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Do you need a marketing qualification to be successful?

The ever evolving world of marketing has become an extremely competitive industry when recruiting. With a pool of candidates with marketing expertise, does a marketing qualification really help you standout?

Find out whether a qualification is the right move for your marketing career, as we outline the pros and cons.

University marketing degree

Traditionally, marketing degrees were the way forward to land a high-level, well paid marketing role. However, employers are putting particular emphasis on experience and knowledge. A marketing degree may look great on your CV and could be the overall deciding factor between you and another candidate. However, you must weigh up the positives and the negatives.

A degree will show an understanding of marketing principles, however does not necessarily present your application or experience in marketing. Consider a sandwich degree which includes three undergraduate programmes, alongside a yearlong work placement in the industry. This enables you to gain valuable experience alongside gaining knowledge through your marketing degree.

Distance learning opportunities

Many recognised marketing courses offer a distance learning option. The most popular providers within the marketing sector include The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and Digital Marketing Institute. These recognised industry qualifications can in fact boost your CV and help build your marketing career.

The above online learning options, give you flexibility to learn around your work and home life. In most instances this form of learning allows you to set your own pace, enabling you to choose when and where you will study. Showing a commitment to progress your skills and knowledge within marketing whilst maintaining employment, is likely to impress Recruiters and Hiring Managers.

Work-life balance

Juggling a full-time marketing role whilst studying for a professional qualification can be extremely time consuming. Prior to jumping into a long-term course, consider whether you are prepared to sacrifice some of your social life to study. Dependent upon the qualification you are working towards (entry, intermediate, advanced) study time can vary from dedicating 8-12 hours per week over a course of 12 months or longer.

Although your CV may benefit from the completed qualification, if you are not prepared to commit your time the overall result may not be as beneficial. Both a degree and other marketing qualifications are expensive, therefore it is a decision that should not be made impulsively.

Alternatives to marketing qualifications

Workshops and intensive training courses can be great alternatives to a marketing qualification. CIM offer over 90 courses varying from one to five days. Therefore if a full-time course is not for you, showing your commitment to improve knowledge and expertise through short courses can be just as effective as a qualification.

Qualifications can at times be outdated due to syllabus’ only being updated intermittently. Workshops and training course content is updated more regularly to focus on the current trends within marketing. This will also present to Recruiters and Hiring Managers that you have relevant knowledge about the current sector.

To conclude, dependent upon your own ambitions a marketing qualification can be beneficial to your marketing career and job search. However, taking alternative routes to show a commitment to further knowledge and expertise can be just as effective. Choose which route suits you as an individual.

If you are looking for a new role, check out our latest marketing job vacancies.