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.
Public relations jobs: Job description
Public relations – or PR – jobs are concerned primarily with building an awareness and interest in a particular company, brand, person or product. There are many different jobs within PR careers but they all contribute to that general theme. Although public relations jobs are closely related to advertising, there is a difference in that those with public relations jobs focus on gaining free media exposure rather than directly paying for it.
Could one fifth of Christmas e-shopping be mobile this year?
New research suggests that as many as one in five UK online sales could be made through a mobile device by Christmas 2012, with the percentage of site visits through the channel increasing to 30%.
Is a covering letter really necessary these days?
Career experts say covering letters are still vital. They play an important part in the recruitment process because they encourage recruiters to read your CV. While a CV sets out your skills and experience for a particular marketing job, the covering letter specifically demonstrates your understanding of the organisation and the nature of the job being advertised.
Opinion: Introverts can shine in the marketing job market too
Did you know that there are a dozen of groups on LinkedIn which promote themselves as being for introverts/ They are aimed at helping professionals with their job hunting or networking and none of them are hugely subscribed.
Is a degree in internet marketing worth having?
Virtually every organisation needs marketing and with internet use now part of life for the vast majority, web marketing has become a massive industry in its own right. Working in digital marketing appeals to ambitious graduates as this is the cutting edge of 21st century commerce.
Seeking a marketing job? Fire up your webcam!
Video interviewing is increasingly popular with UK recruiters. So next time you apply for a marketing job, will you have the skills to impress on camera if asked to speak to the hiring company via video link-up?