Does a CIM Accreditation Help Your Marketing Career?

    LONDON, ENGLAND, February 15, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- As the world's biggest organisation for professional marketers, The Chartered Institute of Marketing plays an integral role in setting industry standards while also offering training and accredited, practice-based qualifications. However, is a CIM accreditation absolutely necessary in securing a new marketing job? Also, do employers hold practical, hands-on experience in higher regard when recruiting?

The value of CIM training

Few marketing jobs will insist that you have a CIM qualification to be able to apply for the role. Employers' opinions on the matter will vary; while some will consider it the norm for a professional marketer, others may not have much concern over it.

Having said this, even if the qualification is not a prerequisite for the role, that's not to say it wouldn't be an impressive addition to your CV. In fact, it's an internationally recognised accreditation that might just give you the edge over a candidate with similar experience

Although a CIM qualification is not essential for all marketing jobs, it's worth considering its potential value to you personally. If you have no formal education in marketing - CIM training could certainly be a good option for making the move into marketing. If you already have a marketing degree or vast experience, an additional qualification might not add much value.

Bridging a knowledge gap

If you feel you lack specific skills and expertise, a CIM qualification could help you to fill in the gaps. For example, you may be well versed in traditional marketing, but lack exposure to digital techniques. This is where a specialist course could prove useful.

In the same vein, some marketing professionals now look towards the IDM (institute of direct and digital marketing) to help expand their skill set. The IDM has a worldwide reputation as the leading professional body for the development of direct, data and digital marketing. Additional training alongside a current role could help you move upwards into a new, more specialist field.

What about international recognition?

If you're planning to work abroad, a CIM certificate could work in your favour as it's an internationally recognised qualification. Foreign businesses may feel more secure in taking on a candidate with an accreditation that they understand and recognise.


Will it improve earning potential?

There's no guarantee that a CIM qualification will enhance your earning potential. When it comes to salary offers, there'll no doubt be several factors at play.

However, the CIM's own Marketing Rewards Survey claims that the average Chartered Institute Marketing member earns around 10% more than a non-qualified member over the course of their career.

So, to summarise...

The CIM is a respected institute and their qualifications are certainly highly regarded in the industry. If you're looking to break into marketing from another discipline or to fill a skills gap, it could prove very advantageous. However, it will rarely be listed as a prerequisite for a marketing job and a proven track record is typically more important to employers. A combination of relevant experience, backed up by a solid qualification is usually a winning combination.

Liz Hopkins, director of Michael Page Marketing, comments:

"...the CIM qualification is respected and could help to formalise some theory to back up practical experience. In general though, employers seem to favour the actual marketing experience on the CV and synergy of the business/industry they have worked in, rather than being as concerned about whether someone has a CIM qualification or not."

Website: http://www.cim.co.uk

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