The job market is highly competitive, regardless of the field you choose to specialize in. In Italy, as we know, broken English might help you order a beer on vacation, but it won’t convince your employer.
Today, not knowing professional-level English is like going to the gym in jeans: it’s immediately obvious you’re not ready. That’s why having a recognized English certification prominently displayed on your CV can make all the difference.
Whether you’re an employee, freelancer, or looking for your first job, an English certification for work can open doors that would otherwise remain double-locked.
Do You Really Need an English Certification for Work?
An English certification for work isn’t just a sticker to attach to your resume. It’s a guarantee of linguistic reliability. When you send your profile for an international position, it’s not enough to say you studied English in high school or university.
The recruiter doesn’t know you and has little time. They want an objective indicator of your level. And that certification is like an international linguistic reference.
It’s useful in interviews, competitions, applications to foreign universities, for obtaining visas and work permits, but also for accessing corporate training courses, internships, Erasmus programs, or master’s degrees. In many cases, it’s a binding requirement: without it, you can’t even apply. In others, it’s what distinguishes you from the other 200 candidates who have a profile identical to yours.
On a personal level, it gives you enormous confidence. You know you’ve reached that level. You don’t hope for it, you prove it. At that point, facing a presentation in English or a phone call with a client becomes much easier.
English Certification: How to Choose the Right One for You!
As mentioned, there are various options for obtaining an English certification, and choosing the right one depends on many factors.
Many of you are, or have been, university students and know that each degree program requires passing a language test to obtain the degree. However, this certification has limited value: it’s recognized almost exclusively within universities and loses its relevance in the work context.
If your goal is simply to enter the corporate world and you need a practical and direct linguistic certification, exams like TOEIC or Linguaskill may be the most suitable choice. These tests are designed to evaluate English in concrete professional contexts and are often required by companies as a requirement for hiring or career advancement.
If instead you aspire to an academic experience abroad, such as attending an Anglo-Saxon university, or wish to pursue an international career, then it’s better to orient yourself toward exams like IELTS or TOEFL. These certifications are widely recognized by universities, public institutions, and multinationals worldwide, and offer a comprehensive evaluation of language skills in both academic and professional contexts.
For those seeking long-term certification, Cambridge exams (such as First, Advanced, or Proficiency) represent an excellent choice. One of their distinctive features is that they don’t have a formal expiration date, making them useful even years later.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that each exam has different characteristics: they vary in duration, section structure (listening, reading, writing, speaking), scoring system, costs, and validity. Getting thoroughly informed before choosing which exam to register for is essential to avoid wasting time and money.
Additionally, even though some English certifications – like Cambridge ones – are theoretically permanent, remember that many companies and institutions prefer the exam to be recent, ideally taken within the last two or three years.
A certification obtained ten years ago, however valid on paper, might no longer reflect your current level of English. In these cases, it can be useful to retake the test to update your certification and demonstrate fresh and reliable language skills.
English Certification for Work and Career: A Winning Combination
Many professionals discover late how much of a difference having an English certification for work can make. It often happens when they find themselves facing a great opportunity: a promotion, an interview for an international role, a transfer abroad. And there, the certification suddenly becomes necessary.
Those who instead decide to play ahead and obtain it before strictly needing it find themselves with a huge advantage. It’s like having an umbrella before it starts raining. Not only can you apply to more offers, but you can do so with more confidence and speed.
More and more companies offer English courses to employees, but often these courses don’t lead to real certification. If instead you already have an English certification in your pocket, you demonstrate that you’re a person who knows how to take initiative, invest in their own training, and achieve concrete goals.
How Much Does an English Certification Cost?
It’s never elegant to talk about money, we know, but it would be dishonest to write an article about English certifications without also addressing the economic aspect, which for many is a determining factor.
The cost of English certifications can vary quite a bit, but it’s worth considering it as a real investment in yourself. On average, it ranges from about 100 to 270 euros, depending on the exam. The most economical options are TOEIC and Linguaskill, perfect if you’re looking for quick certification aimed at the working world.
On the contrary, IELTS, TOEFL, and Cambridge exams are a bit more expensive, but also more internationally recognized. They can open many more doors for you, both in academic and professional fields, and are often required for working or studying abroad.
It should also be said that, in addition to the exam fee, you might decide to invest in a preparatory course. There are tons of free resources online – like videos, simulations, and apps – but a well-made course, perhaps with a teacher, can really make the difference.
Especially if you have a specific goal or little time to prepare, following a specific course can help you improve quickly. It’s a way to face the exam with more confidence and arrive prepared for every section.
In short, even if it may seem like a significant expense at first, the return is often much higher. An English certification can give you access to better jobs, higher salaries, or international experiences that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.
And it’s not just about a piece of paper: speaking English well makes you more competitive, more confident, and at ease in an increasingly global job market.
Studying for English Certification: It’s Possible from Home Too
With the advent of digital technology, today you can prepare for any certification comfortably from your own home. Many institutions offer official online courses, and on YouTube you’ll find entire playlists with simulations, tips, and tricks for tackling the exam.
You can start without spending anything, using free applications designed to expand vocabulary, improve pronunciation, and correct writing errors.
Many of these apps also offer useful suggestions to make your English more suitable for an exam context, proposing more correct and formal alternatives compared to everyday language.
It’s an excellent starting point if you want to prepare gradually, gaining confidence with the language before moving on to more advanced tools or paid courses.
A winning strategy is combining individual study with real interaction: having conversations, writing emails, reading articles, listening to podcasts, or watching your favorite series in the original language!
English certification for work measures precisely this: your ability to use the language in real life.
If you need a deadline to get moving, register directly for the exam. Knowing you have a fixed date gives you that extra push to study consistently.
English Certification: How Does It Work?
Each English certification has its own structure, but generally exams evaluate four skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Some, like TOEIC, focus more on comprehension (listening and reading), while others, like IELTS and TOEFL, give much weight to written and oral production.
Cambridge exams, instead, are more academic.
The tests are divided into modules that also test grammar and vocabulary, while in other tests these two skills are considered in other contexts through written and oral elaboration.
Linguaskill, for example, is an online and adaptive test, meaning the questions change based on your answers: if you do well, they become more difficult; if you make mistakes, a bit easier. It’s convenient and flexible, perfect if you’re looking for something quick and tailored.
TOEFL is done entirely on computer, even the oral part: you speak into the microphone and your answers are recorded. It might seem a bit strange at first, but for many it’s better this way, without having to face an examiner in person.
With IELTS, instead, the interview is face-to-face with a real examiner. A bit more “old school,” but also more realistic: it’s like a real chat, where you can better demonstrate how you manage in conversation.
Generally, exams last between 2 and 3 hours, and scores are given following an official scale (like CEFR levels from A1 to C2, or with a numerical score).
Results arrive quite quickly, often within a few days. Knowing these differences helps you choose the exam that’s right for you, also based on how you feel most comfortable.
Remember: no attempt is ever in vain. Whatever level you reach, you’ll receive a certification that will represent an important added value for your resume.
English Certification for Work and LinkedIn
One of the most common mistakes? Having an English certification and not highlighting it. LinkedIn, by now, is the first place recruiters look. And if there’s no trace of your certification there, it’s like not having it. Add it to your profile, specifying the type of exam, the score obtained, and the year.
For example: IELTS – 7.5 (C1) – obtained in 2024.
Even on your resume, don’t limit yourself to writing “English: good.” Be precise. If you have a certification, write it. It makes the difference between ending up in pile A (that of serious candidates) and pile B (that of “we’ll see”).
How Useful Is an English Certification in the Real World?
One of the most common questions is: “But will this certification really be useful to me?” The answer is yes, and not just for work.
English certification isn’t a piece of paper, it’s a tool to move with confidence in a world that increasingly speaks English. And the more your career grows, the more you’ll need it.
With good knowledge of English, you can participate with more confidence in international events, read technical documents without difficulty, and write professional emails without having to spend hours on Google Translate — which, by the way, isn’t always reliable.
And if we want to be honest, English comes in handy even in more informal situations: maybe to make a good impression talking to your favorite singer or, why not, to order that beer on the beach without having to resort to pantomime.
English Certification: Do It for Yourself!
Beyond work, obtaining an English certification is a personal achievement. It’s one of those goals that makes you feel truly fulfilled. It’s like a linguistic marathon: tiring, but it changes you. It gets you used to discipline, teaches you to manage exam anxiety, opens your mind. And above all, it makes you understand that you can do it.
Even if you start from zero, even if English has never been your strong suit. With a good method, a bit of consistency, and the right tools, you can obtain a certification and make it the springboard for a whole new career.