IDM or CIM???

I have been given the opportunity by my employer to do further study, i am unsure as to whether i should do an IDM or CIM course? Which will add more value to my future career? As i am a recent postgraduate, i wasnt really sure which direction to follow,

 Any help/suggestions would be greatly appricated

Gemma, I am also a graduate and last year I was faced with a similar choice. I chose the cim as the seems to be the gold standard with respect to gaining employment in makreting. This is probably because it was awarded a royal charter in 1989 giving it the opportunity to conduct and then to convey professional awards to it members, thereby giving members the legal right to use professional letters after their name like you would if you have been awarded a university degree. It is also the only organisation entitled to award chartered marketer status. Please also look at this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_qualifications_in_the_United_Kingdom

 

Hi Gemma,

I too was given this opportunity by my employer and as I work in Ecommerce I opted for The IDM Diploma in Direct & Interactive Marketing and I have to say the support and quality of materials provided by The Idm is superb. But I guess the decision lies with you based on what is more relevent and which option will benefit you more in your career choice.

Hi All,

This is a very interesting thread as I am now in the same position! 

Has anyone got any experience or tips for attaining any of the IDM and CIM quals.

Which one did you go for Gemma?

 Hi All -

 The answer lies in what it is you want to achieve with your marketing career.

If you're looking to take on a role whereby you focus more on brand management, above the line marcoms and senior marketing strategy then the CIM is probably your best bet.

However if you're looking for marketing jobs that focuses on customer realationships, database management, digital marketing and maximising ROI then the IDM is a better body to train with.

Personally I find playing big brother and trying to get the right message, to the right person at the right time pretty with a targetted btl communication pretty damn cool! But, then again I do sometimes wish I could say "I commisioned Coca-cola latest big brand campaign".

At the end of the day, find out what ticks your boxes and pursue it.

 Hope this helps.

Hi Morgan,

Thanks very much for your response, this is great. In my previous role/life, I was designing homepage and newsletter banners to promote products, rebranding products and managing relationships with etailers, turning them into sole authorised distributors and handling these international distributors & our portals on their websites all in a bid to grow a 1/3m turnover small brand so I feel now I have been there and done that.

When I asked the IDM lady about CIM, she was reluctant to comment and I think she felt quite offended. The impression I get from IDM from looking at their marketing brochures is it is a more of a vocational and executional qualification, but digital marketing is where it is all at to be fair. I am for instance in my current role keen to maximise our very chunky ROI Google budget, so IDM would be great for this.

However, my ambition has always been to get chartered status and with Train to Gain offering anyone senior £1000 towards qualifications, I feel the urge to do something!

Just out of interest Morgan, do you have any IDM/CIM certificates?

 Cheers,

 Tim

Hi Tim - It Sounds like you know what you're after.

I think there is some truth to the view that the CIM offers more prestige while the IDM seek to enhance your skills set. But both still have their place for sure.

I personally have neglected my professional development. The only certificate I hold is the certificate of direct marketing from the IDM which I gained as part of my Marketing Degree in 2000. I have also done a few courses with the IDM thanks to the generosity of some of my employers.

I do regret not taking advantage of a reduced membership fee and the opportunity to get CIM qualification as part of my degree course but I was counting the pennies at the time. But all the marketing jobs I see advertised ask for a related degree or CIM qualification so I think my career prospects haven't been harmed. The only harm is to my continued professional development.

That said I still cannot bring myself to fork-out on further education or membership to these institutions as I am still counting the pennies and have yet to find an employer willing to cover the costs :) but I remain hopeful!

I remain convinced that experience is the best training and as long as my CV can boast great results and achievements my career prospects will (fingers crossed) remain healthy.

Hi mjam,

Thanks for your feedback, this is great. I have a meeting next week with a Train to Gain broker, they can provide up to £500/£1000 towards further training and development for people in management. If you are interested, I'll let you know how I get on.

So the PGDIPM CIM post grad prof dip. qualification I am looking at, cheapest is online (9 months shortest time with new courses starting every three months) with CIM @ £2700+vat and they have a new syllabus kicking in shortly. I must admit, I do like the idea of attending an institution though, as it's more sociable and you can network for mutual support, reminds me of my post grad days at Law school - much more fun than sitting in front of ur pc. I may well do an IDM course though (much cheaper!) if I can't get sufficient funding.

Thanks for feedback and any more comments or suggestions, pls do let me know. 

 

 

 Hello guys.

Your consideration and experience are very intersting.

I am on my way to decide shortely for a CIM Diploma too. Do you know the London School of Marketing in London? 

Can I ask you if/which kind of advantages you had as a memeber of the CIM?

I moved from Italy and have a temp job, I am looking for job and I hope the school can also give me a relevant way to create a professional networ... what can you tell me about that?

Thank you.

 Hi

I was also in your position earlier this year, I really couldnt decideon what to do, I have wokred in marketing four years and at the moment my specialism is CRM, so in some ways the IDM seemed like the correct route but I also felt the CIM would broaden my knowledge. In the end I decided to take the advice of my manager. I decided to go with the postgrad CIM, mainly because its quite early in my career and I dont want to restrict my experience to direct marketing.

Helen 

Hi All,

This is an interesting thread and it is good to know what others have done within their roles and related experience.

Update with where I am, I have joined IDM as just an Associate member (3+ years in marketing) - £30 a quarter. CIM have changed their entry requirements on their post grad courses trying to make it some pie in the sky, so I haven't joined them  on this reason alone and I have emailed nearly every single institute in the UK offering this course, one or two came back and said they would enrol me, but with a delayed work appraisal and Train to Gain messing me about, a squeaky clean credit score and no bank willing to lend at a reasonable interest rate, I don't have all the dollar. It does amuse me however that an institute in Oxford is prepared to put some course co-ordinator, a newbie and a year out of uni on to their top end course who has no experience in marketing or the real world.

At the moment living in SW London, having A IDM after my name and signing up to the CPD award scheme, this is the most I am prepared to invest in my marketing training, as there is now very little to no training budget where I work.

Also, Train to Gain is now only available if your role is senior or strategic, or if your boss is nice and happy enough to scribble on a bit of headed paper that you have a senior role. Strike while the iron is hot sure springs to mind. I had a well known Skills Brokerage company cancel two of my preliminary assessment meetings twice (March-May with a 4 week appointment ahead window) and had 3-4 of his diary assistants make appointments, duplicate appointments and make other mistakes, meaning I missed the boat on £1000 worth of training as good old Labour chopped and changed their minds and decided who should and shouldn't be eligible for training funding. The skills broker chief person in question didn't pursue my enthusiasm for a meeting because I had "exec" in my email signature title (as he said in not so many words in his email to me) . All he was interested in using me as an entry into our company to assess the entire organisation's skills and earn his commission on referrals.

So, for now as Mdam rightly points out, I am focussing on my cv and new marketing avenues I haven't explored yet within vague proximity of my role and will just plod on making the best of what I can. So that is my experience of a lousy Train to Gain and CIM gold plating their courses, well roll on IDM! Head up peop's...