So what is CertificationPoint.Org?
CertificationPoint is a global online employment marketplace. CertificationPoint allows clients to hire businesses, college students, as well as independent contractors. Online collaborative tools allow for onsite and/or remote team project management. Independent contractors, businesses, and college students create online profiles and portfolios, submit proposals for jobs, and collaborate and receive payment through the CertificationPoint. CertificationPoint allows for centralized credential management for businesses, contractors and college students for career management and networking.

Background
A concept initially created and conceptualized as part of a 2007 project management tasking at the University of Maryland, University College named "An Open Resource Allowing For College Students Learning Via Real World Projects" the founders of CertificationPoint saw a gaping hole in the process of what was available to college students once they graduated while having limited resume, experience, and business contacts to go along with an expensive degree. A few the trio of students launched CertificationPoint.

Innovation
The introduction of college students to the CertificationPoint.Org eMarketplace has increased competition for bid-based global work projects, according to the owner of the increasingly popular e-Marketplace. The idea of introducing college students to the career field neutral website to build up their on-the-job skills and resume while in college has really caught fire in an industry traditionally reserved for business professionals and professional freelancers.

A Freelancer's Experience
20-year-old Terrance Weaver has been using the site for the past year to hone his skillset for a future career in graphics arts. "I was initially skeptical of whether I could compete with seasoned professionals, but being awarded my first tasking changed that notion", said Terrance. Terrance goes on to say, "CertificationPoint has allowed me to build my confidence in my skills learned in college as well as stay current of what's new in the graphics arts field. I'm also learning how to submit real-world proposals while learning to sell myself".

Note From The Founder
Byron Giles, co-founder of CertificationPoint, mentions "We realized that this secure site would provide more benefit if open to college students as well as business professionals and freelancers". The website has an on-going pilot program to give students a idea of what it's like working with a customer on a project by setting up the Career Gateway Path Program. The Career Gateway Path Program (CGPP) allows student to work on 3 consecutive real-world work projects in a group setting with a professional mentor. This process has been the spark to encourage students who are unsure of their potential in such an eMarketplace.

Additional Resources
CertificationPoint also provides colleges students, professionals, and businesses a verified centralized location for all of their credentials, awards, and resume. This online service allows for future employers and business partners to go to a single location to learn about a particular candidate's credentials. The founders of CertificationPoint have over 20 years of academic and research experience and have launched the MyPoint and BizPoint resources to facilitate network marketing on CertificationPoint.

What's New
To assist businesses, CertificationPoint has a new product launch called "Certokens" which will be given out freely to the public at regular intervals throughout the year. Certokens allow businesses to gain discounts on associated project fees as well as the promotion of a website via banner advertising. The Certokens can be used a long as an entity wants or until there is limited use and a colleague needs a project completed of which at that point it can be passed along. Certokens were available to the public as of November 11, 2012.