Marketing has changed dramatically over the last ten years and it has impacted the number of qualified candidates available for marketing leadership roles.
Employers are having a difficult time trying to hire a marketing manager who has stayed on top of their game when it comes to digital and social marketing.
In fact, this increasing need to hire top marketing managers has earned the job a spot on the list of the 10 toughest jobs to fill in 2016, according to a report released by the Society of Human Resource Management.
Despite these findings, there are three ways to make sure you hire the best marketing manager for your company.
Examine Candidate Resumes
Oftentimes, your first interactions with potential marketing manager candidates are through their resumes or online profiles like LinkedIn.
There are a few key areas to focus on when evaluating these resumes that will help indicate whether the candidate is a top performer.
The first place to examine is their employment history. Even though it’s becoming more common to see candidates with many jobs on their resumes, if you’re looking to hire a marketing manager, good tenure is still important.
Next, look for keywords that match the essential skills and experience you’re looking for in an ideal candidate.
Finally, when candidates are submitting their marketing resumes to your website, make sure to leave space for them to add a portfolio or link to a creative website.
Marketing is one of those amazing trades, similar to technical candidates where you can observe a candidate’s past work and determine if it’s a fit for what you’re needing. Blog content, technical back-end lead generation strategies, and sample advertisements are all projects you can use to benchmark their capabilities.
Look For Key Digital Qualities
Since the role of marketing manager has been completely altered by technology, it’s important that candidates have a strong understanding of today’s best digital marketing practices.
Ask candidates about their experience with coding or developing applications, using analytics and data to make strategic decisions, and how they manage digital content.
That’s not to say every candidate needs to be an expert at coding but look for classes or certifications that indicate the candidate has some basic knowledge about code or they’re learning.
Not only should candidates be familiar with how to code or manage content, but they should also have an understanding of the strategy behind each action. Learn more about what qualities to look for in a modern executive marketer.
Consider Hiring a Marketing Manager on a Contract Basis
Still not finding the right talent, or have some hesitations about hiring the wrong marketing manager?
Consider hiring a marketing manager on a contract basis. Contracting marketing managers is a cost-effective way to get top talent without the risk of turnover.
If you decide the contractor is not a fit for your company, then you can hire a new one without the high turnover costs. But before you decide to hire a contractor, learn about the process and preparation that comes with hiring marketing contractors
Finding marketing candidates with all the skills and experience needed to become successful managers is dwindling. Follow the tips above when evaluating and interviewing candidates to ensure you hire the right marketing manager.
