How To Include Certifications In Resume

Which Certifications To List

The most important thing to remember about listing certifications is that it must be relevant to the post you are applying to. Certifications may be essential, desired, or optional.

• Essential certifications include qualifications and licenses that are required of professionals in certain fields, such as accountants or nurses.
• Desired certifications are ones that a potential employer might recommend as a way to narrow down the contenders for a particular position.
• Optional certifications are simply a way to enhance your application and help you stand out from the crowd.

Lets say your list of certifications includes:

• A course in Japanese
• A qualification in Digital Marketing
• A certificate in Reiki

How do you decide which certifications are relevant and worth including?

The logical thing to do is to include only those certifications that serve to strengthen your application to the specific job.

So in the example above, if you were applying for the role of Marketing Executive, a credential in digital marketing would enhance your application. But there would be little value in adding the certificates in Reiki, or even Japanese unless you were applying for the post of Marketing Executive in a Japanese company.

To Show Additional Skills

Depending on the position, you may include certifications that aren’t listed in the job description but would benefit the role. These certifications show that you are capable of doing more than the job requires and demonstrates initiative and the desire to take part in professional development. For example, if you are applying for an administrative assistant position, you can include computer software or customer management certificates you’ve earned to highlight your additional skills. Several examples of these certifications include being a Microsoft Office Specialist , a Dynamics 365 Certified Associate, or having a computer software CompTIA A+ certificate.

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Free Code Camp can teach you the basics of HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, GitHub, and more. Today, coding is a valuable, in-demand technical skill. In fact, one of these free certifications makes almost any employee more valuable to a company. Weve seen it first-hand!

Earn quick certifications you can add to your resume. And when youre ready, gain free experience by working on open source projects used by nonprofits. Geared toward beginners, this free certification walks you through each challenge in a step-by-step manner.

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Why Are Certifications Important

Different than honors and awards, certifications may have to be to included on your resume, depending on the industry youâre applying to.

Hiring managers often use Applicant Tracking Systems to filter out resumes and narrow the pool of applicants. Therefore, certifications may be the key to beat ATS systems and make your resume more attractive than the competition.

Include The Name Of The Association Or Organization

I wrote earlier about including credible certifications. Listing the association or organization name in your resume ensures that potential employers see that you are certified by a respected professional association.

Example: If you received a professional marketing certificate through the American Marketing Association:

• Incorrect: AMA Professional Certified Marketer or PCM

• Correct: American Marketing Association Professional Certified Marketer

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In The Education Section

Most of the certifications go naturally with educational degrees, making the education section the most suitable place to list your certifications. However, you may want to modify the heading of this section in order to let recruiters know that you have included your certifications there. For instance, you may name it something like Education and Certifications or Education and Other Credentials instead of just Education. Just like in case of experience and education, list the certifications beginning with the latest one.

• Example: CPR certification, American Heart Association, 2017

Should Online Courses Be Included On A Resume

Have you acquired certifications through completing an online course? Even if theyâre optional, these certifications can be a great addition to your resume. Even if theyâre not listed in the job description.

Remember, the point of certificates on your resume is to prove to employers that youâre a qualified candidate. Therefore, certificates from online courses should only be included on your resume if they meet the following criteria:

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Let Hiring Managers Know You’ve Got Coveted Industry

Stand out from the competition with certifications on your resume.

Virtually every career field has at least one association, trade organization, school, or business offering a certification program. Whether you earned a tough certification after completing an intensive qualification process or receiving additional formal training in your field, you may be wondering where and how to include certifications on a resume. Follow these tips to optimize their placement.

Listing Certifications On The Resume

Showing certifications on a resume is key to standing out in the running for a job vacancy which is why its so important to understand how to indicate resume certifications, memberships and licenses.

These are a few tips for including certifications on a resume but for more structured resume help, you could try using a resume template to ensure an HR-approved resume layout including resume boosting certifications.

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If The Certification Is Credible

Not all certifications are equal. A quick Google search of Information Technology Certifications reveals over 830 million search results. Mixed in with certification programs from trusted organizations are programs and online courses that promise to help launch your career. Whether the claims are valid or not, opt for certifications recognized within your industry as more credible.

If you hold certifications that command respect within your field, list them on your resume. The more credible your certifications, the more value they bring to your job search.

Certifications And An Ats

The last thing weâre going to touch on is ensuring an ATS picks up on your certifications. An ATS is software used by most employers to automatically screen resumes. The ATS analyzes information such as work experience, education, certifications etc. If it feels youâre qualified for the position, it sends your resume forward to a hiring manager for review.

Around 75% of resumes are rejected by these systems, and many times itâs because the resume isnât optimized.

To ensure the ATS picks up on your certifications, you need to keep these two tips in mind:

Adding Certifications on your resume the right way is important, especially if theyâre required. If they are required or relevant, you should list them with either your name or title. Donât include any licences or certifications that are expired or suspended. You may also want to leave off any certifications which arenât relevant to the position youâre targeting.

Good luck with your job search!

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Follow A Reverse Chronological Order

Certification should be listed in a reverse chronological order as given in the example above.

This makes it easy for the recruiter to scan the resume for latest certifications and quickly make a decision.

Let us see this image:

As a recruiter would be easily able to scan the latest certifications.

It would rather take you lot of time to find certifications taken up in 2018.

That is why correct ordering matters.

How Can I Get Cpr And First Aid Certified Online For Free

Firstaidforfree.com provides free online first aid, CPR and AED courses with no hidden fees. Our free online first aid training could equip you with the skills and knowledge to help save someones life. Simply work your way through our free online first aid courses to develop your lifesaving knowledge.

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Where To Put Comptia Certifications On Resume

Hello, I’m in the process of revising my resume and I would like some input on the best place to include CompTIA certifications? The resume in question can be found here.

Currently I have the following :

• CompTIA A+

• CompTIA Network+

• CompTIA Security+

Would these best fit in the ‘Skills’ section, or perhaps a new section titled ‘Certifications’ or something like that?

Thank you.

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When Should You List An Expired Certification On A Resume

Expired certifications should only be listed when an employer specifically details that certification in the job ad under preferred skills or desired skills.

If an employer lists a certification in this way, then it would be a good idea to mention that you held this certification in the past.

This shows that you had it once, and it would likely be simple for you to renew it.

It also shows that you have experience in the field that they are hiring for, perhaps more than a person who never had the certification in the first place.

If you are currently in the process of renewing or plan to renew a certification in the near future, it could be listed on a resume.

However, this still only applies if it is specified in the job ad.

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List Certifications Prominently On A Resume

Too often, certifications are exiled to no-mans land at the bottom of the resume. If you hold a certification that is required or expected in your profession, make sure its easily found.

You can list important certifications on a resume more than once. For certain careers, I list certifications as acronyms by a persons name on page one and then detail the certification information further in a dedicated section, says Bonnie Negron, certified professional resume writer and CEO of Bonnie Career Services, a career coaching and resume writing firm.

In case hiring managers dont read page two, including certifications after your name makes it clear within seconds that you have the desired certification, says Negron. Keep in mind that including too many certifications after your name can be overkill and may not be appropriate for all industries, so consider what is customary in your profession. Another option is to incorporate important certifications in the resumes headline or summary section.

Types Of Certifications To Include On The Resume

There are different types of certifications that should be included on a resume depending on the type of jobseeker and the industry and position that the resume is for.

An appropriate resume certification could be vocational, technical or academic such as Master degrees or extra courses. Certifications to list on a resume also include any professional licenses, courses and certificates authorized by prestigious organizations, universities, societies etc. which provide evidence to show that the candidate has the relevant training and expertise to take on the responsibilities required of the successful applicant.

Certifications that shouldnt be included as key elements of a resume but could be added in a cover letter or in a different section to provide evidence of other knowledge and to demonstrate enthusiasm and initiative for learning are certificates that you have been awarded for participating in free online courses such as Udemy or Lynda etc. as they are accessible by everyone and do not always provide a professional source.

Certifications in nursing, teaching, IT, driving, accounting, language, project management, hospitality, etc. are considered official and vital for a job seeker whose resume looks to capture the attention of hiring managers in that particular industry.

Some examples of appropriate certifications to list on a resume are the following:

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If The Employer Or Position Specifically Requires Certification

This is the most important reason for adding certifications to your resume. If the job description clearly states that they require a specific certification to be considered for the position, this is your opportunity to highlight your qualifications. Review the company website and job posting to identify the required certifications to highlight on your resume.

Some positions are government regulated, and you require certification to practice your profession legally, such as medical doctors, registered nurses, or mutual fund professionals. In these cases, you also want to highlight the certifications that allow you to perform the position’s required duties.

How To Put Certifications And Licenses On A Resume

If you have one certification or license thatâs required or relevant to the position, you can list it either next to your name or in the title as we showed you above. If you have numerous certifications you want to list, those could be included at the bottom of your resume.

Here are the possible headers you could use for the certifications section if you have other “professional development” to list:

• Certifications

• Professional Development & Certifications

We wrote a good post on including a professional development section on a resume here.

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Why Do Certifications Matter

Depending on your industry and level, some jobs will require specific certifications. If that’s the case, you’ll want to make sure you’ve completed those. For other jobs, certifications are a nice bonus that could give you an advantage over other applicants.

Certifications have additional benefits outside the job search, as well. They can help you negotiate your salary, enhance your credibility and personal brand, and network with professionals in your field. You might even learn some new skills along the way.

How Do You List Pmp On Resume

For your CV, you can add your PMP credentials under a certifications section. You may also want to list the training provider and the dates you studied for and earned your certification. You can also add the abbreviation as a name suffix at the head of your CV.

Firstly, How many years back should a resume go?

Generally, your resume should go back no more than 10 to 15 years. However, every applicant is different and so is every resume, and there are a few other rules of thumb that can serve as a GPS as you decide how far back your resume should go.

Then Can I use PMP logo on my resume? You may use the block letters PMP, but not the credential logo, on personal letterhead/stationery, on resumes, websites and in e-mail signatures. For optimal print quality, please use the jpg logo file at the size provided, or provide the eps logo file directly to your business card designer/printer.

Actually Do you put PMP after your name?

PMP logo is to be placed directly to the right of last name/post nominal on business card. Only persons who hold an active PMP credential are authorized to use the block letters PMP after her/his name.

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When Can You Put Free Online Certifications On A Resume

If the free online certifications you have are granted by a legitimate organization and relevant to the job to which you are applying, then, by all means, add them to your resume.

While many certifications do require money , there are also many free ones that are meaningful and attest to real knowledge and skills. For example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency offers free, certificate-bearing courses in areas like managerial safety and health, hazardous materials, defense priorities and allocations, and more.

Specify Certified Qualifications Only

Incorrect â “Online Course on Javascript 101″

Correct â “Coding Boot Camp, Columbia Engineering 2019″

Actual examples of projects youâve worked on are far more attractive to employers than just having a certificate in something. So maybe you can turn your learnings from an online javascript course into an actual javascript project that you can talk about with employers. Experience creating tangible results is always preferred over just certifications. Especially if you can work on these projects on the side in your own time.

In summary, you should include online courses on your resume that:

• Not only teaches you about the subject, but also guides you in producing real results that can be shown to employers
• Relevant to the position youâre applying to
• Certified by a credible institution or well known thought leader

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When Should You Not Include An Expired Certification On A Resume

In general, expired certifications should not be listed on a resume. They do not show that an employee is any more worthy than any other applicant, thus making this information irrelevant.

Always check the job ad before deciding whether or not to include an expired certification on a resume.

If an employer has it in the requirements section, you should not include details of an expired certification, because you do not meet the requirements at this moment.

If an employer does not detail the certification in the job ad, then do not mention your expired one. The employer is not interested in certifications that you once held, they are interested in your skills and qualifications as of now.

Try adding things you are working on in the present, such as a current internship!

Should You Put Expired Certifications On Your Resume

heres a reason they expire. There are some niches, in which you have to stay on top with innovations coming every day.

However, if you still want to write it in your resume, say that its expired. Dont lie to the Recruiters, they can easily catch you red-handed.

If youre in the process of retaking it, write retaking.

You may have finished the course before your first day on the position.

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