How train to be a marketing and communication manager

[Mooboo3]

Does anyone know a good course on how to become a marketing and communication manager?
is it ridiculous at 59?
I’ve a background in advertising and am handy with design. I need a job and these seem to pop up fairly frequently as something I can do. I’ve done some Google and linked in courses but not getting anywhere in interviews.
Thanks!

I'd recommend the CIM courses @Mooboo3 - you'll have most of the foundation knowledge if you have an advertising background. I've found most places have CIM as an essential requirement.

Thank you! There’s a lot to choose from and at 450 a day I need to get it right..can anyone advise what I need? Or the bare minimum. How the xxx. Does anyone afford 450 a day?!

Have you tried entry level roles with a persuasive letter saying you realise you are an unlikley candidate but plan to spend 10 years in the new field, have relevant ad agency experience and have seen there is a shortage of good dedicated marketing people? Worth a try to get paid learning on the job from the ground up.

Hi! I'm a head of marketing and comms and have hired plenty of these roles. I work in charity type organisations. Same as goldfinchonthelawn I'd echo that workplace experience would be the thing to focus on rather than training. I don't have a CIM or any formal qualifications myself- I also don't tend to look for them when hiring, I'm not even sure if I've ever hired anyone who has one. I'm looking for workplace experience. The background in advertising and design sounds like good transferable experience though so that's a good start.

Would you be open to officer level roles? Manager roles often do expect expect experience in a marketing and comms role, as it's a progressive role. Officer level is closer to entry level but usually you do need experience even at officer level- so your background would help there. Also a design background would be handy for an officer, who is more likely to do design tasks than a manager.

It also depends on the type of manager role you're applying for. I.e. does the role manage a team of officers? If so, they are probably looking for someone who's had the type of experience of being an officer. Sometime we get roles titled manager but they're more like a 'project manager' Those are often stand alone and needs a general all rounder- so you could be more well suited to one of those.

As goldfinchonthelawn says recruitment is hard at the moment, it's the first time I've ever experienced advertising roles and getting no applicants, so with a good cover letter explaining how your skills are transferable now's a good time. Don't be disheartened if you have to keep trying though.

My dp is in this area and he got there purely through experience - no uni/qualifications in the field, just many years of doing it.

He is recruiting and also says it's really hard to find people at the moment.

I would see if a local college is running the CIM courses, I did the diploma which is equivalent to a degree (it was definitely not as much work as a degree but officially that's what it is) and I think it cost about £1500. I was lucky as my workplace paid for it. Or you could do the post grad diploma which is a higher level. They do one day courses in other topics but I'd only do those if your employer funded it.

There’s usually a lot of volunteering roles like this in the charity sector. Worth looking at to get some experience otherwise it think it might be tricky to get a job.

Gosh thanks everyone, I’m spending yet another day trawling through job sites and feeling more and more useless. I am now applying to volunteer roles, and will write cover letters. I have done digital marketing course on LinkedIn and something called UpSkill digital. I’ll take all your advice on board. I must be able to get a job, surely.
if anyone needs a volunteer let me know!

Good luck with it. Also have a look on linked in for jobs. They often have volunteer ones advertised. Also have a look at do-it.org.

Have a look at Cambridge Marketing College. They might have a suitable course to add to your CV.

Just to say thank you for your encouragement! I have finally, with the help of various get back to work schemes, got a job, yayyy! It’s not social media after all, but I’ll be working with the marketing chap, so I’ll hopefully pick up tips! Thank you very much for supporting me xxx

Congratulations @Mooboo3!!

That’s great!! Hope it goes well and you enjoy it.

I worked for about 15 years in communications, campaigns and marketing for various charities. I started in the sector as a lowly events organiser and administrator, then became a press officer, then a communications manager and finally Head of a coms team.

I never had any formal marketing or communications qualifications. I did have a qualification in graphic design and web design which was handy as most of the roles included managing websites and social media and producing marketing material.

The point is qualifications are not the most important factor. The idea of volunteering is a good one.

Well done @Mooboo3 ! Would you share any of the back to work schemes you did or any other advice? I’m also thinking comms and marketing.

I was a national-level editor/journalist before I gave it up to look after kids over 10 years ago.

Now I want/need to go back and feel lost and out of time. I see jobs advertised for £25-30k which is very much less than what I made 20 years ago, and yet I’m not experienced/qualified for those roles.

I also have very little marketing experience, beyond having written press releases, and good at killer headlines etc. But that’s not enough. Self taught social media, again not enough. Have done a couple of website and indesign courses, but again it’s all DIY rather than proven employee experience. what to do?

So grateful for any concrete insights!