A professional or trade certification or professional designation is simply a way of showing that a person is qualified to perform a job. Certification means that the holder has a specific knowledge, skills, or abilities in the view of the certifying body. One can become certified by taking training and/or passing an exam. Some individuals often advertise their status by putting the abbreviation of the certification at the end of their name. Some certifications last a lifetime, but others must be renewed. There are as many certificate programs as there are passions, and with a certificate, you may decide to enter one of the following career fields: catering, hotel receptionist, networking or design engineer assistant.

Catering

Many functions, be they big or small, provide food for delegates, guests or employees. These may comprise light snacks or a larger more formal meal comprising several courses, including alcoholic beverages. Caterers may work in large industrial kitchens, or use client's kitchen facilities on site. Quite often food is prepared offsite and brought in using insulated containers to retain heat and the quality of the food. To reduce costs, some companies now employ caters to oversee hospitality rather than incurring the expense, both in terms of time and money, of dining out with a client. Some restaurants provide external catering facilities. Other sources of employment include specialist-catering companies who provide food for weddings, or even children's parties. Hours generally start quite early in order to prepare meals in time. Weekend work is frequent for people working for companies catering to weddings or private parties.

Hotel Receptionist

Hotel receptionists perform a vital role in the smooth running of a hotel. They represent the hotel to the public and are generally the first person that a guest meets. Hotel receptionists need to be approachable, confident, helpful, and have high levels of personal grooming. Work involves meeting and greeting guests, allocating rooms, bill preparation, taking payment, and helping guests make travel arrangements. Most hotel receptionists work shifts, especially in large international hotels. In spite of the benefits of telecommuting and e-commerce, face-to-face meetings are still necessary. Hotels continue to enjoy a healthy revenue stream from the business community. With the increase in personal wealth, people are more likely than ever before to take a weekend break or short vacation to celebrate a special occasion.

Networking and Design Engineer Assistant

Networking and design engineers may find employment with many different companies. Computer technology has become a commodity and networking has become commonplace. Daily tasks of a networking and design engineer assistant may include installing, designing and configuring networks. Many companies have networks already, so much of a networking and design engineer's work may consist of improving and upgrading existing installation to improve response times, tighten up security, maximize performance and increase bandwidth.