Continuous learning and development throughout your working life is vital to ensure career progression.
That’s the view of Frank McKee, a senior examiner with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, who was speaking as thousands of students ponder their future at the start of another academic year.
“I have been delivering professional marketing education programmes now for over 15 years in association with a number of third level and private educational institutions. In that time, I have witnessed the growing importance to local employers of not only recruiting from a high calibre graduate pool, but also the high emphasis that is placed on the necessity for continuous professional development,” he said.
“The CIM professional qualifications suite was introduced to Northern Ireland in the late 1980’s at a time when job advertisements rarely, if ever, stated an essential requirement to hold a professional qualification as a prerequisite to apply for a role within the marketing profession and I had a job on my hands convincing associates and later prospective students, that a further lengthy period of study would be beneficial.
“This, however, was the case, evidenced by the numerous examples of career progression and success fed back to me throughout the years and the fact that now, most enlightened and forward thinking employers insist upon a professional marketing qualification as a minimum for most middle to senior marketing management positions.
“Two other factors have become increasingly apparent. Firstly, there has been a significant increase in enrolment funded by employers. Organisations are realising the value in professional development and are prepared to invest in order to benefit from that value.
“Secondly, and even more revealing, those in pursuit of career progression and better employment prospects within the field of marketing, have recognised the necessity to secure a professional qualification from CIM and are willing to fund that pursuit personally and are more than willing to move to an employer who values their motivation and ambition.”