Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Job outlook for directors of communications and marketing in the United States
Director of communications and marketing job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected director of communications and marketing job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 33,700 new jobs for directors of communications and marketing are projected over the next decade.
Director of communications and marketing salaries have increased 8% for directors of communications and marketing in the last 5 years.
There are over 66,954 directors of communications and marketing currently employed in the United States.
There are 109,600 active director of communications and marketing job openings in the US.
The average director of communications and marketing salary is $87,324.
Are director of communications and marketing jobs in demand?
Director of communications and marketing job and salary trends over time
Director of communications and marketing jobs over time
Director of communications and marketing job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66,954 | 0.02% |
| 2020 | 65,015 | 0.02% |
| 2019 | 63,458 | 0.02% |
| 2018 | 57,932 | 0.02% |
| 2017 | 52,971 | 0.02% |
Average director of communications and marketing salary over time
Director of communications and marketing salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $87,324 | $41.98 | +3.9% |
| 2025 | $84,056 | $40.41 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $82,484 | $39.66 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | $81,219 | $39.05 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | $80,574 | $38.74 | +1.9% |
Director of communications and marketing jobs by state
Most common states for directors of communications and marketing
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 517 | 74% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 847 | 27% |
| 3 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 805 | 27% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 357 | 27% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 158 | 27% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,740 | 25% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 156 | 25% |
| 8 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 182 | 24% |
| 9 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,259 | 23% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 217 | 23% |
| 11 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 203 | 23% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,876 | 22% |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 228 | 22% |
| 14 | Alaska | 739,795 | 159 | 21% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 720 | 20% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 380 | 20% |
| 17 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,124 | 19% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,060 | 19% |
| 19 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 781 | 19% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 260 | 19% |
Most common cities for directors of communications and marketing
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medford | 2 | 3% | $105,189 |
| 2 | Amherst | 1 | 3% | $105,698 |
| 3 | Lexington | 1 | 3% | $105,191 |
| 4 | Cambridge | 2 | 2% | $105,307 |
| 5 | Charlottesville | 1 | 2% | $101,734 |
| 6 | Albany | 1 | 1% | $114,209 |
| 7 | Bethlehem | 1 | 1% | $84,836 |
| 8 | Gainesville | 1 | 1% | $70,691 |
| 9 | Boston | 3 | 0% | $105,366 |
| 10 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $105,515 |
| 11 | New York | 2 | 0% | $115,628 |
| 12 | San Francisco | 2 | 0% | $121,029 |
| 13 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $79,545 |
| 14 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $88,248 |
| 15 | Detroit | 1 | 0% | $101,932 |
| 16 | Miami | 1 | 0% | $67,898 |
Director Of Communications And Marketing job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of director of communications and marketing experts
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
City University of Seattle
North Dakota State University
Siena College
Siena College
Siena College
Idaho State University
University of Scranton
University of Houston - Downtown
University of Houston - Downtown
Dominican University of California
Northwestern University
Southern Illinois University
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Towson University
What will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing 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 will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing increase their earning potential?
Paul Yankey: Remember that a job is really not yours to turn down until you get an offer. Know that you are valuable, first for who you are, also for your education and experiences. Do extensive research on a company you are interviewing with. Practice your interview and self story. Be highly aware of key industry phrases and incorporate them.
What Director Of Communications And Marketing skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Gulay Guzel PhD: Maximizing salary potential at the outset of one's marketing career requires strategic considerations. Marketing is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing from fields such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, and data science. Graduates should first identify their specialization within the marketing realm, whether it's in market research, product design, pricing strategy, or another area. Next, they should articulate what sets them apart from other candidates and highlight additional value they bring to the table. Realism is key when setting salary expectations; candidates should conduct thorough industry research to inform negotiations. Additionally, leveraging diverse experiences gained from internships and coursework to bolster their applications can significantly enhance their bargaining power.
What will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing increase their earning potential?
Barrie Silver M.Ed.: Be nimble! Marketing is a fast-paced, ever-changing field and marketers need to be able to keep up. I encourage my students to take a variety of courses -- both in school and online -- and do as many internships as they can. For example, students in my 'Strategic Online Community Management' class are expected to complete social media certifications from HubSpot or Meta. Students in my 'Integrated Marketing and Communication' class work with local businesses and nonprofits to develop comprehensive integrated marketing campaigns. Along with our other coursework, this gives them hands-on, real-world experience -- and may also give them a leg up on other candidates when they start their job search.
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD
Assistant Professor of MarketingWhat will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing increase their earning potential?
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD: A marketing manager is often responsible for planning and implementing a marketing plan. What this marketing plan encompasses can vary, as marketing involves many different things such as branding, product development, sales, advertising, digital and social media, and retailing.
What general advice would you give to a Director Of Communications And Marketing?
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD: The ever-changing landscape of consumer trends and technological advancements in how to market to consumers often makes the job exciting and fast-paced. However, with the increased emphasis on results, marketers must be conscious of how to measure and demonstrate the value of their work.
What Director Of Communications And Marketing skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jennifer D'Angelo PhD: Brands across many product categories are facing an increasing level of competition. Brands may struggle with rising brand parity, where brands and their competitors are seen as similar to one another. Therefore, to stand out from competitors, it has become increasingly important for brands to have marketing managers that create value for consumers and communicate that value to consumers.
What general advice would you give to a Director Of Communications And Marketing?
Ajay Abraham Ph. D.: Earning a fair salary is important, although what exactly is fair might vary based on individual perceptions. More important, think of a job as offering a combination of financial and other non-monetary benefits such as perks (e.g., work culture, work-life balance, self-fulfillment, good colleagues, networking). Try to optimize your benefits across this multi-dimensional perspective rather than by simply focusing on salary. That stated, some job opportunities have scope for negotiation on salary. First, identify if the job that you are applying for has scope for negotiation, in which case, there's no harm in negotiating if done ethically, professionally, and reasonably. If the job is not one in which there's scope for negotiation, don't worry. Instead, focus on performance and making a case for yourself at the time of annual evaluations and/or salary hikes (which should be done even if there were salary negotiations before joining). Similar suggestions apply if you are thinking of switching roles/organizations.
What Director Of Communications And Marketing skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ajay Abraham Ph. D.: Everyone is talking about AI these days, so I will start off by joining the bandwagon, but with some nuance. It's important to know how to use artificial intelligence tools in order to be better or more effective at one's job. This doesn't mean that everyone needs to become an AI expert, but that we should be able to harness the power of AI tools to improve the quality and efficiency of our work. This requires being fluent enough with AI tools to understand, discuss, and make decisions involving AI or about AI output (even if we don't actually use those tools in a hands-on manner). This should be done while also being able to bridge the gap for those who are less fluent (perhaps those in more senior-level roles who are even less hands-on with these tools). That apart, as more of the workforce focuses more of their time on technical and similar skills, "softer" skills such as integrity, professionalism, self-awareness, and team-orientation will become even more important as differentiators.
What will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing increase their earning potential?
Ajay Abraham Ph. D.: Earning a fair salary is important, although what exactly is fair might vary based on individual perceptions. More important, think of a job as offering a combination of financial and other non-monetary benefits such as perks (e.g., work culture, work-life balance, self-fulfillment, good colleagues, networking). Try to optimize your benefits across this multi-dimensional perspective rather than by simply focusing on salary. That stated, some job opportunities have scope for negotiation on salary. First, identify if the job that you are applying for has scope for negotiation, in which case, there’s no harm in negotiating if done ethically, professionally, and reasonably. If the job is not one in which there’s scope for negotiation, don’t worry. Instead, focus on performance and making a case for yourself at the time of annual evaluations and/or salary hikes (which should be done even if there were salary negotiations before joining). Similar suggestions apply if you are thinking of switching roles/organizations.
What general advice would you give to a Director Of Communications And Marketing?
Jennifer D'Angelo Ph.D.: Brands across many product categories are facing an increasing level of competition. Brands may struggle with rising brand parity, where brands and their competitors are seen as similar to one another. Therefore, to stand out from competitors, it has become increasingly important for brands to have marketing managers that create value for consumers and communicate that value to consumers.
What Director Of Communications And Marketing skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jennifer D'Angelo Ph.D.: The ever-changing landscape of consumer trends and technological advancements in how to market to consumers often makes the job exciting and fast-paced. However, with the increased emphasis on results, marketers must be conscious of how to measure and demonstrate the value of their work.
What will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing increase their earning potential?
Jennifer D'Angelo Ph.D.: Brands across many product categories are facing an increasing level of competition. Brands may struggle with rising brand parity, where brands and their competitors are seen as similar to one another. Therefore, to stand out from competitors, it has become increasingly important for brands to have marketing managers that create value for consumers and communicate that value to consumers.
Ahmad Asady
Assistant Professor of Management Faculty Scholar, Challey Institute for Global Innovation and GrowthNorth Dakota State University
Marketing
What general advice would you give to a Director Of Communications And Marketing?
Ahmad Asady: The role of a Marketing professional is as rewarding as it is demanding. On one hand, it offers the chance to unleash creativity, see the direct impact of your work, and enjoy a variety of experiences across different projects and industries. On the other hand, it comes with its fair share of challenges, such as the pressure to perform under tight deadlines and budgets, the constant need to stay ahead in a fast-evolving field, and the stress of quantifying the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. Despite these challenges, the role remains appealing for those drawn to a career that demands both strategic thinking and creative innovation, underscored by the powerful tool of persuasion to shape consumer behavior and drive business success.
What Director Of Communications And Marketing skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ahmad Asady: Now is an exciting time to enter the field of marketing. The digital age has transformed how brands connect with consumers, opening up a plethora of channels and tools for innovative engagement strategies. This digital expansion, coupled with the shift towards a more consumer-centric marketing approach, has made the role of a Marketing professional more crucial and impactful than ever. Professionals in this field enjoy the privilege of working at the intersection of creativity and analytics, where they can make significant contributions to a brand's growth and adapt to new challenges and technologies, ensuring a career that is both stable and filled with opportunities for continuous learning.
What will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing increase their earning potential?
Ahmad Asady: A Marketing professional's day is a blend of art and science, filled with the pursuit of understanding and engaging the target audience. Their daily activities revolve around creating and managing content that resonates with consumers, conducting market research to stay ahead of trends, analyzing data to refine strategies, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure a unified brand message. Persuasion lies at the heart of their role, as they must continuously convince both internal stakeholders and external audiences of the value and relevance of their brand's offerings.
S.Sinem Atakan
Assistant Professor of MarketingSiena College
Marketing Department
What skills will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing earn the most?
S.Sinem Atakan: The most important skills for marketing graduates, especially given the remote working conditions due to the pandemic, are self-motivation, communication, and digital marketing skills. Creativity and analytical skills are always important in marketing, but pandemic has highlighted the importance of being able to work independently and motivate yourself even when external forces are not directly present. Communication skills are crucial to work remotely and be on the same page with your team members. Digital marketing was big but getting even bigger with this breakthrough changes in consumer behavior. Hence, the rising stars of the marketing job market will be graduates who can combine all these skills seamlessly
Soyoung Joo
Assistant Professor of MarketingSiena College
Marketing Department
What skills stand out on Director Of Communications And Marketing resumes?
Soyoung Joo: Communication and time management skills are valuable skills for marketing managers.
What soft skills should all Directors Of Communications And Marketing possess?
Soyoung Joo: Creativity and intellectual curiosity (willingness to keep learning) can be added to the above soft skills.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Communications And Marketing?
Soyoung Joo: Being able to interpret the consumer data and identify the true needs and wants of the consumer is imperative for marketers.
What skills will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing earn the most?
Soyoung Joo: Being able to work well with people from diverse backgrounds can be added to the above skills.
Allison Lauenstein
Teaching Instructor of MarketingSiena College
Marketing Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Communications And Marketing?
Allison Lauenstein: Project Management and being able to connect the dots around the data and insights are critical. You have to analyze a situation and uncover insights from the customer, the competitors, and the industry.
What skills will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing earn the most?
Allison Lauenstein: Leadership and collaboration will go a long way. The best ideas can come from anywhere, and it's not always about who has the best idea but who can execute the idea the best. Good marketers must understand that if you cannot successfully execute or effectively communicate a great idea, it may not be so great.
What skills stand out on Director Of Communications And Marketing resumes?
Allison Lauenstein: Skills that stand out show that the candidate has had some experience leading projects and project teams. Marketing is a collaborative effort, and it is critically important for upcoming managers to understand how to manage and motivate a team to achieve its objectives.
What soft skills should all Directors Of Communications And Marketing possess?
Allison Lauenstein: Listening and asking questions are some of the most important skills. As Marketers, you not only have to listen to what people say, but you have to try to understand what they are not saying. How do their actions differ from what they are saying?
John Ney
Assistant Marketing Professor, Director of Professional Development & Sales ExcellenceIdaho State University
College of Business
What skills stand out on Director Of Communications And Marketing resumes?
John Ney: Internships or class project experience that show the student has helped develop a marketing strategy for a company is probably the most important but also marketing research skills.
What soft skills should all Directors Of Communications And Marketing possess?
John Ney: -A positive "can-do" attitude. I'm often told by employers that "we can teach skills, but we can't teach attitude."
-Teamwork - the ability to work with others is more important now than ever.
-Communication skills, both oral and written.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Communications And Marketing?
John Ney: -With so many businesses advertising online, students that have experience with one or more of the following (video, blogging, graphic design, photography & websites) easily find jobs! This is the most requested skill set when employers are looking to hire interns.
-Writing skills - businesses need help writing everything from email responses to customers to a short job advertisement & or a marketing strategy.
What skills will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing earn the most?
John Ney: -Sales skills - Most sales jobs are commission-based, and they are not capped.
-Everybody sells! Sales are really about building relationships, so having people and communication skills can really pay off!
Abhijit Roy
Professor of MarketingUniversity of Scranton
School of Management
What skills stand out on Director Of Communications And Marketing resumes?
Abhijit Roy: In general, companies will look to see whether or not the candidate can overall market the company's products. Given the depth and breadth of marketing jobs, the specific skill requirements will vary. For example, a sales manager position will require individuals with high interpersonal skills, advertising positions will look for individuals with creativity, while marketing research positions will demand strong analytical skills. Overall, most companies today are looking for individuals with strong digital marketing and social media skills.
Job market candidates must look for the job descriptions in the ads and ensure they have relevant matching skills that they can include in their resumes.
What soft skills should all Directors Of Communications And Marketing 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.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Communications And Marketing?
Abhijit Roy: The Marketing field has undergone a major paradigmatic shift with the growth of digitization. Hence, hard/technical skills in performing data-driven marketing, social media and data analytics, data visualization, Search Engine Optimization (SEO)/Search Engine Marketing (SEM), content creation and storytelling, and omnichannel communication are critical hard skills that are in great demand today.
What skills will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing earn the most?
Abhijit Roy: The above skills are in high demand and also currently pay the most. Still, I strongly recommend that students focus not on skills that will help them earn the most but on the skill sets that each individual possesses and think of how they can best leverage that in the marketplace to have a long sustained, and enjoyable career.
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Houston - Downtown
Marilyn Davies College of Business
What skills stand out on Director Of Communications And Marketing resumes?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: Showcasing the balance between people management and analytical skills. Marketing today relies on a substantial amount of data, which requires marketing managers to possess strong analytical skills. At the same time, leaders have to motivate, inspire, and guide employees. In the last 3-5 years, I have seen a greater emphasis on analytical skills.
What soft skills should all Directors Of Communications And Marketing possess?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: Leaders need to lead. A leader who is curious, vulnerable, transparent, and inclusive generally has better success. The challenge is to teach leaders to be authentically curious. That is a big challenge in leadership.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Communications And Marketing?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: First, understand A/B experiments. Marketers are consistently comparing different campaigns, and the ability to create thoughtful experiments is critical.
Second, go beyond averages and percentages and learn linear and logistic regression and more advanced analytical tools. The exposure to more complex analytics allows for more thoughtful outcomes and interpretation.
Third, be exposed to a programming language like R or Python. Not that you are going to code, but it allows you to speak the language of data.
What skills will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing earn the most?
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.: It's a combination of skills, plus the patience to build those skills. Great people and leadership skills always seem to trump most other variables. I would encourage individuals to invest in their leadership skills and consider partnering with a leadership coach.
Dr. Richard Conde Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Houston - Downtown
Marilyn Davies College of Business
What soft skills should all Directors Of Communications And Marketing 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
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 are the biggest trends we'll see in the Director Of Communications And Marketing job market given the pandemic?
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.: Traditional Institutionalized (not just temporary) distance roles that were once thought of as onsite-only (human resources for example) will likely become distance-oriented whenever possible, the technologies we use for distance communication will probably become much more personalizable, training incorporating distance communication technologies will become a part of regular job trainings, distance communication skill sets could gradually augment or even replace some of the standards we taught for years.
Sort of Dale Carnegie meets Zoom or in other words the perfect presentation will no longer be as formal but should include personal, more human moments as we endeavor to make interpersonal connections online. Distance skill sets will gradually replace our old standards. For example eye contact during a formal presentation and eye contact via Zoom or other distance platforms is very different (from in-person group to camera).
What Director Of Communications And Marketing skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Bradley Van Alstyne Ph.D.: I would recommend that graduates use that time to focus on creating a portfolio showing specific skills they think will put them ahead of other applicants. These can be universal (coding or graphic design for example) or specific to the type of job they want.
Clarke Caywood
Professor (founder group of IMC and PR in Medill) Joint Doctorate in Business and Journalism - Univ. Wis. MadisonNorthwestern University
Integrated Marketing Communications in Medill School of Journalism, Media and IMC
What experience really stands out on Director Of Communications And Marketing resumes?
Clarke Caywood: For recent college grads, writing and speaking experience to work with associates and clients. Strong grades in areas of value to an employer.
Justin Young
Assistant LecturerSouthern Illinois University
School of Communication Studies
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Communications And Marketing?
Justin Young: I would say it's less important that someone knows the latest video editing software than they have a sound understanding of film theory. I'm more concerned that someone shooting a 30-second clip for Instagram understands how to compose a shot than they necessarily know how to integrate visual effects. That basic idea is true across the board. Technology is shifting so rapidly today that a core understanding of the principles of design, composition, and even something like UX allows a young person straight out of college to adapt over the next five years as a lot of their physical tech may phase out of use.
18-year-olds aren't using Twitter anymore, but a fundamental understanding of how algorithms work will translate to newer social platforms such as Tik-Tok.
What skills will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing earn the most?
Justin Young: Straight out of school, some of those hard skills might give you a leg up on that first job. However, long-term, I think soft skills like teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, and simply interpersonal skills will advance you further. The most successful people I see tend to be good with people as well as willing to listen and learn. Some people can fake these skills to advance, but the organization usually suffers in the long-term, as do they financially.
Sherry Morreale Ph.D.
ProfessorUniversity of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Department of Communication
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Communications And Marketing?
Sherry Morreale Ph.D.: A very recent analysis of 82 million job postings uncovered a critical demand by employers for what often is referred to as durable skills (America Succeeds, 2021). By contrast to hard skills, durable skills, sometimes referred to as soft skills, comprise important professional capabilities (Leadership, Critical Thinking, Communication, etc.) and personal qualities (Creativity, Mindfulness, Fortitude, etc.) that last throughout a person's entire career. In this analysis, two key findings are:
-In the job postings, the top five durable skills were requested nearly four (3.8) times more than the top five hard skills.
-Also, Communication and Leadership were in the highest demand, requested by 50+% of postings. These two durable (soft) skills sets include the following specific knowledge and skills.
A third durable skill or competency identified in the job postings, closely related to Leadership and Communication, is Collaboration. The Collaboration knowledge and skills connected to Communication and Leadership are interpersonal communications, coordinating, teamwork, team-oriented, team leadership, collaboration, team building, cooperation, and virtual teams.
Erin Steffes Ph.D.
Department Chair and ProfessorTowson University
Marketing Department
What skills stand out on Director Of Communications And Marketing resumes?
Erin Steffes Ph.D.: Entry-level marketing positions span a wide range of responsibilities, and as such, there are many different skill sets depending on the job itself. For example, many recent grads will pursue a position in digital marketing wherein proficiencies in search engine optimization, online advertising, web design, and data analytics are key skill sets. On the other hand, many recent grads pursue a career in sales wherein proficiencies in business development, networking, personal selling, and data analytics are valued. Someone hiring for a general marketing coordinator position would likely look for a candidate with a solid understanding of marketing theory and excellent critical and creative thinking skills.
What soft skills should all Directors Of Communications And Marketing possess?
Erin Steffes Ph.D.: Students often underestimate the importance of soft skills. To succeed in a marketing career, you need to be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, work well in a team environment, use critical and creative thinking, and get along with others. On an individual level, successful marketers are typically good time managers, decisive, adaptable to change, good listeners, and open to feedback. Emotional intelligence plays a significant role in one's career progression and success.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Directors Of Communications And Marketing?
Erin Steffes Ph.D.: As a science and an art, marketing utilizes both soft skills and technical skills on a daily basis. While some technologies are industry-specific, having an understanding and basic mastery of data analysis, statistics, data visualization, digital marketing, marketing research, and customer relationship management will position a candidate well.
What skills will help Directors Of Communications And Marketing earn the most?
Erin Steffes Ph.D.: At the end of the day, firms want to hire candidates that will contribute value over the long term and are adaptable to change. Demonstrating that you have the skills to do the job at hand while signaling that you are willing to contribute to the team is critical in landing that first job. One of the most important lessons for a job candidate or new hire is to eliminate the notion that something "is not my job." Your new career will give you many opportunities to create value for your customers, your colleagues, or the firm as a whole, many of which may lie beyond your immediate scope of responsibility.