Five signs that you've found the right marketing candidate

Hiring managers face many challenges, such as pressure to fill roles quickly, a shortage of qualified applicants, and limited recruitment budgets. Despite those challenges, you might suddenly think you’ve struck gold with a candidate, only to have them not be the right fit for the position or the corporate culture. This could lead you to wonder, “where did I go wrong?”

Sometimes you do everything right, and it’s still a poor match – but when you know the signs to look for in a marketing candidate, mismatched hires become few and far between. These five signs can help you fill the role with the right candidate. Of course, a specialist marketing recruitment agency like EMR can make the process even easier and help you snag the best talent in your industry.

Five signs they’re “the one” for your role

1. They know about the latest trends

Marketing is an ever-changing industry, especially in uncertain times, so keeping on top of trends should be any professional’s top priority. Learning about – and yes, even participating in – new social media platforms and technology keeps marketing professionals up to date, so look out for it on their CVs and in interviews. In addition, keeping up with trends shows that they are passionate about their industry and able to adapt to shifts in the market.

2. Their communication is clear and not full of marketing jargon

As we mentioned above, it’s great to have your finger on the pulse of what’s new and be familiar with the latest terms. However, there’s sometimes too much business jargon used, and many candidates will throw it around to hide a lack of knowledge. Instead, look for candidates who don’t need to rely on buzzwords to show their expertise and who can instead explain ideas using clear and concise language.

3. They respond quickly

Things change quickly in marketing and communication, so you want an employee who can shift their priorities and jump on things quickly. You can usually spot this trait in a candidate by asking them questions about their working style and ability to multitask. As mentioned above, you can also pay attention to how responsive they seem to be to trends and new tech. It’s also a good sign when you receive prompt, thoughtful replies to your emails and phone calls.

4. They’re inquisitive

Curiosity is an essential skill in marketing and communications – it keeps us hungry for new information and answers to our questions. After all, there will always be scenarios where a professional must dive deep into data to find a solution, and curiosity is a driving force behind useful research. Curiosity is also the sign of a bright, inquisitive person who can stay ahead of trends and new information.

5. Their CV shows at least one promotion

Finally, you want to look for promotions on their CV. While it’s valid for candidates to move from one company to the next for career progression, you want an employee who will stick around long enough to see their marketing or comms strategy through to fruition. Remember - a strategy can take 12 months to prove successful, so it’s essential to see loyalty when sourcing these professionals.

A marketing recruitment agency can help

If you find a candidate who embodies these qualities, it’s time to extend an offer. However, if you’re unsure how to look out for these five signs, you’ve had some poor luck hiring in the past, or you don’t have time to launch the recruitment process, EMR can help.

We can also help you decide whether your position will be better filled by an agency or kept in-house.

Looking to benchmark pay for your ideal candidate? Take a look at our latest Salary Guide.

EMR is a specialist marketing recruitment agency with nearly three decades of experience recruiting the best talent in the marketing industry. To find out more, get in touch with a specialist today.