In your career, it is great to meet all requirements for roles and responsibilities. However, it is exceptional to go above and beyond. You will immediately set yourself apart by being proactive about your career and advancing your skillset. In doing so, your managers and potential employers will be much more likely to consider you for larger projects, leadership positions, and overall forward growth. Developing these new skills can often feel daunting. Where do you start? Well, look no further. We have put together a list of accessible websites to strengthen your skill set starting today.
1. Marketing: Search Engine Optimization (free)
You can’t discuss marketing today without referencing SEO, or search engine optimization. The purpose of SEO is to ensure that the traffic being directed to your website is not only high in quantity but high in quality. This way, people that are searching for specific keywords have clear visibility of the website. Without SEO, all marketing campaigns cannot reach their highest caliber of success. So as marketers it will only benefit your career to become better acquainted with SEO tactics. A recent study by Hubspot showed that 64% of marketers actively invest time in search engine optimization. To begin learning SEO, we suggest reading the WordStream blog, titled: “SEO Basics: Complete Beginner’s Guide to Search Engine Optimization.” The blog, which is updated frequently, provides you with an overview of the SEO world and how to begin implanting it in your day-to-day marketing workflow.
2. Sales: Brainshark (paid)
The premise of a sales position is to build meaningful relationships with accounts, act as a liaison for pain points, continue to sell a product or service, and also attract new clients. Communication is the cornerstone for executing all of these tasks efficiently. You communicate in lead emails, welcome calls, and every consequential follow up. Brainshark offers a practice field where sales representatives can practice their key messages and receive feedback from professionals on their communication style. Additionally, they utilize artificial intelligence technology to automate their insights for more effective communication.
3. Office Management: Business Office Manager Certification (paid)
“As an Office Manager, you are responsible for the overarching procedures and maintaining an organized space. Often times, you are wearing a ton of hats. Between administrative tasks, calendar management, invoicing, and so much more, it can be difficult to excel in all aspects, rather than just checking things off of your list.” Says Alyssa Mastrangelo, CSS PSG National Recruiting Director.
By completing the Certified Business Office Manager program, you will have instant access to online studying material and can complete the necessary exam. The course of study covers a wide array of topics that you utilize in your day-to-day responsibilities. Having the added layer of certification displays your proactive nature and also sets you apart from others within your field. It is a great addition to your resume or LinkedIn profile in order to catch someone’s attention, or bring up as a talking point in your next review.
4. Business: Harvard Business School Reading List (free)
The world of business is comprised of so many different branches. With each branch comes an inundation of information and resources. It can feel overwhelming to know where to start. The Harvard Business School reading list is an excellent way to further your career and pinpoint notable literature. HubSpot has narrowed down the list to the top eleven choices. The books offer a range of knowledge to implement in your career and include topics such as leadership, venture capital, market space, and more. They are perfect for your bedside table to not only home in on specific skills, but also the bigger picture.
Specializations are what set you apart from your peers. By taking your career into your own hands and becoming an expert in a certain skill set, you not only are viewed as a point person, but also invaluable.
About CSS PSG
CSS PSG (Professional Staffing Group) has been a leading provider of contract, temporary, and direct hire solutions. Nationally supporting staffing solutions with a focus in Accounting & Finance, Human Resources, Sales & Marketing, and Call Center & Office. Everyone at CSS operates with pro-active pipelines, the highest business ethics, a winning spirit in our approach, and a team-oriented workflow with real cross-training. The CSS team coaches you with current business intelligence so that we can timely deliver solutions to meet your expectations.