Brand Ambassadors: 5 Ways to Enhance Your Resume and Your Income

How many times have you seen an event job that you’re really interested in, but you don’t qualify for it?  Maybe because it requires that the staff be bilingual, or have a food handler’s card, or maybe even a commercial driver’s license.  If that’s ever happened to you, now is the time to act!  After all, there is no better time than the present to learn new skills and obtain certifications.

In this article, we’ll take a look at what you can work on now that will qualify you for more promotional event opportunities and more income.

5 Certifications and Skills That Qualify Brand Ambassadors for More Opportunities and Income

Food and Beverage Certifications

Many experiential marketing activations that include any type of food or beverage sampling require staff certifications.  It’s even more common (and it’s the law in a lot of states) to be certified to pour or serve alcohol for adult beverage activations – and as you know, alcohol promos are plentiful.

Certifications vary by state and you will need to research what certifications are required and acceptable in your state prior to taking an online course (there are scams out there, so be sure to verify that you are taking a legitimate course).

Here are a few examples of the types of food and beverage certifications that you can obtain:

• TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS)  Certification:  The On-Premise (restaurants, bars, night clubs, banquets, and by-the-drink establishments) TIPS Alcohol Online Training course is valid/accepted in 44 states with more approvals coming.
  • “TIPS  is a dynamic, skills-based training program designed to prevent intoxication, drunk driving, and underage drinking by enhancing the fundamental ‘people skills’ of servers, sellers and consumers of alcohol.”
• ServSafe Food Handler Certification: ServSafe offers food and alcohol safety training and certification exams created by foodservice professionals. The program can be taken online or in a classroom.
  • “ServSafe is a food and beverage safety training and certificate program administered by the U.S. National Restaurant Association. The program is accredited by ANSI and the Conference for Food Protection. Sanitation certification is required by most restaurants as a basic credential for their management staff.”
• Bartending or Mixology School, Classes and Certifications:  Bartending experience is a huge plus for liquor promotions and having a license is even better.  Additionally, obtaining a license will give you an added skill and more leverage to secure a bartending position when bars and clubs reopen.
  • Discount sites like Groupon often offer deals for online bartending courses, so be sure to check those out!

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

Having a CDL  is the golden ticket in the world of promotional marketing management jobs (both in-market and for mobile marketing tours).  Not only that, but it can open up even more opportunities outside of the experiential industry since there is always a need for CDL drivers.

There are three CDL classifications – A, B, & C.  Typically, in experiential marketing the most common request is for Class B & C drivers, however, there are needs for Class A drivers, too (this classification is more expensive, is a longer course, and is rigorous, but for what it’s worth, Class A wages are higher than B & C).

Learn more about obtaining your CDL here.

Learn Spanish

Being bilingual or conversational in Spanish is a coveted job skill, both in experiential marketing and elsewhere.  If you’ve always been interested in learning to speak Spanish, there are many resources to consider, including:

• Virtual tutors
• Online programs/courses
• Online college courses and certifications
• Software/app programs

Learn How to Emcee

Emcees are always in high demand in the experiential marketing industry.  If this is a role that interests you, there are plenty of online articles, videos, tips, and even courses that can teach the art of emceeing.  But it doesn’t end there, if you feel like that it’s a role you want to pursue, you need to create an emcee reel and then add it to your event staffing agency profiles.

Concentrate on Your Hobbies, Passions, and Interests

Expanding your knowledge and concentrating on your hobbies, passions, and interests will pay off, both personally and professionally.  In experiential marketing, brands want brand ambassadors that align with their offerings to represent them.  With that said, clients often request specialty staff who are knowledgeable in certain areas such as health and fitness, gaming, technology, creative arts, and so forth.

If there is a hobby or interest that you want to expand on or explore, check out the following resources:

• Masterclass
• Alison
• edX
• Lynda
• Future Learn
• Creative Live

The Bottom Line

Now is the time to act on all of the things that you’ve always wanted to pursue.  In doing so, you’ll have a whole new skill or set of skills to add to your brand ambassador resume.  And those skills will most definitely pay off in the long run.

ATN is a leading event staffing agency in the experiential marketing industry.  We provide brand ambassadors, trade show staff, product demonstrators, and more for some of the hottest brands on the planet.  If you’re interested in joining our team, create a staff profile today!

Article originally published in April 2020 and recently updated