Like most industries, ours moves fast, and it’s not just trends marketers need to keep up with. To stay relevant and competitive, it’s essential that we invest in ourselves by learning new and enhancing existing skills, regardless of career stage.
Being a marketer can be particularly tough – we often feel overwhelmed, overworked and undervalued yet our discipline is critical to enabling the success of the organization. We are expected to be experts in a wide range of technical and interpersonal skills, staying up to date in a rapidly evolving world.
It’s challenging, yet it can also be rewarding, and taking time to invest in your skills can be a game-changer for your career and personal growth.
Keep up in a rapidly changing world
How long a skill remains relevant and valuable is called half-life. The half-life of skills is now between three to five years and is decreasing all the time. By the time you’ve finished your formal education, what you learned at the start of your course has already changed – not least due to automation, digitalization and globalization, as well as sustainability.
These changes also mean that job roles are changing and evolving – it’s widely anticipated that up to 1.4 million workers in the UK will need reskilling by 2026; for around 70%, their jobs will cease to exist. You need to be able to adapt quickly to the changing needs of the workplace and prepare for future opportunities.
‘According to the World Economic Forum, analytical and creative thinking were the top listed skills of 2023, followed by resilience, flexibility & agility; motivation & self-awareness; curiosity & lifelong learning; technological literacy; dependability & attention to detail, empathy & active listening; leadership & social influence and quality control.’
What does this mean for marketers?
All of these skills along with many others are just part of a marketer’s daily work. It’s vitally important that we have opportunities to upskill – building on our existing comprehensive skillset to enhance our capabilities, as well as to potentially reskill. As we are hit by challenges and opportunities created by AI for example, we may want or need to learn new skills for a different job.
Benefits of upskilling
Upskilling, as well as being an imperative, offers a number of benefits, including:
Improve employability: Employers value candidates who demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional development. Upskilling not only broadens your skill set but also signals to employers that you are proactive and dedicated to continuous learning. This can make you a more attractive candidate for promotions or new job opportunities.
Increase your earning potential: Specialized skills, such as proficiency in a new programming language or advanced data analytics, are often associated with higher pay scales. By investing in learning and certification programmes, you position yourself to negotiate better salaries and benefits packages.
Better job satisfaction: Learning new skills can reignite your passion for your work. It can break the monotony of your daily routine, making your job more interesting and fulfilling. Upskilling can also open doors to new roles or projects within your organization that align more closely with your interests and passions.
Foster innovation and creativity: Upskilling encourages you to think differently and adopt new perspectives. By exposing yourself to new ideas and methodologies, you can foster innovation and creativity in your work. This can lead to more efficient processes, creative problem-solving, and a competitive edge in your field.
Adapt to industry disruptions: Upskilling helps you adapt to these changes by equipping you with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate new challenges.
Promote personal growth: Learning new skills can boost your confidence, improve your cognitive abilities, and enhance your problem-solving skills, which can have a positive impact on your life, from your personal relationships to your overall mental well-being.
Expand your professional network: Many upskilling opportunities provide platforms to connect with like-minded professionals. Expanding your professional network can lead to new opportunities, collaborations, and valuable insights from peers and industry leaders.
Upskilling strategies for success
I feel very lucky that my company recognizes that upskilling is an investment in my future, which will, in turn, benefit the organization and our clients. We encourage a proactive approach to career development to help us stay relevant, competitive, and fulfilled. As a result, we are all committed to continuous learning and skills enhancement.
Empowering you, one skill at a time
We recognize that lifelong learning is critical, and because we are marketers ourselves we also understand the challenges around this along with the particular skills marketers need to have.
So we have created a fully flexible upskilling programme that meets the unique needs of all marketers working in research, including industry specific training for marketers at all levels and a custom coaching programme to help marketers future-proof their careers but also unlock new levels of personal and professional success.
I’m looking forward to continuing my own learning and development journey and supporting many others on theirs.
Why not take your marketing to the next level? Contact us for more information or to book.
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