The Best Event Industry Certifications for Event Professionals
How to stand out from the competition and find work
The event industry has been anything but stagnant. While there is indeed a return to in-person events, hybrid and virtual events are here to stay. Technology continues to expand as meeting types and platforms overlap to create more immersive attendee experiences. Event professionals must work to find a new normal while continually adapting to change. For freelancers to stand out from the competition and remain relevant in the event industry, they must maintain proper industry certifications and continue to upskill. If you are an event professional looking to advance your career, this article is for you!
In this article, we will share:
Pros and cons of gaining certifications
The certifications that most organizations find reputable
How to speak to and show your transferable skills to employers
Certifications 101
Before we dive in, we want to address the elephant in the room: some organizations look for certain certifications, while others simply don't care. Hold on, what’s the point of putting time, effort, and money into expanding your skill set if everyone does not require it? Think of it this way. Say you apply to a job, and the company doesn't care if you have a bachelor’s degree in a specific focus, but if you have transferrable experience, you're in. In other words, the more experience you have in different areas of the industry, the more desirable it is to employers.
Certifications and upskilling count as hands-on experience – you learn by doing. That real-world experience equates to hiring material, especially if you’re experienced in the most desirable areas (more on this later). In short, certifications are a great way to expand your skill set and advance your career.
Certifications Pros + Cons
Let’s get real about the pluses and minuses of investing in certifications.
Pros of having a certification(s):
Gain advanced product knowledge of the latest tools and technology to stand out from the competition and increase your industry knowledge.
Build confidence in your abilities as an equipped event professional.
Access communities of event professionals who are learning as you do; network and learn with peers in certification programs.
Boost your visibility in job searches – many companies require or prefer event professionals with specific industry skills and knowledge.
Cons of investing in a certification(s):
Cost – only people who have the means can afford to get certifications. Also, be wary of certifications that require fees to keep your credentials. Look for sales or bundle deals to get the best offers.
Bonus: when you become a Soundings Thrive member, you gain access to advantages, discounts, and exclusive first looks at industry certifications with one of our many trusted partners.
Not all certifications are created equal. Make sure certifications of interest are at industry standard and align with the skillsets you are looking to gain. Don’t invest your time and money in something that isn’t reputable to employers. In this case, it “pays to pay” for industry standards.
So, are certifications worth it? Absolutely! Building your skill set will help you advance your career journey. We also work with hundreds of companies who personally request some of the following certifications from our network of professional talent.
Certifications We Recommend
Here are some of the top industry-respected and sought-after certifications – most of which (hundreds of) our clients personally request.
Product Certifications
Technology is the future of events. Event tech experience is one of the most desired expertise we receive from clients. Gain experience and knowledge using the latest software to design and manage meetings and events.
Soundings Thrive offers our members exclusive access to education on the latest event industry tools and technology. Our Platform Playground allows members to participate in mock events using specific event software, gain virtual event experience, and see how far their skillsets can go. Learn more about becoming a Thrive member here.
Be sure to look at specific platforms and technologies to see if they offer certifications in their products. Cvent, for example, has been an incredible resource for professionals. They offer a robust program of certifications for both their products – check out the Cvent Event Management certification – and the overall industry. They are currently complimentary, but they may not be for long! Take advance while you can.
Specific Skills-Based Certifications
These certifications are based on a specific area of expertise. They are great supplements to help you get more granular on a skill set, and many companies often look for these types of specialties. Note: there are many variations of similar certifications with different teaching styles and formats, i.e., virtual, in-person, self-paced, and scheduled. Choose the best suited to your learning style and workload capacity.
Virtual Event & Meeting Management Program - MPI + Event Leader Institute
Digital Event Strategist - PCMA
Industry Certifications
Industry certifications set you apart as a true professional in your field. Expanding your expertise as the industry changes will make you a more versatile event professional.
Certified Meeting Professional - Event Industry Council
Virtual Events - Cvent
Hybrid Events - Cvent
Event Marketing Strategy - Cvent
Advocate Your Transferrable Skills
Certifications are excellent to land you jobs, but so are the many other skills you’ve gained from work and life experience. These transferable skills are expertise that you can use in any job, no matter the field or role. Transferable skills can be “hard” like technical skills or “soft” like communication and relationship building. What are the things that you’re best at or thrive in? There may not be an official certification for having a team player attitude or a growth mindset, for example. Still, these are highly desirable qualities that companies look for in prospects.
Think about the winning qualities you have that make you valuable, highlight them on your resume and portfolio, and talk about them (with supporting examples) in job interviews.
Need help identifying and advocating your transferrable skills? Join Soundings Thrive and receive free 1-on-1 counsel from one of our recruiting specialists. Once you’re in our network, we also advocate your strengths on your behalf to potential employers to find you work.
Join Soundings Thrive
At Soundings, we believe talents’ transferrable skills and industry expertise are equally important. We go a step further to get to know each person in our network as a whole person – their personality, preferred work style, work experience, and what they want to do – so we can help our members land their dream job.
At Soundings, we consider you much more than just a resume. We support you in your professional self-discovery and find your work where you truly thrive. We use the CliftonStrengths Finder assessment to identify what type of worker you are and what you’re best at so we can find opportunities that are best suited for you.
Thrive members also gain exclusive industry insights, resources (like certifications), community access, and personal support from our team of experts. Interested in joining Thrive? Learn more.
