There are so many different skills to master in business, speaking specifically through the lens of marketing.
โ At the ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐จ๐ซ level, you need some level of talent (writing + design), you need to be a hard worker, organized, tech savvy, etc.
๐ At the ๐ฆ๐ข๐ level, you need to have more big picture thinking. You need to be a little more strategic. A little more confident. You need to understand team dynamics and people management – understand human psychology, emotions, behaviours, etc.
๐ค At the ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ข๐จ๐ซ level, you need to have strong business acumen – understanding and working with different business functions, be fiscally responsible, understand and make decisions using data, communicate with other stakeholders, drive strategy, achieve revenue targets, etc.
Too often people rise through the ranks based on tenure and perceived skill, not actual skill.
No, having 20 years of experience in marketing doesn’t mean you’re a senior marketer.
๐ Maybe we need to see your credit score before we hire you and put you in charge of large budgets. Do you spend like you’re on vacation, or do you spend responsibly?
๐ Maybe we need to see how you score on an empathy test. Do you value people and treat them with respect, or are you an egomaniacal tyrant who likes to be in charge?
๐ Maybe we do a skills exam to test your basic understanding of the marketing mix. Can you tell me what Pinterest is? Do you know the difference between a Reel and a Story? Do you still think TikTok is just silly dance videos? Talk to me about SEO and how to rank. Walk me through how to run an ABM campaign. Define branding. Walk me through your retention strategy.
If you don’t understand these basic concepts, principles, and channels, how can you possibly drive strategy? You’re driving strategy on things you don’t fully understand.
