How to Hire an Experienced Brand Manager

How to Hire an Experienced Brand ManagerHow to Hire an Experienced Brand ManagerSo you released your posting for your brand manager opening out into the wild. Youre getting pinged nearly nonstop with responses from excited job seekers. ScoreBut when you start digging into the resumes, your excitement fades. It turns out few, if any, of the applicants have the expertise your company needs to take your branding strategy to the next level. Now youre wondering what else you can do to find candidates you actually want to meet.Youre not alone. According to The Creative Group 2019 Salary Guide, 45 percent of advertising and marketing executives said its challenging to find creative professionals today - and it can be even mora difficult to find candidates with sufficient experience for the brand manager role.Employers are looking for candidates with at least five years of true brand management experience under their belt, but theyre hard to find here, says Sarah Elizabeth Zeis, division di rector for The Creative Group in St. Louis.While looking for seasoned brand managers can feel like hunting for a unicorn, our staffing specialists have some tips to help you find the candidates you want - and help you determine a salary thatll get them on board.Find the right stuffFinding specific industry experience is a roadblock many hiring managers come up against in Denver, says Eric Kimble, division director for The Creative Group there. He encourages employers to look for candidates with a history of working with major brands. Even if they havent worked in your specific industry, they can apply brand strategies from the big players to your companys branding.Katie Bergin, division director for The Creative Group in Austin, Texas - also a challenging market for finding highly skilled brand managers - suggests another approach. Dont think about the number of years, Bergin tells clients. Instead, consider whether the applicant has worked in similar roles even if in other indus tries.Dig deeperAcross these markets, many employers have to rely on additional resources to find the right hire. Solid candidates we get are often referrals from employers we work with and candidates weve placed, Bergin notes. Kimble adds, We typically find candidates through our professional network.Thats one reason why more hiring managers are turning to professional recruiters. These staffing specialists have deep networks they can tap into to help speed up the recruiting process. Were good at digging deep, Zeis says.Pay for what you really wantAcross the country, salary continues to be an important parte of the hiring equation, and offering competitive compensation is a must. Amy Mangan with The Creative Group in Atlanta cautions employers to make sure their expectations align with their budgets.Companies who want five to 10 years of industry-specific brand management experience need to pay at or even above market, says Mangan, a division director.The midpoint salary for a bran d/product manager is $90,000. Get salary information specific to your location in The Creative Group 2019 Salary Guide.Sweeten the potWhile salary is crucial, its just one factor in an applicants decision. As competition for skilled creatives continues to increase, savvy employers offer extra perks and benefits to seal the deal, such as additional vacation days, workplace wellness programs and flexible scheduling options like telecommuting. Show potential hires the value you place on work-life balance and employee satisfaction. This can go a long way in securing top candidates with in-demand skills and experience.This post has been updated to reflect more current information.