Hello, 2019. It’s the start of a new year and time for resolutions and goal setting.
Hello, 2019. It’s the start of a new year and time for resolutions and goal setting. Maybe you’re targeting a new position or just looking to add a new skill to your portfolio.
Keeping up with the skills required by our modern workplace is critical to career success. One way to do this is to add an official educational credential – it backs up your work experience and could help you beat out the competition for a job and/or client.
What educational options should you consider for 2019? Here are some options:
- Certification through the American Marketing Association
- Marketing Certificates
- Advanced degrees (MBA, MA)
AMA Certification
The American Marketing Association offers the Professional Certified Marketer (PCM®) certification.This is a low-cost, low-time commitment credential that will show employers you have up-to-date skills. Plus, AMADC members get a special discount!
You’ll be able to display the (PCM®) behind your name and receive a badge to display on your social media.
AMA offers certification in four areas, $249 per exam:
- Digital Marketing
- Marketing Management
- Sales Management
- Content Marketing
Graduate Certificate
Obtaining a certificate can be an affordable, manageable way to increase your marketability. These programs are intended for working adults and range in cost from under $2,000, such as the University of Vermont’s Digital Marketing Fundamentals online program for $1695, to several thousand dollars.
In the DC area, we are located near many exceptional universities and you can attend part or all the classes in person. Georgetown School of Continuing Studies (SCS) certification degree program offers several certificates, including Social Media Management and Digital Marketing.
Some of these certificates are offered entirely online. You can learn about other programs at bestmarketingdegrees.org.
Graduate Degree
Graduate degrees could be a great choice, especially for younger marketers who may have more time to devote to studies and/or fewer family commitments.
“It can be a lot harder to get a degree once you get out of the college-learning mode and the habit of taking classes, doing research and taking tests,” says Mike Gardner, current AMADC Board member who has served as a recruiter and career coach. He’s currently Exec VP, Business Strategy at Three Seas, a collective of small creative companies.
In addition to regular, full-time programs, many options today won’t require you to give up your day job. Take our current AMADC President’s example: Stephanie Sikorski obtained a Masters in Integrated Marketing Communications from Georgetown University while working full-time. She was one of the first 50 graduates of this program.
Stephanie benefitted beyond the classroom lectures. “It was exciting to network with the other participants- all marketing and communications professionals- while gaining hands-on skills,” she says. She values the relationships the program enabled her to build.
Do Your Research
It can be expensive and time-consuming to get a degree. To determine your best next step:
- Review the different types of programs
- Research graduate degree program rankings
- Attend Open House and informational sessions
- Ask about networking opportunities and internship placement
- Investigate what sort of job search support the program offers
- Work with your employer: can they pay for all or part of it? If not, is there another program they will pay for?
Make Your 2019 Plan Today
Decide what sort of commitment (time, money) you can make and go for it.
Whether you obtain a master’s degree or a certificate, once you have the credential, you’ll always have it in hand. “Once you get it, you’ll have a sense of achievement: you’ll know – I got it and I did it, and I feel really great, “says Gardner.
Read more about education programs for marketers in the next post in this series, Go For It In 2019: Certificate Programs.