So you have worked in marketing for a number of years…you feel you know the job inside out and are pretty comfortable with what you are doing. At this stage in your career, you might ask yourself why on earth you would consider studying for a marketing qualification.
In recent months I have met with many highly experienced marketing professionals who have decided to start a marketing course/qualification and I thought it would be interesting to venture out of the office and have a chat with people currently working in this field to find out what their views are on the value of marketing courses.
From these conversations, three clear reasons arose as to why any marketing professional, experienced or not, should consider looking into marketing courses available on the marketplace.
- Credibility- one of the overriding reasons the marketing professionals I spoke with thought doing extra qualifications was definitely worthwhile was the credibility it gives you. It highlights your dedication and passion for the field you work in and shows that your experience is both up to date and relevant. This is important in marketing, as in this technological era, things change all the time. A qualification will emphasise the fact that you understand this and take personal development seriously.
- Personal reassurance– this is relevant for junior through to senior marketing professionals. Undertaking marketing qualifications can take you back to basics. Often people end up working in marketing, having studied a variety of different degrees. If you have learnt on the job and have not had the classroom training, then a qualification can reassure you that the things you are doing in your day to day role are along the right lines, or conversely help you to realise that you are missing a trick and need to modify your approach!
- It can make your CV stand out- if you are looking for a new job, it might be that you end up going head to head with someone who has a very similar skillset to your own. Having a marketing qualification on your CV, aside from your degree or previous education and experience, can really help you to stand out from the crowd. This is something that would be most valuable when your CV is being evaluated and you haven’t yet had the chance to actually speak to the organisation – it could be what helps you get your foot in the door and secure that first interview.
In the famous words of Michel Legrand, ““The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know”. This quote seems particularly relevant to the ever-changing field of marketing, where continued personal development is never going to be pointless.
Of course learning is not all about classroom training, and many of the marketers I spoke with had learned all they know from hands-on experience; yet, they all agreed that there was always value in taking a qualification. So, if you are browsing at courses online and umming and ahhing about whether to take the leap, make like Nike and “just do it”: What have you got to lose?
With special thanks to Vanessa Hands, Evelien Haels, Paul Hennin, Caroline Goatley, Anju Arora and Natalie Naudo, for taking the time to speak with me.
If you are looking to start a marketing course but you aren’t sure where to look, take a look at the following websites;