Important Digital Media Skills That Employers Value

digital cloud
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Traditional media jobs continue to decline, but writers and artists with digital media skills can find high demand for their work.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs in advertising, promotions, and marketing will grow 6% by 2029. If you’re an editor, writer, or graphic designer, you may be able to transition to a new career path by tweaking your skillset.  

Jobs That Require Digital Media Skills

Digital media job titles include: social media manager, web content manager, multimedia specialist, digital media specialist, content test specialist, game designer, media planner, blogger, digital engagement specialist, brand coordinator, content coordinator, content writer, graphic designer, digital content editor, social media communications strategist, digital photographer, public relations specialist, broadcast news analyst, technical writer, and marketing coordinator.

However, honing your digital media skills can help you land a job even if you don’t aspire to one of these job titles. Even more traditional marketing and advertising roles often encompass duties related to social media, web analytics, and content strategy.

How to Include Skills on Your Resume

When you create a resume and accompanying cover letter for a job application for a digital media position, you’ll need to incorporate as many industry-specific keywords as possible into your text. Many employers scan job applications digitally, using automated applicant tracking systems that are programmed to give priority to particular keywords.

Using keywords to describe your digital media skills works the same way as adding a hashtag to a tweet—these terms are easily spotted by parsing systems and ensure that your resume earns a high placement among its competitors.

Digital Media Skills List

Here's a list of digital media skills for resumes, cover letters, job applications, and interviews. Required skills will vary based on the job for which you're applying, so also review our list of skills listed by job and type of skill.

Communication Skills

In any digital media role, you’ll need to call upon strong verbal and written communications skills to convey information and build relationships with target audiences and clients.

  • Client relations
  • Client services
  • Collaboration
  • Copywriting
  • Editing
  • Engagement
  • Interviewing
  • Managing vendor relationships
  • Newsletters
  • Pitching
  • Presenting proposals
  • Proofreading
  • Social media
  • Storytelling
  • Writing

Content Management Skills

Content management requires a versatile skillset—not only must you be able to write and edit digital content, but you’ll also need solid analytical and planning skills, knowledge of marketing and web metrics, and the ability to spot and capitalize upon emerging trends.

  • Content management systems (CMS)
  • Content programming
  • Content promotion
  • Content strategy
  • Content curation
  • Image management
  • Project management

Marketing Skills

The internet has completely changed the landscape of business-to-consumer and business-to-business marketing. Gone is the age when companies could rely solely upon print, broadcast, direct mail, and telemarketing strategies to advertise their products and services. Instead, digital marketing specialists must be adept in marketing skills such as search engine marketing (SEM), search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing (SMM), and email marketing.

  • Ad targeting
  • Brand positioning
  • Brand strategy
  • Business storytelling
  • Closing media deals
  • Demographics
  • Digital marketing
  • Digital media testing
  • Digital production
  • Digital strategy
  • Rights and clearances
  • Email marketing
  • Research
  • Social advertising

Technical Computer Skills

Here are a few of the most common software programs and technical skills that employers list in their job advertisements for digital media specialists.

  • Adobe Analytics
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Campaign management software
  • HTML
  • Java
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office
  • Photoshop
  • PowerPoint
  • WordPress

Soft Skills

Whether you work in a business or a home office as a digital media specialist, you’ll need to demonstrate the following abilities in order to ensure that digital content development cycles remain on track.

  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • Attention to detail
  • Critical thinking
  • Decision making
  • Handling criticism
  • Multitasking
  • Organizational skills
  • Prioritizing
  • Problem solving
  • Teamwork
  • Time management
  • Working independently

Website and Graphic Design Skills

Website development and graphic design skills are sought-after competencies in digital media job candidates.

  • Animation
  • Creating interactive charts, graphs, and maps
  • CSS
  • Incorporating video with text
  • Implementing tracking codes
  • Interactive media
  • Digital video cameras
  • Optimization
  • Photography
  • Usability testing

Web Analytics Skills

These are the skills required to help guarantee that the digital content you produce remains competitive and captures top rankings on search engines.

  • Assessing campaign performance
  • Google Analytics
  • Interpreting numerical data
  • Identifying key performance indicators
  • Metrics
  • Setting benchmarks