If you're new to the job market, filling up the experience section in your resume with relevant content can seem like rocket science.
But fret not.
Although employers value work experience, it's not the only thing they look for when considering you for a job application. Including relevant coursework in your resume can offer the hiring manager a peek into the type of skills you possess as an applicant – and convince them you're the individual they've been searching for.
But, one question remains, how do you include relevant courses in your CV? Is there a set criterion, or should you add everything you've done?
Below, a detailed guide on how to effectively include courses in your resume.
Relevant courses are a list of subjects you took in school pertinent to the position you're applying for. You can add relevant coursework to your CV in the education section. Any projects or subjects you input should be related to the job opening. Therefore, rather than populating your CV with fillers, focus on placing your relevant skills in the spotlight.
So, how do you know what to include and what not to? More on that below.
At times, hiring managers are skeptical of online courses, so you need to be careful when you input yours on a resume. If placed inappropriately or worded incorrectly, recruiters might render your skills unreliable and put your resume in the 'not it' pile. Moreover, while online courses help build on your professional growth as an applicant, hiring managers sometimes see no value in small classes.
Therefore, ensure you're mindful of your input and only include courses from trustworthy institutions. For instance, a Digital Marketing Certificate from Google would be highly accepted if you're a digital marketer.
Relevant coursework strengthens applicants' resumes with little to no experience in the industry they're looking forward to joining. For experienced candidates, courses are a vital link between formal education and work experience. It doesn't matter which job seeker you are, don't make your coursework the center of your CV.
Instead, keep your list short and strategically place your subjects and projects in a small area on the resume. For instance, you might create a specific section entitled 'Professional Development' for the coursework in your CV. You can place this section below your 'Work Experience.' The objective is to ensure your coursework offers value but don't make it the primary focus of your resume.
You can also place it in the 'Education' section (this is especially ideal for applicants with no experience). Your cover letter will form a personal connection with the hiring manager and open a platform to discuss your skills. Additionally, it's considered good practice to only input completed courses and relevant takeaways. Don't start rambling on about your entire coursework history.
You should make sure to look for keywords in the job listing and input them in your resume. For example, if the job requires on-hand experience, you can mention your '40+ hours of on-hand experience' in the description of your school project. If they need field research experience, you can include 'Field Research Methods' as one of the subjects you took in school.
Again, only list completed coursework in your resume. When you start listing intro courses, you appear less qualified. But that doesn't mean you should ignore them completely. You can add intro courses on your CV if they're only a part of an entire curriculum program that you completed. Otherwise, include your intro courses as a part of your professional journey during your interview.
For example, Google Ads Certification is an ideal addition to your CV if you're a digital marketer. However, Introduction to Content Marketing might be too basic to add.
Go beyond basic certifications and courses if you want your CV to stand out from the pile. Give your resume a boost and make it valuable to hiring managers by figuring all the relevant subjects to the job, highlighting your achievements, and listing vital information you've learned from every course.
Hiring managers can see your commitment when you display what you've learned. It also highlights your knowledge of the current market and E-learning trends. Include any extra projects linked to mentioned subjects to provide context.
Now that you know how to include your coursework on your CV, you should prepare for the interview. Since online courses stand out, they capture the attention of hiring managers – an excellent resume with relevant coursework sparks conversation.
Therefore, prepare to be asked questions such as:
Additionally, the recruiter might ask specific technical questions if your coursework includes particular technical expertise. Therefore, ensure you're prepared for a thorough Q&A session regarding your certifications and courses.
Ensure you take time to edit your CV. You don't want to send a resume full of grammatical errors to the recruiter – remember, you're competing against thousands of applicants, so you need to be thorough.
Also, be sure to check the font and style consistency – if you format a section title in bold, all other section titles should be in bold. It would be best to ask your mentor, friend, or career coach to read through the resume to ensure it's perfect.
