Professional organizing comes in many different forms. Some organizers specialize in residential work, others prefer business organizing, and many enjoy offering a variety of services. Quite a few professional organizers apply their organizing skills to services that go above and beyond hands-on organizing, such as event planning. If this is an area that interests you, you’ll want to read today’s post by Certified Meeting Professional Elizabeth Glau.
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Certifications are quickly becoming popular ways to make a career change without a four-year degree in a new field. Degrees in hospitality and meetings management are more prevalent than they were in the past, however, perception remains that careers in these fields do not require bachelor or graduate degrees. Our industry is currently waging a battle against the public opinion that meetings are frivolous spending and do not result in positive return on investment (ROI) for the businesses hosting them or attending them. A professional certification showing the complexity of knowledge mastered helps in proving the business value of meetings.
Instead of being sponsored by one particular association within the meetings industry, the CMP program is sponsored by an organization that all of the associations collaborate with on projects that standardize the meetings industry. The Convention Industry Council began the CMP program in 1985 and reports there are over 14,000 individuals in 36 countries who have earned the designation. You can learn more about the program on their website.
There are many different certifications within the meetings industry; however, the CMP is the most widely recognized. The requirements to take the exam include 36 months of full-time employment in the meetings industry and 25 clock hours of industry-related continuing education. It is a formalized process and I suggest looking into it in the first year or two that you are employed in the industry, because it takes time to collect the documents required to apply to take the exam.
Once you are accepted to take the exam, you will not be able to rely on your working knowledge to pass it. The knowledge base areas on the exam include: strategic planning, project management, risk management, financial management, human resources, stakeholder management, meeting design, site management, marketing, and professionalism. Many people in the industry have not had the fortune to gain experience in all areas of the industry and studying for the exam helps explore those areas where one needs more experience. The exam is only offered twice a year in designated locations so again, advanced planning is recommended.
It is not advisable to take the exam without studying the required reading materials because the focus is on industry standards, which may be different from how you might respond to a particular scenario. Many industry organizations host study groups – some in person and some online that are facilitated by other CMPs. You may find it helpful to join a group or find a study buddy. For adults that haven’t taken an exam in a long time, the process of studying and preparing takes some effort.
It would be difficult to gain this certification without any meeting industry position, however, many people find themselves in a situation where meeting planning is part of their responsibility and they would like to transition into a position where meeting planning is their full-time career. Earning the CMP designation is a good way to make that transition.
Elizabeth’s experience includes hotel catering, sales and operations as well as meeting planning and marketing for non-profit organizations. Elizabeth earned the Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP) designation in 2003 and the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2006. A member of the Ohio, San Diego, and Southern California chapters of Meeting Professionals International, Elizabeth has served on a variety of committees and been a member of many other industry organizations. An early adopter of social media applications, Elizabeth launched Building Blocks Social Media www.SocialMediaForPlanners.com with the goal of bridging the gap for meeting planners. She helps conference organizers with a thorough understanding of how attendees are accustomed to networking and how they can increase engagement through online social networks.
