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Job outlook for digital content managers in the United States
Digital content manager job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected digital content manager job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 33,700 new jobs for digital content managers are projected over the next decade.
Digital content manager salaries have increased 8% for digital content managers in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,087 digital content managers currently employed in the United States.
There are 70,176 active digital content manager job openings in the US.
The average digital content manager salary is $72,207.
Are digital content manager jobs in demand?
Digital content manager job and salary trends over time
Digital content manager jobs over time
Digital content manager job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,087 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,901 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 5,759 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 5,251 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,782 | 0.00% |
Average digital content manager salary over time
Digital content manager salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $72,207 | $34.71 | +3.9% |
| 2024 | $69,505 | $33.42 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $68,205 | $32.79 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $67,158 | $32.29 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | $66,625 | $32.03 | +1.9% |
Digital content manager jobs by state
Most common states for digital content managers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 349 | 50% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,288 | 19% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 85 | 14% |
| 4 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,629 | 13% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 940 | 13% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 519 | 13% |
| 7 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 395 | 13% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 139 | 13% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 129 | 13% |
| 10 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,469 | 11% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 620 | 11% |
| 12 | New York | 19,849,399 | 2,031 | 10% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 874 | 10% |
| 14 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 866 | 10% |
| 15 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 563 | 10% |
| 16 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 361 | 10% |
| 17 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 982 | 9% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 551 | 9% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 126 | 9% |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,028 | 8% |
Most common cities for digital content managers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgewater | 1 | 4% | $87,876 |
| 2 | Cupertino | 2 | 3% | $101,154 |
| 3 | Southfield | 2 | 3% | $62,529 |
| 4 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $70,135 |
| 5 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $72,050 |
| 6 | Springfield | 2 | 2% | $68,933 |
| 7 | Baton Rouge | 2 | 1% | $58,537 |
| 8 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $87,481 |
| 9 | Chattanooga | 1 | 1% | $63,668 |
| 10 | Columbus | 1 | 1% | $66,773 |
| 11 | Fayetteville | 1 | 1% | $66,198 |
| 12 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $87,537 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $67,120 |
| 14 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $70,270 |
| 15 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $70,156 |
| 16 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $66,045 |
Digital Content Manager job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of digital content manager experts
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Murray State University
Cabrini University
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Texas Woman's University
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Indiana University Bloomington
Truman State University
University of South Alabama
University of Cincinnati
Huntington University
University of Scranton
University of Houston - Downtown
West Los Angeles College
Berea College
California State University - Stanislaus
Longwood University
What general advice would you give to a Digital Content Manager?
Rich Johnson: Most job titles have a similar salary. Sometimes the salary is better in urban spaces where the cost of living is higher as well. Before I would assess salary, I would look at the cost of living and your monthly budget to build your personal requirements. You usually need to begin work in a starting salary position, but that doesn't mean that you need to stay there for long. When you get into a role, go all in. Master everything that is asked of you and start providing ideas to solve problems. Your value isn't just your ability to complete a task, it is your ability to provide value and creative solutions. Make sure that you retain credit for your contributions and stay positive. Building value in your role is key for job security and growth. Another part of the ladder of salary growth is self advocating for raises and knowing when you have hit the ceiling in your present position. If you do hit a plateau, the options are to pursue a new role or consider taking your skills to another business. One of the most effective growth tools that I have had in my career has been through freelance. If you have the bandwidth, consider taking on some freelance work. This will build skills and new connections that can lead to your next opportunity.
What Digital Content Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rich Johnson: One of the most difficult positions can be the beginning. But, the most potential starts there as well. Once you start down a path, inertia and career trajectory could keep you on that path for a while. Choose wisely... Always be curious and have an open mind. Try something for a while. Learn new skills, gain perspective and let the path unfold before you. A lot of jobs ask for a student to have work experience before they are willing to hire. This creates a dilemma too. One piece of advice that I give to my students is to do volunteer work in the direction that they would like their career to go. If you like the music industry, volunteer to create designs for the musicians and stages. Replace your college portfolio with work that involves collaboration and connects you to the community. Maybe your HR team might have seen that show and was impressed with your work. It can be hard to know when doors will open. The most important thing is to keep going. Don't let setbacks stop you.
What will help Digital Content Managers increase their earning potential?
Rich Johnson: Digital media covers a lot of mediums and requires many skill sets (print, static online, animation, interactive). The print arm is a lesser component although still valuable in the scope of marketing. Smartphones, tablets and gaming have moved a lot of digital into a customer expectation of interactive and customizable content. The present model of career specialization in a certain aspect of this spectrum of skills is changing. The age of the generalist is becoming more of a reality as design tools are becoming more accessible and A.I. is assisting in the more complex tasks. I would say that someone working in digital media will need to focus more on the big picture of design, predicting trends and developing solutions from a point of view with perspective. It will be even more important to understand the needs of a system from the top down and provide solutions that enhance that system. This might be through partnering with marketing and sales to conceptualize solutions, pitching product ideas and other functions related to creative and art direction. And be curious, all of the time. Keep up to date with everything that is happening. Take classes, watch tutorials, read articles and be obsessed with the breakneck rate of change. Digital media is constantly changing and possibilities are always expanding. It can be near impossible to be a master of all of these trajectories, but you can understand them well enough to bring in a specialist when the challenge requires it. This is where I predict that A.I. will be a major paradigm shift. There will be a time when you will ask the system to solve a problem, and you can choose what parts of the process that you want to control. So to boil it down... Develop a well rounded set of skills Further develop specialist level skills where you excel Keep on top of change and keep a thirst for learning Strengthen your connection to problem solving and creative innovation Keep an eye on the future predicting what might be around the bend
What general advice would you give to a Digital Content Manager?
Dr. Kaley Martin M.A. '16: For Digital Media degree graduates whether that’s in my field, Mass Communication, or other fields such as Communication Studies, Digital Filmmaking, Marketing, Social Media, etc. graduates need to have strong work portfolios entering the field. To gain that experience and portfolio work, I encourage students to join academic organizations that align with those interests and also turn every class assignment into an opportunity to gather portfolio work! I think at times students think “this is for a class only”, but really these are great opportunities to double-dip and get portfolio pieces while also completing your course work. Additionally, as much as you can, outside of the classroom create content in whatever medium fits your field of interest. Keep growing and practicing your craft so that your skills are continually worked like building muscle in a sense. Finally, entering the field, do not think your learning stops when you graduate. Our field is changing rapidly and constantly so you need to be plugged in to reputable organizations and resources that help you consistently grow in your chosen digital medium area to always be forward-thinking and able to move forward with our digital media ecosystem.
What Digital Content Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kaley Martin M.A. '16: As much as it pains me to say, artificial intelligence will be something to not only be familiar with, but something you need to take time to learn in whatever way that fleshes out for your area in the industry. AI content generation is NOT something I think we should be leaning in to because true creativity and talent is something uniquely human and what you are trained to do through your education, but knowledge of how AI affects your area is very important. For instance, be able to spot AI-generated content, be able to notice misinformation among AI-generated content, and be familiar with the processes and players in this space. Eventually, you’ll be hiring and you want to be able to spot a fake portfolio as well. Learning trends, developing that creative eye, and finding new, unique ways to create content is not going to come from AI any time soon, so I encourage new entrants to the industry to be trained professionals that can recognize when these technologies are in use and abused. Like a tool, they have their place, but a hammer did not build the house for the architect. The architect designed the house and the hammer helped execute that design plan so is AI as a tool for our field.
What will help Digital Content Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kaley Martin M.A. '16: The most important thing when negotiating salary in Digital Media fields is knowing your worth and pricing accordingly. So many freelance artists and newcomers tend to take lower salaries and rates due to creative work being culturally underpriced, but knowing you own worth and doing research will help you have those negotiation conversations. Additionally, knowing your worth means providing true value to those hiring you by showing you are bringing true skill, strategy, and artistry to the table — not just a degree. How are you using that degree to advance and innovate the field? My degree from the University of Montevallo, for instance, taught me as an undergraduate to be a consistent learner and be watchful of the changing tides of my field due to my university’s foundation in the liberal arts. Liberal arts foundations immerse students in not only their given area, but also expose them to diverse areas in the arts, sciences, humanities, business, and more. That allowed me to always examine how these areas intersect with my own and has made me a dynamic, sought-after, and decorated professional now. So, even if you are not coming from a liberal arts background, have that mindset about you on how I can show my true value to the employer and what I bring to the table that’s unique, different, and worth the money you are asking for. Also, if you are considering a degree in Digital Media, I strongly encourage you to research the paths we have for you here at the University of Montevallo.
Dr. Joseph Harasta Jr
Associate ProfessorKutztown University of Pennsylvania
Radio, Television, And Digital Communication
What will help Digital Content Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Joseph Harasta Jr: With so much focus on online presence today, digital media specialists are valued and key members of any organization’s marketing and publicity efforts. It’s hard to imagine any organization that can flourish today with at least some form on online content and presence. Many organizations that are too small to hire digital media specialists outright might consider hiring a consultant who can handle managing online content in a smaller way. That said, anyone getting into the digital media field has an array of options available to them whether it be for a standalone company, consulting firm that specializes in online presence, or freelance workers who take on several clients at the same time.
What general advice would you give to a Digital Content Manager?
Elizabeth Thomas: While the specific tasks will vary by industry, a Digital Media Specialist most often works with metrics and analytics tools/platforms to impact search results (search engine marketing) and increase search engine optimization (SEO). Additionally, this professional may be involved at every level of digital media, from developing content, to editing video, managing social media accounts, monitoring media platforms, curating web content, and even engaging with consumers.
What Digital Content Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Elizabeth Thomas: Digital media is still very fresh territory. It is ever-evolving. Companies, brands, and agencies are looking to hire talented professionals with any training or experience with these relatively new sets of tasks. The most experienced people working in the communications field did not learn how to work with newer digital media when they were being trained because these literally didn't exist when most started their careers. This is why there are currently more jobs available than there are qualified applicants to fill them. As a college professor teaching public relations and digital technologies, I encourage soon-to-be graduates to hone their skills in this area because the jobs are plentiful and their expertise is not only needed but will be rewarded.
Professor Cheryl Pilchik
Marketing at Cabrini U.Cabrini University
Business Administration, Management And Operations
What general advice would you give to a Digital Content Manager?
Professor Cheryl Pilchik: Dress to impress for interviews. Consider the benefits offered by the company, not just the compensation. Use the position as a steppingstone in your field to a second job in the future.
What Digital Content Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Cheryl Pilchik: Look at all the benefits offered by the company, such as medical, holidays, 401K, etc. Also, consider using the position as a steppingstone in your field to a second job in the near future.
What will help Digital Content Managers increase their earning potential?
Professor Cheryl Pilchik: Within Marketing, social media is still huge. There are many types of jobs within social media, including being an expert social media guru at an ad agency. I advise all students to be prepared and sign up for online courses if needed.
Sally Baalbaki-Yassine Ph.D.
Department Chair, Professor and Digital Marketing Program DirectorMetropolitan State University of Denver
Marketing
What Digital Content Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Sally Baalbaki-Yassine Ph.D.: Digital Marketing is booming, so knowing how to use AI to make your work more efficient is very important. AI will not replace you, but the person who knows how to use AI better than you will replace you. Communication skills are also very important, knowing how to communicate (which includes good listening skills) is important in any marketing role.
What Digital Content Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Aimée Myers Ph.D.: Digital literacy, multimedia creating/editing, intercultural communication, content curation/management.
What general advice would you give to a Digital Content Manager?
Kara Alaimo PhD: The communication landscape is always changing. The social media platforms that are popular right now may not even exist by the time my students graduate, and of course they're always changing their algorithms and the kinds of content they prioritize, so professional communicators can never get too comfortable in their work. Therefore, one of the most important skills to acquire is how to stay on top of all these changes, keep learning how different platforms work, and come up with creative ideas to use on them.
What general advice would you give to a Digital Content Manager?
Ann Amicucci Ph.D.: You can maximize your earning potential at the start of your career by gaining diverse experience. Seek internship opportunities that complement but don't repeat what you're learning in college so you can show employers how your internship stretched what you're able to do. If you haven't graduated yet, look for classes that will enhance the type of employee you can be. For example, adding a course in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, cross-cultural communication, interpersonal communication, marketing, or leadership and talking about what you've learned in that course in an interview will show employers that you're thinking broadly about what it means to write and communicate effectively in a workplace.
Professor Steve Vinson
Director of Undergraduate StudiesIndiana University Bloomington
Middle/Near Eastern And Semitic Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What Digital Content Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Steve Vinson: Digital skills, especially AI.
What will help Digital Content Managers increase their earning potential?
Professor Steve Vinson: By being flexible, and by standing out. Cultivate multiple skills that complement your area studies/language skills, especially digital skills.
What will help Digital Content Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Adam Davis: Work with emergent media; learn how to work words beyond writing: podcasts & video, web design, social media, blogging. These are skills easily acquired through YouTube and of great interest to employers. AI is not to be feared, but to be understood and used, and employers are going to be interested when you tell them you know how to make it work for them.
What Digital Content Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Doris Frye: Employers consistently tell us that effective communication is both a skill in high demand and one that is often lacking in employees. English majors enter the workforce with exceptional communication and critical thinking skills that are already valued. With the explosion of A.I., these skills will become even more important; English majors' facility with language will become all the more essential. The ability to adapt and respond to A.I. tools will be essential going forward for those with English degrees.
What general advice would you give to a Digital Content Manager?
Chris Carter: I would recommend playing up their value as critical analysts and researchers who can synthesize information in accessible ways. I would tell them to be open to all kinds of writing opportunities, whether technical, journalistic, or editorial, watching for possibilities in online and print venues alike. English majors' detective skills suit them well to museums and libraries, but also to private and governmental organizations that need shrewd investigators. Turning interpretive savvy into pithy prose and presentations can be great for public relations, and a penchant for lucid communication can set graduates up for podcasting and social media management. Some people might turn those talents toward careers in law or marketing. Others might continue their paths as creative writers and cultural critics, though it's worth noting that full-time, tenure-track jobs in English Departments are hard to come by.
What Digital Content Manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Chris Carter: With the rise of ChatGPT and large language models, English majors will need to clarify how human writers, editors, and analysts can enrich machine-generated content. They do well to practice prompt engineering and gradual conditioning of machine responses, but they also need to be diligent readers who can spot bad AI syntheses. This means correcting faulty information stemming from data aggregation, for sure, but also spotting cultural biases that machines replicate when drawing on preexisting texts. Those texts carry with them the values and assumptions of the people who initially produced them, with ChatGPT reflecting and potentially amplifying the inequities that plague human cultures. The need for ethical intervention is quite urgent, then, and that's where English majors tend to excel. Such intervention will concern not only the accuracy and political tilt of information, but the question of whose language and style count as standard. Writing technologies have always been bound up with power relations. DEI-oriented humanists and English majors will have plenty of opportunities to address those problems as AI becomes more embedded in workplaces and public institutions.
What will help Digital Content Managers increase their earning potential?
Chris Carter: First, I would say cast a wide net. Be willing to move places where your skillset can serve flourishing organizations and companies. Keep up with trends in the tech industry and frame your writing, design, and research skills in ways that highlight your versatility. Use your storytelling gifts to emphasize your resourcefulness and ability to complete complex tasks. Also think of those skills as relevant to the work of marketing, entertainment, talent development, legal services, business administration, and patient care. More important than any of that, remember to maintain a marathon mentality as you enter the workforce. Other pursuits may garner better pay right out of the gate, but Humanities graduates see their earning potential grow considerably over the course of a career, frequently outdistancing majors in other fields.
Brock Zehr
Associate Professor of Business & Economics and MBA DirectorHuntington University
Religion/Religious Studies
What general advice would you give to a Digital Content Manager?
Brock Zehr: Social media content development, data analytics, and quality video content generation will all be in greater demand. Employers tell me that the "soft skills" of being a team player, excellent communication skills, integrity, and a strong work ethic are still valued skills.
Abhijit Roy
Professor of MarketingUniversity of Scranton
School of Management
What soft skills should all Digital Content Managers possess?
Abhijit Roy: These are very important, yet harder to quantify skills, not only for marketing professionals but for business graduates in general. They include the ability to make sound decisions under pressure, having a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) as embodied by having empathy towards coworkers and subordinates, delegating appropriately, mentoring, communicating, time management, maintaining positivity despite setbacks and adapting to unforeseen challenges, being flexible, being persuasive and assertive at appropriate moments, yet being collaborative, seeking feedback, and the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts when needed, amongst others.
Soft skills are typically more instrumental in enabling candidates to fit into an organization's culture and be strong candidates for promotion. Most marketing jobs involve candidates representing their brand initiatives and building strong client relationships, so interpersonal, and other soft skills are often valued more than hard skills. The strongest case for having excellent soft skills is that they are more easily transferable across various jobs and industries.
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Houston - Downtown
Marilyn Davies College of Business
What soft skills should all Digital Content Managers possess?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: The need for soft skills are consistent through time. With our societal focus on social media, texting, emojis, etc. It appears to me companies are looking for the following:
- Active listening skills
- Willingness to be self-reflective and accept feedback
- Accept different perspectives. The collision of ideas creates knowledge
- Communicate to the listener (at their level). Flex communicators
- Cultural intelligence. Demographics changes will require better understanding of team member's, boss', customer's, etc. cultural context
How have salaries changed over time for Digital Content Managers?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: - There is a small trend in sales to minimize variable comp and increase salaries. There are a few (15 or so) Silicon Valley companies limiting commissions and focusing more on salaries
- You see a correlation between higher salaries and more complex sales processes. I see that trend continuing as more transactional sales will be automated
- Increase in pay for inside sales agents as more and more sales are being handled by inside sales agents (thanks to tech and change in buying behaviors)
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Content Manager job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: You are already seeing these trends, which will increase in the months to come:
- More remote work away from an office. Flexibility will be key for employees with more control over their time and schedule
- The increase of video in all stages of a business. We feel more comfortable communicating via all the video communication options
- More application of AI and machine learning. Companies are finally figuring out its better to work smart
- Automated personality identification. For example, Crystal Knows can provide a person's DISC profile based on an individual's LinkedIn profile. This type of information will be used by recruiters to determine fit, plus at all other departments
- Training at all levels to accommodate virtual, technology, and cultural changes
- The need for individuals at all levels of an organization to possess (based on the level) analytical skills. Data is king and there is more and more demand for individuals who can identify, interpret, and implement decisions based on complex data analysis.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Digital Content Managers?
Anthony Cuomo: We have changed the ways in which we communicate with each other. Now, more than ever, we know that technology is pervasive and has revolutionized the way we communicate personally and professionally. Virtual interviews, online group meetings and presentations are the new norm. Job seekers who are able to communicate effectively online will have an advantage in our new context. I don't think Zoom meetings or Skype are going away any time soon. So, practicing how to sustain eye contact with a camera, being personable and communicating enthusiasm virtually will set you apart from other applicants.
What's a good job out of college for Digital Content Managers?
Anthony Cuomo: A job that you are passionate about and helps you begin your journey. Pursue jobs that spark your interest and also provide opportunities to learn, grow and seek out mentorship. Think long term and how you a strengthening your professional foundation while also providing opportunities to support yourself and your lifestyle.
What will help Digital Content Managers increase their earning potential?
Anthony Cuomo: Personally, every unpaid opportunity I pursued early on in my career led to a paid opportunity in the future. We should know our worth and expect our labor to be compensated, but we should also look at the bigger picture and identify service opportunities, volunteering and working outside of our required job duties provide new prospective, skills and a chance to develop our resumes. It pays off in the future.
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.
Professor of Marketing and Fellow, American Council on EducationBerea College
Economics and Business Department
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Digital Content Managers?
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.: There is little doubt that workers will continue some of their work remotely. This was a trend already underway before the pandemic that was greatly accelerated during the pandemic. In marketing specifically, many businesses had to shift business to online that had not been online before. It is likely that this will also have a lasting impact on how business is conducted. This was particularly true in the service industry and in arts and entertainment. The big take-home lesson for marketing graduates is that digital literacy has never been more important. All marketers are digital marketers, to some degree or another, today.
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Digital Content Managers?
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.: Digital marketing skills are essential for any area of marketing. Luckily there are many online certifications available for this purpose. On the research side, Google Analytics offers a certification. It will also be valuable to know the analytics platforms on social media sites such as facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Conversely, all of these sites also offer training on digital advertising and promotion, such as Google AdWords. Any coursework in digital marketing that provides instruction in Search Engine Marketing (SEM) will also be highly valuable. Finally, digital video and editing skills are also quite valuable, as all kinds of companies and organizations are using the short video format for storytelling and brand advertising.
What will help Digital Content Managers increase their earning potential?
J. Ian Norris Ph.D.: No matter what area of marketing you are working in--in fact, no matter what job you are working in at all, statistical literacy is essential. There is so much data out there that data literacy will confer significant competitive advantage to those who can leverage it. This doesn't mean everyone has to be able to do regression modeling, but being able to interpret correlational patterns and draw actionable meaning from it will be a foundational skill. A big bonus would be some basic coding skills. Finally, it is worth mentioning that while most social media marketing still happens on Facebook, it will be essential to know platforms such as Instagram and TikTok for any products or services targeted to younger consumers.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Digital Content Managers?
Dr. Veronica Radeva Dawson Ph.D.: According to Nicholas A. Christakis, the author of "Apollo's Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of the Coronavirus on the Way We Live," the coronavirus pandemic will have long lasting impact on the economy, new graduates job market, and the processes of doing work for everyone (among other things). While we are already hearing about projections of the economy coming back stronger than ever in late 2021, those seem to refer to the stock market, and the stock market isn't the job market. I expect that our graduates will have a harder time getting that first professional position as companies are trying to figure out how work will be done, especially in the near future. So, my advice is to remain flexible and focus on gaining experience, even if it happens that it isn't in a graduate's "dream career." Communication remains the top skill sought after by employers, regardless of occupation (see for example, LinkedIn's 2020 Grad Guide to Getting Hired ) and our graduates are obviously in a unique position to claim expertise in this area.
What's a day at work look like for a Digital Content Manager?
Dr. Veronica Radeva Dawson Ph.D.: A day at work for a recent graduate could look much like a day at school, if the student went to one of the universities where instruction remained virtual. Most job ads at this time, still come out as "temporarily offsite," which means that new hires would work from home. And while recent graduates might have the hang of using Zoom or Microsoft Teams to get their work done, working remotely comes with its own set of challenges. Perhaps most relevant for a new hire is the different onboarding experience and the absence of traditional socialization activities and learning processes (onsite trainings, social gatherings, and impromptu Q&A sessions with co-workers). I think that this precisely (remote organizational socialization) would be one of the biggest challenges for companies that choose to embrace a remote workforce for the foreseeable future. Additionally, familiar challenges from the virtual classroom would remain, such as mastering time management, fostering self-motivation, and avoiding overwhelm and burnout.
What will help Digital Content Managers increase their earning potential?
Dr. Veronica Radeva Dawson Ph.D.: As the Internships Coordinator for our department, I have seen an increased demand for communication studies majors who are able to contribute in the areas of web design, videography, photography, and digital media/ graphic design, in addition to more traditional areas, such as public relations. So, I would recommend that prior to graduation students seek out opportunities to take courses that may help them in these areas. Not many Communication Studies programs offer such courses as part of their curriculum, although some might. One of the surest ways to increase earning potential, especially in a time of economic recession, is through more education. This could mean securing a spot in a graduate program where students can mature and hone their interests and skills. Over time, an employee with a graduate degree will earn more (money, opportunities) than someone without one. I do want to caution students and new graduates about going the graduate school route over the job experience route, however, as it comes with a cost, financial of course, but also in terms of work experience. To some degree, and especially early in someone's career, employers value specialized work experience over graduate education.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Content Manager job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Ryan Stouffer: I think the job market we've seen a lot of different trends here that kind of happened since the pandemic. On the one hand we've seen a lot more opportunity actually believe it or not, so many more organizations realize they need to. Get into social media and they get into the Internet, and they need to tell their stories online right. That's how we're connecting with customers right now is online platforms, as opposed to the traditional you know foot traffic or you know billboards on roads advertisements on radio things like that so.
On one hand there's a lot more opportunity because so many more organizations realize they need to connect and they need to get in this space and the need to tell her story. And to there's a lot more opportunity because space boundaries have kind of been removed as a barrier for a lot of employment and the communication studies field, because. Now I mean with digital technology is everyone working from home it doesn't really matter if you're working in turning whatever for someone in San Francisco or someone. In Virginia, you can still do that job here through these technologies here, so one example of that I grew up in the middle of nowhere Michigan and my mother works at the Chamber of Commerce right now. And they had some staffing issues and so actually got an intern from Virginia who's now working for my local county. Small county and Michigan so there's been kind of that increase, of course, the pandemics also had some harmful effects on the job field here there's just so much more uncertainty right now organizations i'm think are expanding as much.
Also, a lot of students, want to get into the sports world via either broadcasting camera work technical side of things, social media. So many different aspects of course the sports world is just in a huge state of upheaval, especially the smaller sports world where a lot of our students go, you know smaller baseball teams minor league soccer teams. Things like that so there's been kind of that just upheaval in the lack of ability to plan, so I think of a lot of organizations just aren't hiring right now, just because they're kind of holding steady and waiting for the US to move on here, so I can see those the double edged sword has as many things in the world, here or yes there's been definitely some.