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Gain persuasive examples to demonstrate my proficiency in creative thinking before 6th November 2021

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Gain persuasive examples to demonstrate my proficiency in creative thinking before 6th November 2021

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Creative thinking is the key skill for the marketing manager position in Unilever. My proficiency is in analytical problem-solving. I can meaningfully enhance the competency level by following the guideline as suggested in the below website of KSL Training:
https://www.ksl-training.co.uk/free-resources/creativity-and-innovation/developing-creativity/

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3. Associate with creative people

Creative people tend to have the power to see what might be and associating with them will spark new ideas and ways of looking at things. Look for people who are fun to talk to and have a keen sense of interest in life. An individual who will force you to exercise your imagination, as you interact with them. Talking with a wide range of people from different disciplines, backgrounds, cultures and experiences will help you to see things from different perspectives and develop your imagination.

4. Associate with children

Pre-school-age children are the most ideal to mix with, as they generally use both sides of the brain although preferences do start to form at an early age. Their world is filled with fantasy and yours will be too, if you interact with them and explore their world and how they see simple, everyday things.

5. Play games, puzzles or physical sports

Certain games and puzzles can equip you with plenty of opportunity to flex your creative muscles. Games that force you to map out strategies and make moves that depend on what your opponent does. Games of chess and checkers are both good examples, as well as physical sports such as football, basketball and tennis - all of which provide creative exercise.

6. Focus on hobbies

Identify or use a current hobby to exercise your creativity. Hobbies such as painting, drawing or sculpture will obviously put your creative side to work. Any hobby where you need to design something from scratch will provide creative exercise, e.g. sewing, metalwork, woodwork, DIY. However, for those more scientifically inclined, technical hobbies can provide creative exercise, when designing or building something new, e.g. writing new computer programmes.

7. Actively travel

There's no better way to broaden and refresh your outlook, than active travel. This means taking a real interest in the people, the culture of wherever you are travelling to. Capturing your travel with photographs, and reflecting on your experiences through those photographs, can inspire great ideas

8. Selectively read

Reading selectively means choosing material that will exercise your imagination such as a good mystery or a short story. One way to exercise your imagination with short stories is to read the first half and make up your own ending. Cookbooks, repair manuals and self help guides can also be used for creative exercise if you take the ideas presented and improve them by adding, modifying or combining them with ideas of your own.

9. Reading actively

This means reading with a pencil in your hand and underlining the key passages as you go. Read slowly and take notes, taking time to reflect on what you have read, increasing the probability of generating new ideas. Create a mind map for example, as you read to develop your thinking.

10. Commence creative writing

You don't have to be a published author to write. Writing short pieces on a subject that interests or concerns you is a great way to develop your creative thinking ability. You may then feel comfortable to let your imagination wander to write a short story.

11. Conclusion

Finding ways of developing your creativity through every day experiences is a great, time efficient way of exercising the right side of your brain. Once you practice this over a period of time, it will become much easier to tap into your "creative side".

About the Author

, MCIPD is Company Founder of KSL Training. Kim has 30 years training and HR management experience in the Retail, Hospitality and Pharmaceutical industry.

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Developing Creativity & Creative Thinking Skills | KSL Training

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Creative people tend to have the power to see what might be and associating with them will spark new ideas and ways of looking at things. Look for people who are fun to talk to and have a keen sense of interest in life.

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Gain persuasive examples to demonstrate my proficiency in project management before 30th December 2021

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Gain persuasive examples to demonstrate my proficiency in project management before 30th December 2021

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Project Management is a core skill for the marketing manager position in Unilever. I have pursued a Bachelor of Business from the University of South Australia, Adelaide. I have primary knowledge of Project Management. I would like to enhance my competency level by performing an online PMP course from Online Study Australia: https://onlinestudyaustralia.com/courses/business/project-management/

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To be a good project manager, you need a balanced, all-round set of skills and qualities. Not everyone can do it.

Qualities

For a start, sound technical skills are required. On smaller projects, managers are expected to contribute technical expertise. On larger projects, you need an understanding of how different parts of the project are delivered.

The ability to make connections with people and maintain open communication channels is also essential. It's a coordination role after all.

Ultimately, you have to get things done. You should be energetic, and able to adapt to circumstances and find quick solutions to keep things on track.

Starting out

If you have these qualities, opportunities will emerge. By being a good worker who shows initiative, you can build credibility and gain extra responsibilities. It also helps to take on challenges and develop new skills. Some projects managers start by doing things like managing a home construction build or starting a community website.

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To be a good project manager, you need a balanced, all-round set of skills and qualities. Not everyone can do it. For a start, sound technical skills are required. On smaller projects, managers are expected to contribute technical expertise. On larger projects, you need an understanding of how different parts of the project are delivered.

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Gain persuasive examples to demonstrate my proficiency in FMCG domain knowledge before 30th November 2021

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Gain persuasive examples to demonstrate my proficiency in FMCG domain knowledge before 30th November 2021

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FMCG domain knowledge is the primary key knowledge for the marketing manager position in Unilever. I would like to enhance the competency level in the FMCG domain by going through the below link:
https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/fast-moving-consumer-goods-fmcg/

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Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), also called consumer packaged goods (CPG), refer to products that are highly in-demand, sold quickly, and affordable

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Gain persuasive examples to demonstrate my proficiency in digital skill development before 10th December 2021

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Gain persuasive examples to demonstrate my proficiency in digital skill development before 10th December 2021

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Digital skill is a very much essential for this job opportunity of marketing manager in Unilever. I would like to enhance this competency level in digital skill by following the guidelines mentioned in the below link:
https://www.nationalskillsnetwork.in/reskill-with-digital-technologies/

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Did you realize how important it is to keep pace with the ever-changing digital technologies? Have you noticed how your digital skills are influencing your career growth? It doesn't matter whether you are a hair stylist, a cab driver or a tech-savvy engineer.The one thing that you deserve at work is job security.And today, every job comes with its own insecurity because of the rapidly changing technologies.
Let me share a recent incident. I have met Shreya, an employee from a reputed healthcare company. She has been working there for the past 6 years. She said, "I don't think I will be able to continue this job further." I asked,"What happened?" She said, "my company is undergoing many changes by adopting many new technologies. I don't think I have the necessary digital skills to cope up with this since I am mainly a Healthcare professional .So,I'm afraid I will lose this job." She paused for a second, "However,I think......." She continued and asked some relevant questions and I had an interesting conversation with her on how every industry is becoming a digital enterprise.

As you see, there are people like Shreya who are finding it very difficult to cope up with the changing digital technologies.As digital skills play a crucial role in increasing the workplace productivity, you are bound to acquire these skills. Now, where do we start? How can you keep yourself updated with the latest technologies? The answer lies in reskilling yourself. Now, let's take a look at these 5 most important reskilling ways through which you can easily acquire these skills.

Participate in employer-sponsored training programs

Be it marketing, services, retail, logistics or media, industry sectors across the globe are caught up in the new age digital revolution.To keep up with the pace of technological changes, employers offer various training programs on improving the digital skills. Sometimes ,they also provide certification programs where you get a chance to earn a certificate from an authoritative organization. You can participate in such programs that offer genuine career value through quantifiable and tangible rewards.This will help you increase your productivity and upgrade your skills.

2. Attend conferences, seminars and webinars

No matter what your skill levels are ,professional conferences, seminars and webinars can take your career to next level. Attending and participating in seminars is a great way to learn about the changing digital technologies and how they influence our careers.You will be able to understand the industry perspective and this will help you in strategizing the ways in which you can acquire the relevant digital knowledge. Also, conferences help in making new connections with professionals. So ,next time when you hear of an upcoming seminar or conference in your industry make sure you participate in it!

3. Use online programs to gain new skills

It's digital again! There are a number of free online courses and MOOCs.You can choose the most relevant course and invest some time in developing your digital skills.You can also enroll for paid online certification courses that focuses exclusively on digital skill development.Getting an additional skill certification will boost your career growth.So, why should you wait when you have all the resources at your fingertips!

4. Go for innovative digital events!

Even though you are not a tech savvy person, you can still attend innovative digital events .This will help you in understanding the growth of new technologies and its influence in transforming your lives in the next couple of years.Digital events showcase the most modern technologies that are used in different sectors.When you become a part of the event, you get a chance to mingle with tech professionals who can shed more light on the new-age digitalization. This will help you in embracing the advanced technologies and you become more open to learning .

5. Make learning personal and shareable

When you embrace digital skills learning, it is intrinsically tied to your career goals and paths. However, sharing your knowledge with others can impact the modern learning experience in a great way.For example, preparing a help guide could take your colleague a few hours but it may only take a few minutes for a knowledgeable person like you.You can help your colleagues in doing that using various digital tools.As such, you can create an environment of learning and knowledge-sharing where there will be mutual benefits in acquiring the relevant skills.

The digital skills challenges should not be something to be afraid of. Rather, it is an opportunity for you to acquire relevant skills for going up the job ladder or move into a new sector.This actually integrates work diversity and opens up new avenues in the labour market.With the right level of reskilling strategies you will be able to cope up with the challenges in the digital skill space and find the right path for career advancement.

So,next time when you feel like digitalization is affecting your work or career, stop and think like Shreya: "How can I reskill myself in acquiring digital skills?","What online tools are available?" ,"Is there any seminars or events coming up?","How can I learn and share knowledge with my team?"
If you find answers to these questions you have rightly took the next step for enhancing your career!

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5 ways to reskill and update yourself with digital technologies

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Did you realize how important it is to keep pace with the ever-changing digital technologies? Have you noticed how your digital skills are influencing your career growth? It doesn't matter whether you are a hair stylist, a cab driver or a tech-savvy engineer.The one thing that you deserve at work is job security.And today, every job comes with its own insecurity because of the rapidly changing technologies.

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Gain persuasive examples to demonstrate my proficiency in customer marketing interface knowledge before 25th December 2021

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Gain persuasive examples to demonstrate my proficiency in customer marketing interface knowledge before 25th December 2021

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Customer marketing interface knowledge upgradation is the most essential key criterion for the retail industry, like Unilever. I would like to enhance my competency level by following the guidelines mentioned in the below link:
https://searchcustomerexperience.techtarget.com/definition/CRM-customer-relationship-management

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Customer relationship management (CRM) is the combination of practices, strategies and technologies that companies use to manage and analyze customer interactions and data throughout the customer lifecycle. The goal is to improve customer service relationships and assist in customer retention and drive sales growth. CRM systems compile customer data across different channels, or points of contact, between the customer and the company, which could include the company's website, telephone, live chat, direct mail, marketing materials and social networks. CRM systems can also give customer-facing staff members detailed information on customers' personal information, purchase history, buying preferences and concerns.

Why CRM benefits businesses

The use of CRM systems can benefit organizations ranging from small businesses to large corporations, through:

Having customer information such as past purchases and interaction history easily accessible can help customer support representatives provide better and faster customer service.

Collection of and access to customer data can help businesses identify trends and insights about their customers through reporting and visualization features.

Automation of menial, but necessary, sales funnel and customer support tasks.

Components of CRM

At the most basic level, CRM software consolidates customer information and documents it into a single CRM database so business users can more easily access and manage it.

Over time, many additional functions have been added to CRM systems to make them more useful. Some of these functions include recording various customer interactions over email, phone, social media or other channels; depending on system capabilities, automating various workflow automation processes, such as tasks, calendars and alerts; and giving managers the ability to track performance and productivity based on information logged within the system.

Marketing automation. CRM tools with marketing automation capabilities can automate repetitive tasks to enhance marketing efforts at different points in the lifecycle for lead generation. For example, as sales prospects come into the system, it might automatically send email marketing content, with the goal of turning a sales lead into a full-fledged customer.

Sales force automation. Sales force automation tools track customer interactions and automate certain business functions of the sales cycle that are necessary to follow leads, obtain new customers and build customer loyalty.

Contact center automation. Designed to reduce tedious aspects of a contact center agent's job, contact center automation might include prerecorded audio that assists in customer problem-solving and information dissemination. Various software tools that integrate with the agent's desktop tools can handle customer requests in order to cut down on the length of calls and to simplify customer service processes. Automated contact center tools, such as chatbots, can improve customer user experiences.

Geolocation technology, or location-based services. Some CRM systems include technology that can create geographic marketing campaigns based on customers' physical locations, sometimes integrating with popular location-based GPS (global positioning system) apps. Geolocation technology can also be used as a networking or contact management tool in order to find sales prospects based on a location.

CRM tools specifically for social media platforms help companies foster customer relationships and monitor customer sentiments around their brands.

Workflow automation. CRM systems help businesses optimize processes by streamlining mundane workloads, enabling employees to focus on creative and more high-level tasks.

Lead management. Sales leads can be tracked through CRM, enabling sales teams to input, track and analyze data for leads in one place.

Human resource management (HRM). CRM systems help track employee information, such as contact information, performance reviews and benefits within a company. This enables the HR department to more effectively manage the internal workforce.

Analytics. Analytics in CRM help create better customer satisfaction rates by analyzing user data and helping create targeted marketing campaigns.

Artificial intelligence. AI technologies, such as Salesforce Einstein, have been built into CRM platforms to automate repetitive tasks, identify customer-buying patterns to predict future customer behaviors and more.

Project management. Some CRM systems include features to help users keep track of client project details such as objectives, strategic alignment, processes, risk management and progress.

Integration with other software. Many CRM systems can integrate with other software, such as call center and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

Types of CRM technology

The four main vendors of CRM systems are Salesforce, Microsoft, SAP and Oracle. Other providers are popular among small to midsize businesses, but these four tend to be the choice for large corporations. The types of CRM technology offered are as follows:

Cloud-based CRM

With CRM that uses cloud computing, also known as SaaS (software as a service) or on-demand CRM, data is stored on an external, remote network that employees can access anytime, anywhere there is an internet connection, sometimes with a third-party service provider overseeing installation and maintenance. The cloud's quick, relatively easy deployment capabilities appeal to companies with limited technological expertise or resources.

Data security is a primary concern for companies using cloud-based systems, as the company doesn't physically control the storage and maintenance of its data. If the cloud provider goes out of business or is acquired by another company, an enterprise's data can be compromised or lost. Compatibility issues can also arise when data is initially migrated from a company's internal system to the cloud.

Companies might consider cloud CRM as a more cost-effective option. Vendors typically charge the user on a subscription basis and offer the option of monthly or yearly payments. However, cost may still be a concern, because paying subscription fees for software can be more costly over time than with on-premises models.

Popular cloud-based CRM providers include Salesforce, HubSpot and Zendesk.

On-premises CRM

This system puts the onus of administration, control, security and maintenance of the database and information on the company using the CRM software. With this approach, the company purchases licenses upfront, instead of buying yearly subscriptions from a cloud CRM provider. The software resides on the company's own servers and the user assumes the cost of any upgrades. It also usually requires a prolonged installation process to fully integrate a company's data. Companies with complex CRM needs might benefit from an on-premises deployment.

Many cloud-based providers, such as Salesforce and WorkWise, also offer on-premises versions of their CRM software.

CRM systems have moved far beyond traditional customer profiling functions.

Open source CRM

An open source CRM system makes source code available to the public, enabling companies to make alterations at no cost to the company employing the system. Open source CRM systems also enable the addition and customization of data links on social media channels, assisting companies looking to improve social CRM practices.

Open Source CRM platforms such as OroCRM, Bitrix24, SuiteCRM and SugarCRM offer alternatives to the proprietary platforms from Salesforce, Microsoft and other vendors.

Adoption of any of these CRM deployment methods depends on a company's business needs, resources and goals, as each has different costs associated with it.

CRM examples in practice

Examples of CRM usage vary by the type and purpose of the specific CRM system.

Contact center

Traditionally, data intake practices for CRM systems have been the responsibility of sales and marketing departments, as well as contact center agents. Sales and marketing teams procure leads and update the system with information throughout the customer lifecycle, and contact centers gather data and revise customer history records through service calls and technical support interactions.

Social CRM

Social media in CRM involves businesses engaging with customers directly through social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Social media presents an open forum for customers to share experiences with a brand, whether they are airing grievances or promoting products.

To add value to customer interactions on social media, businesses use various social CRM tools that monitor social media conversations -- from specific mentions of a brand to the frequency of keywords used -- to determine their target audience and which platforms they use. Other tools are designed to analyze social media feedback and address customer queries and issues.

Companies are interested in capturing customer sentiments, such as the likelihood they will recommend products and their overall customer satisfaction, to develop marketing and service strategies. Companies try to integrate social CRM data with other customer data obtained from sales or marketing departments to get a single view of the customer.

Another way in which social CRM adds value for companies and customers is through customer communities, where customers post reviews of products and can engage with other customers to troubleshoot issues or research products in real time. Customer communities can provide low-level customer service for certain kinds of problems and reduce the number of contact center calls. Customer communities can also provide new product ideas or feedback that companies can use in lieu of feedback groups.

Mobile CRM

CRM applications built for smartphones and tablets have become a must-have for sales representatives and marketing professionals who want to access customer information and perform tasks when they are not physically in their offices. Mobile CRM apps take advantage of features that are unique to mobile devices, such as GPS and voice recognition capabilities, to give sales and marketing employees access to customer information from anywhere.

Business-to-business (B2B) practices

A CRM system in a B2B environment helps monitor sales as they move through the sales funnel, enabling a business to address any issues that might come up during the process. CRM systems in the B2B market help create more visibility into leads and, therefore, increase efficiency throughout the sales process.

CRM challenges

For all of the advancements in CRM technology, without the proper management, a CRM system can become little more than a glorified database in which customer information is stored. Data sets need to be connected, distributed and organized so that users can easily access the information they need.

Companies may struggle to achieve a single view of the customer if their data sets are not connected and organized in a single dashboard or interface. Challenges also arise when systems contain duplicate customer data or outdated information. These problems can lead to a decline in customer experience due to long wait times during phone calls, improper handling of technical support cases and other issues.

CRM systems work best when companies spend time cleaning up their existing customer data to eliminate duplicate and incomplete records before they supplement CRM data with external sources of information.

Continue Reading About CRM (customer relationship management)

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What is CRM (customer relationship management)?

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Customer relationship management (CRM) is the combination of practices, strategies and technologies that companies use to manage and analyze customer interactions and data throughout the customer lifecycle. The goal is to improve customer service relationships and assist in customer retention and drive sales growth.