How to progress a marketing career

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Hi, i wondered if anyone has any advice for progressing a career in marketing? I took a side step into marketing a few years ago and have learnt on the job but I'd really like to progress my work and formalise with some qualifications over the next couple of years. I'm looking at doing a CIM Level 6 (self study) course that I can do around my current role/family with a view to progressing to the Level 7 postgrad course after, has anyone got any other suggestions? I'd like to aim for a marketing director level role over the next 5-7yrs... Thanks in advance...

Whatever qualification you take, it won't take you to Marketing Director level in 5 years. You wouldn't have sufficient experience.

I don’t think courses hold much value at all unless they’re done while you’re in a role you can directly apply them to.

Your best tactic for progression is working your way up.

Agree your expectations of how long it takes to get to Director levels are unrealistic (unless you’re mid manager level already…)

As others have said, although the courses will give you good grounding (I’ve done the CIM level 6 course myself), they won’t necessarily help you progress any faster. You’ll need to work your way up in some way, shape or form if you’re starting from the bottom. To note: you will find it much easier to do that in an SME or family-run than a large corporate.

Agree about having to work your way up. I got a first class marketing degree last year and jobs still ask you for previous work/ portfolio etc. If I had more work to show, I’d be able to apply for better jobs than just having the qualification. I’m sure both go hand in hand but can’t help but think in this case the experience is much more valuable. When I started the degree (2019) there were well paid marketing jobs but since everyone went more digital/online/remote throughout covid they are ten a penny now and mostly entry level.

Thanks for the replies, I've worked my way up in my current role over the past 5 yrs to manager level, leading the marketing for a SME so I think I'm covering the experience and work your way up side of things. I'd certainly be using any learning on a day to day basis. It's interesting to hear people's thoughts and good to think about building a portfolio to evidence skills...

Hi, I'm a marketing director and I've been working in marketing for 15 years, I only achieved director level 18 months ago.

I initially worked for large corporates where it is very hard to progress, I only started seeing big jumps in my career when I started working in tech start ups.

They are high risk, high reward. With my first start up I doubled my salary and went from marketing manager to head of marketing. That company was acquired and I went to an AI start up, another head of role and a £10k bump. When I left there I got my current job we a marketing director at one of the UK's largest tech consultancies, my next move would be CMO.

I think marketing and pr are all about networking and you get the step up because of who you know and of course your results, so I recommend focusing on networking.

Continuous learning is always important, I am a fan of the Mark Ritson mini MBA courses, but I still class it as second to networking.

Also, I wouldn't stay in the same job for longer than 3/4 years, that is how salary stagnates.

If you've been in the same role for 5 years, I would focus on finding another role that will help build your skillset. Experience counts for much more than academics in my opinion. Agree with pp that networking counts for a lot too.

I'm in a "Head of" role but in a huge corporate, I have 18 years of experience. Despite the title, I actually get paid more than the market rate for a marketing director and the actual role is strategy and leadership. So think carefully about whether you're chasing a title, a salary, or a certain level or type of work.

I agree with the other posters that after a certain point qualifications are not going to elevate your career. I am a CMO. In my experience jumping companies is the best way to get larger jumps in terms of role and pay. And invest time and energy in networking! I have done all of the CIM exams, plus a few from IDM, MBA and Level C and would say that the MBA has been the most helpful ( in terms of how it has been perceived by others). If I was starting out now I would do the Mark Ritson course.

5-7 years from now sounds alright in a smaller organisation, OP already has a few years under her belt. Took me 8 years and 4 marketing jobs to get to Marketing Director level at a small-to-medium but well regarded charity. Got stuck at that level post-kids but that's another story

This might be really obvious but there is often a trade-off between good/impressive job title and good salary. When I was Marketing Director of that small-to-medium charity I was getting paid what a large corporate would pay their officers or very junior managers.

Id recommend the Google Garage certificate, its free to do online, its really good if you are starting out, and the best way to progress in marketing is experience, the more you know about the subject the easier it is, you can start by approaching small businesses to run their social media.

Google garage - https://skillshop.exceedlms.com/student/catalog/list?category_ids=7879-google-digital-garage