What will being chartered actually do for us?
If I get Chartered Status, will I get a better job? At first sight at least, this seems to be a perfectly reasonable question to pose and I must confess, one which in various forms, I have been asked many times. The first time someone asked me, I felt a little bit “on the spot” to be honest, because it isn’t really a closed question at all is it? I remember at the time saying something like, “well it will certainly help, but it won’t guarantee it”. However, I quickly added, “what it will do though, is to help you to keep your job once you get it”. Although I felt a little proud of coming up with this in a matter of seconds, my positive mood was almost immediately tempered by a look that can only ever mean “whatever!”
However, I think that seeing Chartered Status simply as some form of entry ticket purchase, is probably missing the whole point really. In reality, it is much more transformational than transactional and rather than it being a straightforward career interchange, where you simply join a more lucrative route, it is much more about a set standards, that we are able to adopt and demonstrate. In fact, I am mindful that you don’t ‘get’ chartered you ‘become’ chartered. You are in effect the embodiment of the status itself. Not only are you viewed as someone who possesses the attitudes and skills that are commensurate with this professional standing, you are also obliged to meet the expectations set out for Chartered Marketers, as clearly defined in the bye laws of our Institute i.e. Bye-law 4 (in particular 4g and 4h).
In reality, when organisations like the CIM are granted a Charter by her Majesty (in the UK), they are very aware that this is still a rare and significant event. In fact, less than 1,000 Royal Charters have been granted since 1231. In turn, even though the idea of someone being a chartered professional only dates back to the 19th century, there are still only around 50 bodies acknowledged to be awarding individual chartered status.
Within this setting, there is a clear sense of an overarching phenomenon that is both formal and dignified and one that commands a sense of seriousness and responsibility. This solemnness of this undertaking, will command a considerable need for diligence, by those intuitions who are charged with reviewing individual worthiness for the award of chartered status. So naturally the admission requirements will be commensurate with this. Therefore, could it be reasonable for us to assume that those awarded this status, will rarely if ever find this journey to be career inhibiting or a source of professional embarrassment? If you are recognised as an up-to-date, experienced and qualified marketing professional, who is able to demonstrate achievement at the highest level in our profession, then surely your chances of career success, will be higher than if you are not.
What it will do for us as individual marketers, is enhance our professional standing and encourage us to become even more focused upon keeping up to date. In particular, we will be able to demonstrate our unrivalled knowledge, skills, and commitment. If this isn’t a good time to enable ourselves to stand out from our peers and secure new opportunities, when do we actually think might be? With the world’s leading professional marketing body vouching for us, there’s no better way to demonstrate to colleagues or prospective employers that our knowledge, and our constant dedication to being a professional marketer, is operating at the highest level. Click here to discover more about how you can make your own move into Chartered territory.