Recruiting challenges remain an issue as 39 advertising and marketing executives say they are struggling to find skilled creative professionals, according to a new survey by creative staffing agency The Creative Group.
Another 33 percent of respondents report that they are hiring for design or marketing roles in the first quarter of 2013. Advertising respondents are more likely to hire at 51 percent as opposed to marketing respondents at 33 percent.
Hiring managers at midsize advertising agencies (50-99 employees) reported the greatest difficulty, with 61 percent of respondents saying it was somewhat or very challenging.
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One-third (33 percent) of those surveyed said they are looking to fill design or marketing roles, with more advertising executives (51 percent) than marketing professionals (33 percent) on the hunt for creative talent. Midsize agencies, in particular, are expected to see the most hiring activity, with 62 percent of advertising executives reporting they plan to add staff.
Account services, social media and media services are the specialties in greatest demand.
Survey respondents said they most value teamwork and collaboration skills when hiring creative professionals, over creativity and attention to detail.
"Companies seek professionals who can help improve their online presence and interactions with customers and clients," says Donna Farrugia, executive director of The Creative Group. "In many cases, there is a shortage of creative people with the right technical expertise and soft skills, making it difficult for employers to fill open jobs."
During the beginning of 2013, respondents first plan to hire for account services at 13 percent, followed by social media and media services both at 9 percent. Hiring managers are also looking for job applicants with more than just strong technical skills as 39 percent of respondents say teamwork and collaboration skills are necessary, as well.
"More and more, design and marketing professionals are teaming up with colleagues across an organization to execute campaigns and brainstorm solutions for business problems," says Farrugia. "As such, the ability to relate to and work with people who have different backgrounds and experience levels is important for any creative professional."
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