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Job outlook for digital media consultants in the United States
Digital media consultant job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected digital media consultant job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 22,300 new jobs for digital media consultants are projected over the next decade.
Digital media consultant salaries have increased 8% for digital media consultants in the last 5 years.
There are over 9,803 digital media consultants currently employed in the United States.
There are 31,012 active digital media consultant job openings in the US.
The average digital media consultant salary is $74,169.
Are digital media consultant jobs in demand?
Digital media consultant job and salary trends over time
Digital media consultant jobs over time
Digital media consultant job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9,803 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 10,141 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 10,700 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 10,577 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 10,459 | 0.00% |
Average digital media consultant salary over time
Digital media consultant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $74,169 | $35.66 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | $72,209 | $34.72 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $70,851 | $34.06 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | $70,025 | $33.67 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $68,513 | $32.94 | +2.2% |
Digital media consultant jobs by state
Most common states for digital media consultants
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 239 | 34% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 217 | 25% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 85 | 14% |
| 4 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 658 | 13% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 511 | 13% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 134 | 13% |
| 7 | Delaware | 961,939 | 123 | 13% |
| 8 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 796 | 12% |
| 9 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 329 | 11% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 146 | 11% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 307 | 10% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 483 | 9% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 369 | 9% |
| 14 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 93 | 9% |
| 15 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 67 | 9% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 53 | 9% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,047 | 8% |
| 18 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 134 | 8% |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 847 | 7% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 264 | 7% |
Digital Media Consultant job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of digital media consultant experts
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Murray State University
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Indiana University Bloomington
Webster University
University of North Texas
Webster University
Dominican University of California
Boston University
Saint Leo University
Florida Atlantic University
Bryan College
Endicott College
Temple University
Dillard University
Pennsylvania State University - Erie (The Behrend College)
LSUS Shreveport
University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
College of New Jersey
Old Dominion University
Dr. Joseph Harasta Jr
Associate ProfessorKutztown University of Pennsylvania
Radio, Television, And Digital Communication
What Digital Media Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Joseph Harasta Jr: Because digital media specialists must adhere to the brand and image of an organization, some might feel stifled as far as what they can and cannot do from a creative standpoint. Also, once something is put out in the online world, it’s there forever and of course can be seen by millions of people, so any mistake or misstep is not likely to go away quickly or easily. We all know that the online world, especially social media can be rather toxic and negative in nature, therefore it can take someone with a bit of thick skin to deal with critics or trolls who just wait for any mistake to bounce. Digital media specialists must work in a oftentimes nasty environment that is the internet.
What Digital Media Consultant 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.
Sally Baalbaki-Yassine Ph.D.
Department Chair, Professor and Digital Marketing Program DirectorMetropolitan State University of Denver
Marketing
What Digital Media Consultant 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.
Professor Steve Vinson
Director of Undergraduate StudiesIndiana University Bloomington
Middle/Near Eastern And Semitic Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What Digital Media Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Steve Vinson: Digital skills, especially AI.
Rebecca Guth-Metzler
Assistant Professor of ChemistryWebster University
Radio, Television, And Digital Communication
What Digital Media Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Rebecca Guth-Metzler: The integration of captured media such as sound and image recordings with computer-assisted elements will continue to define the digital creator toolbox, and I believe that motion graphics, visual effects, image retouching, sound design, and especially what we're now calling "virtual cinema production" will all continue to grow in importance in the next few years.
Brittany McElroy
Senior LecturerUniversity of North Texas
Mayborn School of Journalism
What skills stand out on Digital Media Consultant resumes?
Brittany McElroy: The most important thing is to be able to do everything. The days of super-specialized jobs where you could learn to do just one or two things are gone. A diverse skill set is so important. The second thing I would say students graduating and wanting to work in any kind of media need is a really good understanding of audiences. There is so much competition for people's attention that you will not be successful if you don't identify your niche, understand how to capture its attention, and keep it.
Sung Eun Park
Assistant Professor, Advertising and Marketing CommunicationsWebster University
Communications & Journalism
What skills stand out on Digital Media Consultant resumes?
Sung Eun Park: Companies hiring marketing consultants look for someone with strong communication and leadership skills that can translate to great candidates. In addition, a strong background in data analysis will definitely stand out from other candidates. Unlike many beliefs, people who get jobs as marketing consultant comes from various education backgrounds including advertising and English major. It is an indication that companies are open to people with diverse perspectives that can bring fresh eyes to the team. The resumes showcasing a person with various experiences highlighting strong leadership skills (not just strictly marketing) in a team environment will get noticed.
What soft skills should all Digital Media Consultants possess?
Sung Eun Park: In a marketing team, time management and communication will still be valued a lot, given that a lot of projects are contingent on timeliness. These skills are also tied to social skills within a team that ultimately helps the team's performance. Team members spend a lot of time together working on a project, so it is essential that they work in a team that offers support while encouraged to voice their opinion without prejudice. In sum, strong interpersonal skills are critical.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Digital Media Consultants?
Sung Eun Park: It depends on the type of work the company does but usually marketing department will benefit from having someone with excellent data analysis skills. Understanding where and how to get the data, analyzing the given data, and understanding the significance of the findings will be crucial in marketing. For example, spotting outliers from data and how the outliers should be interpreted regarding the market situation could play a role for the consultant. Any certificates demonstrating their skills in data and trend analysis would help.
What skills will help Digital Media Consultants earn the most?
Sung Eun Park: Although marketing is often viewed as a discipline with hard data, those successful in the field get most of their success by being creative and strategic thinkers. Even with the help of data available, your marketing plan may not generate great success. Often you need to have different and novel perspectives to make things more niche. Those who have a good understanding of data analysis with a creative and strategic approach to the problem will make the most of their career in marketing.
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Communications, Coordinator, Online Learning and Development, Chair of the Communications and Media Studies DepartmentDominican University of California
Communication and Media Studies
What skills will help Digital Media Consultants earn the most?
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.: The hard skills (audio and video) usually get you the job, but the soft skills allow you to keep it and grow!
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Media Consultant job market given the pandemic?
V. Scott Solberg Ph.D.: The job market is increasingly being shaped by a 4th Industrial Revolution (4th IR) that places a premium on seeking individuals with "deeper human" skills as well as critical technical skills. The 4th IR work setting involves specialized teams of individuals collaborating on projects. Those graduating with a four-year degree from a liberal arts major such as Communication have the necessary foundation for entering the 4 IR because they possess a number of these specialized, more profound, human skills such as empathy and compassion, complex communication, collaboration and teamwork, active listening, and time management. To expand one's employability, further specialization can be achieved by adding vital technical skills such as a certification in graphic design, project management, and data science.
Something that new college graduates often miss is the value of personal branding. Personal branding involves knowing what specialized skills they bring to an organization and, more importantly, what value they will get to a given project team. And, graduates should expect that their "work" may involve time-limited or part-time projects. Therefore, they need to be engaged in career management by seeking new projects that continue to build and expand their more excellent human and technical skills to be attractive when seeking new occupational opportunities.
As far as job sector trends, generally, there is high demand in healthcare, data sciences, and STEM. And these may vary depending on where one lives in the United States. With Covid-19, the world is learning the value of working virtually. Many companies are closing their offices and supporting their employees to "live anywhere" as long as they have a good internet connection. This is fantastic for those wanting to live near family or in rural areas in the United States. While we do have many places that struggle with internet access, several rural areas are doing well. The point is that your location may be less of a burden for finding employment. Upon graduation, many occupations will enable one to travel and live in new places as long as they can stay connected online.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Digital Media Consultants in the next 3-5 years?
V. Scott Solberg Ph.D.: It is essential to dive in and learn advanced uses for the necessary technologies we use every day, such as Microsoft, Google, and related platforms. Understanding database management systems, statistical packages, and graphic design will enable one to learn how to generate and communicate data. Learning technologies associated with engaging in project management are also a good investment. The key is to continuously keep up with trends in technology to gain an edge in being able to demonstrate the unique skills and qualities you will be adding to an organization and project team.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Digital Media Consultants in the next 5 years?
V. Scott Solberg Ph.D.: Focusing on finding the right occupation that will last forever is no longer the effective career management strategy, especially for someone graduating with a liberal arts degree such as Communication. What is useful is developing an entrepreneurial attitude whereby each occupation is pursued because it aligns and adds to one's collection of more profound human and advanced technology skills. Using systems such as O*NET enables one to track how one's personal brand and skills are transferable across occupation sectors, thereby expanding one's future employability.
What type of skills will young Digital Media Consultants need?
Dr. John Lax: The real timeline is not the "coming years," as what graduates need five years from now will not be the same skillset they need in the next year or two. The industry, and its technologies, are changing that quickly. The most important long-term skills they need are adapting to the changing marketing ecosphere, a willingness to learn new skills and technologies quickly, and understanding how to find and apply those skills. With that said, there are three types of current skills required to get hired coming out of college.
First, technical and analytical skills. If you lack the necessary computing and data analysis skills, you will not be competitive. Second, marketing managers will be looking for creativity and innovative solutions to reach consumers. If you want to cut through the messaging clutter, you must craft and implement new message strategies. Finally, all employers will expect the "power skills" (what were once soft skills), such as communication, teamwork, collaboration, and adaptability. These can be challenging to learn in classes, so internships and campus organizations are so critical.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Digital Media Consultants to find work opportunities?
Dr. John Lax: A story goes that a reporter once asked Willie Sutton why he robbed banks, to which he replied, "That's where the money is." The information is likely apocryphal and probably created by the reporter himself. However, the lesson is valuable. All firms use marketing, so the question is less about geography than personal interests and passion. New graduates should look for jobs in cities or regions with a wealth of firms in the industries that excite and interest them. If your love is hospitality or tourism, Florida is a natural choice. New grads with interests in technology should look at tech hubs such as Silicon Valley; Austin, Texas; and the North Carolina research triangle. Begin your search by identifying two or three industries that genuinely interest you, remember the cities or regions that support those industries, and search for firms accordingly. Your search is not about geography-it is about finding your perfect fit.
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Media Consultants in the next 5 years?
Dr. John Lax: For most of the 20th century, and even the early 21st, marketing relied on a model of "one to many." The advertiser created ads or promotions that were designed to reach a mass audience using mass media. Everyone got the same message. In the last few years, marketing has done a 180-degree turn to a "many to one" model. Most advertisers now have access to massive quantities of data to craft highly personalized marketing messages, resulting in a "many to one" marketing ecosystem. Many firms, even relatively small ones, can access the data and send consumers a promotion "just for them." Technology, notably AI (artificial intelligence) and massive cloud databases, will continue to refine this process and make it cheaper and more accessible. This means that even small firms will begin to employ these strategies. You will not need to be working for Amazon, Google, or Facebook to require a working knowledge of how these technologies impact your firm.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Digital Media Consultant job market given the pandemic?
Eileen P. Acello: Companies are continuing to pivot as well as speed up innovation that may have been on the back burner. Delivery services, curbside pick-up, and on-line ordering will be the norm. Any service that makes our lives easier and keeps us contact-free will continue to grow. Virtual offices, as well as on-line education, will continue to grow, making our home/office/classroom synonymous. Home improvements to make our lives more functional and comfortable is another growing trend.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Digital Media Consultants in the next 3-5 years?
Eileen P. Acello: I see artificial intelligence and virtual technology as huge growth areas in the field of marketing. Many companies are using this type of technology already, but I see it becoming mainstream.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Digital Media Consultants in the next 5 years?
Eileen P. Acello: Marketing is a field that will continue to grow and splinter into many new directions with more increased technology. Finding new ways to connect with the customer using the latest technology is imperative. The attributes of a product/service will always need to be promoted to its target audience.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Digital Media Consultants?
Britney Wyatt: During the pandemic, we've seen an increase in remote work and remote job interviews. I think many companies are seeing the value of remote work and that there are probably many positions that were once in office that will remain remote in the future. I also think students can expect to see more video conferencing style interviews and potentially on-boarding and job training conducted via video conferencing. These methods are less expensive and time-consuming for companies, and I see the cost and time savings influencing companies to keep these methods around permanently.
What type of skills will young Digital Media Consultants need?
Britney Wyatt: Soft skills are essential for graduates. The ability to seek out information, vet that information, and troubleshoot on their own is imperative. Employers in marketing and other fields have expressed the need for students to have these abilities, and some of my recent graduates have provided the same feedback. The ability to quickly adapt to changes in the market, marketing trends, and rapidly developing technology is also vital. In addition, graduates need to be able to function in diverse and remote teams. Marketing has been global for a while now and requires individuals to work with others both locally and globally. With the pandemic, even local teams are functioning remotely. Graduates need to be able to effectively communicate and collaborate virtually and be flexible with how and when they are available.
What experience really stands out on Digital Media Consultant resumes?
Britney Wyatt: Relevant internships are still one of the best ways to make one's resume stand out. While skills are important, internships illustrate the ability to apply those skills in a work setting. With the pandemic, we've seen many internships get canceled or moved to remote positions, so competition for internships is high. However, I still recommend students participate in multiple internships. This shows initiative and the ability to apply skills. International internships and experiences also stand out.
What experience really stands out on Digital Media Consultant resumes?
Cherie Lynch: Students must be armed with a highly customized resume that speaks directly to the target opportunity. Candidates will stand out by telling their story through high-impact experiences that directly connect to the skills needed for today's projects. Recent experiences should demonstrate the flexibility of mind and nimbleness of skill that is needed everywhere at this time. Experience using tools for social media marketing such as Hootsuite and Buffer, for productivity (Evernote, Google Drive), workplace communication (Slack, Trello), and marketing image/design tools (Canva and Piktochart) are great to highlight and to demonstrate productivity in recent remote or semi-remote projects. New hires can even take the lead on training others in the workplace in using certain tools that have not yet been adopted by the organization.
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Media Consultants in the next 5 years?
Cherie Lynch: Online living has escalated, and with this, there is a greater reliance on digital platforms for service and for marketing. Our employer partners are talking about key trends such as digital convergence, personalization, content marketing, video, and AI.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Digital Media Consultants?
Cherie Lynch: Students are graduating into an uncertain job market and will need to make adjustments to align their search with industry needs. Many students have also acquired unique qualities that will positively distinguish them from their slightly older peers who graduated into stronger job markets. They will embody key qualities that employers highly value and that are typically hard to find in candidates: flexibility, resiliency, and creative problem-solving. Those students who completed remote class projects and internships in their senior year have also already gained experience in working remotely, using new collaboration platforms, and needing to solve problems in real-time that are indeterminate and changing. In other words, they will be extremely well-positioned for the jobs of the future. I also expect that, having "grown-up," as it were, working virtually, that they will expect this as a work option in the future. With that, these young professionals will also be interested in taking advantage of opportunities that are geographically-neutral; they will take a more national, rather than a regional, approach to their job search.
What type of skills will young Digital Media Consultants need?
Sheri Lambert: Marketers and businesses need to keep their finger on the pulse of what their customers are looking for. Market research and customer insights are a critical way to help with that. To ensure that students have the skills they need to thrive in an environment that updates faster than a Twitter feed, new market hires need to provide the insights and stories behind the data with a curriculum that combines marketing management, research, and strategy with data business analytics.
Graduates coming out of higher-ed institutions need to display that they have been exposed to peer-to-peer learning through case studies, class activities, and real-world problems through experiential learning. In today's fast-paced, agile world of marketing, science and technology are the names of the game. Therefore, graduates must have a strong knowledge base at the intersection of science, and art and data, and creativity. Companies want new hires that are looking at marketing through a scientific lens. Companies are looking for candidates that can handle the job market's unique responsibilities and display agile leadership qualities.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Digital Media Consultants to find work opportunities?
Sheri Lambert: Whether agency or fortune 500 companies, opportunities are plentiful for graduates. And given the "virtual" aspect and nature of the world we live in, graduates are not bound by geographic location.
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Media Consultants in the next 5 years?
Sheri Lambert: In marketing, we see a continuation of digital transformation. The upward trend has always been there, but COVID has pushed the fast-forward button. Graduates entering the workforce need to have a mastery of data, analytics, optimization, modeling, gamification, and data modeling tools. Recent graduates have an advantage because they are comfortable using newer technologies and have been communicating virtually their whole lives - they are true digital natives. They can take what they've learned and apply it immediately.
Dr. Dorian Williams Ph.D.
Interim Dean of the College of Business, Assistant Professor of EconomicsDillard University
College of Business
What type of skills will young Digital Media Consultants need?
Dr. Dorian Williams Ph.D.: In Marketing, young graduates will need to possess the ability to research target areas and forecast potential sales opportunities in various sectors of the economy. Their skills will be required in the regions which have been significantly impacted by the current COVID-19 pandemic. These areas will be much needed in the transportation and tourism industry and sales in various sectors. More than ever, marketing graduates will be required to build confidence in product brand and safety. Additionally, marketing graduates should have the communicative skills to promote, encourage, and highlight its products and services. Marketing majors should know that, more than ever, their ability to help build consumer confidence will be valuable to all companies as we move forward into an economy challenged consumer market. Lastly, graduates should also possess the ability to work in various teams. The company's goals and objectives will include multiple inputs and ideas; therefore, marketing graduates should be able to collaboratively work with multiple areas of the company to ensure that the product/service is highlighted to encompass the integrity, vision, and goal of the organization.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Digital Media Consultants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Dorian Williams Ph.D.: As mentioned in question 1, marketing graduates should see an increased desire for their services in those areas that have been significantly impacted due to the pandemic's economic strain. Much of these areas would consist of sites that need increased marketing strategies, geared toward influencing consumer spending and confidence. Some of the places that may require additional marketing graduates would be in high tourism areas, such as the Gulf Coastal areas. These areas have significantly been affected by the pandemic and the decrease in travel due to seasonal occurrences, such as storms. The need for marketing graduates may also be seen in areas with the most significant population growth increases. Some of these areas will be in Texas, Louisiana, California, Florida, and the Atlantic coastal states.
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Media Consultants in the next 5 years?
Dr. Dorian Williams Ph.D.: As many companies are starting to experience, the marketing profession is becoming more digital. Therefore, advancements in technology in marketing will continue to grow, due to the need and desire of companies wanting to expand their reach to consumers and new business opportunities. We already see the expansion of digital marketing in university and college curriculum and the increase in the digital space, given consumers' willingness to purchase goods and services through online sources. With the digital reach, technology has allowed companies to promote, sell, and potentially influence consumers; we will only see the area of digital marketing expanding. Marketing graduates will have to know how to navigate the digital environment and forecast the changes technology will have on the potential to market their prospective companies and industries with the changes in consumer behavior.
Mary Beth Pinto
ProfessorPennsylvania State University - Erie (The Behrend College)
Department of Marketing
What general advice would you give to a Digital Media Consultant?
Mary Beth Pinto: Competition is tough. Job openings in many industries are few and far between. But don't give up. Now is the time for strength and courage. Ask yourself, "What is my competitive differential advantage?" Why should an employer give your resume a second look? What is unique about you and your skillset? Creating YOUR brand is NOW more important than ever! Find your passion. Take time to develop the "right" skillsets for the path you want to take. Remember, your career path is organic. There will be twists and turns-network all along the way.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Digital Media Consultants in the next 3-5 years?
Mary Beth Pinto: Realize where you start will not necessarily be where you end up. If I really knew the answer to this question, I would be a millionaire. I think that remote technologies are going to improve greatly - ZOOM isn't the miracle solution. I don't think that we will ever go back to the office-based presence in the pre-COVID world. Graduates need to learn how not only to work well in teams but work well in teams remotely. Creativity and collaboration are key in the workplace. So any technology that supports both will be critical.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Digital Media Consultants, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Mary Beth Pinto: Phenomenal. I can't believe the high salaries that firms are paying out today. But, it comes at a cost - that is, MUCH MUCH is demanded. Our mobile 24-7 technology creates a space for continual on-demand access. College students today hate email - they are all about texting, Instagram, and other social platforms. The high salaries demand that new hires are ready to perform!
Dr. Mohamad A. Darrat
Assistant Professor of MarketingLSUS Shreveport
Department of Management & Marketing
What general advice would you give to a Digital Media Consultant?
Dr. Mohamad A. Darrat: The job market has proven to be ever more competitive, especially in a post-COVID environment. Therefore, marketing graduates should differentiate themselves from others by learning skill sets many employers look for in job candidates. The ability to collect, analyze, present, and interpret data is a skillset that is in high demand by employers.
Unfortunately, a common stereotype among employers is that Marketing, and Business students, in general, graduate with weak quantitative backgrounds. To break this stereotype, Marketing graduates should not only rely on school to teach them valuable skills in analytics. Graduates should seek out additional training and certifications to beef up their resume. Companies such as Kaggle, DataCamp, and Udemy are great places to start learning about important tools used by organizations to analyze data. For Marketing graduates, I highly recommend learning Tableau and R, two powerful data visualization and statistical tools, commonly used by many organizations.
Thomas Campbell Ph.D.
Vice Chair, Associate Professor (Playwriting/Dramaturgy)University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Department of Theatre & Dance
What Digital Media Consultant skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Thomas Campbell Ph.D.: If a graduate needs to take a gap year, what skills would you recommend to enhance, and how should they go about doing it? - Again, I think this depends on your area of expertise; the industry is always evolving and growing, and you need to be evolving and growing with it. So if you're taking a gap year, try to stay involved or engaged in some way. Ideally, you'd be involved in the production and exercising your skills. Still, if that can't happen, you can stay engaged in other ways - help do props for your local community theatre or even volunteer as an usher. If nothing else, you should always be reading about what's happening in the field. Not just Broadway either - what plays and what work is being done in regional cities. Get your hands on and read the new plays coming out, watch the videos released (full productions, interviews, promotional and dramaturgical videos, too), and read the available reviews. Keep your head in the game, even if you're unable to work the way you want to be doing.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Digital Media Consultants in the next 3-5 years?
Thomas Campbell Ph.D.: What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years? We're always going to need tried and true methods, but this year has taught us that we need to expand our understanding and embrace digital media. I've had many conversations with colleagues throughout the country, and we've all expressed a desire for a deeper understanding and more people who are trained in video editing, sound mixing for digital performance, digital design, and performance for virtual venues are just a few of the areas being discussed. Again, we're always going to have live performances. Still, the pandemic has broadened our understanding of what theatre can do, and we need to embrace and teach those technologies as much as we are in the traditional forms. I also think students need to be adept at video editing and presenting their work in digital venues. The pandemic has been hard on all of us -- personally and professionally - but we've entered a new reality, and "going back to normal" may be unobtainable, so we need to work in these new mediums and find ways to use them to enhance the work we're doing.
What experience really stands out on Digital Media Consultant resumes?
Thomas Campbell Ph.D.: What experience stands out on resumes? - It depends on the show we're working on and what roles we're trying to fill. Like any profession, your resume needs to be geared to the position you're applying for. Going through resumes can be a tedious task, and we want to be thorough, so it's difficult when we come across a summary and have to figure out how you may be a good fit for our project. Now, in general, I like seeing a mixture of high academic achievement and broad production experiences. If you're a performer, I want to see what shows you've been in, but I also am impressed when I see you have experience in the scene shop, costume shop, and PR/marketing as well. I also want to see innovation instead of gaps - if you're in between productions or projects, don't use it as "time off," use it to work on something creative in the meantime.
Dr. Keli Fazio Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorCollege of New Jersey
Departments of Communication Studies and Public Health
What type of skills will young Digital Media Consultants need?
Dr. Keli Fazio Ph.D.: The pandemic has changed our "normal" work experience from mostly face-to-face to remote or virtual interactions. The key is still the same -- how can we make interpersonal connections that are genuine and effective? Students who major in communication have the unique opportunity to use communicative and leadership strategies to engage and move employees and workers inefficient ways, while attending to how the medium of communication can impact morale, value, and productivity. Put differently, communication experts are needed now more than ever to help companies maintain their efficiency, foster confidence and teamwork, and ensure that individual feedback and interactions are being offered in helpful ways.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Digital Media Consultants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Keli Fazio Ph.D.: The shift caused by this pandemic means we are entering a time where we can work from anywhere, increasing the chance to interact nationally and globally.
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Media Consultants in the next 5 years?
Dr. Keli Fazio Ph.D.: When it comes to communication and professional relationships, the key will always be to make interactions feel efficient and genuine. If we rely on virtual assistants to answer questions, people likely realize it's a computer and not a live person they are chatting with. That's okay in some contexts, such as questions about product orders or FAQ, as long as they are efficient and work. Recall your frustration when you verbally answer a computerized question on a phone call after being on hold for ten minutes, only for the automated system not to understand you or misconnect you.
Now, recall using a chat feature that hones in on keywords and can answer your question that is specific to your order or account quickly, and you resolve your task in under three minutes. You don't mind that it wasn't overly personal; it was efficient. Some contexts also need that interpersonal element, though, such as a fitness coach on an app, to be effective and stay engaged. Communication experts will always need to figure out ways to keep our human needs paramount in our technological encounters.
Jeff Tanner
Dean and Professor of MarketingOld Dominion University
Strome College of Business
What type of skills will young Digital Media Consultants need?
Jeff Tanner: They're going to need critical thinking skills - the ability to assess and diagnose the environment and challenges that may be occurring or opportunities that are coming, separating the wheat from the chaff. They need to understand data - how to create metrics that matter, what the analyses mean, etc. They will still need communication skills, but those may be different in a more virtual world. They also need learning skills because they will need to continue to learn and learn rapidly. Finally, they have to know the digital world. Even if they sell flour (King Arthur - if you're not familiar with that story, pretty amazing!)
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Digital Media Consultants to find work opportunities?
Jeff Tanner: Geographically, I think people tend to think of the significant and growing places - San Fran, LA, DFW, etc. But there are also places like Pittsburgh, Nashville, Richmond, etc., that are also growing and hotspots for marketing. I also think vertical markets are hot, but honestly, I think everyone recognizes the need to shift to digital marketing more effectively, so I think that's going to be hot for some time to come.
How do you envision technology impacting Digital Media Consultants in the next 5 years?
Jeff Tanner: I think the technology moves will be more about rationalizing what we already have, finding ways to combine data sets, eliminating redundant tools, and using what we have more effectively. The vendors will excite the AI and AR apps, which will undoubtedly grow in use, but the way companies are likely to pay for it is by eliminating redundancies in tech.