How To List Certifications On A Resume (Examples Included)

Ever wonder how to add your certifications in уоur resume?

We made long research, trust us you don’t want to see it, and included all information you need in this article.

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Can (and should you) put certifications on your resume?

Yes. Certifications show that you actually made an effort and you’ve earned them.

And sometimes you may not be able to do the job without the certification.

In that case, certifications can go before your education and after your experience. The thing not to do is adding your certifications as an afterthought at the end of your resume. Put prestigious, relevant certifications on a resume front and center.

Should I get a quick certification just because it's nice to have it?

No.

Better don’t use the “fake it till you make it” approach. It doesn’t really work for job applications.

It’s good to have them but don’t take courses just to have that certification in the end.

The point is to actually learn the topic you are certifying in.

Are certificates worth it?

There are certificates and certificates. If it’s a free, easy-to-take online course, well, it is not worth it.

However, if they are job-specific courses (think CPA for accountants), it will make an impression.

Of course, there are always exceptions, but you should separate the wheat from the chaff.

Can I get a job with a certificate?

A certificate alone will not get you a job. You’ll need to demonstrate (even as an entry-level) at least some practical grasp of the matter at hand.

Are online courses such as those Google, Microsoft, Udemy, and Coursera have, worth it?

Depends.

There are entry-level jobs that actually say having them is a plus. There are also jobs that help you get certified. Those courses are a great way to get into a field and see what’s all about. So adding them to your resume will not harm your application. As long as it’s not a shady low-rated course platform.

Should you put expired certifications on your resume?

No.

Тhere’s 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 it’s expired. Don’t lie to the Recruiters, they can easily catch you red-handed.

If you’re in the process of retaking it, write “retaking”.

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

How to format certifications on a resume

As a separate section

If you decide to write them in a separate section you can include additional information, such as year taken and institution, if prestigious.

In this example, there is not a year written, however, there is the serial number of the certificate.

This way he’s showing the Recruiter that his Certificate is issued by a competent organization, which he has mentioned below.

In this resume, the writer didn’t include the serial number, but she made her certification’s section easy to be spotted and there is no extra information to distract.

When wondering which certifications to choose, use the ones which actually taught you something. If you write the year you have taken them – use reverse-chronological order.

That way the Recruiter will easily see which certificate is your latest achievement.

As part of your headline

Do you want to get the Recruiter’s attention?

You can stand out fast with a certificate on our resume header.

You can do it two ways.

Include it next to your name – could be certificates such as CFA, CPA, etc.

This way the Hiring Manager can see the first couple of seconds that you’re qualified enough. A study from Ladders showed that recruiters spend an average of only 7 seconds scanning a resume.

Even if you’re in the process of taking the certificate, consider adding it.

You can also write the certificate in your resume title. It will grab the attention of the Recruiter immediately.

Show me how it's done: certification examples for different job titles

Accounting Resume Certificate Examples:

It is important to mention any certifications the job offer specifically asks for or mentions.

Even if they are only considered as a plus. This way you get the bonus points right away.

Here are top certifications to include on an accounting resume

1. Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
2. Certified Financial Analyst (CFA)
3. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
4. Enrolled Agent (EA)
5. Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
6. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
7. Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA)

Marketing resume certification examples:

If you are applying to a Marketing position, it may be important to be certified in areas like Hubspot or Google Analytics. It shows that you know your way with those fundamental tools.

If you have just one or two certifications, you can include them in your resume header. However, if there are more, it would be better to have a separate section for them.

The next question is, which marketing certifications should you include on your resume?

Here are 10 Marketing certifications to get you started:

1. Google Analytics Certification
2. AMA Certified Professional Marketer
3. Hootsuite Social Marketing Certification
4. Google Ads Certification
5. HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification
6. HubSpot Content Marketing Certification
7. Digital Garage: Fundamentals of Digital Marketing Certification
8. W3Schools certification in HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, PHP, and XML
9. Facebook BluePrint Certification
10. YouTube Certification

More on the topic of how to make a perfect resume for a Marketer here.

Project Management Certifications for your resume:

When it comes to certificates for Project Managers – they are always a plus.

They show that you’ve invested lots of time to boost your career and learn new skills. And that you also wanted to get better knowledge for your work.

If your certificates are from trusted organizations. If they vouch for you, it’s a good thing for the Hiring Manager to trust them.

What are the best project management certificates to feature on your resume?

You can see our Top 10 list:

1. Project Management Professional (PMP) from Project Management Institute (PMI)
2. Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
3. Prince2
4. CompTIA
5. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
6. Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)
7. Master Project Manager (MPM)
8. Lean management
9. Six sigma
10. Kaizen

If you want to grab the Recruiter’s attention, check out our full guide for a Project Manager resume.

Sales Resume Certificates to add:

When it comes to Salespeople – you have a lot of courses you can enroll and get a certificate.

So, if you have 20 certificates for your profession, read the job description carefully.

You now know which of your 20 certificates will be thought of as an addition to your resume.

Here are Top certifications to include on a sales resume:

1. MEDDIC
2. Challenger Sales
3. Spin Selling
4. Sandler Training
5. Certified Sales Professional CSP

More on the topic of a perfect Sales resume – see here.

It certifications on a resume:

There is no IT certification that will guarantee with certainty you’ll get an IT job. However, according to a survey by Global Knowledge, if you have one of these 5 certifications can significantly increase your chances.

IT Resume Certifications:

1. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Server Infrastructure
2. CRISC – Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control
3. CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
4. CompTIA Security/Network+
5. Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) Routing and Switching

This of course is accurate if you want to work mostly in IT Security or Networks.

However, there are many courses from trusted organizations on any IT topic, so if you want to boost your knowledge, this is a perfect way.

And if you want a full guide for your IT resume, check our article.

Certifications on resume: most important

Remember professional certifications and honors & awards are two totally different things.

Training and certifications also. Sometimes training can result in certification, but not always.

And most importantly, don’t confuse certification and an online course.

What is the difference between an online course and an online certification course?

Online courses are like university classes. You can learn everything from psychology to physics. And finishing classes can get you to credit the same as at a university.

It is a plus if you gained knowledge from them, but online courses don’t always mean skills and certifications.

All you have to do is make sure that the certification course is from a trusted organization and you have to be cautious about what kind of courses you take online.

With the Enhancv resume builder, you can craft a resume that blows all other applicants out of the water. From design options to bullet and section suggestions and content writing tips, we’re here to help you land your dream job!

final words

So, what we learned today.

• Having a certification is a plus but don’t use the “fake it till you make it” concept
• There are a lot of jobs that need you to have a certificate
• Adding all certificates on your resume is not a plus, add only the ones needed for the position
• Make a separate section for your resumes. Try including the names, institutions, and serial numbers, if needed

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Is there something in the article that we missed? Do you think that the certificates are needed or are they just a bonus? Tell us in the comments below.