The 2024 job market has been nothing short of unpredictable, a true wild card with surprises for both job seekers and employers alike. The post-COVID era, where marketers were snatched up by companies offering substantial pay increases after just a few interviews, is long gone. What was once a feeding frenzy has now turned into a battle between companies tightening budgets and candidates raising their expectations. While it may take more effort to stand out as a marketer—whether you’re hiring or seeking your next career move—there are strategies you can adopt now to ease the burden of navigating this new landscape.
For Marketing Job Seekers:
Leverage AI as Your Superpower
If you haven’t yet embraced AI, consider this another nudge to get on board! While AI won’t replace your job, those who know how to use it effectively will certainly stand out. AI can save you time during your job search and even help you refine essential skills like interviewing. Easy-to-use platforms like ChatGPT offer creative ways to enhance your job seeking strategy.
AI-Powered Resume Review
Whether it’s been years since you last updated your resume, or you’re new to an industry and unsure of the relevant keywords, AI can ease jumping back into the market. Tools like ChatGPT can review and help create a resume tailored to your experience and the roles you’re targeting.
For instance, you can ask ChatGPT for advice on keywords: “You are a social media marketing specialist seeking a role with e-commerce brands, with five years’ experience managing social channels for an apparel brand with over 500k Instagram followers. Which keywords should be listed on your resume?” You can even get constructive feedback on your resume as if it were being reviewed by a hiring manager. Make sure you start your AI prompt by building a persona of the hiring manager you want to work with.
Sites like Grammarly.com can also be helpful when you don’t have a second eye to look over your fresh resume. Proper grammar and spelling are a crucial first impression you need to make on a resume.
Role-Play Interviews
Did you know you can turn ChatGPT into your own virtual “hiring manager”? You can create a persona within ChatGPT to simulate an interview scenario. For example, you might tell ChatGPT, “You’re the hiring manager for a start-up e-commerce brand selling pet supplements. You’re looking for an experienced Social Media Manager to join your remote team.” ChatGPT can then role-play the interview with you, offer critiques, and much more.
Explore more ways to utilize ChatGPT throughout the application and interview process:
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/4-ai-resume-interview-tools-uspro-eumge/
- https://www.tealhq.com/post/great-chatgpt-prompts-for-your-resume/
- https://www.careerflow.ai/blog/chatgpt-job-interview-prompts
- https://www.themuse.com/advice/best-chatgpt-job-interview-prompts
Stand Out with Networking
While AI and automation are all the rage, networking remains one of the most effective ways to boost your chances of landing a job. According to CNBC, up to 70% of jobs aren’t published on public job search sites, and research shows that 50% to 80% of jobs are filled through networking.
To connect with the right employers, you need to be where they gather. If you’re a marketer seeking a new role in the digital space, attend events like those hosted by the American Marketing Association, Digital Summit, or professional panel discussions and networking groups.
If you’re unsure where to start, consider working with a specialized recruiter in your industry. Recruiters spend much of their time connecting with potential employers. Even if they can’t place you directly, they can introduce you to their network. The best recruiters focus on building long-term relationships, offering creative ways to connect candidates with industry leaders. For instance, you could collaborate with a recruiter to “spotlight” your experience on LinkedIn or share your accomplishments with clients who might benefit from your expertise.
However you choose to get involved, remember networking helps you stand out beyond just your resume.
For Employers Seeking Top Marketing Talent:
Align with Your Core Values
As a recruiter in daily contact with both active and passive job seekers, I’ve found one reason most candidates look to leave their current roles that stands out above the rest— and it’s not salary. Most candidates are searching for a company culture that aligns with their personal values. As an employer, you need to clearly define and communicate your cultural values, both in your job postings and throughout the interview process. Technical skills are important, but soft skills and emotional intelligence (EQ) are just as crucial. Identify gaps in your team or processes and seek candidates who can fill those voids.
Once you’ve identified the top 3-5 values you’re looking for in your next hire, ensure your current team understands and embodies these values as well. Every interaction a candidate has with your team should reinforce that these values are not just buzzwords but integral to everyone’s role and your company’s mission.
Partner with a Recruiting Expert
In today’s competitive job market, job boards and ads have quickly become oversaturated. It’s far too often a Digital Marketing Manager job post or the like receives over 100 applicants, with only a small percentage having relevant industry experience. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the most sought-after talent isn’t actively searching on job boards; they’re already employed and being recruited by competitors.
A recruiting partner can offer more than just a pool of resumes you’re in charge of sifting through. When you utilize an industry expert who understands your company’s cultural values and team dynamics, they can help you find candidates who are not only qualified but a good fit for your team culturally.
Having a recruiter who keeps an ear to the ground can provide valuable insights into the current hiring landscape, helping you stand out to the right candidates. They are also in constant contact with top talent in the industry and often the first to know when they’re open to new opportunities. When your recruiters understand the fundamental values and needs of your team, they can become a “brand ambassador” for your company.
About ROLINC Staffing & Search
ROLINC Staffing & Search is a full-service recruiting agency offering targeted talent sourcing for construction, manufacturing, marketing, technology, finance industries and beyond. We aim to advocate for job seekers and connect them to exceptional long-term career opportunities.
Our team offers specialized recruiting expertise for every level of your hiring needs. Our separate staffing and search divisions are equipped with industry trained recruiters that can assist employers and job seekers seeking any position from skilled labor to executive search.
About Jasmine Weber at ROLINC Search
The last 5+ years of my career have been spent learning the ins and outs of the recruiting industry, with the entirety of my career focused on client services, business development, and marketing. Throughout all the specialties I’ve served, marketing and sales have become the most near and dear. I work nationally with top sales, marketing, and operational leaders in construction, manufacturing, marketing, technology companies and beyond. I believe there’s a bridge that needs to be built between the cultural gap in the job industry and I love to work with companies that are changing the way folks view career opportunities!
Jasmine Weber, Director of Marketing and Executive Recruiting, ROLINC Staffing & Search
