The Natal Witness: MAKE MARKETING YOUR CAREER CHOICE

Marketing encourages independent and critical thinking. It stimulates the passion to solve problems, it challenges your mind to be creative and innovative. But, the relevant education and experience to apply a wide range of marketing techniques, and the right skills, ability and imagination are fundamental to your success as a professional marketer.

The IMM Graduate School of Marketing (IMM GSM) has a fine history of delivering an outstanding education in marketing through relevant and recognised certificate, undergraduate, degree and postgraduate programmes. These qualifications also provide the opportunity to specialise in a particular area of marketing. Excellent outcomes-based distance education allows you to study by means of distance learning, or you can enrol for face-to-face education on a full- or part-time basis at IMM GSM-approved Student Support Centres around the country.

After Matric, Laura Mardon, 23, of Durban completed the Diploma in Marketing from the IMM GSM. "I chose to study towards an IMM GSM qualification because I knew that it would put me a step ahead of the rest. I had many friends doing BCom degrees and I felt I got more out of the IMM GSM programmes. I also looked at job advertisements which I felt I'd apply to in the future and most of them required an IMM GSM qualification."

With the Diploma in Marketing from the IMM GSM is at a level six on the National Qualifications Framework, IMM GSM graduates are in demand by industry - the value and practical component of the diploma allows students to confidently enter the job market as the programme provides an understanding of the functional areas of business management, such as Business Law and Business Communication, with a strong focus on the different aspects of marketing.

"I was hired right out of my studies into my field, so that was a great step,” said Laura. Because of her heavy work schedule, she went on to complete the Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (BBA) in Marketing from the IMM GSM through distance learning. "I enjoyed working and studying at the same time, because I got so much more out of the subjects."

Marketing is at the core of every business - the most fundamental part of any business' success, making this. But, skilled and qualified marketers in our hyper-competitive world are essential to ensure that success.