Career change from Finance into Marketing

Waves26

Hi there,
I have been working in banking / finance for the past 3 and a half years. This, I thought, was a natural progression for me as I completed a degree in Business Management specialising in finance. After graduating I went straight into a job in operational support in corporate banking for a large Irish bank. I was told at the time that a position in the back office was a good way to make it into the front office which is where I felt me skills acquired from my degree would be best taken advantage of. Unfortunately, due to the dip in the market, any opportunity for advancement into the front office has now seemed to be gone.
I now work in a similar role in an international bank.
Basically, I am posting this looking for advice on a career switch from finance into marketing. I have always had an interest in marketing since leaving school. I studied marketing in my first and second year of my degree and felt I had a good aptitude for it. I have become bored with the back office area I have been working in, and to be honest, the career prospects look bleak.
I have been looking at different ways to break into the industry. So far I have been looking at masters degrees in marketing in Smurfit, DIT and DCU. These are all full time and seem to have favourable reviews. What I need to know is a full time masters worth the time and effort? Or, am I better off doing a night course in Digital Marketing (which seems to be booming now) or part-time course in Marketing with IMI while trying to break into the industry, possibly at an entry level position?
Also, what would be the best way to get some kind of marketing job now with the experience I have?

Donal Clancy

www.dcu.ie/digitalmarketing might answer your needs with an internationally recognised HETAC Level 9 post grad qualification.

It is effectively equivalent to one third of a masters degree with the equivalent level of commitment.

DCU is offering the only university accredited digital marketing course in Ireland. Now accepting applications for entry to the September 2011 class.

Depending on applicant numbers they expect to run two courses. One will involve All day Friday & Saturday for 12 weeks, and distance learning for semester 2.

The other will be a block release version, Thurs/Fri/Sat once a month for three months.

Waves26

Thanks for that. It seems like a pretty good qualification.

Would my experience so far be enough to gain entry into the course?
If I chose to do it I would ideally like to find some kind of entry level marketing / digital marketing position before / while I am studying.

Donal Clancy

It sounds as though you have sufficient qualifications for entry, but I would need to review your CV before giving a categorial answer. If you wanted to submit it confidentially to me at donal.clancy@dcu.ie I can give you an answer before you commit any fee to the PAC application system.