Answers to the Four Most Common Resume Questions

Keep it short, but detailed, in this quick rundown of your career

Debra Wheatman is a certified professional resume writer and career strategist who has helped over 11,000 executives with personal branding and career positioning. She brings more than 20 years of corporate HR experience at companies including Condé Nast and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

3 min read • Originally published June 22, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Debra Wheatman

Debra Wheatman is a certified professional resume writer and career strategist who has helped over 11,000 executives with personal branding and career positioning. She brings more than 20 years of corporate HR experience at companies including Condé Nast and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

3 min read • Originally published June 22, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Answering the Four Most Common Resume Questions was originally published by the American Marketing Association.

Most of us receive a wide range of resume advice from co-workers, family and friends. Everyone has an opinion on the subject of resumes. How do you know who is right? Below are answers to the most common resume questions.

What Is the Right Page Length for a Resume?

The answer to this question varies based on a candidate’s job history. Your resume length will be driven by the amount of relevant content, written as concisely as possible.

Most recent graduates with some work history will have a one-page resume. An experienced candidate who has completed numerous projects and can boast a number of achievements will likely have a two-page resume.

Many scientists and academics will have multiple pages of data due to extensive patents, publications, presentations and posters. These people will have resumes that span many, many pages.

Want even more help on your resume? Get started with a FREE resume evaluation from Mediabistro’s Career Services. Our counselors and writers can help you update and upgrade your resume so you can confidently apply for the job you want.

Should I Use Bullets or a Narrative Format?

There are resume formats that are proven to foster a comfortable and quick read. Often long paragraphs or long lists of bullets causes a reader to lose interest.

It is better to start with a paragraph sharing the major responsibilities for each job, including staff count and amount of budget. The opening paragraph should be five to six lines.

Follow that narrative with a series of bullets. Up to seven bullets is ideal, so you keep the reader’s attention. Bullets are reserved for the top accomplishments and should include measured results.

Do I Need to Include All of My History?

No, it is not necessary and in many cases not a good idea to show your entire history. The current guideline is to show only 10 to 12 years of relevant history.

Your recent history is of the most interest to the reader. Also, degrees and certifications that do not support or relate to your current goal should be omitted.

Furthermore, when showing your recent history, present more detail about the current and most recent role and share fewer details as you go further back into your history.

Do I Write, “Three” or “3”?

You should write the number (3) instead of spelling the word. Resumes are written to facilitate a quick read. Oftentimes a candidate will want the numbers to stand out on the page. Using the number instead of writing the number out will help draw the reader’s attention to the actual number.

Debra Wheatman is president of Careers Done Write.

The American Marketing Association is the pre-eminent force in marketing for best and next practices, thought leadership and valued relationships, across the entire discipline of marketing. Its online publications include posts on industry trends, career advice and more.

Topics:

Get Hired, Resumes & Cover Letters

Skills & Expertise

Free and Low-Cost Online Courses to Boost Your Marketing Career

Stand out from other job seekers by taking advantage of free and low-cost online marketing classes and certifications.

By Molly Folse

@MollyFolse

Molly Folse is a marketing leader with 20 years of experience in content strategy and social media, currently serving as Director of Content and Creative at Protective Life. She has led award-winning content and digital campaigns across financial services, higher education, travel, and consumer brands.

3 min read • Originally published June 23, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Molly Folse

@MollyFolse

Molly Folse is a marketing leader with 20 years of experience in content strategy and social media, currently serving as Director of Content and Creative at Protective Life. She has led award-winning content and digital campaigns across financial services, higher education, travel, and consumer brands.

3 min read • Originally published June 23, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

You’ve earned a degree and have some experience under your belt, but is that enough? To make it in marketing, it’s important to stay on top of industry trends and best practices. The best marketers are always honing their skills—and thinking about what’s next.

Stand out from the rest by taking advantage of free and low-cost online marketing classes and certifications. And don’t forget to mention them on your resume and LinkedIn profile, and during your next interview.

1. Mediabistro Classes

Mediabistro offers a variety of video-based online training courses led by experts in marketing, advertising, copywriting, copy editing, social media and more.

2. Google Certifications

Google provides free certifications for Google AdWords and Google Analytics through its Google Partners program. Certification training will teach you how to use these tools in your daily marketing activities, and by earning your certification, your employer will qualify for official Google Partner status; this shows the rest of the world that you and your team are highly qualified to use these industry-leading digital marketing tools.

Each certification requires you to take one or more exams, each ranging from 90 to 120 minutes. AdWords certification is valid for one year, while Analytics certification is valid for 18 months. In addition to Google product certification, the Partners program gives agencies and digital marketing professionals access to exclusive training, research and product updates.
Cost: Free

3. American Advertising Federation
Advertising is an important component of marketing. The American Advertising Federation promotes this component through a unique network of advertisers, agencies, media companies, local advertising clubs and college chapters. They promote diversity, honor excellence and work together to help solve community concerns through networking, education and community service. Members also get the chance to keep up with the latest trends in technology, creativity and marketing through monthly professional development events.

4. HubSpot Inbound Certification

HubSpot, a marketing automation software company, offers basic certification in inbound marketing—marketing that attracts attention versus paying for it. It’s the only training HubSpot offers that’s free and open to marketing professionals who are not HubSpot clients. This is a great basic certification that will help you identify areas where you need or want to learn more. The certification is valid for 13 months.
Cost: Free

5. American Marketing Association PCM

Marketers who earn the American Marketing Association’s Professional Certified Marketer credential prove they are dedicated to staying top of their field and have mastered core marketing concepts, including marketing ethics, analysis, social media and more. To apply to take the certification exam, you should have a bachelor’s degree and two years of experience, or a master’s degree and one year of experience. The certification is valid for three years.
Cost: $525 for members; $725 for non-members (includes application fee)

6. Marketing Webinars

Plenty of industry experts and cutting-edge marketing companies offer free webinars almost daily. Some provide more value than others, and the price you pay is often having to sit through a brief sales pitch for the webinar sponsor. Frequently held around lunch time, these webinars are easy to work into your schedule (and easy to opt out of if it turns out to be a dud).

Get started by checking out Marketingprofs’ free online seminars on topics from brand management to copywriting, or twice-monthly webinars from eMarketer, an independent market research company. For search and content marketing, both Moz and Content Marketing Institute partner with other organizations to host a couple of webinars each month.

And if your company is a member of industry organizations like 4A’s, you may have access to the webinars they offer—just ask your supervisor! Follow the experts and companies you admire on social media and subscribe to their emails to stay in the know about upcoming webinars and other opportunities to learn from the best.
Cost: Free

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

Resumes & Cover Letters

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out: Five Steps to a Brand-Focused Resume

Showcase your value—and differentiate yourself from other job seekers—with a retooled resume

By Debra Wheatman

Debra Wheatman is a certified professional resume writer and career strategist who has helped over 11,000 executives with personal branding and career positioning. She brings more than 20 years of corporate HR experience at companies including Condé Nast and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

3 min read • Originally published June 28, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Debra Wheatman

Debra Wheatman is a certified professional resume writer and career strategist who has helped over 11,000 executives with personal branding and career positioning. She brings more than 20 years of corporate HR experience at companies including Condé Nast and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

3 min read • Originally published June 28, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Five Steps to a Brand New Resume was originally published by the American Marketing Association.

The best way to stand out from the competition is to show the unique value that you offer—in other words, your brand. A brand-focused resume will showcase your value relevant to the job opportunity and differentiate you from the other candidates who may have similar skills and experience.

Focus on these five elements to create a brand-relevant resume.

1. Headline

A headline on a resume is akin to a blog or newspaper headline. It is a brief five to seven-word statement that encapsulates your brand.

A great headline example is, “International Patent Attorney With Expertise in Pharmaceuticals.” A headline should be free of fluff. In other words, omit phrases such as “results-oriented,” “self-motivated” or “highly talented.” Save the valuable headline space for keywords that define your brand.

2. Profile

Also called a summary, a profile is a four- to six-line opening paragraph that puts your entire resume into context. The “no-fluff” rule applies to the profile area too.

Select your top skills and accomplishments to demonstrate your ability to excel in the target job. Consider adding an example in the profile to immediately engage your reader.

Want even more help on your resume? Get started with a FREE resume evaluation from Mediabistro’s Career Services. Our counselors and writers can help you update and upgrade your resume so you can confidently apply for the job you want.

3. Areas of Expertise

These are your top eight or 10 job proficiencies. Skip soft skills such as “communication skills” and “leadership” and list the major job functions in which you excel.

Examples may include: “regulatory compliance,” “contract negotiation” and “cross-border transactions.” These are the functional requirements you meet. Your areas of expertise help to define your brand and demonstrate your ability to perform in your target job.

4. Community Leadership

Showing your recent history of community leadership serves two functions. First, it proves your abilities in areas such as team leadership, budget control, fundraising, public relations and more. If your brand lacks leadership expertise in your paid professional experience, volunteer roles can fill that skills gap.

Second, the organizations you support tell a story of your personal passions and your dedication to charities, youth organizations or civic associations.

5. Appearance

Beyond content, the appearance of your resume says a lot about you. If you want a traditional image, select a font such as Garamond, Book Antiqua or Cambria and keep to a black and white format.

If you want to project a more creative image, use a bit of color in the heading, border or category breaks. Fonts that project a modern, sophisticated look include Verdana, Calibri and Trebuchet.

Debra Wheatman is president of Careers Done Write.

The American Marketing Association is the pre-eminent force in marketing for best and next practices, thought leadership and valued relationships, across the entire discipline of marketing. Its online publications include posts on industry trends, career advice and more.

Topics:

Get Hired, Resumes & Cover Letters

Journalism Advice

How to Write a Winning Holiday Pitch as a Freelance Writer

It’s Christmas in July for freelance writers angling to write end-of-the-year pieces

By Amanda Layman Low

@AmandaLaymanLow

Amanda Layman is a B2B tech content writer and strategist with over 15 years of experience creating content for startups and enterprise brands. She founded Tigris, a content agency serving leading tech companies, and authored The New Freelance: A Book for Writers.

4 min read • Originally published July 6, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Amanda Layman Low

@AmandaLaymanLow

Amanda Layman is a B2B tech content writer and strategist with over 15 years of experience creating content for startups and enterprise brands. She founded Tigris, a content agency serving leading tech companies, and authored The New Freelance: A Book for Writers.

4 min read • Originally published July 6, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

A well-timed holiday pitch can represent a major opportunity for you a freelance writer. Editors, both print and online, are often on the hunt for holiday story ideas that haven’t been done a million times before. A creative pitch could help you get your foot in the door at your dream publication.

If you’re thinking of pitching a holiday piece, there are few things you have to do. We conferred with three editors to get their take on how writers can land holiday pitches.

Know the Editorial Calendar

Consult a publication’s editorial calendar to learn its lead time. Lindsay Lambert Day, a freelance travel writer and editor, recommends looking online for a media kit. “Most magazines or websites will have a link somewhere to an electronic media kit. Some will break down the editorial calendar section by section, others will just do one for the whole issue.” Sometimes, what you’re looking for will be labeled as a press kit or PR kit.

There are often specific deadlines for submissions for each issue. For instance, Christmas articles slated to run in December may have a submission deadline in the summer prior to that holiday season. For online publications, the lead time is much shorter.

Amanda Cargill, food content director at The Latin Kitchen, says that pitching online only requires about six weeks’ lead time. “Four could work, but the writer has to be able to write it in that time, and promote it.”

The more time you give an editor, the better. Lambert Day recalls a time she thought of a great holiday pitch at the beginning of December. “I knew in the back of my mind it was probably too late, but I sent it [anyway]. I got answers back that it was a great idea, but they either had a staff editor or someone else working on it. It was nice to get validation that it was a good idea, but I had a ‘shame on me’ moment—I should have pitched that two months ago.”

Hannah Agran, senior food editor of Midwest Living, warns against relying too heavily on editorial calendars for pitching. She explains that within the Midwest Living editorial calendar, “the stories on it have already been thoroughly conceived, and we’ll likely already have writers in mind for them.” Still, it never hurts to use the calendar as a general reference for how far out a magazine might publish stories for a particular holiday. It can even serve as inspiration to help you generate story ideas.

Use Your Expertise

It’s tempting to gravitate toward pitching general ideas. However, these are almost always covered by staff or someone from that magazine’s existing stable of freelance writers.

You’ll have better luck pitching a holiday story infused with your expertise. What can you offer that no other writer can offer? It may be your insider perspective to a particular travel destination, or your close friendship with a famous chef. Maybe you’re an expert craftsperson or artisan.

Whatever your expertise, think of how you could translate it into something interesting and useful for readers. “I think it’s best when you can look at something that’s unusual but not so esoteric or strange that it’s going to miss the mark,” says Lambert Day.

Balance Tradition With Innovation

One of the biggest challenges with holiday stories for many magazines is generating ideas that adhere to a holiday’s traditions, but also that haven’t been done to death.

“Readers want tradition,” Agran says. “They want cookies, and pretty snowy scenery. So our challenge is to hit those key visual and topical notes without repeating the same stories we did two years ago.”

As a freelancer, it’s your job to fill this void without losing sight of the brand’s traditions. Nailing down what that publication is all about by researching holiday stories from the last two years. Consult the stories on their website, and make sure you’re filling a gap.

“Don’t be afraid to be very specific,” says Cargill. “There are so many stories on the Web, readers have never-ending options. Think like a reader and imagine what would catch your eye.”

Lambert Day shares an example of a successful holiday pitch she received from a writer, in her work as editor of Northshore Magazine: “The piece was about what chef Frank McClelland makes and serves to his own family for Christmas brunch on their farm. Lots of readers like that behind-the-scenes kind of storytelling. The story was successful because it gave readers that insider’s perspective, but it also provided recipes that they could use themselves.”

Hone Your Pitching Skills

Pitching best practices never take a holiday: Keep it succinct, pique the reader’s interest through word economy, direct your pitch to the right editor and brush up on what that magazine is looking for.

And never forget the value of a strong headline: “It’s the difference between ‘5 Christmas desserts’ and ‘5 Christmas desserts you can make without an oven.’ The second is catchy, optimized for SEO, and arrives at an actual function,” says Cargill.

As with all good stories, a holiday pitch shouldn’t just cover a topic; it should have a crux. “If you can really encapsulate what the story’s about inside of the title and have it be fun and playful, it’s tremendously helpful,” says Cargill. “Our editors are creative people, but show me exactly what you’re going to do.”

Topics:

Go Freelance, Journalism Advice

Skills & Expertise

Marketing Terms You Need to Know for Your Next Job

By Molly Folse

@MollyFolse

Molly Folse is a marketing leader with 20 years of experience in content strategy and social media, currently serving as Director of Content and Creative at Protective Life. She has led award-winning content and digital campaigns across financial services, higher education, travel, and consumer brands.

5 min read • Originally published July 12, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Molly Folse

@MollyFolse

Molly Folse is a marketing leader with 20 years of experience in content strategy and social media, currently serving as Director of Content and Creative at Protective Life. She has led award-winning content and digital campaigns across financial services, higher education, travel, and consumer brands.

5 min read • Originally published July 12, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

As you face interviews or settle into a new job, you’re going to hear words and phrases you’ve never heard before. Or maybe you’ve heard them, but still don’t know what they mean.

The marketing industry is one of the worst offenders when it comes to buzzwords. So how do you separate terms you’ll carry with you from what’s just trendy at the moment? Here are a few words you’ll hear over and over and absolutely need to know, and samples of how you’d use it in a sentence.

1. Conversion Rate: The percentage of users who take the action you want them to take, like signing up for your craft beer newsletter or buying a pair of stylin’ new kicks.

Sample Sentence: “Our website, MakeBeerAtHome.com, had 10,000 visitors last week, and 1,000 purchases of our home brew kits, making the conversion rate 10%. Cheers!”

2. CRM: Customer relationship management, or the practices, strategies and technologies used to manage and analyze interactions and data to respond to customer needs and wants. If a customer tells a sales rep they think a product is too expensive, that may trigger an email with a discount code for their next purchase.

Sample Sentence: “Through customer feedback, we’re seeing our customers find our jars of honey too difficult to open, so—as a CRM tactic—we’re going to start including a jar opener with each order along with a note that reads, “don’t feel bad, we can’t open ’em either!”

3. Earned Media: Consumers, press or other members of the public who share your content voluntarily. For example, when a news station features a new dating app on a morning show or a blogger writes about the best pair of jeans they’ve ever bought just because they love them so much.

Sample Sentence: “Traffic to the company’s blog last month exploded thanks to earned media—the cat video got 300 shares on Facebook and 700 retweets!”

4. KPI: Key performance indicator, a metric that’s been identified as most important for your company. While key performance indicators are metrics, all metrics are not KPIs. And KPIs are different based on your business objectives.

Sample Sentence: “Since we’re such a new business, we should make social media follower growth a KPI, and maybe even measure the cups of coffee our social media manager drinks…since the numbers seem to correlate.”

5. Metric: Numeric data that allow marketers to evaluate performance of lead generating efforts and effectiveness of a channel or content. Some examples include cost per lead, click-through-rate, and site visits. Keeping track of these not only helps you make better decisions, but can also help prove your worth and validate what you’re doing.

Sample Sentence: “Using metrics like bounce rate and session length, we realized having a video of our CEO on our homepage giving his ‘why I do what I do’ speech was actually turning customers away.”

6. NPS: Net promoter score, a way to measure how people feel about your brand and the likelihood that they’d tell others about you.

Customers and prospects fill out a survey and choose on a scale of 1 to 10 to gauge how likely they are to recommend your product or service. The score is calculated by subtracting the percentage of customers who choose 0 to 6 (would not recommend), from the percentage who chose 9 to 10 (would recommend).

Sample Sentence: “Looking at the NPS, it seems users like our brand’s makeover and would recommend our product to friends. Phew!”

7. Owned Media: Platforms you manage and control, such as a company blog or Facebook page.

Sample Sentence: “With our social team tackling Facebook and Twitter, and our content team rocking the blog, we are OWNING our owned media!”

8. Paid Media: Paying to leverage a third-party channel through sponsorships or advertising. This includes traditional advertising like a TV spot, direct mail, or magazine ad, as well as PPC ads, Facebook ads or sponsored blog posts.

Sample Sentence: “We’ve gotta free up some of the marketing budget; the brand knows paid media will be very important when they launch a new product since no one has ever heard of it before.”

9. PPC: Pay-per-click, an online advertising method used to direct traffic to websites. You only pay when the ad is clicked. PPC ads complement other search engine optimization efforts and are great for promoting sales, seasonal promotions, or the launch of a new product.

Sample Sentence: “Make some time in your afternoon: The marketing director wants to revisit the messaging for a PPC ad since the click-through rate is lower than other ads based on the same keywords.”

10. Persona: A profile of a representative customer that describes purchase behavior, goals, skills, attitudes and other details that make the target consumer more realistic for the marketing team. Everyone from media planners to designers refer to personas when making decisions about their work.

Sample Sentence: “Our persona of a young woman who loves food and photography inspired a series of blog posts and videos about how to take better pictures of your food photos without annoying your hungry dining companions.”

11. Remarketing: Also called retargeting, this is an online marketing tactic that allows marketers to reach out via other channels to visitors who have previously visited their website.

Sample Sentence: “Hey, online sales increased by 30 percent last month; looks like remarketing to customers who’d left without buying a pair of shoes was a good call.”

13. ROI: Return on investment. Basically, this is how you tell if something was worth the time, resources and money spent. In cases where efforts may not be directly tied to sales, especially with content marketing and social media, you may have to evaluate non-monetary gains such as awareness or consumer insights.

Sample Sentence: “Sure, social media is expensive, but when you consider the value of the brand exposure, and the insights gleaned from customer feedback, the ROI is a no-brainer.”

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

Skills & Expertise

How to Create a Spelling Style Sheet for Consistent Writing

Make your work as professional as possible with the power of the style sheet

By Marisa J. Carroll

Marisa J. Carroll is a copy editor, writer, and grammar instructor based in New York

3 min read • Originally published July 27, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Marisa J. Carroll

Marisa J. Carroll is a copy editor, writer, and grammar instructor based in New York

3 min read • Originally published July 27, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

So you’ve just finished a piece of writing—a cover letter, maybe, or a blog post. You have checked the spelling and grammar, corrected the typos, and removed any extra spaces. Good job! But you still have one more element to keep in mind: consistency.

While not mistakes in and of themselves, inconsistencies in your copy (for example, spelling the color gray with an a in some spots but with an e in others) can look messy and feel jarring to your readers, distracting them from your sparkling prose.

To keep articles as consistent as possible, copy editors use a tool called a style sheet. A style sheet is a running document of all the stylistic choices you make regarding capitalization, numbers, punctuation, spelling, display type (e.g., headlines and subheads) and more.

Say you’ve started a comprehensive blog about your favorite television show of all time, The Sopranos (congratulations on your good—if not necessarily timely— taste!) and will give your take on every episode from the beginning of the series. Here are just a few stylistic choices you’d need to make in order to maintain consistency from recap to recap.

Characters: Will you refer to characters by first and last name? First only? Are nicknames acceptable? If yes, for which characters?

Episodes: Will you list episodes by their title (“College”)? Or by their season and episode number (Season 1, Episode 5)? Or perhaps a shorthand code (S1, E5)?

Foreign terms Will you italicize unfamiliar foreign terms, most likely Italian in this case? Or leave them in regular type (aka roman type)?

Profanity If quoting dialogue that contains profanity, will you spell out those terms completely? Or block out letters instead? If you decide to block out letters, will you use dashes as a substitution (f- – – ) or asterisks (f***)? If you pick asterisks, will you substitute just one letter (f*ck)? Or every letter in the word besides the first (f***)?

Slang terms How will you spell the Sopranos’ dialectal word pronunciations? Will capicola, a deli meat popular with Tony and his crew, appear as gabbagool? Or cappa col?

However you decide to answer these questions is up to you. No matter what you decide, it’s crucial to document each decision on your style sheet (providing examples when helpful and noting exceptions when necessary) and to follow those decisions consistently.

Although maintaining a style sheet may seem tedious and time-consuming, you’ll end up helping your readers and yourself. Your readers will be treated to smoother copy—and will be more likely to stick with it.

Your work will look more professional—and you won’t have to rely on memory, or research the same questions again and again, or scroll through old posts to find out how you had styled something in the past.

You’ll also be assisting anyone who works on your site in the future, be it a guest blogger or a copy editor or a proofreader. A style sheet ensures you’ll all be operating by the same set of rules, which will save time, energy, and trouble in the long run. Holla!

Take your copyediting and proofreading skills to the next level with a Mediabistro Online Copyediting Course.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

Skills & Expertise

Digital Media Skills 2026: Top 10 In-Demand Skills for Pros

Master the essential digital capabilities that media employers are seeking—plus expert insights on building marketable skills for today's landscape.

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

5 min read • Originally published August 4, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

5 min read • Originally published August 4, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Last updated: January 2026

In this article: Top 10 Digital Skills | Analytics & Data | Content Creation | Salary Impact | FAQ

The digital media landscape evolves rapidly, with new tools and platforms emerging constantly. To stay competitive in 2026, media professionals need a strategic mix of technical skills, creative capabilities, and data-driven insights.

We surveyed industry experts and analyzed current job listings to identify the most valuable digital media skills employers are seeking. Whether you’re looking to advance in your current role or pivot to a new opportunity, these capabilities will make you more marketable.

Quick Tip: Focus on building 3-4 of these skills deeply rather than trying to master all 10 superficially. Employers value demonstrated proficiency over basic familiarity.

Top 10 Digital Media Skills for 2026

1. Google Analytics & Data Analysis

“Being familiar with Google Analytics is a must. It’s important for professionals to understand what’s working and what isn’t. Are there certain types of blog topics that are attracting more visitors to the website? What social network is providing the most referral traffic, and which one do you need to reevaluate your strategy for? It’s incredibly important to be well-versed in Google Analytics.”

—Alyson Jamison, senior program manager at Stalwart Communications

Why it matters in 2026: With privacy changes and cookieless tracking becoming the norm, professionals who can interpret first-party data and attribution models are increasingly valuable.

2. Google Search Console & SEO

“One of the single most invaluable digital skills is Search Console. SC is all about visibility and making sure your website isn’t doing anything bad in the search engine world. It shows you what keywords people use to find you, and how well you’re ranking—assuming your sitemap is set up properly.”

—Miné Salkin, digital marketing manager at Absolute Mobile Solutions

3. WordPress & Content Management

“WordPress is easily the most widely used CMS (content management system). WordPress is a great tool for media pros that don’t have extensive design/development skills. The visual editor makes it relatively easy to add, edit and remove content, and there is a plugin for just about every feature you can imagine.”

—Brandon Seymour, owner of Beymour Consulting

4. Photo and Video Editing

“Basic photo editing and video editing skills are becoming more and more important if you are looking to work in digital media, marketing, advertising, or journalism. Even communications positions with smaller businesses and not-for-profits are calling for at least beginner-level skills in these areas.”

—Angela Stairs, content marketing specialist at seoplus+

Essential tools for 2026: Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Canva Pro, and emerging AI-powered editing platforms like Runway and Descript.

5. Inbound Marketing Strategy

“An Inbound Marketing Certification is important because it helps you understand the methodology of how a visitor goes down the buyer’s journey as well as your ideal ‘persona’ and how to best reach them. This can help align your marketing and content efforts to discover who you are talking to and at which stage for maximum impact.”

—Ethan Herber, inbound & digital marketing manager at CWS, Inc.

6. SEO-Optimized Headlines & Copywriting

“The ability to choose the right keywords and write enticing, keyword friendly headlines is crucial for SEO, PPC, social media, content marketing and copywriting. It gives you a huge advantage to get more eyeballs to your content and convert them into customers at lower costs than your competitors.”

—Oleg Korneitchouk, director of marketing at SmartSites

7. Concise Communication & Storytelling

“PR pros generally know how to turn a complex situation into sound bites, but sometimes they forget that less is more in the digital world. In a world of five-second unskippable preroll ads and social videos that have to capture your attention right away, the ability to shrink a complex message into a short period of time is critical.”

—Dave McCulloch, partner / digital strategy director at Capitol Media Partners

8. Audience Research & Persona Development

“Understanding exactly what your audience is interested in and what they would like to learn about is an important aspect of all things digital. You need to be able to address the needs of your audience so that you can increase leads and draw traffic to your website. Getting into the mind of your audience and determining the main reason that they visit your site is going to help you create successful digital marketing campaigns.”

—Paige Weiners, corporate marketing specialist at Blue Fountain Media

9. Digital Media Relations

“On the public relations side of our business, it’s extremely vital to learn how to find specific writers, reporters, producers, and bloggers. Not only that, you need to learn how to connect with and build a relationship with them. In person versus digitally can be very different.”

—Cassie Galasetti, co-founder at Social Sidekick Media, Branding & Public Relations

“Actively pushing your message to your audience is just half of the equation. Digital marketers also must master the skill of digital listening. With social listening platforms like Hootsuite, Radian6 or BuzzSumo, marketers are able to identify customer pain points. The entire company benefits from this.”

—Malia Powers, PR manager at HeavyBit

How Digital Media Skills Impact Your Salary

Skill Category	Entry Level	Mid-Level	Senior Level
Analytics & Data	$45,000-$55,000	$65,000-$85,000	$90,000-$120,000
Video/Photo Production	$40,000-$50,000	$55,000-$75,000	$80,000-$110,000
Digital Strategy	$50,000-$60,000	$70,000-$90,000	$95,000-$130,000

Source: BLS, Glassdoor, and Mediabistro job posting analysis (2026)

Ready to put these skills to work? Browse current opportunities on the Mediabistro job board to see which digital media skills are most in-demand in your market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which digital media skills are most important for beginners?

Start with Google Analytics, basic WordPress, and one content creation skill (photo or video editing). These three provide a solid foundation for most digital media roles.

How long does it take to learn digital media skills?

Basic proficiency in most tools takes 2-4 weeks of consistent practice. However, developing strategic thinking and advanced techniques can take 6-12 months of regular use.

Are certifications necessary for digital media jobs?

While not always required, certifications from Google, HubSpot, and Adobe can demonstrate commitment and structured learning. They’re especially valuable for career changers.

What’s the difference between digital media and traditional media skills?

Digital media skills emphasize data analysis, real-time optimization, and multi-platform distribution. Traditional media skills focus more on long-form content creation and established distribution channels.

How often should I update my digital media skills?

Review and refresh your skills quarterly. The digital landscape changes rapidly, and staying current with platform updates and new tools is essential for career growth.

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

Interview Tips

Five Common Interview Mistakes That Could Cost You the Job

By Debra Wheatman

Debra Wheatman is a certified professional resume writer and career strategist who has helped over 11,000 executives with personal branding and career positioning. She brings more than 20 years of corporate HR experience at companies including Condé Nast and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

3 min read • Originally published August 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Debra Wheatman

Debra Wheatman is a certified professional resume writer and career strategist who has helped over 11,000 executives with personal branding and career positioning. She brings more than 20 years of corporate HR experience at companies including Condé Nast and Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

3 min read • Originally published August 8, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

Five Ways to Fail an Interview was originally published by the American Marketing Association.

Congratulations on your invitation to interview for the perfect job!

You have diligently researched the employer. You studied interview questions and practiced for all types of interview scenarios.

As qualified and prepared as you may be, you will fail the interview if you make one of these behavior mistakes.

Demanding Pre-interview Behavior

To stay in the game, go with the flow. Try your best to be available for the interview date offered. Don’t push too much about your needs, such as parking or limited time for the meeting. When you arrive, don’t be tempted to ask for your coffee prepared in a special way. Instead, simply accept a glass of water. Hiring managers know that if you are a demanding person during the selection process, you will be a problem employee if hired.

Want even more help on your interview preparation? The counselors with Mediabistro’s Career Services can help you refine your interview skills in a one-on-one session.

Challenging or Disputing the Interviewer

An interview is not your chance to stump the interviewer. If you notice an inaccuracy in what the interviewer says, don’t jump to correct him. Only offer your correction or opinion if asked. The hiring manager is seeking a knowledgeable employee, not a know-it-all who might be difficult and present a challenge to what is otherwise a collegial environment.

Interrupting Others

Allow the interviewer to complete his question or statement. Don’t step on his words or finish his statement. If you do it mistakenly, apologize and don’t repeat the mistake. To be safe always wait a couple of seconds before you respond to a question.

Crossing the Line With Humor

It takes time to build rapport before humor is well-received. An initial interview is not the time to test your latest one-liners. It is never appropriate to joke about politics, race or religion—even if the hiring manager initiates the joke. In fact, stay away from those topics entirely. Cross the line, and you can bet that your interview is a fail.

Parking Lot Faux Pas

The interview is not over when you leave the conference room. It is over when you are out of the parking area and completely off campus. Hiring managers and staff members will notice your behavior.

If you are seen in an unprofessional manner outside the building, it will work against you. Things such as scarfing down snacks, smoking, talking loudly on your phone or removing your tie will make a bad impression. Wait until you are completely off campus for these things. The same applies to behavior in your car or the lobby before the interview.

Even the brightest and most qualified candidates can fail an interview if their conduct is inappropriate. Interviews are as much about proving you will fit in with others as it is about proving you are qualified. Let your expertise and aptitude shine through by taking care to exhibit your best behavior.

Debra Wheatman is a certified resume writer and certified career coach.

The American Marketing Association is the pre-eminent force in marketing for best and next practices, thought leadership and valued relationships, across the entire discipline of marketing. Its online publications include posts on industry trends, career advice and more.

Topics:

Get Hired, Interview Tips

Climb the Ladder

Why Every College Student Should Intern at a Startup

By Jess Focht

@jessfocht

Jess Focht is a writer and content strategist with 6+ years of experience in media, publishing, and brand storytelling. She has contributed to Insider, Grammarly, and The Creative Independent.

5 min read • Originally published August 9, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By Jess Focht

@jessfocht

Jess Focht is a writer and content strategist with 6+ years of experience in media, publishing, and brand storytelling. She has contributed to Insider, Grammarly, and The Creative Independent.

5 min read • Originally published August 9, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

8409314268_15d14d5d5c_b If you’re an undergrad looking to get valuable work experience, the startup world might be the place for you.

The statistics are pretty clear: if you want a job after you graduate from college, you should get one or more internships under your belt first. Before you start hyperventilating and drafting cover letters to all of the Forbes 500 corporations, I’d like to ask you to consider the road less travelled.

Consider startups — those scrappy, casual, exciting companies you see on shows like Shark Tank and Silicon Valley. Startups are perpetually in need of good talent, and many offer summer or part-time internships for undergrads. I worked at Scouted (the awesome startup hosting this blog) the summer after my junior year, and it was an invaluable experience for me, helping me figure out what I wanted to do, and teaching me how to be a vital contributor to a small company.

So, if you’re looking for an internship that will be challenging, fun and make you more employable after graduation, an internship at a startup might be right for you. Here’s why.

It’s not as hard to get an internship at a startup as you might think.

Google-searching “startup internships” will overwhelm you with a jumbled catalogue of black hole job postings, but fear not: there are many databases (such as, AngelList ) that can help you sort through the vast number of internship opportunities out there.

And there are even startups that will help you work at startups (meta, I know). Scouted, is one of them. You can apply to jobs through Scouted here.

If those options don’t get you anywhere, talk to your friends, fellow students, and recent grads from your school. Chances are at least one of them has or has had a job in the startup world, and can get you connected to the right people.

And if you’re worried about the pay, you’re not alone — there’s a whole slew of questions on Quora about how much startups pay undergrads. Many startups pay their interns competitively, while some only offer unpaid internships Don’t panic, your school may also have grants in place to help you out so check out your career services website.

You can also check out this directory of grants from Harvard. And make sure to search for grants and scholarships specific to you and your field — places like Brown and Caldwell offer scholarships to students focusing on the environment, and BA Rudolph gives scholarships to women working unpaid internships in public service and science. If you want to work abroad, you can get funding from places like LIVFund, International Internships, the scholarships listed here, and many other places.

You’ll do real work on real projects that matter to the company.

Startups have tons of critical work to do, so they need their interns to contribute to business-critical projects.

My friend Matt, who just graduated from college with a full-time job offer, said this about his summer internship at a startup as a software-engineering intern:

“Interning at a startup is like running a sprint for 10 weeks straight. You have to be able to become an effective engineer, not just an intern, very quickly and drive projects to completion in short periods of time, which is why it’s such a rewarding learning experience.”

When I worked at Scouted, I took on responsibilities I never imagined I’d have as an intern. I helped out with the pitch deck Scouted used to get investors, had a say in naming the company, and helped redefine the way Scouted evaluated and presented candidates to companies looking to make new hires. I worked harder and cared more about the company because I was given all that responsibility, and I was able to take ownership of projects I can now put on my resume.

You’ll be doing things far outside your job description.

Anya, another friend of mine, told me this about being a startup intern at Birchbox last summer:

“I think startups give you a more well rounded experience since you’re often required to step outside your designated role. You learn to become a team player and ditch the “that’s not my job” attitude.”

At a startup, you’ll be exposed to every rung of the ladder and have the opportunity to contribute to every branch of the company.

By trying out different kinds of work, you can discover what you’re good at and what you really want to do. Here’s Anya, again:

“Even though I was a software developer, I got to work closely with product managers. Birchbox exposed me to the role, and by doing so, it helped me realize [being a product manager is] what I wanted to do.”

You can sparkle the way only you know how

Most startup internships don’t follow the same strict formulas corporate internships follow. If you like to work late into the night and sleep in, you can find a startup that will accommodate that. If you hate dressing up, you can work at a startup that lets you wear t-shirts to work. And, if you want to try your hand at social media marketing, coding and design and/or data analytics, you can find a startup that will let you do all of those things as an intern.

Your family and friends might be worried when you tell them you’re interning at a startup. Many worry that interning at a startup and gaining a less traditional experience means sacrificing the name recognition you might get by having an established corporation on your resume. But maybe the predictable, highly structured, tried-and-true internship programs those corporations offer just isn’t for you. Interning at a startup instead of a corporation won’t make it harder for you to get another internship or full time job later on. Like any job, it all depends on what you make of it.

But, best of all, after interning at a startup….

You will be extremely employable

After interning at a startup, you’ll have compelling stories to tell potential employers. You’ll be the expert on what your company does, and you’ll have taken ownership of business-critical projects. You’ll also have built vital connections to the startup world, which will make it easier if you ever want to work at a start up again. You may even fall in love with the hustle and try to make a career out of it.

#startup4life

Topics:

Candidates, Climb the Ladder

Skills & Expertise

Essential Social Media Skills Every Media Professional Needs

Media industry leaders tell what you need to know to up your social skills and stay in demand

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

5 min read • Originally published August 10, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

By John Lombard

John Lombard is a content strategist and writer with over a decade of experience creating interactive and video content for brands like Apple, IBM, and Samsung. He previously worked at Mediabistro and now serves as a Client Strategist at Ceros.

5 min read • Originally published August 10, 2016 / Updated March 19, 2026

It seems almost every day a new Twitter-like platform or social feature emerges, causing all of us to Google, “How do I Periscope?” or “What’s Meerkat?”

To find out what media pros really need to know to be considered up-to-date with social media skills, we talked with industry experts to get the scoop on what you need to know.

So whether you’re a social media professional, a job-seeker searching for a social media job or a media professional looking to leverage social—look no further, we’ve got you covered.

1. Live Engagement

Like it or not, the next big push in social media is live engagement. Think Facebook Live, Snapchat and Periscope. Unlike produced video, where you create brand-approved content before sharing with an audience, live is a whole different can of worms.

“These platforms and others like them differ from what we’ve seen in the past because they disallow excessive refinement and call on brands or celebrities to portray reality as it truly is,” says Brady Donnelly, managing director of digital agency Hungry.

What does this mean for social media professionals? For one, rather than spending time crafting the perfect piece of content, you’ll be finding sources that can safely broadcast messaging to an audience, all while upholding a brand’s image and voice.

2. Social Commerce

As marketers continue to blur the line between content and advertising, it’s important to not only have a strong understanding of social commerce—measurable interaction taken on a social media platform that can influence the purchasing decisions of a consumer, such as clicking a “buy” button on a paid social ad—as it currently stands, but also best practices.

Paul Hughes, director of social media and public relations at The Brandon Agency, says it’s important for social media pros to understand the balance between content and advertising, as well as the need for authenticity. “The audience will quickly get turned off if you just sell sell sell. There are lots of ‘rules’ out there on what that balance should be, but generally, 80% of the time you should NOT be selling, but engaging.”

3. Video Editing

Depending on the size of the social team, video editing and production sometimes becomes partly the job of the social media pro. And as video continues to dominate social, the need for this skill will only grow.

Hughes says basic photography and video editing should be a part of any social media pro’s toolkit. After that, it takes an eye for good production quality. “Not all video or images are created equal. That’s not to say it has to be studio quality video or professional pictures, but that it has to be appropriate and authentic to the audience,” says Hughes.

For Lauren Marfoe, director of digital strategy at Creative Media Marketing, communication and collaboration reign supreme. “It’s more important to have a strong creative vision that you can easily express to others and be willing to work collaboratively with experts in design and editing to help achieve your vision,” says Marfoe.

4. Automation

While automation itself is not a new skill, the act of using it with caution is.

“Automation in social media is a double-edged sword,” says Hughes. While there are times when automation is beneficial, Hughes says most of the time it leaves the user with a less-than-human feeling.

The other automation risk comes when you schedule your posts with a set it and forget mentality. One example Hughes gives is when a hotel schedules a post about great beach weather and it ends up raining on the day of the automated post.

With these common pitfalls becoming more apparent to both users and social media professionals, the challenge now is to continue leveraging automation when possible while working hard to keep the human element intact.

5. Project Management

It wasn’t too long ago that brands simply handed the task of social media to their copywriter. Now, a lot more goes into posts and campaigns.

Aimee Cicero, an agency communication manager at Brownstein Group, says because social has become a primary advertising vehicle, it takes a team to successfully execute a social media strategy.

“You need a team that can handle strategy, creative, copywriting, listening and media buying. Whether you have a team in-house or leverage an agency partner, the ability to project manage becomes paramount,” says Cicero.

6. Budgeting

Just like with any creative campaign, one of the most important skills is understanding how to spend your limited budget in the most effective ways possible.

“Social media professionals need to understand how to manage social budgets to better affect the longevity and targeting of the campaign,” says Adam Baliban, senior digital specialist at CooperKatz & Company, Inc. “They also need to take into account that social media campaigns aren’t an exact science, and you may decide to tweak optimizations mid-campaign depending on how it is performing.”

7. Passion

In a field that’s ever-changing—and that never sleeps—it’s important social media professionals have a true passion for creating the best content, as well as learning how the field is evolving.

And while it may feel as if we can create less-than-stellar content since everything moves so quickly from one trending topic to the next, because nothing ever leaves the internet, “you better really be passionate about what you’re putting out there and making sure it’s the best and most creative work you can do,” Marfoe reminds.

For Chris Dessi, CEO of SilverBack Social and author of Remarkable You, working in this field requires a certain level of social media obsession: “[I]f you’re not fully obsessed with social media, and continuing to learn about this ever-changing landscape, you’ll die. Obsolescence abounds. Platforms, tools, even social networks pop up and disappear. You must be at the tip of the spear at all times.”

Topics:

Climb the Ladder, Skills & Expertise

What Is the Right Page Length for a Resume?

Should I Use Bullets or a Narrative Format?

Do I Need to Include All of My History?

Do I Write, “Three” or “3”?

1. Mediabistro Classes

2. Google Certifications

4. HubSpot Inbound Certification

5. American Marketing Association PCM

6. Marketing Webinars

1. Headline

2. Profile

3. Areas of Expertise

4. Community Leadership

5. Appearance

Know the Editorial Calendar

Use Your Expertise

Balance Tradition With Innovation

Hone Your Pitching Skills

Top 10 Digital Media Skills for 2026

1. Google Analytics & Data Analysis

2. Google Search Console & SEO

3. WordPress & Content Management

4. Photo and Video Editing

5. Inbound Marketing Strategy

6. SEO-Optimized Headlines & Copywriting

7. Concise Communication & Storytelling

8. Audience Research & Persona Development

9. Digital Media Relations

10. Social Listening & Digital Monitoring

How Digital Media Skills Impact Your Salary

Frequently Asked Questions

Which digital media skills are most important for beginners?

How long does it take to learn digital media skills?

Are certifications necessary for digital media jobs?

What’s the difference between digital media and traditional media skills?

How often should I update my digital media skills?

Challenging or Disputing the Interviewer

Interrupting Others

Crossing the Line With Humor

2. Social Commerce

3. Video Editing

4. Automation

5. Project Management

6. Budgeting

7. Passion

Andria Kennedy