Issue 2009 Q3 | Chin Up – Some Creative/Marketing Jobs Are Still Available! | Employee versus Employer | How to Stand Out in a Crowd | Editor's Corner

CHIN UP – SOME CREATIVE/MARKETING JOBS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!
By Susan Rylance, Digital People

While most marketing and creative professionals will attest that the industry job market is extremely tight and competition for jobs is fierce, there is one area that contradicts this thought - Interactive/Online Marketing.

The use of interactive media is one of the fastest growing trends in the marketing and creative services industry, mainly due to the current economy and advancement of interactive technology.  As company budgets tighten, marketing spend is typically reduced first. Yet companies still need to continuously brand themselves. Instead of investing in standard, pricey communication vehicles such as print and broadcast, they often turn to a more economical and return-on-investment driven one, the internet.

Whichever media vehicle is the most appropriate for a business should be determined on a case-by-case basis and companies should take the time to consult with experts. For this reason, interactive marketing gurus are in demand. According to Forrester Research Company, while overall advertising spend is projected to decline over the next 5 years, marketers are expected to increase interactive marketing spend to a whopping $55 BILLION by 2014. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states professionals who have new media and interactive marketing skills will be particularly sought after.

So, are you searching for a job in today’s crummy economy? Why not adapt your skills towards the interactive field? If your experience lends itself toward traditional marketing, equip yourself with interactive skills to ensure you have a shot at these available jobs!

Personal Web Branding

The first thing you need to do is brand yourself on the Web. One of our clients who was recruiting for an Interactive Account Manager asked all potential new hires how many followers they had on Twitter, friends on Facebook, songs on their iPod and connections on LinkedIn. This question was asked to ensure the person they hired was professionally and personally passionate about interactive and social media. Not only will building your personal brand on the web allow you to network with potential employers, it will also promote you and help you become familiar with the entire interactive space.

Try reaching out to members of your professional network by creating or updating your LinkedIn profile. You can use LinkedIn as public space to showcase your work and it’s free. When you update your profile, write it as if it were your resume. LinkedIn will also allow you to contact all colleagues and prior associates to let them know you are looking for work.

Facebook and Twitter will allow you to comment on the industry and also connect with professional colleagues. However, use caution when you post a comment or “tweet,” as anything you post on the internet can be visible to potential employers. 

According to Meg Guiseppi, Executive Resume Branding blogger, differentiating your unique brand-value promise online and offline has become the best way to position yourself.  Here you can read Meg’s top 10 trends to building a personal brand and value proposition for your future employer.

Enhance Your Portfolio

You may also need to acquire some skills that are not currently in your portfolio. If you are employed, take on additional interactive responsibilities such as involvement in email marketing, your company’s social networking strategy, search engine marketing and search engine optimization. You can also join a local interactive organization such as the Minnesota Interactive Marketing Association or your local Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization, to gain more experience and knowledge regarding interactive marketing.  

Searching for Interactive Jobs

Since you’ve adequately branded yourself and acquired some additional skills, you’re now ready to start your job search. So what’s next?  Start by checking out the hottest industries and online jobs by targeting companies and the networks that you’ve acquired along the way.  According to Plunkett Research here are some industries that are still hiring in 2009:

• Biotechnology
• Education
• Healthcare
• Online Services
• Renewable Energy

Also try searching for positions with the following titles:

• Email Campaign Manager
• Interactive Marketing Specialist
• Interactive Project Manager/Account Manager
• Search Engine Marketing/SEM
• Search Engine Optimization/SEO
• Social Media Specialist
• Web Analytics
• Web Content Manager
• Web Designer/Developer

Searching for your next career opportunity may be one of the toughest jobs you’ve had, but once you land the ideal job you’ll realize it was well worth it.  On a positive note, think of all the information you’ll learn about yourself along the way and the tremendous professional network you’ll grow!

About Susan Rylance