This guide explores how aspiring marketers can utilise Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as a tool to demonstrate their commitment to learning and development and evidence their experience to employers, helping accelerate their careers.

Marketing is an incredibly exciting industry to work in, but it’s also incredibly competitive. It’s not uncommon to see roles attracting hundreds of applications, and that can feel difficult to navigate, especially if you’re in the early stages of your career.

The good news is that standing out to employers doesn’t always mean being the loudest person in the room or having an insider connection. In my experience, one of the best ways to stand out is to show employers that you have commitment, passion, and a genuine desire to keep learning. This is where continuous professional development (or CPD) comes into play.

Why standing out matters more than ever

If you think back to the digital world ten years ago, it looked completely different. I was 16, making sure my friends were logged into my Snapchat whilst I was on holiday or if I ran out of data, because obviously my world would have collapsed if I lost a snap streak (is that still a thing the kids do…?). I can’t even imagine not having data or Wi-Fi everywhere I go now. As silly as it sounds, it's a reminder of just how much the digital landscape has changed.

Back then, we didn’t have the same level of constant connection or content overload we see today. Platforms have come and gone, new ones have taken over, and the way people consume content has changed dramatically. Digital never stands still, and neither does marketing.