I recently had an amazing virtual networking connection where this woman was laid off from her company last month. While there's a lot of that going around, it got me thinking about how in today's competitive job market, it's not enough to simply have a degree and some experience on their resume. Recruiters are looking for candidates who can stand out from the crowd and demonstrate a unique set of skills and qualities that will help them succeed in the role.

While my expertise is in marketing, I wrote this list for the marketers out there but am sure it is applicable across functions. Here are some tips on how YOU can make yourself attractive to recruiters:
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#1 - Build a Strong Personal Brand
Creating a strong personal brand can help you differentiate yourself from other candidates and showcase your unique strengths and qualities. Use social media platforms like LinkedIn (connect with me while you are there!) to share your thoughts on industry trends, engage with other professionals, and showcase your accomplishments.

#2 - Showcase Results
When applying for marketing positions, it's important to showcase results that you have achieved in previous roles. Use data and metrics to demonstrate how you have driven business results and increased revenue for your organization.

#3 - Stay Up to Date on Industry Trends
Recruiters are looking for candidates who are knowledgeable about the latest marketing trends and technologies. Attend industry events, read blogs, and subscribe to newsletters to stay up to date on the latest marketing trends and best practices.

#4 - Develop a Diverse Skill Set
In addition to traditional marketing skills such as branding, messaging, and campaign management, recruiters are increasingly looking for candidates with a diverse skill set that includes data analysis, social media management, and content creation.

#5 - Be a Good Cultural Fit
Employers are looking for candidates who not only have the necessary skills, but also fit well with the company culture. Research the company's values and mission and demonstrate how you can contribute to their overall goals and objectives. No one wants to work with a jerk ;) 

#6 - Network
Building relationships with other professionals in your industry can help you stay top of mind with recruiters and uncover new job opportunities. Attend industry events, participate in online forums, and connect with other professionals on LinkedIn to expand your network.

#7 - Be Proactive
Don't wait for job opportunities to come to you! Be proactive in seeking out opportunities and reaching out to recruiters and hiring managers. Customize your resume and cover letter to match each job description and demonstrate how your skills and experience align with the requirements of the role.

The  Bottom Line 

By following these tips, marketers can stand out from the competition and position themselves as top candidates for marketing roles. Remember to highlight your unique strengths and qualities, showcase your results, and stay up to date on the latest marketing trends and technologies. With the right approach, you can attract the attention of recruiters and land your dream job in marketing.

I'm going to get personal for a minute here. In this job market, it's important to understand what value you bring to potential employers, and to always be iterating on your personal value propositions.

Given the guest lecture series I give at Tufts and Boston University bi-annually, I thought it would be a helpful exercise to look at my background and distill how I would approach the marketing of "me." Hopefully you can take some of these items and see how this framework might apply to your next role. 

Who Am I? 
 
Ashley (Osgood) McManus is an experienced marketing professional with a track record of driving growth for startups and established businesses. As a VP of Marketing, Ashley brings a unique set of skills and qualities that can help a tech startup CEO take their company to the next level.

Here are some reasons why a tech startup CEO might want to hire Ashley as their remote VP of marketing:

1- Proven Track Record

Ashley has a proven track record of success in marketing. She has worked with companies in a variety of industries, from SaaS and eCommerce to consumer products and health and wellness. She has consistently delivered results, helping companies increase their revenue, drive more traffic to their websites, and build strong brands. A startup CEO can feel confident in Ashley's ability to create and execute marketing strategies that will help their company grow.

2 - Experience with Startups

Ashley has experience working with startups and understands the unique challenges that they face. She knows how to work with limited budgets and resources to create effective marketing campaigns that deliver results. She also understands the importance of agility and adaptability in a startup environment, and can help a CEO pivot their marketing strategy as needed.

3 - Strong Leadership Skills

​As a remote VP of Marketing, Ashley will need to work closely with a team of marketers and other professionals. She has strong leadership skills and can motivate and inspire a team to achieve their goals. She is also an effective communicator, able to clearly and concisely convey complex ideas and strategies to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

On a personal note, becoming a mom has been one of the greatest leadership challenges: if you can get 2 children, ages 6 and 3, up and ready by yourself in the morning and dropped off to school (especially if they do not want to go), this is the demonstrates the epitome of leadership, negotiation and persuasive skills! 

4 - Strategic Thinker

Ashley is a strategic thinker who can help a CEO develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy. She can identify new market opportunities and create campaigns that target specific customer segments. She is also skilled at analyzing data and using insights to optimize campaigns and improve ROI and identify where marketing has the most impact. 

5 - Creative Problem Solver
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Startups often face unique challenges that require creative solutions. Ashley is a creative problem solver who can think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas to help a startup overcome obstacles. She can also help a CEO develop a strong brand identity and create marketing campaigns that stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Overall, Ashley McManus brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and strategic thinking to the role of remote VP of Marketing. Her track record of success, experience with startups, and strong leadership and communication skills make her an excellent choice for a tech startup CEO looking to take their company's marketing to the next level.

Interested in learning more? Let's talk. 

One of my absolute favorite things to do in marketing is working with partners. When it comes to spreading the word about your company or your product, I can't see why you wouldn't take advantage of working together towards this greater purpose. Partner marketing can really complement and help amplify your thought leadership pograms

What are the Benefits of Partner Marketing?

I see it as a win-win: let's say it starts with a piece of collaborative content you have come together to create.​ When it comes to promote that content, you have access to each other’s networks - their social media following (both personal and of the company), email subscriber lists, employees, and more. So you are effectively each doubling the reach of your content.

1  - Make it Easy. 
While I was at Affectiva, and even continuing at the Smart Eye group, the Human Centric AI podcast that I started is a great example of this. It was designed as a vehicle to build that relationship and then promote each other on our networks. We also packaged it up so that the speaker received a sample social post to copy & paste on LinkedIn to promote their episode, a pretty graphic featuring their headshot that they can easily share and tag to point back to my source content, 

2 - Brainstorm Collaborative Offer Ideas.
You can come together via partner marketing to collaborate on new, innovative thought leadership content - podcasts are one example, but you can also consider livestreams, blog posts, eBooks, webinar presentations, or joint speaking gigs to name a few. 

3 - Map out Your Ecosystem
So, take a minute to map out who the key players are in your ecosystem. They can be partners, clients, customers, or influential people in your network.

By aligning yourself and your company with thought leaders in your industry or in companies adjacent with your own lends credibility. This also ultimately builds trust with your target audience - it's nice to talk about yourself,  but even more powerful when you can team up and talk about each other.

Learn more about thought leadership and partner marketing strategies in this recent podcast I did!