Once you have worked in the same role for a while, it’s easy to stop developing. But if you want to improve career prospects, it’s vital that you continue to develop your skills. Knowing which skills to develop can be difficult. Below, we’ve put together a list of skills you should always look to develop if you want to get ahead in your career.
Communication skills
Communication skills are essential to anyone looking to progress their career. Those who lack communication skills will suffer if they look to take on management roles etc. So it’s vital that you take the time to develop in all aspects of communication, whether that’s by improving how you speak over the phone or adjusting your email etiquette
Time management
As you continue to develop in your career, you will likely end up with more responsibility and tasks to juggle. As your workload increases, you develop your time management skills. This skill is vital for increasing productivity in the office.
The best way you can tackle this skill is to pay close attention to how you already manage different tasks at work. Once you roughly know how long it takes to complete certain tasks, you can start to prioritise in a timely manner.
Public speaking
The more you progress in your career, the more likely it is that you might have to speak to a group of people at once. An easy way to do prepare for this is to get used to speaking in front of people regularly.
Public speaking is a crucial skill to have, and it requires a lot of self-confidence and practice. Although it might come naturally to others, it’s a skill that is sought after by many employers, so it’s a must have skill on your CV.
Handling criticism/feedback
We all dread feedback at one time or another. Whatever the outcome, it’s worth noting that how you receive this will not go unmissed by your manager or peers. Taking criticism on board positively is something that doesn’t come naturally to many, but can easily be changed. If a person demonstrates an attitude appreciative of feedback, it shows employers that you are willing to learn – which you should always be looking to do at work. Taking feedback negatively could suggest that you are stubborn and reluctant to adapt, so think twice before you push back…
Adaptability
Think you can be flexible at work? The ability to manage multiple assignments at the same time and being flexible enough to work under ever changing conditions is massively appreciated at any workplace.
Being able to adapt from one responsibility to another gives you a massive advantage – it demonstrates your commitment to a company.
Is early retirement being replaced by part-time work?
The idea of early retirement will appeal to many marketing professionals heading into their mid or late 50s. But how easy is it these days? You need to be financially secure and confident that departing the marketing job market for ever won’t leave you regretting the move two or three years down the line.
Will hobbies on your marketing CV help or hinder?
Opinions are divided on whether there is any purpose to the ‘interests’ section of a CV. The traditional view is that your hobbies and pastimes show something of you as a person and demonstrate how rounded you are which could help in your marketing job application.
Are luxury brand marketers missing the social media boat?
Some marketing experts are critical of the progress brand owners and marketing professionals are making when it comes to using social channels to connect with customers.
I can’t get a marketing job interview even though I’ve tailored my CV
We all know how important it is for job applicants to tailor their CV or online application to the specific job, rather than send generic details about themselves. But increasingly – as more and more people apply for each advertised marketing vacancy – those who apply for jobs they are fully qualified for, are finding that even this isn’t working in their favour.
Apple still ranks highest in brand value list
This year’s BrandZ ranking of the top 100 most valuable global brands has confirmed that US giant Apple has held on to its reign at number one. The total value of the top brands grew by 7% to $2.6 trillion, according to the research.
Group interviews for marketing jobs: What to expect
Group interviews are used by large employers who are aiming to fill multiple vacancies. They are frequently used by advertising agencies and marketing and communication firms when selecting a graduate trainees or junior marketers, for example.
