I was working my first job after my graduate degree, and found out that my research project was actually an evaluation project. I enrolled in the Essential Skills Series and became a member of CES so I could learn more about this field I had never heard about.
CES keeps me connected to other evaluators and informed about the field. When seeking new contracts, my CE designation helps distinguish me from more generalist consultants, or researchers who dabble in evaluation. Perhaps most importantly, CES has been valuable in forming my professional identity as an evaluator and lending legitimacy to this field that so many people are unaware of.