You’ve heard about marketing, right? It’s all anyone talks about these days. Advancements in technology and new platforms have expanded the possibilities and reach of marketing. And because of this, marketing skills are in demand. But what if you didn’t go to school for marketing, business or communications? Guess what, you may have marketing abilities and not even know it!

Here are 3 surprising marketing skills:

1. Analytical Thinking 

Marketing is all about analytical thinking. Decisions are most often made based on the analysis of customers’ needs and wants, which come from carefully collected data. You need to be a big picture thinker and anticipate the possible impact of different strategies and approaches.

Things are often changing in the world of marketing and marketers need to be able to adapt, draw conclusions and solve problems. If something is not working, being able to figure out why, and make suggestions to improve it, is a very valuable skill.

2. Negotiation 

Not just for lawyers, negotiation is a big part of marketing and is often undervalued. There’s a lot to discuss with clients. You need to come to agreement on budgets, timelines, expectations and partnerships. Matching what the customer wants with what is best for the project, and what you can provide. 

The difference between being a negotiator and being a good negotiator is the ability to empathise with the other party and turn any situation into a win-win. You’re trying to build relationships, not score points. 

3. Technology 

There isn’t much of a separation between technology and marketing now, so technology skills  are essential for your success. From using project management software to track the progress of a key campaign to using analytics to learn about your customer, it’s  important  that  you  can  work with a variety of programs. There are also programs to create, schedule, measure and compare marketing campaigns. 

Learn which tools are being used widely in your field. You can take workshops, use online tutorials or use other education channels. Being comfortable with technology means you need to get comfortable with continued learning as things will always be changing. 

See, you do have marketing skills! So don’t forget to mention them on your LinkedIn profile and your resume or cover letter, and keep your eye out for valuable job skills you never knew you had. Check out our current job openings to start applying those skills!