From design and development to market research and campaign optimization, brand strategists often juggle a wide range of responsibilities that demand a multidisciplinary approach. This career path is ideal for those who thrive on challenges and want to leave a lasting impact on every account they manage. It’s no surprise that this drive and confidence are often reflected in the resumes of top-tier candidates for brand strategist roles.
So, what skills should hiring managers prioritize when looking for a talented brand strategist who can immediately contribute to their team? In this article, we’ll reveal the eight essential skills that every hiring manager should look for when recruiting a brand strategist for their business.
Social Media Skills
Social media platforms are essential tools for top brand strategists to shape and communicate a brand’s image, tone, and style. For hiring managers, it’s crucial to ask brand strategist candidates for examples of their social media work during interviews. A well-curated social media portfolio demonstrates the candidate’s technical proficiency and digital design skills.
It’s important to probe deeper into their involvement in the creation and design of social media content. Ask candidates about their experience with designing posts, graphics, and other content. For instance, have they converted multi-slide Instagram posts into downloadable PDF resources? Testing their practical skills—such as converting files from JPG to PDF or exporting campaign metrics—can reveal whether the candidate truly understands how social media plays a pivotal role in the broader, evolving process of digital brand development.
Problem-Solving Skills
When it comes to the holistic process of brand development, the many moving parts involved require brand strategists to have strong, high-capacity problem-solving abilities. Brand strategists use their expertise to refine and enhance marketing strategies, identifying flaws or gaps and finding innovative solutions to overcome them.
To assess these crucial problem-solving skills, design your interview questions to probe the candidate’s ability to handle complex challenges. For example, ask how they would approach resolving inconsistencies in tone across a brand’s website, social media platforms, and digital ads. A strong brand strategist should be able to apply their problem-solving abilities to deliver cost-effective solutions to common obstacles in the brand development process, ultimately improving the overall strategy.
Research Skills
Brand strategists are expected to conduct comprehensive market and consumer research to inform their development plans. As a result, hiring managers should prioritize asking candidates about their experience with both market and consumer research.
Suppose a candidate can confidently discuss the demographics they’ve researched, along with their understanding of key pain points, desires, and preferences. In that case, it’s a strong indicator that they have solid, practical research skills. Don’t hesitate to ask detailed and specific questions during interviews to gauge their comfort level and proficiency in conducting research for brand development projects. This will help you assess whether the candidate can provide valuable insights to shape your brand strategy effectively.
Written Communication Skills
Brand strategists are frequently tasked with pitching development projects and strategies to clients, which means exceptional written communication and presentation skills are a must-have for any strong candidate. Crafting compelling business strategies requires both attention to detail and a persuasive salesmanship approach.
To evaluate these skills, reviewing a candidate’s professional portfolio and cover letter can provide valuable insights into their writing ability. For a more in-depth assessment, consider requesting samples of their project pitch documents. Brand strategists typically use these documents to persuade clients to adopt their proposed strategies and to guide team members with clear resources and actionable steps. Analyzing these pitch samples will give you a better understanding of the candidate’s writing proficiency and their ability to sell ideas effectively.
Collaboration Skills
Brand development is inherently a collaborative process, which means brand strategists must excel in team communication. Whether through email, project management tools, or direct messaging, strategists often provide detailed instructions and feedback to ensure the team’s efforts align with the overall strategy.
Experienced brand strategists are accustomed to working collaboratively with various stakeholders, such as small business owners, market analysts, or executive teams, to craft a compelling brand image that resonates with the target demographic. This collaboration is vital to ensure that all team members contribute ideas and work together to achieve the best outcome for the brand and its audience.
When recruiting for a brand strategist, it’s crucial to ask candidates for specific examples of how they’ve collaborated on large projects. This will give you insight into their ability to work within a team and navigate the complexities of collaborative brand development.
Public Speaking Skills
After collaborating to create a brand strategy, exceptional brand strategists often need to present their ideas to teams, employers, and clients. They use their public speaking skills to effectively communicate the strategy’s goals and the necessary steps to achieve them.
Brand strategists may also pitch their strategies to prospective clients, leveraging their public speaking abilities to build trust, foster understanding, and convince potential clients to choose their approach. The interview process provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate a candidate’s public speaking skills. Don’t hesitate to ask candidates to present a mock pitch or walk you through a previous project, as this will give you a clear sense of their presentation abilities.
Keep in mind that a strong brand strategist should excel under pressure. The ability to deliver a confident pitch and handle critical questions from stakeholders is a foundational skill for success in this role.
Data Analytics
Brand strategists are expected to have a strong grasp of social media platforms and content creation tools and be adept at engaging with key performance indicators (KPIs) and other digital performance metrics. The ability to analyze data is crucial, as brand strategists need to make informed decisions based on insights drawn from various data sources.
For example, a brand strategist might analyze the results of a customer survey to better understand the target audience. Then, using that information alongside audience demographics, the strategist might craft a brand voice for the company’s copy, graphic design, and advertisements. This data-driven approach ensures that the brand strategy resonates with the audience and drives results.
Hiring managers can assess whether candidates possess strong data analytics skills by asking specific questions about the metrics used in their past projects. Inquire about how they analyzed performance data, what conclusions they drew from it, and how those insights helped achieve their goals. This will provide insight into their ability to leverage data to enhance brand strategy and deliver measurable results.
Critical & Creative Thinking
A great brand strategist blends creativity with critical thinking to develop innovative ways to market their clients or brands. They apply their creative skills to generate impactful marketing slogans, logos, website designs, and other key elements that reflect the desired brand image and tone. Additionally, brand strategists ensure that the creatives they work with stay aligned with the brand’s vision, helping their designs stand out in a competitive marketplace.
However, creativity alone isn’t enough. Brand strategists must also be able to think critically about their creative strategies. This means they should be able to assess and refine their work, always looking for ways to improve and adapt their designs. This reflective process is crucial for evolving digital brands that must remain relevant and resonate with an ever-changing consumer base. By balancing creative innovation with critical evaluation, brand strategists ensure that their brand strategies are not only unique but also sustainable in the long run.
Hiring Brand Strategists with Confidence
By assessing candidates for these eight essential skills, you’ll be able to streamline your selection process and focus on the most qualified professionals. Once you’ve narrowed down your pool to a shortlist of top candidates, the next step is to evaluate which brand strategist will be the best fit for your specific business or project. This ensures you select a candidate who not only excels in key competencies but also aligns with your team’s needs and vision for the brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the eight key skills to look for when hiring a brand strategist?
The eight essential skills include strong social media expertise, problem-solving abilities, market and consumer research proficiency, excellent written communication, collaboration skills, public speaking and presentation abilities, data analytics skills, and creative thinking combined with critical reflection.
Why is social media expertise necessary for a brand strategist?
Social media is a core tool for shaping and communicating a brand’s identity. A brand strategist must be proficient in using social media platforms and analyzing engagement metrics to enhance brand visibility and reach.
How can I assess a candidate’s problem-solving skills during an interview?
Ask candidates to describe a time when they identified flaws in a brand strategy and how they solved those issues. Look for candidates who can handle multifaceted challenges and offer practical, creative solutions.
What role does market research play in a brand strategist’s role?
Market research helps brand strategists understand the target audience, their pain points, and preferences. This allows them to tailor brand strategies that resonate with consumers and drive business growth.
How do written communication skills impact a brand strategist’s effectiveness?
Brand strategists need to pitch ideas, communicate strategies clearly, and provide feedback to teams. Strong written communication ensures that messages are conveyed accurately and persuasively to clients, teams, and stakeholders.
What is the importance of collaboration in brand strategy development?
Brand development is a team effort. A successful brand strategist should be able to collaborate with various team members, stakeholders, and clients to ensure the strategy is aligned with the brand’s goals and vision.
How can I evaluate a candidate’s public speaking skills during the hiring process?
Ask the candidate to deliver a mock presentation or pitch a strategy. This will give you insight into their ability to communicate clearly, generate trust, and handle pressure while addressing key stakeholders.
Conclusion
Hiring the right brand strategist is a critical step in ensuring your brand’s success and growth. By focusing on the eight key skills—social media expertise, problem-solving abilities, market, and consumer research proficiency, strong written communication, collaboration, public speaking, data analytics, and creative thinking paired with critical reflection—you can identify candidates who are not only capable of shaping an impactful brand strategy but also adaptable to evolving market demands.