visualize the Macro Offering constructive reminders of the company’s overall vision can motivate employees to work towards that overarching goal. Show your employees how their career growth adds value to the company and pushes the company forward to achieve their short and long-term objectives. ConclusionCareer growth is an integral part of the professional experience and is a subject of great importance for both the employee and employer. Career growth is a gratifying experience for the employee and encourages hard work and dedication to the job. Similarly, career growth provides employers with a stronger and more resilient workforce that evolves and adapts to a changing work environment. All professions should constantly strive to develop their skill sets in an effort to increase their standing, wage, and technical proficiency within their field! Are you looking for career advice as you prepare to take the next step in your professional journey? Cake offers a comprehensive selection of carefully curated articles that cover everything from CV building and tips to deep dives into the workings of the modern workplace. Get an edge over the competition and take control of your professional life with Cake!With Cake, a resume website, we provide you with hundreds of free example resumes and templates that help showcase the best you. Landing your dream job will be a piece of cake!Create Resume--- Originally written by Alexander Coye ---

Developing Administrative Skills for the Modern Workplace Regardless of the position you hold in the workplace, strong administrative skills are an essential part of your professional skill set. Administrative skills allow you to consolidate complex tasks into your efficient workflow, compartmentalize tasks by deadline or importance, and even give you a leg up in the job application process! Moreover, if you are looking to transition into an administrative role in your company, strong administrative skills will separate you from your competition (for more information on the cover letter process for an administrator role, check out this article). In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the most critical administrative skills to have. We will also show you how to improve your existing administrative skills so that they can better serve you in the workplace. Finally, we will outline how you can best display your administrative skills on your resume and cover letter so that they can be picked up by employers in the recruitment process! Table of Contents:What Are Administrative Skills?What Are Examples of Administrative Skills?How to Improve Your Administrative Skills?How Do You List Administrative Skills on a Resume and Cover Letter?Common FAQs about Administrative SkillsConclusion What Are Administrative Skills? What is an administrative skill? Put simply, an administrative skill is any hard or soft skill that can assist you in completing a task, streamlining your workflow, or managing other employees within the workplace. Strong administrative skills are beneficial to any employee in any capacity or position as they can greatly increase efficiency, help in maintaining open channels of communication with other employees, and allow you to take on higher-level tasks for your superiors. Put together, these skills are useful in upward professional development, as higher-ups in the office are more likely to promote those who they see possess the managerial and administrative skills to handle more supervisory roles within the workplace. What Are Examples of Administrative Skills? While the specific skills required for a job will vary depending on the position, many are all-around great to possess and can help you in virtually every field and career path. In this section, we will cover some of the most valued administrative skills for all professions and give some pointers on how you can develop the skill even further! Organization The ability to organize your thoughts, tasks, and deadlines is one of the most important administrative skills that any working professional ought to have! Organizational skills allow you to handle heavier workloads and stay on top of deadlines at all times. If you wish to develop your ability to organize your workload, we recommend keeping a physical or digital calendar or some form of daily/weekly planner. For those who already have digital calendars but are still struggling to keep up to task, we find that physically writing down and keeping track of tasks helps you remember them a lot better! Time management Time management is another quintessential administrative skill that every professional should possess. Time management refers to the ability to compartmentalize tasks into manageable chinks of time so that all your responsibilities are met by their deadlines. Time management is especially important for those with heavier workloads or managerial positions, such as coordinator and department head positions, as these jobs require the management of complex and changing timetables. Time management goes hand-in-hand with good organization skills; we recommend that you try breaking down your day into time chunks at the beginning of the day to better visualize the order in which the day’s tasks will be completed. Communication Strong communication skills are a requisite for every job and can spell the difference between a friendly and hostile working environment. Communication is an important administrative skill as it allows you to effectively manage contact between your colleagues and can increase the efficiency of your workflow. You can improve this administrative skill by continuously practicing patience by actually actively listening to what others are saying before responding. That way, you reduce the chance of misinterpreting things that are said to you or forgetting important details in a conversation! Attention to detail A meticulous attention to detail is an administrative skill that will serve you well both in and outside of the office. Employees who are especially attentive to detail are highly valued by their employees for their meticulous approach to their work, as they are less likely to make mistakes and waste time and company resources. If you find yourself often redoing tasks due to easily avoidable errors, try taking the time to slow down while completing tasks. Taking your time at this stage may save you time in the long run! Problem-solving A critical and problem-solving mindset is an administrative skill that allows you to process and logically resolve tasks. Problem-solving is a skill that is essential at every level, as the ability to work through tasks demonstrates your professionalism and independence. Develop your problem-solving skills by taking the time to logically work through and understand the root of a problem before attempting to fix it. This way, you are more likely to spot the solution along the way instead of in hindsight! Multi-tasking The ability to handle multiple streams of work simultaneously is prized at every level but especially so in the managerial line of work. Managers constantly need to oversee multiple workflows and handle the challenges that arise from each one. Multi-tasking is a difficult yet essential administrative skill to train and is simply best learned through experience! Record-keeping Record-keeping refers to the ability to condense a large volume of information in an easily digestible and accessible format. Record keeping is an administrative skill that comes in handy for professionals in the secretarial and managerial fields, as they are usually responsible for keeping track of and compiling large amounts of information for referencing further down the line. If you would like to develop your record-keeping skills, we recommend that you organize your documents with a digital program or system so that information can be retrieved at a moment’s notice. While this may entail digitizing a lot of physical documents, you will end up saving time and space in the long run. Data entry Data entry refers to the process of keying data into a database for record-keeping purposes. This is an administrative skill whose importance is typically reserved for those in HR or accounting positions. Improve and develop this skill by developing a keen eye for detail as the simplest error in entering payscale information can result in significant consequences for an unlucky employee!📚Further reading: Data Entry Resume Examples (Templates, Skills Tips) Calendar management Calendar management is an administrative skill that is best served for those in the secretarial fields. These professionals are usually tasked with managing the full calendars of executives within a business, which can be quite challenging. That said, every professional should know how to manage their time and calendar! Improve this skill by not only dividing tasks by day, but by hours in the day! Assigning a time slot for every task allows you to effectively spread out your work over longer time frames. Customer service Strong customer service skills and maintaining a generally personable character within the workplace are prerequisites for many fields of work, particularly within the retail and service industries. This administrative skill is best developed through specialized coursework that offers guided instruction on how to approach the various scenarios and personalities of clients you may come into contact with. If you are a professional already in the field, your company may also offer professional development seminars that you can attend to receive further training in this area! Office software proficiency (e.g., Microsoft Office) As the world goes digital, office software has become a mainstay in every professional’s skill set arsenal and is often an integral part of one’s daily workflow. That said, for those of us who are less computer literate, learning and gaining proficiency in software packages like the Microsoft and Google Suites may seem like a daunting task. To gain an edge against your competition, we recommend seeking out online certification courses for each software application. There are a plethora of exams on the web that you can take to buff up the certification section on your resume! Filing and document management Filing and managing large volumes of documentation is an administrative skill that is becoming more overlooked in the face of the digitalization of many company records and resources. That said, it is still important to have an easily accessible system of filing physical documentation. This skill is most useful for administrative assistants and those in human resources, as these professionals are usually burdened with the heaviest loads of paperwork within a company. You can improve on this skill by taking the time to create a system for all of your documents that is categorized based on common features, or through a numerical or alphabetical system. Prioritization The ability to prioritize tasks is one of the core skills that every professional should possess. This administrative skill is crucial in managing your workflow, upcoming deadlines, and responsibilities so that you do not hold up others in your team. The ability to prioritize goes hand in hand with your organization and time management skills, so we recommend a similar approach of drafting up daily, weekly, and monthly plans so that you can better visualize and map out the sequence in which you will tackle all of your obligations. Meeting scheduling and coordination A key administrative skill for those in the secretarial profession is meeting scheduling and coordinating the schedules of multiple people. As a secretary, you will almost certainly be tasked with calling for and arranging meetings for your employer. This skill requires strong interpersonal communication and calendar management skills, so train your ability to schedule meetings by developing these skills! Project management Project management as an administrative skill refers to the ability to oversee and handle the challenges and workflow of a large-scale project involving more than one other person. Project management requires precise time management, organization, prioritization, and resource allocation skills, to name a few! This is an important skill to have as project management is a highly sought-after profession that pays well more often than not! Train up on your project management skills by brushing up on your accounting, financial, and business skills through online courses or professional development workshops offered by your company. You could even consider getting a degree in project management if you are interested in pursuing this as a full-time career! Research and information gathering The value of being able to research and gather accurate information is often overlooked. However, having the discipline to carefully research and compile verified and accurate information has become more important than ever, as the Internet is chock full of inaccurate data and misinformation. To improve your ability to sift through information in the research process, we recommend reading up on healthy and professional research habits and building up the discipline to do your due diligence when sourcing information, especially when it is from the Internet. Email management When working in large companies, your email inbox may be bombarded by interdepartmental memos, supervisor messages, and emails from clients and customers. Leaving everything unorganized may result in an overwhelming influx of messages you never seem to have the time to read. It is important to schedule time into your daily plan to view and read your messages. You can also create folders and categorize priority emails through built-in systems within each mail service! Resource allocation Resource allocation is the ability to distribute company resources in line with budget restrictions and established quotas. Resource allocation is an important administrative skill because it allows a company to keep its expenditures within tolerable limits, reduce waste, and preserve profit margins. To improve your resource allocation capabilities, we recommend creating practice budgets and mock trials to practice with before handling actual company funds and resources. Report writing Writing reports is another integral skill that every professional should possess. Report writing is a useful administrative skill to have for any professional at any level, as the ability to read, comprehend, and condense large quantities of information is an exercise that is carried out in virtually every profession. Writing is a skill that improves the most through rigorous practice, so we recommend making report writing a daily or weekly exercise to train yourself in a disciplined habit. We also suggest looking for sample pieces online to compare your work against that of established professionals in your field. Event planning The ability to plan and execute an event is an administrative skill that not many possess. Event planning requires a laundry list of prerequisite skills to pull off - time management, meeting scheduling and coordination, project management, and top-tier organization and communication skills are just a few! Event planning is an important skill to have as it allows you to plan out events that could be crucial to the success of your company. To improve in event planning, we recommend that you learn through experience! Shadow those who are more experienced than you while you are starting - this will help you learn the pace and flow of everything that needs to happen. Then, slowly start taking on more and more responsibilities until you can hold your own!📚Further reading: Event Planner Resume Examples [Tips for Wedding, Meeting, Party, Event Planners] How to Improve Your Administrative Skills? A Guide to Improve Your Administrative Skills Every professional should be in a constant state of self-improvement; this includes training your technical and administrative skill sets. One of the beauties of administrative skills is that they are all highly transferable and can be of great assistance to you in transitioning to new and higher roles within a company. Here are some ways that you can improve the depth and range of your administrative skill set. 1. Prioritize organization and time management Organization and time management are two of the most important administrative skills that a professional can possess. These two skills in particular are the foundation for many other administrative skills that we have talked about in this article. If you are a budding professional or recent graduate in your field and are seeking employment, consider prioritizing your organization and time management skills before all others. 2. Create to-do lists and set deadlines for tasks Creating and sticking to your schedule or calendar is the best way to keep track of tasks and stay on top of upcoming deadlines. You can easily have a reputation of integrity, trustworthiness, and accountability in your workplace by simply organizing your tasks in an accessible way. Keeping on top of tasks is also a good way to impress the higher-ups and secure a promotion in no time! 3. Develop clear and concise communication techniques Using clear and concise methods of communication between your colleagues in the workplace can reduce the chance of conflict, increase efficiency in collaborative projects, and display a level of professionalism that can really impress your boss! There are a myriad of communication techniques that you can employ to smoothen your workflow; some common ones include, active listening, prioritizing face-to-face conversations, and maintaining agreeable and personable body language at all times. 4. Seek professional development opportunities Those who are serious about developing their administrative and technical skills should always seek out professional development workshops and courses. Learning new and emerging skills in your field is the best way to stay afloat in an ever-modernizing and advancing work environment. Online courses with certifications through websites like LinkedIn, Coursera, and edX, are great resources to take advantage of. You can also inquire within your company to see if professional development (PD) workshops are offered to keep employees up to speed with the latest industry trends and technologies. 5. Master office software and email management tools The workplace, for the most part, has gone completely digital. This means that proficiency in standard software, such as Microsoft Office, the Google Suite of work applications, as well as video conferencing software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, has become necessary for every professional. Expand your knowledge of these applications through online tutorials, courses, and certification programs to make sure your skills are up to par for the position you are employed in! 6. Leverage technology to streamline administrative tasks As the world goes digital, so must you! Leverage planning and organizational technology and software to make your life easier and your workflow more efficient. You can do this in a myriad of ways; for example, you could use a digital calendar synced to your email to automatically schedule meeting times, use a dictation tool to transcribe spoken words into digital text, and even draft emails or create document outlines using cutting-edge artificial intelligence! 7. Commit to these strategies for career growth and success Consistency is key in every personal and professional endeavor. If you decide to concentrate on and hone your administrative skills, ensure that you build the habit by consistently applying them to your daily workflow. This way, you turn a short-term practice into a long-term skill and prove to your supervisor that you have matured as a professional and are ready to take on greater levels of responsibility within the company! How Do You List Administrative Skills on a Resume and Cover Letter? When applying for a job, it is prudent of you to carefully parse through the vacancy notice and identify the qualities and features that the employer is looking for. Once you have done this, you can then properly determine the best administrative skills to include in your resume and job application portfolio. While some skills are a good addition across the board (organization, time management, and attention to detail are good ones to start with), niche administrative skills such as resource allocation, event planning, and data entry may not be the best match for every job position. 💡 Pro tips: If you would like some further guidance regarding inserting the best administrative skills into your resume, check out our detailed guides on administrator cover letters and office assistant cover letters! Common FAQs about Administrative Skills Are administrative skills hard or soft skills? Administrative skills are soft skills (also known as transferable skills) that supplement and complement technical (hard) skills in the workplace. Administrative skills aid in helping you become more adept in broader areas such as time management, interpersonal, and communication skills. Who can benefit from obtaining strong administrative skills? Every position at every level can benefit from a strong and diverse set of administrative skills. Here are a few examples: Office workersHR personnelC-suite professionalsMedical professionalsLegal professionalsEducatorsAdministrative assistantsSecretaries Conclusion Administrative skills prepare a professional to seamlessly integrate within the workflow of their company. These skills, while allowing you to maximize your efficiency, make you an all-around better person to work with. Professionals with strong administrative skills experience better interactions with their peers and are more likely to be promoted to higher positions within their company. Learning just a few core administrative skills can make a huge difference in your professional career! Now that you have made it to the end of the article, we encourage you to apply what you have learned to your daily life! Share your experiences and success stories with us by tagging #Cake in your social media posts. We love to see budding and experienced professionals continue to succeed! If you liked what you read today and wish to learn more about office cultures, cover letters and resumes, and other work-related norms from around the world, subscribe to the Cake blog. We regularly release new and valuable content that helps our readers unlock their fullest potential! With Cake, a free resume builder, we provide you with hundreds of free example resumes and templates that help showcase the best you. Landing your dream job will be a piece of cake!Create Resume — Originally written by Alexander Coye —

9 Must-Have AICertifications for Boosting Your CareerThe emergence and advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recent years has ushered in fundamental business transformations in industries around the world. The AI field is a cutting-edge technology which has firmly seated itself at the centre of the world's most advanced technologies including self-driving cars, AI chatbots, and much more! As the importance of AI in the modern workplace increases, so too does the Importance of staying up to date with the latest AI skills and knowledge. While many turn to traditional routes of education, this is often quite expensive and out of the realm of consideration for many due to limited time or other personal and professional obligations. The solution? Online AI certifications! Online AI certifications are offered by a wide range of reputable organizations and institutions and cover an extensive array of topics within the field. From elective courses introducing the fundamentals in Linux command line operation to the most advanced tutorials on machine learning algorithms, these online AI certifications are a gateway to valuable resources for students and professionals alike! In this article, you will get an in-depth review of many of the gold-standard AI certifications that aspiring software developers, students, professionals, and even business leaders can take today! We will cover everything you need to know about each certification, including the cost, duration, target audience, and all other relevant features. If you are seeking to keep ahead of the curve and position a future-proof career, this article could be right for you!Table of ContentsWhy Are AI Certifications Important?Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional by Lumify LearnDeep Learning Specialization by DeepLearning.AIGetting Started with AI and Machine Learning by LinkedIn LearningIntroduction to TensorFlow for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning by CourseraArtificial Intelligence A-Z: Learn How to Build an AI by UdemyMachine Learning by Stanford UniversityeCornell Machine Learning Certificate by Cornell UniversityMachine Learning: Fundamentals and Algorithms by Carnegie Mellon UniversityArtificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy by MITConclusion Why Are AI Certifications Important? In today's rapidly evolving landscape of technology, AI stands out as one of the most transformative and impactful fields. As AI integrates into more industries, the demand for skilled professionals proficient in AI technologies is skyrocketing. To this end, a deep and diverse knowledge of AI operations and functions can greatly benefit the modern career path; AI certifications offer a self-paced and affordable option to gain this crucial knowledge! This section will cover several of the most significant benefits that the best AI certifications can offer. Boosting Professional Credibility The importance of AI certifications is reflected in the prevalence of AI technologies and the popularity of the computer sciences as a desired field of study across many industries. AI certifications not only attest to an individual's proficiency and understanding of AI concepts, algorithms, and tools, but certifications from reputable institutions or organizations show employers an individual's knowledge and skills. This can boost a professional's credibility significantly and may play a decisive factor in the applicant consideration process. Boosting Job Prospects Acquiring competitive AI certifications also enhances job prospects for professionals in the field. As businesses across diverse sectors increasingly adopt AI technologies into their operational workflows, the demand for qualified AI specialists has never been greater. Candidates for open positions who have certifications attesting to their AI skillset are more attractive and committed to continued learning to potential employers.📚Further reading: Licenses Certifications on a Resume - An Easy Guide Facilitating Career Transitions Possessing AI certifications can help significantly in helping experienced professionals in other fields transition into AI-related roles to adapt to changing workplace requirements or to advance their careers. By gaining useful insight into foundational and advanced AI skills, professionals from all careers can take on new challenges and adapt to the evolving demands of the job market. Increasing Earning Potential AI certifications can lead to better salary prospects for professionals. Due to the demand for experienced AI-versed professionals, employers often place attractive premiums on certified AI specialists due to their demonstrated expertise, which can translate into higher earning potential later on. Bridging the Skills Gap Finally, AI certifications can help bridge the skills gap between the rapid advancements in AI technologies and a professional's existing skill set. As AI continues to rapidly evolve, there is a pressing need to contemporize the skill set and AI knowledge of the modern workforce to keep pace with these advancements.📚Further reading: 14 Essential AI Marketing Tools Every Marketer Needs to Know Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional by Lumify Learn The Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional Certification offers an introduction and examination of several core and popular areas in AI and data science, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) and TensorFlow. The course covers two main certifications: AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, and AWS Certified Machine Learning, and requires foundational knowledge of mathematics and statistics. Priced at $5,112, this course is intended for those interested in exploring the fundamental beginnings of AI concepts; students, recent graduates, and professionals seeking a potential career change are encouraged to take this course. This AI certification course teaches the skills needed to open many doorways for candidates who complete it. Some future career opportunities include work as a machine learning engineer, AI developer/analyst, and machine and deep learning researcher, to name a few. These are competitive and demanding fields, so including this AI certification on your resume may make all the difference needed to land that dream job.Deep Learning Specialization by DeepLearning.AI This AI specialization certification offers self-paced instructional modules that guide participants through the foundational knowledge and practical techniques of artificial neural networks, natural language processing, deep learning frameworks, machine learning, and much more. The course is broken up into 5 modules, each covering a distinct area in the utilization and application of AI. This course is recommended for those who have already entered the software engineering space, or for technical professionals who already possess in-depth knowledge and technical proficiency in at least one programming language and seek further specialization in the AI field. It is recommended that entry-level professionals possess at least a bachelor’s degree in computer sciences, data analysis, or a similar field. This course can be enrolled in through Coursera, which costs $49 a month.Getting Started with AI and Machine Learning by LinkedIn Learning This valuable AI course offered by LinkedIn Learning is an excellent investigation into the field of AI algorithms and allows participants to gain an understanding of how AI affects their daily lives. Throughout the 10 hours of course content, participants learn about the foundations of AI and machine learning, Linux command line workflows, deep learning, computer vision applications, reinforcement learning foundations, and neural networks. This is a foundational AI certification, which means that it is intended for those with little to no existing skills or knowledge in the field of Artificial Intelligence. This makes this AI certification widely accessible to the majority of the population. This course is covered under the LinkedIn Learning subscription, which is billed monthly at $19.99.Introduction to TensorFlow for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning by Coursera This is a self-paced, 17 instructional-hour course that examines computer vision and machine learning through TensorFlow, which is an open-source library for artificial intelligence and machine learning. This course is structured in four modules beginning with a cursory introduction to computer vision and ending in an examination of the ways that computer vision can be enhanced using convolutional neural networks and real-world scenarios and images. This is a course designed for intermediate and advanced learners with an existing computer science skill set who wish to gain exposure to the application of neural networks in practical settings. This course is part of the larger DeepLearning.AI TensorFlow Developer Professional Certificate; candidates interested in the TensorFlow course are recommended to check out the other offerings that are part of the professional certificate.Artificial Intelligence A-Z: Learn How to Build an AI by Udemy This course is designed to teach participants how to create and leverage AI in practical applications and real-life situations. This course costs around $50 and includes over 15 hours of instructional videos, 19 academic articles, and much more guided resources. This course only requires basic knowledge of Python and high-school-level math, which makes this modern artificial intelligence course highly accessible to most people. Throughout the course, you will learn about building different AI models and train them to complete several real-life problems in the medical, entertainment, and engineering fields. Through the required courses of this certification, candidates will gain critical problem-solving skills and get a good understanding of many core concepts in the AI field that can be applied in multiple industries and can definitely be included in a resume.Machine Learning by Stanford University The Machine Learning course by Stanford University empowers candidates over 8 intensive weeks with a deep understanding of essential concepts in machine learning methods algorithms and data analysis. This course requires at least a bachelor's degree of good standing, knowledge of a programming language such as Python, knowledge of linear algebra, and the ability to complete a question set provided by the university to test for programming and technical problem-solving skills. The course costs $5,824 to participate in and requires around 20 hours of commitment per week. Those who complete this professional certification can include it on their resume when applying for positions as a data scientist, software developer, cloud computing (like the Google Cloud) technician, and other positions within the IT field and beyond! While this course comes at a high price, the pedigree and standard of the graduate certification carry a lot of weight on a resume and provide the highest level of assurance in your professional AI programming skills and qualifications.eCornell Machine Learning Certificate by Cornell University This professional AI certification looks at the implementation of machine learning algorithms and how data scientists use big data and supervised and unsupervised learning to train AI models to accomplish their given tasks. This course is relatively beginner-friendly, as prior experience in machine learning is not required. At the same time, Cornell University recommends applicants to the program to have knowledge of basic probability distributions and probability theory, linear algebra, statistics, and familiarity with the Python programming language. Throughout this course, participants will have the chance to design and implement AI models on live data and will be exposed to identifying and troubleshooting issues using ensemble methods and support vector machines. This course costs $3,70 and will take around 3 to 4 months to complete, with around 9 hours of commitment per week. The flexible course schedule also included live sessions with professors and guidance throughout the material. Software engineers, data scientists, programmers, and others in the IT field are encouraged to apply for this prestigious professional certification course.Machine Learning: Fundamentals and Algorithms by Carnegie Mellon University The Machine Learning: Fundamentals and Algorithms AI professional certification course teaches an in-depth understanding of AI and learning algorithms and data structures. This 10-week course requires around 6 hours per week of committed work and contains 10 modules that cover topics including an introduction to algorithms, greedy algorithms, linear programming, dynamic programming, hashing and streaming, and NP-Completeness, to name a few. The course is specifically designed for those in the STEM field or who have a STEM background, graduates who wish to get hands-on experience in practical exercises developed from real-life scenarios, and software engineers seeking further specialization in the AI field. For those interested in a career in the software development and machine learning fields, this course could be a great option for you.Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy by MIT This AI certification offered by MIT is designed for business leaders who wish to understand the application of AI in technical team settings, and how its various representations can be utilized to optimize business functions and other operations. This course costs $3,500 and spans the course of 6 weeks. Each week requires a commitment of at least 6 hours. At the same time, the course is designed for working professionals, so the self-paced nature of the course accommodates busy schedules and allows participants to structure their lesson times around their existing jobs. The course also has fixed start dates, so plan ahead and be aware of the time your session begins upon signup. Throughout the course, participants will learn how to integrate AI into a business’ operations. This can have many significant benefits on the career prospects of completers of the course. Not only is this AI certification a great addition to one’s certification portfolio, but the knowledge and perspectives gained throughout the course can be applied towards vertical or lateral career progression, and even across industries! Those in the business field are the target audience for this course as the content focuses most heavily on how AI can be adapted to business needs.Conclusion The strategic implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models has brought around a digital transformation in the business strategies and operational workflows of industries across the board. AI offers businesses the opportunity to streamline and optimize data-driven decisions, complete menial computational tasks, and assist in the development of new cutting-edge technologies and services in virtually every sector. The adoption of AI at such an unprecedented rate has brought about the need for qualified and experienced AI engineers to lead and manage the development and operation of AI models. Taking an AI certification can provide the knowledge and essential skill set needed to position yourself at the forefront of this movement towards AI services and secure a great position in almost any industry. The AI certifications we discussed in this article could be the first big step in breaking into the AI market and capitalizing on its ever-increasing demand. These certifications can be included in your resume and make you stand far above the competition! We hope you found this article informative. If you would like to take more control over your professional life, consider checking out Cake today! Check out our library and other resume and portfolio-building services today to find out more!CakeResume is a free resume maker and portfolio builder that provides hundreds of resume templates (free download) and various job resume examples to help showcase the best you. Landing your dream job will be a piece of cake!Create Resume — Originally Written byAlex Coye—

Shortly after college, many adults experience stagnation in their lives. They often find themselves stuck in a routine, wondering why new opportunities aren't emerging. This is why networking is important. The easiest way to make your life dynamic is to meet new people. Applying this fundamental philosophy to your career will introduce you to a higher-paying job and a more prestigious title.In this article,we'll go over the many different ways that networking will develop your career. You can still use these tips to build a powerful network even if you are not extroverted.Table of Contents What is Networking? Why is Networking Important? How to Network Like a Pro Online Networking Opens Doors to New Networking Opportunities Key Takeaways But first, let's get started with the definition. What is Networking? Networking usually involves the exchange of ideas and information among a group of people with the same or similar interests. It generally takes place in a more informal setting. Professionals and job seekers use it more often to expand their network, search for new job opportunities, or gain more wisdom in different fields. Different types of networking are in place, broadly divided into online networking and in-person networking. With the effects of the global pandemic, online networking has become increasingly popular and used by various companies and organizations. They both certainly have their pros and cons. Online networking provides flexibility in attendance from anywhere and accessibility to participants; think of virtual open house events, online information sessions, some skills webinars, or virtual networking events. On the other hand, in-person networking allows for deeper personal connections and physical interactions. Some examples of in-person networking events include career fairs, professional conferences, and roundtable discussions.Why is Networking Important?The Benefits of a Strong Professional Network Meeting others, professionally or non-professionally, will provide you with a valuable support network. You will have a group of individuals to bounce ideas off and learn from. You'll gain access to passive information about major news and trends in your industry. If these professionals have attained positions you aspire to, they can offer first-hand knowledge on achieving your goals. It's Good for Your Career Development and Advancement Whenever you're looking for a new job, your support network will be there to introduce you to a greater opportunity, and if you're looking to expand your business, they can lead you to potential clients. Everyone knows that having influential or numerous clients can give you more leverage for securing a higher position or opening doors to business success. You can also extend your circle internationally; they will be a great, reliable source to gain insights into overlooked emerging trends and markets. You Can Significantly Improve Your Skills A significant benefit of networking is staying informed about new technologies and skills in rising demand. Individuals in your network might work in adjacent roles or industries, offering out-of-the-box ideas for improvement. Additionally, your circle may include authoritative and highly proficient individuals who can serve as mentors, giving you valuable career advice and guiding you toward becoming an accomplished professional. You Always Stay Informed One of the foremost reasons networking is so important is that it helps you stay up-to-date. Many individuals stagnate in their careers because their understanding of the industry becomes outdated, but a strong professional circle can ensure you remain current with industry trends. And, Of Course, Personal Branding Being well-known in your industry is advantageous. A large network can elevate you to the status of an authority figure, as word-of-mouth remains the most powerful form of advertisement and endorsement. Networking also attracts clients and hiring managers to you, enabling you to leverage your reputation for promotions or transitions into roles such as consultant or content creator. How to Network Like a Pro: 15 Never-Outdated Tips Whether you already possess strong networking skills or are a novice just starting out, there's always room to acquire new knowledge and further develop your abilities. Take a look below at some tips that will get you started with improving your networking skills.1) Network with Purpose To start networking, you must first establish what you want to achieve in your career. Meeting a bunch of random people isn't an efficient way to move your career forward. Think about your career path and the types of people you want to surround yourself with. Successful people are generally around other successful people. The first step to achieving your goal is being in a league with people who have what you want. List a few things that you want to do professionally. Of those goals, try to narrow them down to the ones you truly value the most. Do not worry about how long it will take to achieve the goals. Once you've narrowed your goals, you can now think about the types of people you can meet to help push yourself in the right direction. If you want to become an expert programmer in a language like Swift for a mobile gaming company, you have many different types of people to contact. Do not think you need to find someone doing EXACTLY what you plan on doing - but more broadly. For example, you can find people who: Work for a mobile gaming companyAre involved in headhuntingConsult gaming companiesWrite for gaming publicationsHave a social media following on how to become an expert at SwiftIs an expert coder in another languageIs a colleague with someone who is a project manager for a mobile gaming company 2) Finding Your People Once you've established your goals and the type of people you want to connect with, you can start thinking about how to find them. The most obvious way is going to events that are dedicated to networking. You can use groups on LinkedIn or Facebook to find these types of professional events. You can also dive into your current connections. Reaching out to some friends who are in related industries is a great way to find information or leads to people who can help your career or network through your clients. If you want to break into the biotech industry and you've done quality freelance work with a client, they can be powerful allies as they can vouch for your ability and reliability. You can connect with people in non-professional settings as well. For instance, if you want to break into finance and enjoy cocktails, you could try cocktail bars around the financial district to meet people close to that sector. If you want to work for a big corp and their office is near a cafe or restaurant, you could try working around that area. People can sense when you are being transparent or trying to use them. Legitimately, befriending is incredibly important for effective networking. 3) Plan Ahead of Time Planning ahead is always a good idea to prepare important materials and tackle unforeseen events. This applies to both online networking scenarios and in-person networking events. If you're joining an offline networking event, you can plan ahead by researching: The job titles of people you will likely meetThe business or products the company you are interacting with offersSome appropriate small-talk topics You can also prepare business cards to pass around, plan your conversation, or even an elevator pitch, which may be an impressive way to introduce yourself (we will mention more details on how to do so below). Networking through online channels might be a bit different. If you're joining an online networking gathering or skills workshop, make sure to familiarize yourself with the host by asking questions to understand more about the topic they share. When they have already memorized you, it will be easier for you to connect online since you both have shared interests. For those who prefer sending cold emails, plan how to approach your "target" politely and genuinely. You can start the conversation by mentioning your similarities (maybe you work in the same industry) or how you get to know their names. Being well-prepared for networking will not only leave a good impression on others but also indicate that you are an organized individual who is a valuable asset. 4) Be Open-minded While seeking valuable connections in your industry or from desired companies is natural, staying open-minded can lead to more opportunities. For instance, networking with someone from a completely different field can lead to a collaboration opportunity, or someone with a different experience and background could provide you with a new perspective and likely new contacts. Being open-minded also makes others feel more comfortable talking to you, leading to better interaction during networking and opening up more doors to new opportunities. 5) Equip Yourself with an Elevator Pitch The elevator pitch is what you say to someone when you only have 30 seconds. It needs to be concise and to the point. Design a flexible pitch to use mid-conversation, and practice it until it becomes natural. When writing your elevator speech, keep these keynotes in mind: Express what you do.Show something that you've done to demonstrate your competency.Mention the next goal that you hope to accomplish.Do NOT: Tell your life story. Your resume will explain what you can do in greater detail.Use unfamiliar jargon from your profession.Go directly into your elevator pitch without warming into it. The goal of an elevator pitch is to lead to an exchange of contact information. If it is correctly implemented, later on you can share your resume and portfolio, or even involve meetings, etc. Now, how can you seamlessly include this elevator pitch during your conversations? Well, when you're talking to someone, and they bring up something of interest, you can segway into your elevator pitch. 6)Let the Other Person Talk Listening is often overlooked in networking. People spend 60% of conversations talking about themselves. Our advice? Be a good listener—pay attention to details and allow others to express their opinions. This leaves a lasting impression and makes conversations more enjoyable. This tip can also be applied when making a new friend. 7) Use Different Social Networking or Social Media Platforms As technology continues to develop and much of our lives have been digitalized, being present on social media and utilizing it to extend your network is another key to successful networking.LinkedIn and Facebook are great platforms for finding networking events and contacts. Sharing updates and achievements increases your visibility and attracts potential recruiters and useful contacts. 8)Think of Ways That You Can Help Others Building connections is a two way street. Focus on how you can help others rather than just what you can gain. It may be that you have other useful networking contacts and job opportunities to offer or that you respond to the other person with plenty of encouragement and compliments. Sometimes, all you need is to be authentic and genuine, share what you are passionate about, and help others feel comfortable about themselves to be exceptional at networking. 9) Don't Ask for a Job or Force People Into Being Your Business Partners Asking for a job is often one of people's biggest networking mistakes when building networking connections. Avoid directly asking for a job or forcing business partnerships during your conversation. Networking is about building relationships and creating rapport. not for a referral or interview. Show sincere interest, discuss common interests, and share ideas. When opportunities arise, people will be more willing to refer you or consider partnerships. 10) Be Straightforward While you shouldn't directly ask for a job or force people into being your business partners, it's important to be straightforward when networking. Avoid leading people through numerous topics only to end the conversation by asking for a favor. Be direct about your intentions. Communicate clearly that you are seeking to form a professional relationship. This transparency helps others understand how to engage with you and establishes appropriate boundaries within your network. During networking events, skip the small talk if possible. If you want advice on whether a certificate is better for your career than an MBA, simply ask. If you’re interested in how someone with a background in writing copy became an expert in machine learning, then start the conversation with that. People often enjoy taking on the role of a mentor. Assisting others brings a sense of fulfillment. Connecting individuals within their network brings gratification. So, there's no need to be overly cautious about expressing your desires. 11) Give Back Even When You Have Nothing to Offer It can feel uncomfortable asking people for things when you have nothing to offer. However, there are ways to give back even if the person you're networking with has no use for your skills or experience. You can regularly support them on their social network feeds. Share or comment on posts they make on LinkedIn, for example. You can also volunteer when they make a call to action, asking people to participate in a project.If you find events or information you feel the person you're networking with will appreciate, you should share it with them. You can also ask them what they think of the article or event. 12) Build Relationships with People of All Levels. Don't Dismiss Anyone. As with staying open-minded, don't be selective when meeting people. Forming connections with people at all levels, including junior positions, is beneficial. You can learn from everyone, and more contacts mean more opportunities. For one, there are simply more people on lower than higher levels. Be ready to network with a wide range of people. Be respectful, stay open-minded, and use different networking connections that you might make. 13) Meet People Through Others One of the best ways to expand your network is through your current professional connections. By being introduced through someone within your network, you are more likely to receive a friendly welcome from the people you hope to contact. This also applies to social media and professional networking sites. Asking for a referral online will help get your foot in the door much easier while building up your virtual network and online presence. 14) Always Remember to Say Thank You Gratitude is a virtue. Always thank people for the help and support they have given you. The same applies when you are looking to build your network. It is about building authentic and caring relationships.If you're joining an offline networking event, always make sure to thank people for a great conversation. Or, if someone has provided you with information or a referral, thank them for their effort, share any knowledge you think would be useful to them, or ask if you can return the favor in any way. Most importantly, thank them even when they couldn't help you. Show them you appreciate their time and willingness to converse with you. 15) Follow Up With Them Following up is often overlooked but essential. When you promise to send contact details, documents, or reports, ensure you do so. This demonstrates credibility and helps build a strong foundation for your relationship, increasing the chances of being contacted when opportunities arise. Overall, it will be good for your career development. Online Networking Opens Doors to New Networking Opportunities Online platforms make reaching out to people convenient and less stressful.Job search platforms such as Cake or LinkedIn have social networking functions that allow you to message people directly. Search for people who have related skills or experience aligned with your goals. LinkedIn and Cake offer robust filters, enabling you to find the type of individuals you seek. If you're interested in working in the 3D printing industry, you can visit several 3D printing company profile pages. These pages will have employees listed, and you can contact them there. Having mutual connections or friends with someone can be used as an icebreaker when reaching out to them. Tell them what you're trying to learn about something they know a lot about. People like feeling knowledgeable, so there is a good chance they will help or give you some advice. Here is an example of how you can reach out to someone:"Hi ____. I recently moved to this part of town and noticed you work in _____. I'm really interested in learning about this field. I see you've also worked with Juliet; we went to college together. It would be wonderful if you could spare half an hour over coffee to explain the landscape to me." You can also consider networking apps like Cake Meet to build your connections. Cake Meet is an intuitive networking platform that allows users to easily swipe left or right to connect with anyone they want—from employers and headhunters to job seekers, mentors, and students. You can read more about Cake Meet here. If you continue, you will reach a point where you form a reputation within that industry. Avoid doing things that can tarnish that reputation. Do not burn bridges if certain relationships do not work out how you expect them to. Don’t trash or insult people online or in any conversation with anyone. Some industries have close-knit communities, and gossip can spread quite quickly. Once you share something online, it can be difficult to get rid of it. When undertaking projects or assisting others, consider not only the immediate financial benefits but also aim to build a reputation as a reliable individual.Key Takeaways Networking is not something you do once or twice in your life. You'll continue to do it as you grow professionally and personally. There is no greater benefit to networking than forming strong relationships. These relationships can evolve into friendships and mentorships. These potential lifelong bonds are why networking is so important. Be purposeful, genuine, and professional; you will go far in your career with networking. When you can help others, you will understand the gratification others feel when helping you. You can acquire great knowledge about becoming a better professional through networking, but you can also learn by yourself. Countless articles on Cake will show you tips and strategies to advance your career. If you like this article, bookmark this article and come back when you need! We wish you all the best in your career! Cake is the best resume builder, allowing you to create a professional online resume easily. You can simply drag and drop any resume elements into the live editor screen, customize your resume layout, and add or remove any sections as needed. The tool is completely free to use and download. Start making your job-winning resume today!Create resume— Originally written by Wayne Chang and Christopher Grudge —

Top 7 Digital Marketing Skills for 2024 in Becoming a Digital MarketerThe digital marketing landscape in 2024 is characterized by 5.4 billion internet users, approximately 67% of the global population​​, and 4.95 billion active social media users​​. This reflects a significant increase in online engagement, highlighting the growing importance of a digital marketing career. The following guide focuses on the top seven skills needed for digital marketers in 2024, offering insights into the competencies needed to excel in this evolving industry.TABLE OF CONTENTSWho is a Digital Marketer?Top 7 Digital Marketing SkillsHow to Improve Digital Marketing Skills?How to Secure a Digital Marketing Career?Conclusion Who is a Digital Marketer? First off, let's define who digital marketers are. It might sound like a broad term, but essentially, they are the go-to experts for promoting brands, products, and services in the digital world. Digital marketers or online marketing specialists are the ones tapping into the vast potential of the internet and technology to reach out to people. Think of them juggling a variety of skills - from making sure a brand pops up first on Google through search engine optimization (SEO) to creating engaging posts on social media, crafting compelling emails, and diving deep into data analytics. In the current business environment, digital marketing skills aren't just nice to have; they're essential. The digital landscape is always on the move, with new technologies and trends popping up left and right. Digital marketers need to be on their toes, ready to adapt and pick up the latest tools and strategies. 📚Further reading: How to Become a Successful Digital Marketer: A Guide Top 7 Digital Marketing Skills 1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Search engine optimization is one of the most important technical skills needed for digital marketing. It is the process of making your website more visible in search engine results, essentially helping you get noticed amid the sea of online content. With 5.4 billion internet users globally​​, being visible online is no longer a luxury but a necessity for businesses and brands. Key SEO Skills: Keyword Research: This crucial step involves identifying relevant keywords and phrases that your potential customers are typing into search engines. By incorporating these related keywords into your content, you can create SEO-friendly content that aligns with user intent and drives organic traffic to your website.On-Page Optimization: Fine-tune the content on your website, including titles, headings, and meta descriptions, to make it more search engine friendly. By optimizing these elements with targeted keywords and relevant information, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).Off-Page Optimization: Enhance your site's reputation and authority by obtaining backlinks from other reputable websites through guest blogging and other link-building tactics. Quality backlinks from authoritative sources signal to search engines that your website is trustworthy and valuable, leading to higher SEO rankings.Technical SEO: Ensure that your website is technically sound and structured in a way that allows search engines to easily crawl and index your pages. This involves optimizing factors such as site speed, mobile-friendliness, and basic HTML coding to improve user experience and search engine visibility. Free ResourcesSEO Fundamental Course with Greg Gifford (Semrush) Covers SEO best practices.Ideal for beginners and intermediate learners.Course Length: 4 hours​​. Backlink Management Course with Greg Gifford (Semrush) Focuses on backlink strategies.Ideal for digital marketers starting with backlinks.Course Length: 50 minutes​​. 2. Social Media Marketing Social media marketing skills are central to digital strategies today, especially for digital marketing professionals, considering that an estimated 37.6% of global internet users utilize social media for work-related purposes​​. This substantial engagement underscores the power of these platforms in reaching and influencing a broad audience with visual content. Utilizing marketing analytics can further enhance these efforts, providing valuable insights to optimize campaigns and raise brand awareness effectively. Key Social Media Marketing Skills: Content Creation: Craft visually compelling content tailored to various platforms to resonate with the target market. For instance, create visuals suited for Instagram's visually-driven audience and informative posts tailored for LinkedIn.Audience Engagement: Foster community growth and brand loyalty by actively interacting with followers through comments, messages, and engaging social media posts across different platforms. Prompt and personalized engagement enhances audience connection and encourages repeat engagement.Analytics: Utilize data analysis tools to glean insights from social media platforms and inform strategy decisions. Metrics such as engagement rate, reach, and conversion rates provide valuable feedback for optimizing content and campaign effectiveness, staying abreast of emerging trends, and maximizing the impact of high-quality content. Similar to how job seekers leverage LinkedIn for their branding, a startup can effectively use this platform for social media marketing success. By regularly posting insightful articles and industry analyses, and actively participating in relevant group discussions, the startup significantly elevates its professional profile. Engaging with comments on their posts and interacting within the LinkedIn community not only boosts visibility among industry professionals but also establishes the startup as a thought leader.Free ResourcesHootsuite's Guide to Short Social Video Provides insights on creating short-form video content like Reels and TikToks.Includes platform-specific strategies for Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.Emphasizes the importance of aligning short video content with your overall social strategy and brand voice​​. Sprout Social's Toolkit Offers a toolkit with six free social media templates and resources.Helps in planning and executing social media strategies.Focuses on audience engagement and proving the value of social media​​. 3. Content Marketing Content marketing, distinct from SEO, emphasizes creating and distributing valuable, relevant content to captivate and retain a specific audience. It's about establishing a connection that leads to engagement and conversions, differing from SEO's focus on enhancing search engine rankings. The effectiveness of content marketing is evident, with 72% of North America's most successful marketers measuring its ROI, highlighting its crucial role in overall marketing strategies. Additionally, content marketing is experiencing rapid growth, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.37% from 2022 to 2027. Key Content Marketing Skills: Audience Understanding: Creating content that resonates with the interests and needs of your prospective customers.Authenticity and Value: Delivering content that educates, entertains, or solves problems.SEO Integration: Seamlessly using SEO tactics such as blending relevant keywords into your content.Multichannel Strategy: Using various platforms including blogs, social media platform, and email, to distribute your content.Consistency: Keeping the audience engaged and loyal with regular updates. A case study of the power of content marketing is the case of Coca-Cola, which, through its 'Share a Coke' campaign, saw a 2% increase in US sales after a decade of declining revenues. This campaign's success, revolving around personalized content, highlights the profound impact of innovative content marketing on business growth.Free ResourcesHubSpot Academy: Content Marketing Certification Course: Grow Better with Content Offers a comprehensive 6.5-hour content marketing course covering frameworks, strategy, idea generation, blog content, video marketing, promotion, and analytics.Suitable for all levels.Includes quizzes, a support forum, and a certificate of completion​​. The Strategy of Content Marketing (Coursera) A collaboration between CopyBlogger and the University of California Davis, focusing on core content marketing strategies.Suitable for beginners and intermediate learners.Covers content marketing ecosystem, strategy crafting, and types of content​​. 4. Data Analytics Data-driven decision-making in digital marketing is not just a trend but a fundamental aspect of modern business strategy. It's proven to be financially effective, with data-driven personalization campaigns achieving a 5-8 times higher ROI than traditional methods. This approach is also increasingly recognized as crucial for leadership, evidenced by around 76% of marketing leaders who now base their decisions on data analytics. These statistics highlight the indispensable role of data in shaping effective and informed marketing strategies​​. Key Data Analytics Skills: Data Collection and Management: Understanding how to collect and manage data from various sources like social media, web analytics, and CRM systems is fundamental. This involves knowing what data to collect and how to store it securely and efficiently.Statistical Analysis: Marketers need to be adept at statistical analysis to identify trends, patterns, and correlations in large datasets. This skill helps in making predictions and informed decisions based on data.Data Visualization: The ability to pull data and translate complex them into understandable and visually appealing formats is essential. This includes proficiency in tools like Tableau or Power BI, which help in communicating insights clearly to stakeholders.Understanding of Marketing Metrics: Basic knowledge of key marketing metrics like click-through rates, conversion rates, customer lifetime value, and others is necessary to measure and optimize campaign performance. Free ResourcesGoogle Analytics Academy Offer courses on Google Analytics, a crucial tool for any digital marketer.Cover various aspects of data analytics in the context of marketing.Ideal for beginners. Coursera - "Digital Analytics for Marketing Professionals" Provide an overview of the analytics tools and techniques used in marketing.You'll gain insights into how data analytics applies to marketing strategies and decisions. 5. Performance Marketing Performance marketing is a comprehensive term in digital marketing where advertisers pay only when specific actions or outcomes, like clicks, leads, sales, or other customer behaviors, are achieved. This approach leverages various channels such as affiliate marketing, pay-per-click advertising (PPC) advertising, social media advertising, and SEM​​. It's a results-driven strategy that offers measurable ROI and allows for real-time optimization and targeting. Key Performance Marketing Skills: Data Analysis: Understanding and interpreting data for a successful digital marketing campaign.Strategic Planning: Identifying the right channels and tactics for specific goals.Creativity in Ad Creation: Designing engaging and compelling ads.Understanding of Various Pricing Models: Knowledge of CPC, CPM, CPA, etc.SEO and SEM Techniques: Enhancing visibility and performance in search engines. A notable example of performance marketing is Google Ads. This platform epitomizes PPC advertising, where businesses pay for each click leading users to their site. Companies often target specific keywords like “natural soap” and modify their budgets based on the performance of these keywords. They track success by monitoring metrics such as cost-per-click (CPC) and conversion rates, allowing for efficient optimization of advertising spend. In search engine marketing (SEM), the effectiveness of campaigns is gauged by improvements in website traffic and ROI.Free ResourcesOutbrain Academy Free course focused on native advertising within performance marketing.Provide practical tools and strategies specifically for enhancing native advertising campaigns​​. Rohit Kumar's Performance Marketing Growth Newsletter Include case studies, articles on various digital marketing skills, and a specific focus on Google Search and Facebook Ads​​. 6. Email Marketing Email marketing involves sending emails to customers and prospects to promote products or services, engage with the audience, and encourage customer loyalty and repeat business. A powerful example of email marketing's effectiveness is its comparison to social media. Email marketing is found to be 40 times more effective than social media for acquiring customers, with 59% of marketers believing it surpasses PPC and paid social media in lead generation. Key Email Marketing Skills: Personalization and Segmentation: Tailoring emails to specific audience segments and personalizing content increases open rates and engagement.Understanding of Analytics: Analyzing metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to refine strategies.Creative Content Development: Crafting compelling and relevant content that resonates with the target audience.A/B Testing: Experimenting with different email elements to determine what works best.Mobile Optimization: Ensuring emails are mobile-friendly as a majority of users access emails on smartphones. Free ResourcesSimplilearn Email Marketing Course Provide a free 5-hour email marketing certification course, perfect for beginners.Cover fundamental concepts of email marketing, list-building strategies, and more​​. Wishpond Email Marketing Masterclass for Beginners A 30-minute course ideal for beginners who want to grasp the basics of email marketing​​. 7. Top Soft Skills for Digital Marketing and Management We've covered the essential technical skills for digital marketing, but it's crucial not to underestimate the importance of soft skills in this fast-paced industry. As a digital marketing expert, mastering both soft and hard skills is key to excelling in the digital marketing industry. These soft skills, such as communication and creativity, complement your technical abilities, making you a more effective and influential professional in the digital marketing landscape. Good Communication Skills This is key for understanding consumer behavior, mapping out the customer journey, and seeing things from someone else's point of view. It's all about conveying clear marketing messages and working smoothly with team members. It's essential to ensure everyone is on the same wavelength and understands the goals and tactics of your campaigns. Adaptability The digital world never stands still, so being adaptable is a must. Digital marketers need to keep up with the latest trends and consumer behaviors to stay relevant and effective. Creative Solutions To stand out in the crowded digital space, creativity is your best friend. It's essential for designing captivating campaigns and content that grabs and holds attention. Analytical Thinking This skill is crucial for making sense of data and guiding strategic decisions. It complements technical skills and helps in understanding the 'why' behind campaign successes or failures. Problem-Solving Whether it’s adjusting strategies on the fly or overcoming unforeseen obstacles, problem-solving skills are vital. Team Collaboration Digital marketing is rarely a solo endeavor. It involves collaborating with various team members, each bringing their expertise to the table to create a cohesive and effective campaign.How to Improve Digital Marketing Skills? Improving digital marketing skills is an ongoing process, and there are several effective ways to do so: Online Courses and Certifications Enrolling in reputable online courses and certifications is a great way to enhance your skills. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and HubSpot Academy offer a range of courses covering various aspects of digital marketing. Certifications from Google Digital Garage, Facebook Blueprint, and the American Marketing Association can also add significant value to your profile. Practical Experience and Internships There's no substitute for hands-on experience. Seek internships or volunteer in digital marketing roles. Practical projects, like managing a small business's social media or starting your blog, can provide invaluable real-world experience. Networking and Learning from Industry Experts Building a professional network is crucial. Attend industry conferences, webinars, and networking events. Engage with digital marketing communities on LinkedIn or Twitter to learn from experienced professionals and stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices. Continuous Learning and Skill Enhancement The digital marketing landscape is ever-evolving, making continuous learning essential. Stay updated with the latest digital marketing tools and trends by following influential blogs, subscribing to industry newsletters, and participating in online forums and discussions.How to Secure a Digital Marketing Career? When searching for jobs, it's crucial to effectively highlight your digital marketing skills in both your resume and during interviews. Highlighting Digital Marketing Skills in Your Resume Use Numbers and Results to Highlight Achievements: Incorporating numbers and results into your resume is crucial. It's not enough to describe what you did; you need to quantify your achievements. Examples: Achieved a remarkable 40% increase in website traffic through effective SEO optimization strategies, driving higher organic visibility and user engagement.Enhanced social media engagement metrics significantly, resulting in a remarkable 25% rise in follower interactions, indicating improved brand visibility and audience engagement. Mention Common Tools: Be sure to list digital marketing tools you are proficient in, such as Google Analytics, SEMrush, or Hootsuite. This shows employers that you're familiar with industry-standard tools and can hit the ground running. Examples: Drove content effectiveness through competitor research: Utilized SEMrush to analyze competitors' strategies, resulting in a 15% improvement in organic search rankings and a 12% increase in website conversions.Enhanced social media efficiency: Successfully managed social media platforms using Hootsuite, resulting in a 30% reduction in time spent on content scheduling and a 20% boost in engagement metrics. Key Learnings from Internships or University Projects: If you’re early in your career and don’t have many achievements to list, focus on key learnings or projects you’ve undertaken. Discuss what you learned from these experiences and how they've prepared you for the role you’re applying for. Examples: University Project - Content Marketing Analysis (Statistics Coursework)Achieved a 25% increase in click-through rates by applying statistical analysis techniques to evaluate content effectiveness during coursework. This highlighted the importance of data-driven content strategies. University Project - SEO Campaign for Local BusinessAttained a 20% increase in organic website traffic by executing an SEO campaign for a local business during a semester project. This highlighted the effectiveness of on-page and off-page SEO techniques. Showcasing Digital Marketing Skills in Interviews Use the STAR Method: When asked about your experiences, structure your responses using the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) method. This helps you present your experiences clearly and effectively, demonstrating how you've applied your skills to achieve results. Brush Up on Knowledge Before the Interview: Review key concepts, tools, and trends in digital marketing before your interview. This preparation shows that you are knowledgeable and up-to-date with the industry. Demonstrate Enthusiasm and Industry Insight: Show your passion for digital marketing by discussing recent trends or campaigns that impressed you. This demonstrates your ongoing interest in the field and suggests that you will bring enthusiasm and fresh ideas to the role.Conclusion This article has spotlighted essential digital marketing skills crucial for success in the ever-evolving digital landscape. From SEO optimization to effective communication, these skills form a comprehensive toolkit for both aspiring and seasoned digital marketers. To excel in this field, embrace data-driven decision-making, stay updated on industry trends, and nurture your creative abilities. Take actionable steps such as enrolling in online courses and seeking practical experience to continually refine your skills and stand out in the competitive digital marketing arena.With Cake, thebest resume builderandportfolio builder, we provide you with hundreds ofresume templates (free download)and variousjob resume examplesthat help showcase the best you. Landing your dream job will be a piece of cake!Create Resume --- Originally Written by Cahya Leong ---

What Is a Growth Mindset? 8Steps to Develop One for SuccessWith everyone from the Washington Post to Khan Academy talking about how to have a growth mindset, it’s time for you to jump on board the growth mindset train. And why wouldn’t you want to? Flashy phrase aside, it’s one of the key ways to develop adaptable, growth-oriented employees who are geared to fight the good fight in the dynamic modern workplace. But what is a growth mindset? And why is a growth mindset important to people? In this article, we’ll be covering those two queries in more detail, plus providing you with steps on how to develop a growth mindset and tips on cultivating it into a helpful tool in your employability toolbox.TABLEOFCONTENTSWhat Is a Growth Mindset?Growth Mindset Vs. Fixed MindsetBenefits of Having a Growth MindsetHow to Develop a Growth Mindset What Is a Growth Mindset? To understand how to have a growth mindset, we need to start with the basics: what is a growth mindset? Since there are misinterpretations of the growth mindset definition, let’s head over to Dr. Carol Dweck. Stanford University professor and the pioneer of Growth Mindset as a field of interest, Dweck defines having a growth mindset in HBR as believing that your “talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others).” This includes your skills and personality, too. In short, having a growth mindset supports continuous growth and learning, and not just in terms of career growth, since the benefits of growth mindset can be carried over into personal growth too. But how do people with a growth mindset view and respond to challenges? Let’s take a look at the following growth mindset examples to answer this question. Adaptability: Adaptability is being comfortable finding alternative ways to handle, not necessarily resolve, a problem, which is exactly what having a growth mindset is all about!Resilience: So you messed up at work today. Big whoop. Having a growth mindset can help you acknowledge the mistake, accept the criticism that comes with it, and learn from this event to minimize its likelihood of happening again.Continuous improvement: Continuous improvement is king among growth mindset examples, as the desire to continuously grow comes with the motivation to continuously improve and achieve more.Higher achievement: Even when factoring in potential challenges, continuous improvement still leads to a desire for higher achievement. In fact, it’s actually getting out of your comfort zone to try new things and pursue career goals effectively that is a prime example of people with a growth mindset.Positive work environment: Positivity is contagious when abundant, which is why it is a byproduct of workplace environments that collectively have a growth mindset.Increased productivity: Instead of getting caught into the rabbit hole of jealousy and envy for others' successes, those with a growth mindset are capable of turning the focus back onto their own work and their own success. As a result, employees that learn how to have a growth mindset often have increased productivity.Leadership: If you’re worried about how to be a good leader, taking the steps to develop a growth mindset will be beneficial for you. This is because leadership requires adaptability, creativity, and the ability to give constructive feedback when needed.Long-term success: The self-motivation for continuous learning derived from having a growth mindset can help you achieve long-term success. This is true whether you’re looking for personal growth or career development in your personal and professional lives. Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset Now that we’re familiar with the growth mindset definition, it’s time to dive deeper into Dweck’s research, which brings us to the fixed mindset. Yes, every hero has its archnemesis, and in this case, it’s a growth mindset vs fixed mindset. It’s a well-known truth that mindset influences behavior. It also influences your learning process and responses to challenges. If the growth mindset was the Buzz Lightyear of adaptability, the fixed mindset is the Emperor Zurg of stubbornness. People with a fixed mindset tend to believe that their skills, intelligence, and personality are innate or ‘fixed.’ A common example is the “Oh, I can’t do math, so I’m not smart” conundrum. As a result, people with fixed mindsets tend not to try new things because failure is viewed as an example of what that they cannot achieve and a limit to how far they can go. This tends to make those with fixed mindsets plateau early on in their career as they’re not able to view obstacles as exciting challenges instead of gigantic brick walls. Now let’s flip it to a growth mindset. People with Buzz Lightyear mindsets believe that our ‘inherent abilities’ can be changed, improved, and enhanced. For them, it’s all about the effort being put into the process, not just the outcome. A byproduct of this belief is that failure isn’t viewed in the traditional sense, but rather as an opportunity to learn and grow. Which makes the winner in the growth mindset vs fixed mindset debate obvious: growth mindset all the way. Let’s take a look at the benefits of growth mindset to truly understand how to answer ‘why is a growth mindset important’, as opposed to a fixed mindset. Benefits of Having a Growth Mindset in the Workplace Having a growth mindset has become a crucial skill that employers seek in their employees. For job candidates, this skill also greatly increases their chances of securing employment. That’s because it brings the following benefits: Team collaboration: Individuals who have taken the time to develop a growth mindset are more likely to appreciate working with and learning from colleagues, rather than making themselves look smarter than others. This fuels effective team collaboration as a result.Improved problem-solving:Having a growth mindset means that you’re more open to new ways of thinking, encouraging greater critical thinking skills to identify and solve problems.Increased motivation:Employees with a growth mindset often feel more committed to their work and, thus more motivated to set higher goals and perform well.Innovation and creativity:People with a growth mindset tend to be adaptive and open to new ideas and methods, meaning that they have more opportunities to foster innovation and creativity.Organizational success: It’s not just individuals who can feel the benefits of growth mindset behaviors. Organizational success is a common consequence of growth mindset in the workplace, as a more creative, adaptive, and diligent environment tends to produce a higher-quality output.Sales and customer service: Having a growth mindset leads to diligence and adaptability, two very important skills to have in sales and customer service, thus benefiting employees and employers, in this field.Project manager: Project Management roles can bask in the benefits of growth mindset behavior with the creativity and diligence to work through and overcome challenges, leading to higher achievement in their projects.Management roles: Research in The Washington Post suggests that organizations with fixed mindsets often lead to a suppression of individuals with growth mindsets. Likewise, if you’re a manager with a growth mindset, it is likely that this will trickle down to your employees, leading to greater communication, collaboration, and success under your command.Artists, designers, and other creative professionals: Creativity and flexibility are two of the most prominent skills required for professions within the arts, design, and creative industry, and they also happen to be benefits of growth mindset behavior.Entrepreneurs: The benefits of growth mindset behavior are vast for entrepreneurs, a few of which allow them to see problems from different angles, adapt to unexpected challenges, and come up with creative solutions. How to Develop a Growth Mindset? While there is no one-size-fits-all formula to develop a growth mindset since it’s a personal journey, there are tips for how to have a growth mindset, such as Embracing challenges Finding yourself in a challenging situation is when you will experience the most productive steps toward developing a growth mindset. Therefore, even if it feels daunting, you should try to embrace challenges, knowing that it’s okay to make a mistake and that you’ll learn from it. Persistence and effort Just saying that you have a growth mindset is not enough. In other words, you need to do your homework…and stick with it, too. It can help to make notes of your progress, especially in areas that you may be struggling in. Learning from failure Those with a growth mindset learn to bounce back more effectively from failure because they never really view it as such. Instead, ‘failure’ is seen as a learning event, giving them the chance to adjust their methods and look for different ways to solve the problem. Train your brain to react this way in difficult situations to develop a growth mindset. Seeking feedback Seeking constructive feedback is a great aid in replicating behavior that acknowledges the effort put into the process. Where approval is linked to validation, constructive feedback, such as “You did a good job presenting today; your explanations were really clear and easy to understand”, helps you know the specifics about your performance rather than just the result. Changing negative self-talk Negative self-talk is the champion of the fixed mindset. You can change that internal voice by acknowledging the challenge and still persevering. For example, just because you struggle in math doesn’t mean you can’t pursue an economics degree. Sure, there will be math involved, but you’re going to be given the resources to overcome those challenges. Cultivating a love for learning The focus of a growth mindset is on continuous learning, which means that you will need to cultivate a love for learning in order to grow and develop and to take you further and higher. Role models and mentorship Spending time with like-minded growth mindset people that you can look up to, and ask for feedback and guidance from, is a good way to encourage your own development of a growth mindset. Consistency and patience It takes consistency and patience to develop your growth mindset, and it’s not going to happen overnight. Practice reacting to situations with a growth mindset, like being nice to yourself with a positive and proactive inner voice, even when the task seems daunting. Besides these tips to develop a growth mindset in the workplace, there are a whole host of resources online to help you cultivate and maintain a growth mindset. Here are a few growth mindset activities to kick you off: Listen to a podcast from the lady herself withCarol Dweck’s inspirational TED talkon “The power of believing you can improve”.Alternatively, read the book that started it all with Carol S. Dweck’s ‘Mindset: The New Psychology of Success’. You can also get the gist of the book from Harvard Business Review’s 2014 review.Another book to consider is ‘The Mountain is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery’, by Brianna Wiest. Linking to that negative inner voice with the fixed mindset, this book sets about making you aware of all the ways that you could be holding yourself back from basking in the benefits of a freer growth mindset.Looking for growth mindset activities on how to have a growth mindset? ‘The Growth Mindset’ course on Coursera leads learners through the basics and uncovers the ‘roadblocks’ hindering growth mindset development. The course also features a deep dive into how a growth mindset can contribute to organization and efficiency.Looking for growth mindset activities for children and educational purposes? Khan Academy has creative lesson plans for teachers aimed at children and high schoolers. Key Takeaways Having a growth mindset means that you know that your skills and behaviors are not etched in stone like a fixed mindset and that failure does not mean the end of the journey. Rather, ‘failure’ is merely a diversion that could lead to a plethora of creative potential, higher achievements, and a more positive workplace. But, like all good things, developing a growth mindset takes time and effort. Looking for more ways to kickstart your career development? Cake is the best resource for employees and managers, offering hundreds of articles and guides to enhance your professional potential and make navigating the workplace a piece of cake! Cake provides the best online resume builder with multiple templates to help you create the perfect resume for your job hunt. Take your career journey to new heights—create your resume online now!Create Resume — Originally written by Eva O’Mara —

Created by CakeEver done the Myers-Brigg Type Indicator (MBTI), also known as the 16 personalities? Well, did you know that it’s actually frequently used as a career development questionnaire for students? That’s because the MBTI is a personality indicator, and your personality and preferences have a direct influence on your career path. However, like most things, your personality can change and develop. From introvert to extrovert, you can gain new interests that refocus your future paths, oftentimes requiring you to learn new skills. Which is why early career development for students is so important. When adequately planned for, early career development for studies can lead to better opportunities and success in the future. In this post, we’ll explore the importance of career development for students, with a specific focus on how career development advice for students can be invaluable for future short term and long term career goals.Table of Contents:What Is Career Development Why Is It Important?Career Development Advice for StudentsConclusionWhat Is Career Development Why Is It Important?As the name suggests, ‘career development’ is all about preparing for your future career. While it can start as early as middle school, career development advice for students in high school and university is usually more common. This is because, by that point, students should already have an idea of what makes them tick. It is these personal interests, skills, strengths, weaknesses, and personality that will define what your future career might be and what career development strategies for students will work best for you. Following career development advice for students means knowing and understanding the requirements or “nice-to-haves” for certain career paths. For example, what level of higher education, if any, do you need to achieve your dream job? Likewise, career development for students also needs to take into account what makes you comfortable. If you’re a social bumble bee, would you be comfortable taking a remote role? It’s helpful to think of these pros and cons like a career development questionnaire for students before embarking on your career journey.Career Development Advice for StudentsRegardless of the field of interest, the importance of career development for students should not be underestimated. In addition to obtaining enough relevant experiences to write resumes that rock, career development advice for students is another great way to provide peace of mind when it comes to establishing and following the following career blueprint.Self-Exploration and Goal Setting One of the greatest results of career development for students is the sense of self-understanding that it gives. In this day and age where one’s ideal job can be reflective of their personal interests as well as salary preferences, early career development advice for students offers the chance to explore and discover where your interests, passions, and strengths lie. This, in turn, makes it so much easier to set clear career goals and aspirations. If you live and breathe writing, why not consider a career in marketing as a digital marketer, SEO content writer, content designer, or social media specialist? Common career development strategies for students wanting to pursue these positions could be to start a blog or work at the school paper.Gain Practical Experience Relevant and practical work experience is often the most valued section on a resume. Taking the form of internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work, these experiences demonstrate a clear and continued interest in a specific field. Work experience is also a great indicator to employers of your ability to perform well in real-world work environments, as well as your professional development during the internship. Looking for positions specializing in marketing to engineering? Cake’s job portal is the best place to find opportunities for students from up-and-coming startups and established companies. There’s even the annual Cake job fair, where it’s easy to connect with prospective employers that can offer insightful career development advice for students.Academic and Extracurricular Balance From word of mouth musings to Guardian articles, it’s been well documented that involvement in clubs, organizations, and sports can develop desirable skills for the workplace. Soft and transferable skills like leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and communication, are all crucial in creating well-rounded individuals, which employers love. Extracurricular activities also provide students with the opportunity to build their portfolio of work. Career development strategies for students often focus on acquiring as many relevant skills and work experience as possible; academic pursuits and extracurricular activities, when adequately balanced, offer students the space to build and showcase their experiences.Networking and Building Connections There’s a reason LinkedIn has nearly 1 billion members: networking is a game changer to career development strategies for students.As one of the most invaluable ways to obtain glowing references, insight into the industry, and tips for climbing up the career ladder, building professional connections with your professors, institution alumni, and admired professionals is a must. These connections can be created by showcasing your professional profile (and attire) at career fairs, workshops, and networking events, as well as in the classroom. Alternatively, use Cake’s online portfolio to easily display your work to prospective employers.Resume and Cover Letter Tips Perfecting your resume and cover letter is one of the career development strategy short term goals examples for students. An easy feat in comparison to the long term goals examples for students of acquiring new skills through work experience, thinking about how to write resumes still requires adjustments to tailor applications to specific job opportunities. Not sure where to find professional resume writing tips or decent cover letter examples? Cake has a variety of resources available, from easy breezy beginner cover letters to top tips for crafting the perfect resume for every application, plus templates. You’ll never be stuck on how to write resumes again!Developing Soft Skills A complement to hard skills, the significance of soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability in career development for students cannot be understated. That’s because these long term goals examples for students indicate your people skills, i.e. how well you’ll fit into the future workplace. There are many settings that can demonstrate these necessary skills in career development for students, such as through participation in clubs and activities. Taken part in a team sport? Check for communication? Had an issue and solved it? Check for problem-solving and potential adaptability. As simple as it is to find examples, it’s also easy to improve these skills.Continuous Learning and Skill Development The importance of career development for students is much greater than just the extent of your academic activities. Employers love to see individuals who are keen to grow and continuously learn, so students are encouraged to learn beyond the classroom. Career development advice for students can be as simple as staying updated with industry trends, reading around your preferred fields, and following leading professionals in the field. Alternatively, you can also broaden and deepen your skills with extracurricular online courses, workshops, and certifications.Seek Mentorship and Guidance There are many career development resources for students out there, but one of the most meaningful and accessible (for university students) is a mentor. Mentorship can come from anywhere and anyone, but it’s usually recommended to be a professor, professional, academic advisor, or career counselor. Mentors can offer valuable insights, support, and career development advice for students intrigued in a specific field. They can help you stay focussed on your short term goals examples for students (development of soft skills) and long term goals examples for students (finding work experience). Embrace Failure and Resilience It’s been said time and time again that being a student is all about making mistakes - this is especially true when it comes to career development for students and the preparation to leave the bubble of security that is high school or university. Career development advice for students iterates that mistakes serve as valuable learning opportunities, where every failure or rejection acts as another stepping stone to your success. The key is to persevere; resilience and perseverance are some of the most important skills to develop during this trial and error period of career development for students.Plan for Career Transitions Career development advice for students doesn’t just start and end in the classroom - it can be useful throughout your entire career journey. Just like how tastes change, you may realize further down the line that your career interests have evolved and that a change in career path is needed. Though daunting, it’s easy to adapt and pivot your career; you can even use the tools and career development resources for students widely available online, such as with ‘My Next Move’.ConclusionWhether you’re an ISTJ or INTP, early career development for students is essential to achieve all your career goals. It can give you the confidence you need to ace that job application or interview - you’ve already gained the relevant skills and experiences to excel in the position, after all. Career development advice for students can also be life changing when it comes to deciding what you actually want to pursue. By exploring your interests, networking with the right people, developing relevant soft skills for your fields, and excelling at the extracurriculars, the benefits of early career development for students are endless. So go on and take those first few steps in your career development journey. While career development for students, or anyone really, is an ongoing process, with perseverance (and a bit of self-discovery) you’re sure to realize your future career. Excited to take the first steps towards your future? Cake is the best free resume builder, perfect for crafting attractive and professional resumes that make you stand out from the crowd. With free resources on furthering your career and advice to help you nail that application, Cake makes applications a piece of cake!With Cake, an online resume builder, we provide you with hundreds of free professional resume templates and various resume format examples that help showcase the best you. Landing your dream job will be a piece of cake!Create Resume--- Originally written by Eva O’Mara ---

Must-Have Marketing Manager SkillsMarketing managers wear many hats, and their responsibilities range from research to budget and design, and much more. Because their roles cover different areas of marketing expertise, a marketing manager should have a diverse set of essential marketing skills to fulfill their responsibilities. In this article, we’ll explore eight different marketing skills for marketing managers. We’ll also include advice on improving those essential skills in addition to successfully navigating the job search to become a marketing professional.Table of ContentsWho Are Marketing Managers, and What Do They Do?Leadership Skills for Marketing ManagersInterpersonal Communication Skills for Marketing ManagersCreative Skills for Marketing ManagersStrategic Thinking Skills for Marketing ManagersTech-savvy skills for Marketing ManagersOrganizational Skills for Marketing ManagersClient-Centered Skills for Marketing ManagersAdaptability and Flexibility Skills for Marketing ManagersHow to Improve Your Marketing Manager Skills?Improving the Job Hunt: Advice for Marketing ManagersKey Takeaways Who Are Marketing Managers, and What Do They Do? Marketing managers collaborate with cross-functional teams, especially their marketing teams, to successfully market a product, service, brand identity, or consistent brand representation with their effective marketing strategies. Their role starts with thorough market research to identify gaps and better understand the interests of their audience. A marketing manager will create specific marketing campaigns and budgets using informed decisions to successfully market their product or service, and they’ll help design marketing material for a range of platforms, like social media, email, and print. They may also manage constructive feedback after the launch of a product or service from customers and adapt their marketing efforts to incorporate user responses. What skills do you need to be a marketing manager? Some of the strengths we’ll cover in this article include interpersonal skills like leadership and communication, in addition to soft skills like critical thinking and creativity. We’ll also discuss some of the hard skills you need, like technical proficiency like Google analytics and data analytics, in-depth knowledge of digital marketing strategies like content marketing, email marketing, search engine marketing, and social media marketing, and how to enhance brand visibility. The landscape of the marketing profession is dynamic and vast, so a diverse combination of hard and soft skills will better contribute to your success as a manager. Every marketing manager has their strengths and unique composition of skills and experience.📚Further reading: Discover 9 Marketing Career Paths [+ Skills Needed Salary Ranges] Leadership Skills for Marketing Managers A marketing manager’s role is part of a much larger team of product developers, content marketers, creators, and more. Marketing managers spearhead their marketing campaigns and are responsible for bringing together everyone’s unique skills to achieve business objectives. It’s essential for a marketing manager to be a good leader, to successfully guide their coworkers toward a shared vision to maximize their marketing campaigns. Some of the core leadership skills needed for good marketing management include abilities like empathy and active listening, which contribute to a healthy and positive work environment. Good decision-making and problem-solving are important leadership skills since a marketing team relies on the guidance of their leaders at every step. Good leaders should also be able to delegate effectively to get things done. Apart from good customer relationship management, a good marketing manager is also skilled in conflict resolution, an important ability to address disagreements while making people feel seen and heard. Another team management skill is coaching, which involves understanding a person’s unique contributions and helping them improve and meet their goals. There are many digital marketing tools to make team management easier. Some of the tools, like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, allow for video conferencing and hassle-free communication within the marketing team. Project management tools like Monday.com or Jira can help you track progress and make task assignments. There are also plenty of file-sharing tools to help you collaborate with cross-functional teams, like DropBox or OneDrive.Interpersonal Communication Skills for Marketing Managers Marketing managers collaborate with many people, not only within their marketing teams, and effective communication skills are one of the many soft skills that make a good marketing manager. In marketing, it’s also important to effectively communicate your brand strategy or the details of your product, reaching your target audiences with clear and succinct language and imagery. Some communication skills needed for a marketing manager are verbal and include articulation, active listening, and tone. A successful marketing manager should be able to convey their thoughts but also listen well to others – their employees will provide key insights and important ideas. Written communication is another important interpersonal skill. Emails and messages should be succinct, brief, and clear, to avoid confusion. Finally, there is non-verbal communication, an often-overlooked marketing manager skill. If you’re leading a team, your non-verbal communication - like posture or expressions- should convey confidence and openness, so others trust your vision.Creative Skills for Marketing Managers Creativity and innovation are important for designing engaging marketing content. Marketers also use creativity when brainstorming unique marketing strategies to address market gaps and reach a target audience. Creativity is an essential marketing manager skill for a few reasons. Marketing managers need to collaborate with content creators and graphic designers, and their content should be engaging, interesting, and fresh. This naturally requires some outside-the-box thinking and unique execution. Creativity is also essential for problem solving, when marketing plans run into unforeseen issues that require creative troubleshooting and innovative solutions. Creative thinking supports marketers by helping them anticipate industry trends and lead new trends. Creative marketing managers can quickly adapt to change and even identify new opportunities by thinking out of the box. They effectively leverage various marketing channels and marketing techniques to maintain their competitive edge in the industry.Strategic Thinking Skills for Marketing Managers The marketing landscape is constantly changing, and digital marketing on social media platforms evolves at such a fast pace. A successful marketing manager should be able to make careful plans by understanding the needs of the market and anticipating changes and trends. They must excel at executing great and effective data-driven marketing strategies. Consider the launch of a new product. A marketing manager who is a good strategic thinker will do market research and study their competition. They’ll also imagine different approaches to marketing their unique product. A strategic thinker will develop a detailed marketing plan with multiple stages, and consider how to incorporate customer feedback before executing marketing strategies. This approach is part of a broader brand strategy that ensures successful marketing strategies. In contrast, a marketing manager who lacks strategic thinking might launch their product without detailed market research or a thorough marketing plan.Tech-savvy Skills for Marketing Managers Marketing managers should have some technical marketing skills, as the marketing landscape is increasingly digital. Team management software can have a steep learning curve if you lack computer literacy, and content marketing requires some knowledge of design technology. Not to mention, a marketing plan will likely include digital marketing like email and social media campaigns, which requires a knowledge of different platforms. Some of the key skills for marketing managers include data analysis, graphic design, content creation, and content management, but there are many more. There are numerous data analytics tools for marketing managers, and the software you choose to master depends on your unique goals. Customer support software like HubSpot and LiveChat will help you connect with clients in real-time. Social media management software like Hootsuite will help you organize your posts. SEO tools like Google Analytics will help you plan effective content. Video and graphic design software like Adobe and Canva are great for curating unique content. For bachelor's degree students or fresh graduates, we recommend finding a marketing internship to up-skill your marketing knowledge, but for those of you who are seasoned marketers looking to improve your marketing skills, we recommend sites like Skillshare, Udemy, and Coursera where thousands of technical skills courses are available. If you’re looking for less commitment and cost, YouTube has millions of free videos from content creators who have mastered their technical skills.📚Further reading: 50 Powerful Marketing Tools for Business Scaling [+ Tips] Organizational Skills for Marketing Managers Any good manager will be highly organized. Organizational skills are used to plan and achieve goals and responsibilities. This family of skills includes time management, multitasking, and goal setting. Organization is an important skill for marketing managers who juggle many tasks and teams, and staying organized will keep their marketing plan running smoothly. These important skills contribute to task management by helping to prioritize tasks, breaking them down into smaller sub-tasks, and managing time and budget. Organizational skills for marketing managers start with setting goals. It’s important to plan an appropriate goal and the steps you will take to achieve it. Some other key organizational skills include time and budget management, good prioritization, record-keeping, and delegation.Client-Centered Skills for Marketing Managers A customer-centric approach involves making the customer and their experiences the center of your decisions and goals. Emphasizing consumer psychology helps understand the motivations behind customer behaviors, which is crucial for enhancing brand engagement and gathering consumer insights. Customer care is an important marketing manager skill for a few reasons. Marketing managers should understand their prospective customers and their needs to become successful with their marketing campaigns. It’s also important to adjust your marketing approach by responding to customer feedback. Actionable insights gained from such feedback are vital for refining marketing strategies. A failure to center your approach around the client can negatively impact your brand image and sales. There are many elements of customer care skills. Some of these overlap with interpersonal skills for marketing managers, like communication, empathy, and active listening. Others are basic customer service skills like friendliness, good humor, and good knowledge of your product or service. You may also need some tech skills, to solve problems and to manage online feedback like live chats, and social media comments, which are integral to effective public relations and understanding consumer behavior.Adaptability and Flexibility Skills for Marketing Managers Adaptability and flexibility are important skills for responding to change and altering your approach to succeed in changing environments. This set of skills is needed for a marketing manager because the world of marketing management moves and changes quickly. There are new market trends in social media marketing and digital marketing every day, and it’s important to adapt quickly to those changes without staying rigid in your digital marketing strategy. Consider a market expansion plan. A flexible person will develop a strategy to increase their market reach but not be married to any specific execution. When problems arise, as they surely will, an adaptable person will examine what they could do differently, listen to feedback and criticism, and be open to making changes when things don’t go according to plan. In contrast, a person who lacks adaptability and flexibility might stay committed to the original ideas of their digital marketing and ignore feedback. This approach could lead to them missing opportunities, staying ignorant of necessary changes, and sabotaging their own growth in the business world. This ability to pivot and respond is crucial to making informed decisions in marketing careers, where, instead of hard skills, soft skills like these can determine success or failure.How to Improve Your Marketing Manager Skills? It’s important to continue your learning journey when it comes to improving your marketing management skills. Marketing is a dynamic field that is constantly changing, and success in marketing comes from adjusting to change and learning new skills. There are a few different avenues to improve your marketing manager skills: Education resources There are many courses and materials for marketing professionals looking to upskill in digital marketing. These can be online courses through sites like Udemy, or even online college courses. Books like ‘Building a Story Brand’ by Donald Miller also offer opportunities to enhance your skills in marketing careers, and there are plenty of free resources like the Marketing Land blog or the Hubspot YouTube channel. Networking and industry involvement Networking is another way to improve your marketing manager skills. Look for events to attend or seek out other professionals to connect with online. There is much to learn about new trends and software from other professionals or industry events. This can significantly enhance your marketing career.Improving the Job Hunt: Advice for Marketing Managers It’s important to highlight the skills needed for a marketing manager on a resume or in an interview. Emphasizing specific marketing management skills will show the hiring manager that you have experience and relevant knowledge among your industry peers. Here are three tips to highlight marketing management skills on your resume: Use consolidated numbers to highlight your achievements Achievements should be specific, and quantifiable. For example, increased website visits by 25%. Mention common tools in your resume Make sure you highlight your proficiency in some of the most common marketing manager tools, like software for team and project management, search engine optimization (SEO, social media, and content creation. Include your professional development Make sure you list any courses you’ve attended or certifications you have.📚Further reading: How to Write a Marketing Manager Cover Letter (+ Examples) Here are three tips to highlight marketing management skills in an interview: Use the STAR method When answering interview questions about your previous achievements, describe the setting, the task you were given, the action you took, and the result of your action. Being concise in this way will help you stay organized in an interview. Brush up on your knowledge before going to the interview Review your tools, technical, soft, and hard skills, and previous experience in advance, so the information you provide in the interview is fresh and relevant.📚Further reading: Preparing for Your Next Digital Marketing Interview: Tips Samples Quantify your skills with specific results Just like in your resume, quote specific, measurable results when you describe your previous experience in marketing.Key Takeaways Marketing managers have a range of responsibilities and therefore need a variety of skills to achieve success. Some of the soft skills of marketing managers include creative and strategic thinking, in addition to interpersonal skills like leadership and communication. But equally important are technical marketing manager skills like data analysis, SEO, and content creation. If you fear you don’t have the right skills needed for a marketing manager, it’s never too late to learn something new and improve on your existing ability. Look for courses, material, and networking opportunities to help you improve your marketing manager skills. Follow Cake for more specific career advice and tips for interviews and resumes.Cake is a free resume maker and portfolio builder that provides hundreds of resume templates (free download) and various job resume examples to help showcase the best you. Landing your dream job will be a piece of cake!Create Resume --- Originally Written by Tiffany Quinn ---