If becoming a Chartered Marketer is the icing on the cake for you, you may have heard the process has now changed.
In this article we explore what being a Chartered Marketer means to those on that journey…
So in the past month, the rules have changed to make becoming a Chartered Marketer more accessible to more people, there is now only a requirement to either have the CIM Professional Diploma as a qualification or three years marketing management experience.
We thought a good way to do this would be to share some different perspectives, so we asked Veronica (the boss!), James, Tom and Kirsty to share their experiences and it’s value.
Chartered status is present in most industries and is recognised internationally. It can enable you to stand out from your peers, secure new opportunities as you work your way through your marketing career, and demonstrates you stay up to date and relevant. Becoming a Chartered Marketer is now more accessible to CIM graded members. With the world’s leading professional marketing body vouching for you, there’s no better way to demonstrate to colleagues or prospective employers your knowledge, and constant dedication to being a professional marketer.
Veronica Swindale
FCIM Chartered Marketer
Managing Director of nesma
My own formal marketing career started when I was working for an international marine
consultancy firm in Newcastle. My employer very kindly paid for me to study the post-graduate Diploma in Management Studies (DMS) and post-graduate Diploma in Marketing (DipM) and I was promoted to a fee-earning project consultant. I studied these courses part-time at Northumbria University whilst working full-time.
Not long after this the Chartered Institute of Marketing got a royal charter to offer Chartered Marketer status to its qualified members who also undertook Continuous Professional Development to maintain their current knowledge of marketing practice. I was among the first 1,000 candidates in the world who were invited to the Royal Festival Hall in London to receive my Chartered scroll and badge.
Today my study centre, nesma, is fully accredited by not only the Chartered Institute of
Marketing but also the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and personally I am a fully paid-up member to both. Why? Because I strongly believe that both institutions offer credible qualifications that genuinely change the thinking and behaviours of those people that study their programmes and, by doing so, enable those people to compete in their marketing and communications careers.
Each year I have to complete my CPD reflective statements to maintain my Chartered status. I admit administration isn’t my favourite pastime and each year I ask myself ‘can I afford not to be Chartered? ‘Can I even face not being Chartered having worked so hard to get this far?’ and every year that conversation ends up with me deciding I need to complete my 400-word reflective statements and be thrilled each time that certificate arrives.
James Brennan
CIM Diploma in Marketing Graduate
Marketing Manager at BSW Timber
When I began my CIM journey it became clear that one of the ultimate goals would be getting Chartered. In that time, I’ve gained a CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing (L3), a CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing (L6) and almost two years of experience in a management position.
Under the old set-up, this would still place me three years away from MCIM level and being able to apply for Chartership status, the new rules have changed that. CIM acknowledged that the criteria needed to be reviewed and they took action, which means I can now achieve Chartership status at ACIM level as a result of having a CIM Diploma in Marketing or Digital Marketing (Level 6) and/or because I have over three years of experience in marketing.
Under the new rules, it is definitely easier to achieve Chartership, but the incentives to continue learning are still there, as they should be. Whether that’s MCIM, FCIM (although I’ll try not to get ahead of myself!), and all the learning between.
I think the CIM qualifications are an important part of the experience, and central to developing future generations of agile, well-rounded marketers.
Tom Nightingale
Director, Marketing & Strategy
Baker Hughes and CIM North East Board member
As a CIM member, I have always valued the training and development opportunities available, having studied up to CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing. I previously considered the next level of training, with the aim to qualify for chartered status. With over 10 years of experience in Marketing Management, I welcome the new criteria which value experience equally to qualifications. I am looking forward to working towards my Chartered status.
Kirsty Ramsey
Marketing and Business Development Director
O Communications
The big draw for me in reaching chartered status was the training to get there, the CIM Marketing Leadership Programme (Masters Level) provided me with a great platform to put my knowledge to the test, to learn new skills and to develop my consultancy skills further in a real business environment. The new criteria for becoming chartered is welcome as experience should be recognised and rewarded, but I would recommend anyone to take part in the training aspect for the skills you develop and the peer group engagement.
How do I get Chartered?
You need to:
- Become a graded member (find out more about membership here)
- Complete two consecutive years of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), easily done through CIM’s CPD app which you can find on the App Store or Google Play store
- Pass the Chartered assessment
Once Chartered, you can use the Chartered Marketer designatory letters and logo to demonstrate your unrivalled knowledge, skills and commitment as a professional marketer.
So, what are you waiting for?
Become a member today and begin your journey towards becoming a Chartered Marketer.
For questions about Chartered Marketer
Call +44 (0)1628 427120
Email cpd@cim.co.uk
