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How and When To Put Coursera Certificates on a Resume

Is Coursera good for your resume? And what courses should you list? Here’s everything you need to know about how to put Coursera on a resume.

a year ago   •   4 min read

With over 5,000 accredited courses, certificates, and full degree programs from some of the best companies and schools around the world, Coursera seems like a pretty good way to boost your skills … right?

Right! Here’s everything you need to know about how to list a Coursera certificate on your resume, which courses belong on your resume (and which don’t), and how to choose the best Coursera programs.

How to put Coursera on a resume

• Choose where to list it. If the course was very significant, you can create a separate “ Certifications and Qualifications ” section, otherwise it can go in an “Additional Information” section (or under “ Education ” if you completed the course but didn’t get the certificate).
• Create a meaningful heading and/or subheading to help your certificates stand out.
• List the exact name of the course.
• Include the name of the provider — Coursera offers courses from multiple external providers, so it matters whether the certificate is from Google from Big Al’s Data World.
• List the date you completed the course — the more recently you completed it, the more relevant it’s likely to be.
• Be clear about whether you gained a degree, certificate, or just completed the course.
• Include related skills and projects in other sections of your resume — adding a link to your GitHub or online portfolio is even better.
• When you’re done, run your resume through Score My Resume to see how well you’ve covered related skills and keywords.

If you're not sure if you've listed your coursera certificate on your resume the right way, upload it to the tool below – it'll scan it and give you detailed feedback and suggestions on how to improve your resume.

Listing Coursera on a resume: Pros vs cons

Like anything else on your resume, whether to list Coursera certificates on your resume depends on:

• How relevant it is to the job you’re applying for
• Whether you picked up important skills or accomplishments as part of the course
• Whether you have more impressive experience to list instead

Let’s dive into when listing Coursera is good for your resume — and when it isn’t.

When to put a Coursera certificate on your resume

A Coursera certificate might look good on your resume if:

• You completed a long or substantive course
• You finished an entire bachelor’s (or other) degree program
• You completed a course from a reputable provider
• You want to highlight a significant project or other accomplishment from the course
• The course was directly relevant to your new role
• You’re looking for a way to add targeted keywords to your resume
• You’re changing careers
• You’re just starting out and want to indicate genuine interest in the field
• You don’t have much other relevant experience (including volunteer work , internships , or personal projects)

When to leave Coursera off your resume

On the other hand, it probably isn’t worth including Coursera on your resume if:

• You completed a very short, unaccredited, or beginner-level course
• You’ve completed multiple short courses
• You completed courses that aren’t particularly relevant to the job you’re applying for
• You completed the course but didn’t retain technical skills
• You have actual work experience in the same area
• You have a better way of demonstrating your skills — for example, linking to a GitHub or online portfolio is more compelling than just including a programming certificate

Related : How (And When) To List a Udemy Certificate on Your Resume

The best Coursera certificates to include on your resume

The best Coursera certificates for your resume are generally technical skills-based courses from well-known providers . Here’s a list of some of the Coursera certificates most highly regarded by recruiters to get your started:

• Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
• Google IT Support Professional Certificate
• Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate
• ICPM Certified Supervisor Professional Certificate
• IBM AI Foundations for Business Specialization
• IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
• Getting Started with AWS Machine Learning
• Cloud Architect Professional Certificate
• Security in Google Cloud Specialization
• AWS Fundamentals Specialization
• Google Project Management Professional Certificate
• Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate
• Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate
• Meta Marketing Analytics Professional Certificate
• Intuit Bookkeeping Professional Certificate

If you know what technical skills you need to brush up on, try searching for Coursera courses that target those areas. If you aren't sure, use the skills and keywords tool below to find the right skills based on your desired industry or job title.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i get a job with just a coursera certificate.

A Coursera certificate alone is unlikely to land you a job, but it can make the difference in getting an interview, especially if you don’t have a lot of other relevant experience. Be prepared to talk about the specific skills you picked up, how you applied them, and any transferable skills from previous jobs.

Should I pay for a Coursera certificate?

There’s no cut and dried answer to this question. Ultimately, it depends on:

• The size of the course (the longer or more substantive the course, the more value a certificate will have)
• The course provider — certificates from more reputable providers will look better on a resume
• How relevant it is to the job(s) you’re applying for
• How easily you can afford to pay for the certificate

If you can’t afford it, it’s fine to skip the badge and simply list the course on your resume alongside any relevant hard skills or projects.

Can I list Coursera on my resume even if I don’t have a certificate?

You can list Coursera courses on your resume even if you don’t have a certificate for them, but don’t put them in a “Certifications” section or claim to have an official certificate if you don’t. Instead, list the course in your education section or in an “Additional Information” section.

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Coursera Certificate on Resume: How to List

Coursera is a leading online education platform that offers free online courses collaborating with world universities. These courses last for several weeks or months. They are broad in scope, so anyone can find an area of interest – from the humanities, sociology, economics, and computer science to improving their skills in teamwork or group communication.

Are you considering taking an online course but not sure whether to choose edX vs Udemy.com ? Let us help you make an informed decision. These courses are unique because each is created and led by eminent lecturers from top universities such as the University of Pennsylvania, Virginia, or Michigan, so certificates are paid after completing the course. That is why this is a unique opportunity for all those who want to improve their knowledge or acquire a new skill from the comfort of their home while believing in it, and it is entirely free.

This also raises the question of the practical usability of such certificates in a vibrant business world where educational institutions compete for each student. As a job seeker, you want to know if your Coursera certificate is a competitive advantage or just another point in the CV that no HR manager will ever notice. Stay with us and we will show you how to add Coursera certificate to resume and add value to your future job application.

Can You Put Coursera on Resume?

According to Bellinger and Thompson, attendance at mass open online courses has become global, and users are no longer just college students. Another research  shows that most applicants are people who have already completed at least the first level of university education and attend courses because they are interested in the topic and for professional development.

Coursera is one of the leading platforms for “mass open online courses” (MOOC). The site summarizes the contents of many universities and other educational institutions worldwide in one place. It is more reminiscent of an online college than fast courses of various disciplines as previous platforms.

You can access art, business, information technology, and social sciences lectures for free, but assignments, tests, and certificates must be paid. Considering more than 1600 free lectures, we think this site is very noteworthy.

It would help if you kept in mind that courses are usually offered on specific dates, with a start and end Sunday. At the end of each week provided by the system, a test is taken, and specific deadlines must be met. You can attend each of these courses for free after the deadline, but a certain amount of money must be set aside for the certificate if you want it. This, of course, also applies to other systems that Coursera offers.

Still, we need to address the main issue – can you put Coursera on resume? The answer is simple: yes, you can certainly write such courses you have taken on your CV, but it is not sure that the potential employer is familiar with how this works.

So, if you have many courses, it might be a good idea to explain how they went. When doing so, it is also essential to know how many references to list on resume , and we have also covered this side of your CV.

Many people like to pay to have their exams corrected and get an official diploma that they have completed the course. This looks much better on the CV than if you list classes you have attended without having anything to refer to. But this is up to everyone. For many, it may be enough to show that they like to spend time in further education or seek broad knowledge.

Should I Put it on my LinkedIn?

We believe real-life examples show much more than mere theory. Let’s take IT, where self-education helps professionals keep up with technology and beginners learn about areas of interest. The fact that programming can be understood independently is best evidenced by the Stack Overflow research, which revealed that half of the developers in the world do not have higher education in their profession. Many have no higher education, but an upcoming Coursera certificate can help them state the expected degree on resume, which you can read more about here.

This fact is encouraging for those who are starting to learn programming on their own to one day deal with it professionally. Companies, especially startups, will often forgive you for lacking a relevant degree if you have adequate knowledge and skills and if you learn quickly.

A portfolio, a set of your projects, has a much higher value than a CV and a diploma unless you have a degree from a prestigious world university. Most candidates for programming jobs don’t even have a GitHub account, so if you come up with three relevant personal projects, you’ll be treated as a serious candidate.

Coursera has stood out as the whole way to master different areas. You get faculty knowledge from the world’s best professors and lecturers, but you build your program and determine the pace of learning. You can follow most of these courses for free, and if you decide to pay for them, official certificates can be an excellent addition to your LinkedIn profile.

You can also start your projects, which is always recommended, and we will learn you how to put Coursera certificate on resume to improve your job-winning odds. Your prospective employer will be happy to see you have invested additional time and money in your education.

How to List Coursera Courses on Resume

The resume aims to present in the best light, adapted to the job you are trying to get, everything you have done in the previous period of your career, or at least what you have worked on so far (education and personal development) to start your career.

A CV is the first contact that an employer will have with a job candidate, so the first impression they create is significant. It is always good if you have completed a specialized course or training related to the position you are applying for, so attach or mention them.

If you are not sure whether your resume is good, try asking for help from professional resume writers. We have listed the best in these ratings and reviews .

When to Highlight Coursera on CVs

Throughout their education, people acquire different licenses, diplomas, and certificates. Still, not all of them suit all jobs, so you should address the job and only state the relevant ones. With that in mind, we suggest you examine the potential employer and compile a proper CV according to the job’s specific demands.

Some of the most important reasons to highlight a Coursera certificate are the following:

• Specific requirements of a job:

The win-win situation is when your certificate matches the job requirements. There is no reason not to emphasize Coursera as it proves you spent some quality time and obtained a valid degree.

A certification that isn’t explicitly adverted in the job post but is relevant is also a good match. Make sure to indicate only courses that matter. In other words, irrelevant qualifications can waive you out.

• When lacking the work experience:

Sometimes you will apply for a job, even without having proper work experience. Maybe you want to switch to another industry, but you have a Coursera certificate proving that you are ready for the role instead of hours there. Career-switchers and juniors will always appreciate this possibility.

• Proud of your achievements:

In specific industries, certifications are rare achievements, and you should benefit from the fact that you have one. Putting a Coursera certificate is an acceptable way to draw the HR manager’s attention to your CV as it proves you are dedicated and trained in the specific field.

Where to Put Coursera Certifications on Your Resume

The fact is that proper CVs formatting sometimes means a difference between being hired or staying out of the system. There are several sections in a resume where you can effectively put Coursera so that we will focus on strategic and most common. This looks similar to putting Udemy courses on resume  that you could read in our article.

Licenses and Certifications section:  Arguably, this is the most logical place to highlight a relevant certificate. We suggest adding the area under “Education” or “Skills” to your resume. Of course, you can name it differently or make it sound more logical depending on your specific formatting.

Just a step back to what we previously said – add only those that matter and can make a difference, even though you might have numerous diplomas. When talking about stating scholarships on resume , a good idea would be to check here and learn if it is appropriate or not.

As an abbreviation:  Certain licenses and Coursera certificates come with a well-accepted and professionally understood abbreviation. For example, in the health care profession, CCRN means a “Critical Care Registered Nurse.” There is no need to write the full expression hoping that a hiring manager will act only in that case. See this example to get a bigger picture:

• Annabel Lee, CCRN, NY
• Phone number: (111) 222-3333
• email address: [email protected]

In summary:  The professional summary is an essential part of the resume, and many HR managers continue or stop reading after it. Therefore, we suggest you include relevant certifications and increase your chances by re-emphasizing your credentials. In the case of widely used automated recruiting systems, this can help them scan and stand out your resume after identifying you as a suitable employee.

Our example would be: “Annabel Lee, a CCRN-certified nurse with 10+ years of professional experience in hospital administration and critical care transport”.

In your cover letter:  While many job seekers tend to copy and paste the content of cover letters carelessly, you can stand out by adequately flagging your credentials. This part of the CV is a great way to present a Coursera certificate and connect it with the job requirements. Again, automated recruiting systems will also match your application with the job requirement presuming properly used specific keywords.

In our example, Annabel Lee will say she is a CCRN certified nurse with more than a decade of experience in hospital systems and healthcare providers. Moreover, she worked in intensive care units to help the critically ill get what needed.

The Impact of Certifications on Your CV

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ research in 2020 , certifications improve your job-winning odds and salary. The median weekly wage for people with a certification (but not a license) was $1,307, while a license-only granted $1,177. On the other hand, employees without any license or certificate took $913.

Considering the employment rate, the BLS research also showed that certifications reduced the rate to 4.7%, half less than without it. Knowing how to list Coursera courses or resume definitely pays out.

Does the Coursera certificate have value in a resume?

Yes, it does. A Coursera certificate matching the job requirements indicates you have spent more time and invested in your education.

Is Coursera good for a resume?

Presuming you are displaying only courses relevant to the job, Coursera is a good fit for your resume.

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How to Add a Coursera Certificate to Your Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide

Incorporating Coursera certificates into your resume is a strategic move to showcase your dedication to professional growth and lifelong learning. Coursera, a renowned online learning platform, offers courses from top universities and companies, making it a valuable asset for job seekers aiming to stand out. To effectively highlight your Coursera achievements, follow these essential steps:

• Identify the Right Section : Your resume should have a dedicated section for Education or Certifications where Coursera certificates are prominently listed. For example, if you’ve completed a series of business strategy courses, add a Certifications section right after your Education segment.
• Specify the Certificate Name : Clearly state the full name of the certificate, such as “Coursera Certified Data Science Specialist.” This specificity helps potential employers understand the relevance of your certification to the job role.
• Mention the Issuing Organization : Adding the name of the university or company that offered the course through Coursera (e.g., “offered by Stanford University”) lends credibility and recognition to your certification.
• Include the Completion Date : Noting when you completed the course shows employers that your knowledge is current. Format this information neatly next to each certificate listed.
• Describe Relevant Skills and Knowledge : Under each certificate, briefly describe the skills and knowledge you acquired. Use bullet points for clarity, focusing on those most applicable to the job you’re applying for. For instance, “Developed expertise in Python for data analysis and visualization techniques.”
• Quantify Achievements : Whenever possible, quantify your achievements or the impact of your learning. For example, “Leveraged machine learning techniques to improve sales forecasting accuracy by 30% in a project simulation.”
• Tailor Your Resume for Each Application : Highlight Coursera certificates that are most relevant to the job. Customizing your resume for each application increases your chances of catching the hiring manager’s attention.
• Update Your LinkedIn Profile : In addition to your resume, add your Coursera certificates to the Licenses & Certifications section of your LinkedIn profile. This enhances your online professional presence and can attract recruiters searching for candidates with your specific skill set.

By following these steps, you ensure that your Coursera certificates are not just listed on your resume but are effectively showcased to highlight your commitment to advancing your skills and knowledge. This strategic approach makes your resume more attractive to potential employers, demonstrating that you are a proactive learner and a valuable candidate for the position.

• 1 Understanding Coursera Certificates
• 2 The Importance of Coursera Certificates in Your Resume
• 3 Best Practices for Highlighting Coursera Certificates

Understanding Coursera Certificates

Coursera certificates validate your expertise and skills gained through completing courses on Coursera, a leading online learning platform that partners with top universities and organizations. These certificates serve as proof of your commitment to professional development and continuous learning. They cover a broad range of topics, from business and technology to creative arts, offering something for every learner. Coursera provides various types of certificates, including individual course certificates, professional certificates, and specializations. Each type represents a different level of commitment and depth of knowledge.

Obtaining a Coursera certificate typically involves watching video lectures, participating in discussion forums, completing assignments, and passing assessments. The issuing institutions, such as Stanford, Yale, or Google, lend credibility and recognition to these certificates. Coursera also offers courses that can lead to full degrees in certain fields, providing a flexible, lower-cost alternative to traditional university education. Adding Coursera certificates to your resume or LinkedIn profile can significantly boost your job prospects by showcasing your skills and dedication to self-improvement.

The Importance of Coursera Certificates in Your Resume

Including Coursera certificates in your resume is crucial for showcasing your commitment to ongoing education and skill development in today’s competitive job market. These certificates, endorsed by top universities and industry leaders, provide tangible proof of your expertise in specific areas, ranging from data science to digital marketing. By featuring Coursera certificates, you demonstrate not only mastery of subject matter but also a willingness to invest in your professional growth. Employers value candidates who are proactive about learning and adapting to new technologies and methodologies.

Coursera certificates on your resume can help bridge the gap between formal education and practical, hands-on skills required in many modern job roles. They signal to potential employers that you are keeping pace with industry trends and are eager to take on challenges that require up-to-date knowledge. For career changers, these certificates can be particularly valuable, offering a pathway to enter new fields without the need for traditional degrees. Additionally, highlighting specific courses relevant to the job you’re applying for can tailor your application, making it more attractive to hiring managers.

Best Practices for Highlighting Coursera Certificates

Highlighting Coursera certificates effectively on your resume and professional profiles is a strategic step towards showcasing your commitment to lifelong learning and skill enhancement. To ensure your Coursera achievements stand out and catch the attention of potential employers, follow these best practices:

• Strategically Place Your Certificates : Opt for a prominent spot on your resume, such as under the ‘Education’ or a dedicated ‘Certifications’ section, ensuring visibility. For example, list your “Coursera: Machine Learning by Stanford University” certification where it’s easily noticeable.
• Be Specific About Your Achievements : Detail the specific skills and knowledge you gained. Instead of merely listing “Coursera Certificate in Digital Marketing,” expand with bullet points, such as “Mastered SEO techniques and Google Analytics to enhance online presence.”
• Tailor Your Certificates to the Job : Customize your resume for each application, highlighting the Coursera certificates most relevant to the position. If applying for a web development role, prominently feature certificates like “Coursera: Web Development with JavaScript.”
• Quantify Your Learning Outcomes : Where possible, quantify the impact of your newly acquired skills. Mention any projects or accomplishments, for instance, “Increased website traffic by 40% through SEO strategies learned in Coursera’s Digital Marketing specialization.”
• Update Your LinkedIn Profile : Add your Coursera certificates to the ‘Licenses & Certifications’ section of your LinkedIn profile, making sure to include keywords that potential employers might search for, such as “Python programming” or “data analysis.”
• Incorporate Keywords in Descriptions : Use industry-relevant keywords both in your resume and online profiles when describing your Coursera certificates. This improves your visibility in applicant tracking systems and online searches.
• Show Continuous Learning : Demonstrate your commitment to ongoing professional development by listing current courses you’re enrolled in, signaling to employers your dedication to staying current with industry trends.
• Include Direct Links : If space permits, include direct links to your Coursera certificate or course page. This allows employers to verify your credentials easily and explore the course content.
• Network in Relevant Circles : Share your Coursera achievements in relevant LinkedIn groups or professional forums, fostering discussions and networking opportunities with professionals interested in similar fields.
• Prepare to Discuss : Be ready to talk about your Coursera courses during interviews, including how they’ve prepared you for the specific role you’re applying for, showcasing your practical application of the skills learned.

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When and How to Include Coursera Specializations on Your Resume

Benefits of Including a Specialization on Your Resume

There are several key benefits to including a specialization, Coursera or otherwise, on your resume. We're going to focus on benefits for entry-level jobs below, but the concepts can be extrapolated to career pivots and advancements too.

First, putting a specialization on your resume demonstrates a commitment to ongoing learning and professional development, which is highly valued by many employers. If you can speak to your reasoning for choosing said specialization, or if it's in a hot tech field, this is especially impressive. This dedication shows that you're willing to invest time and effort into improving your skills and knowledge, and can also show that you're up-to-date with the latest trends and practices in your field.

Second, these specializations can help you stand out from other job candidates , particularly in competitive industries. This is especially applicable when you're looking to break in to a field and competing against other candidates who may have similar life experiences to you. By highlighting your unique combination of skills and experiences, you can have supporting metrics for a strong case for why you're the best candidate for the job.

Finally, including a specialization on your resume can help you attract new career opportunities , both within your current organization and on Linkedin . Recruiters often search by skill keyword or institution, so this can help you rank higher in your desired field. It can demonstrate your drive to take on new challenges and responsibilities, which is always helpful too.

How to Decide Which Specializations to Include

When deciding which programs or specializations to include on your resume, it's important to consider the relevance of the skills and knowledge you gained from each program to your target job types.

Use a tool like Bridged to match specializations that align with the requirements of the your target position that showcase your expertise in relevant areas. Consider the reputation and credibility of the issuing institution (if its a university/company hosting on Coursera, you're golden) particularly if it's a well-known and respected organization in the tech industry like Google, Meta, IBM, etc. This process will help demonstrate the quality and value of your online learning experiences.

If you're doing it the Bridged way and stacking specializations + certifications to try a wide-and-deep approach to learning, think about the diversity of your specializations. Aim to include those with prestigious issuing institutions, or those with primary skills for your target job. Keep the rest of your learnings in your back pocket (these will make you deadly as an employee). Be laser-focused on showcasing a range of skills and knowledge that demonstrate your versatility and adaptability as a job candidate.

Tips for Listing Specializations on Your Resume

When it comes to listing specializations on your resume, there are a few key tips to keep in mind.

First, be concise and specific in your descriptions, focusing on the most important skills and knowledge you gained from each program. Use something like Bridged to see top keywords and skills for each relevant role.

Second, prioritize the most relevant and impressive specializations by placing them at the top of your "Education" or "Additional Information" sections. This will help grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers to make a strong first impression.

Third, consider highlighting any relevant project or portfolio information as a link on your resume (example below). Upload your portfolio to something like AWS or Google Drive, and use a sharable link. This showcases your ability to apply what you've learned to something that may be relevant to the company.

Examples of Specialization Examples on a Resume

Here are some great examples of how to list specializations on your resume. Feel free to copy our format. Does it remind you of APA formatting in school? Again, we recommend putting these in your Education section, or Additional Information section if you want to get fancy with it.

Top Specializations on Resume Examples

• Specialization: Digital Product Management from the University of Virginia (Coursera, 2023) . Skills Learned: Product Strategy, Product Development, User Research, Agile Methodologies, Market Research, Team Management. View Portfolio Here.
• Certification: Project Management Certificate from Google (Coursera, 2023). Skills Learned: Budgeting and Cost Management, Project Planning and Scheduling, Risk Assessment, Agile and Waterfall Methodologies.
• Specialization: Software Testing and Automation Specialization from the University of Minnesota (Coursera, 2023). Skills Learned: Manual QA, Black and White Box Testing, Automated Analysis, Selenium. View Github Link Here.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Listing Specializations on Your Resume

Example 1: junior-level-job-hunting course.

• Product Manager: Learn the Skills to Get the Job (Udemy, 2023). Skills Learned: Product Strategy, Product Development, User Research, Agile Methodologies, Market Research, Team Management. ‍

What's wrong here?

This is a specific job-hunting course, not a specialization . While you definitely learned great skills from completing this certification, it does not look legit to employers. This goes for all job-hunting related certifications and specializations (though there are fewer of these that we recommend on Coursera). We recommend instead just including a portfolio link under "Additional Information" or any spec work completed during the program without naming names.

Example 2: No Credit where Credit is Due

• Coursera Digital Product Management (2023). Skills Learned: Product Strategy, Product Development, User Research, Agile Methodologies, Market Research, Team Management.

Coursera is NOT an institution. We'll say it again, louder for those in the back: Coursera and Udemy are a hosting platforms , not certifiable institutions. In fact, anyone can list a program on either of those platforms. We've thought about it ourselves. Showing a specialization completed, but not mentioning where the program was taught, is a major party-foul in the world of education and job-searching. Be sure to always list the institution as the certifier of the specialization, and use Coursera to indicate how you accessed the course.

Example 3: Some other Specialization/Resume Pitfalls

• Listing WAY too many skills learned from a specialization. As yoda says, SHOW, NOT TELL. I'm actually not sure if that was yoda.
• Listing every certification you've ever taken
• Resumes that are longer than one page for a role that requires less than 10 years of experience. (don't come for me-- you know it's true too).

Other Ways to Leverage Your Specializations for Career Transitions

If you're looking to leverage your program certifications or Coursera Specializations to break into the tech industry, there are a few key strategies to keep in mind when pursuing your job hunt.

First, consider highlighting your learning experience on BOTH your resume and LinkedIn profile , using all the tips we've discussed here. Coursera specifically has a Linkedin plugin that will verify your achievement, which is very astute of them. By doing this, it'll help you stand out in recruiter searches while also demonstrating your hunger and drive to learning new material. We have a three-step process outlined here on how to optimize your job searching.

Second, utilize the Bridged method of thinking to stack micro-certifications and specializations to enhance your understanding of the skills and responsibilities of your target role. Not sure about your role yet? Use our job guides to browse specific entry-level roles, and our skill tracker to keep track of your progress towards your target job.

Top Coursera Specializations for Beginners in 2023

For the analytically-inclined: google's data analytics.

Google has created a baller data analytics certificate program that's coveted in the analytics industry-- including business analysts, marketing analysts, and product analysts alike. This is one of the top certificates in the industry for analytics as a field, and the best way to quickly learn Google Analytics. It's free to audit, but if you want the certificate to show off as we've mentioned here (which is recommended, btw), it's $49 a month to complete at your own pace.

For the newbie product manager: UVA's Digital Product Management Fundamentals

We all know UVA rocks, but did you know they've created one of the best online product management specializations? This prestigious specialization in digital product gives a comprehensive view of the skills and requirements to be successful in the role. This program focuses on test-and-learn strategies, identifying and acting on customer insights, and running an effective product program. Read our full writeup here. It's free to audit, but if you want the sharable certificate it's $79 a month to complete at your own pace.

For the ultra-organized: Project Management with Rice

Project management continuously makes our list of top recommended entry-level-roles . It's a great field with exposure to every aspect of a product or marketing pod, as your main role is unblocking issues for team members and managing their activities. This is one of the most common roles used to transition into product management. Read our full writeup here. It's free to audit, but if you want the certificate it's $49 a month to complete at your own pace.

For the academic: UX Research with University of Michigan

University of Michigan has created a great overview of UX/UI in this specialization program. It covers both UX design and research, which makes it a great bargain at only $49/month. This is a popular bootcamp role, so this specialization is great when paired with a portfolio or spec-work experience. Read our full writeup here.

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How to Write an Effective Resume

September 14, 2020

Download this guide in PDF format

In this guide, you’ll learn how to create an effective resume. You’ll learn strategies for tailoring your resume to the role you’re pursuing, and how to effectively present your skills and experience—whether you’re a new-job seeker or a mid-career professional switching to a new field. You will learn about templates and formats and understand the structure of every core section of a successful resume.

An effective resume needs to present all the important information about you as a professional in a concise and clear way. Format and content are both important. Prior to diving into the details of resume structure, you’ll first want to have a clear understanding of what you are trying to communicate. It’s also important to keep your focus on what matters to the employer and do everything you can to tailor your resume to the role.

Focus on what’s important to the employer

Before writing your resume, try to consider the employer’s point of view. What do they want to know? Answering this question will enable you to focus on the information that is going to be relevant to the employer. This, in turn, increases your chances of getting their attention.

When applying to a specific role, carefully read the job description. This will help you understand specifically what the employer is looking for. If you want to gather additional insights, review multiple job descriptions to see what shows up repeatedly. This will help you gain a broader understanding of the role. Another great way to understand the needs of your potential employer is to schedule networking conversations with industry professionals who can share their experiences and insights.

Keep in mind that focusing on what’s relevant to the employer might mean omitting details about your skills and experiences that are significant to you but are not directly relevant to the role. Deciding what to not include on your resume can be as important as deciding what to include. Irrelevant information might distract or confuse a reader, potentially making them more likely to discard your resume.

Tailor your resume to a role

It is essential that you tailor your resume to each job that you apply for. Even if your target roles have the same general set of requirements—and even if your skills and experience are broadly applicable—you should still adjust the order of your qualifications to match the order on the job description. In this way, you’re putting what’s most important to each employer at the top. 

If you can, try to match the language of the job description. For example, if you have a resume built around recruiting, and you are applying for a talent acquisition role, replace “recruiting” with “talent acquisition” on your resume. Shifting to the employer’s terminology can help them relate to you. This approach can also help prevent you from being filtered out by automated software that relies on keywords to match your resume to the job description and to determine whether it should be passed on to a recruiter or discarded.

Tip : Keep in mind that resumes are traditionally written in the third person without the use of personal pronouns. 

Different Types of Job Seekers

Your resume strategy will differ at different stages of your career journey. Someone seeking their first role will need to use a different approach than someone looking to make a mid-career switch to a new field. In both of these scenarios, you have to communicate your value despite not having experience in the field, but your strategy will differ depending on what information you have available to share.

You can use the recommendations in this section to understand how to communicate your value to an employer in a way that’s appropriate to your skills and experience.

Career changers

If you are an experienced professional but are looking to start a career in a new field, your background can provide you with a unique perspective, and can potentially help you stand out as a candidate. At the same time, you will need to be conscious about clearly establishing yourself as a qualified professional in your new field. Remember that your application will most likely be reviewed alongside applications from people with  directly relevant experience, so you need to make it clear to the employer why they should consider you for the role over those candidates. 

Here are some key things to keep in mind as you build your resume:

Focus on your transferable skills and experiences and highlight the advantages of your diverse background . 

When describing your past experiences, focus on what’s relevant to your new career, and don’t over-elaborate on less relevant details. For example, if you’ve been managing a restaurant and are now shifting into IT support, your customer service skills will be crucial, while your ability to manage staff won’t be as relevant. If, as a restaurant manager, you maintained your computer network and electronics, that will be important to discuss on your resume as well—even if it was a minor component of your role. Finally, try to point out how your background—despite being in a different field—is actually an advantage. For example, you might highlight how the commercial awareness you developed as a restaurant manager can help you understand business needs when prioritizing your work as an IT support professional. 

Adopt the terminology of your new industry. 

Get familiar with the language, terms, and jargon of your new industry and demonstrate this familiarity by using industry-specific words and phrases in your resume. This will make it easier for the reader to understand how your experience is relevant for them, and give them confidence about your engagement with your new field. For example, if you’ve run your own business in the past and are now looking for a role in marketing, use terms such as “marketing funnel” and “nurturing leads” when discussing your past marketing activities—even if you weren’t thinking in those terms at the time.

New Professionals

People who are looking for their first job, and who don’t yet have professional experience to describe, might struggle with how to fill their resumes. When this is the case, you can leverage non-professional experiences such as coursework, extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and life experiences (travel, caretaking, and more) as a means to demonstrate to the employer how you overcome challenges, solve problems, and achieve results. 

It’s important to remember that the employer only knows what’s on your resume. If you think something will help you make your case to a prospective employer, you need to find a way to include that information on your resume. Use sections such as Projects, Volunteer Work, Relevant Experiences as alternatives to Professional Experience for that purpose.

Templates and Layouts

Now that you have an idea of what you want to communicate on your resume, you can start filling out the details. You can design your own resume or use an existing template. There are many templates available online, and you can access them by typing “resume templates” into your favorite search engine. You can also find Google Doc templates by going to Google Docs and clicking Template Gallery at the top right. 

Tip: Whether you actually use a Google Doc template or not, it’s a good idea to design your resume in Google Docs. It will enable you to easily share, get feedback, and download your resume in a convenient format.

You can use your personal taste and preferences when selecting a template, but it’s also important to consider the following factors:

• Ease of reading : Your resume needs to make a great impression and communicate all your most important information in a very short amount of time. Make sure sections are clearly organized and that the font is easy to read, and use margins and white space to prevent the document from feeling cramped. 
• Simple design . Your resume needs to be easily comprehended by both humans and applicant tracking systems (ATS)—the software that companies use to store and retrieve candidate information. ATS’s vary, but many cannot parse graphs and other visual elements, meaning that information contained in them will be lost. Simple designs relying on well-organized text are best. 
• Length. Your resume should be one page, unless you have at least 10-15 years of relevant (not total) experience. Two-column resume templates are appropriate for one-page resumes. Two-page resumes should use the entire width of the page.

Resume Sections

Before you start filling out your resume, you’ll need to decide which sections to include, and in what order. There are core components that should be in every resume. There are also optional components you may want to include, depending on your skills and experience, and the roles you’re applying for. Adjust your template by moving, adding, removing, and renaming sections as necessary.

Core resume sections include contact information, a professional summary, and details about your skills, experience, and education. Make sure to use section labels to help the reader easily navigate through your resume. In terms of order, this will often depend on what you want to highlight to your employer. A recent graduate might want to put their education first, whereas a working professional would lead with their experience. Optional sections could include information on projects, publications, volunteer experience, awards and honors, patents, languages, and more. Let’s take a closer look at each section of a typical resume.

Individual Resume Sections

This is the section at the top of your resume that includes your contact information. Your name is the only part of your resume that should be spelled out in a larger font than the rest of your document. Your contact information should include:

• city, state, zip (no street address for privacy purposes) 
• phone number, email address
• LinkedIn profile URL
• Optional: personal website, GitHub (for technical roles), portfolio (for creative roles)

The Summary section will always be located at the top of your resume immediately following the Header. It should be brief (3-5 lines) and clearly articulate what makes you a great candidate for the role, as well as what makes you stand out from your competition. The Summary sets the context for the rest of the document by calling out the most important things for the reader to know about you.

While there are many ways to write a summary, consider the following format, focusing on your core expertise, strengths, and what sets you apart from others.

Sentence 1: Describe yourself by role and competencies. This is where you provide your professional introduction. Examples:

• Digital Marketing Manager with expert level knowledge of SEO, Social, PPC, and GMB.
• Talent Acquisition expert with 4+ years of experience in the medical device industry.

Tip: If you are changing careers, describe yourself using your desired title. For example, if you are shifting from QA Analytics to Project Management, describe yourself as a Project Manager. You can add “with background in QA Analytics” to acknowledge that part of your career.

Sentence 2 : Connect your expertise to your value prop.  This is where you define how your unique skills will make you a valuable asset to the company. Examples:

• Proficient in creating and editing graphics, figures, and illustrations. Consistently able to create high-quality marketing assets that drive conversions.
• Able to source for full range of positions from administrative to executive level. Able to create a seamless recruiting and hiring process for managers, and consistently present top-quality candidates.

Sentence 3: Include a differentiator. You are likely competing against other people with similar skills, so it’s important to provide a clear reason why an employer should select your resume. Examples:  

• Known for the ability to eloquently present point of view to clients, prospects, and colleagues with expertise, confidence, and clarity.
• Consistently noted in performance reviews as being able to present to clients, prospects and colleagues, with expertise, confidence, and clarity.
• Received 8 awards for customer service excellence.

Tip : Instead of using the word “Summary” to label this section, use a professional headline to help to set the tone for the rest of the document. For example: “Experienced SEO Manager” or “Android Developer | Medical Devices.” 

Immediately below the Summary you should have a list of your core areas of expertise, and your specific skills.

For a non-technical role , include 4-8 short bullets detailing your core skills (also known as Areas of Expertise) organized in two or three columns. To decide what goes on this list, think of what the employer would primarily hire you for. Focus on quantifiable skills like copywriting, agile project management, Google Analytics, or sales funnel management. Keep in mind that skills like communication, time management, and collaboration—which are harder to quantify, and are claimed by most people—are not as effective on a resume. 

Tip : When tailoring your resume to a specific role, the Skills section is your first opportunity to line up with the job description.

For a technical role , it’s important to list out all of your relevant technical skills. If you find that your list is too long to list out each item in a separate bullet, then organize your skills by type—software, programming languages, hardware, data analytics, or any other categories that apply.

Professional Experience Section

The Professional Experience section is uniquely important because it tells the story of what you’ve done in your career. For employers, this is a strong indicator of what you will be able to do for them.

The Professional Experience section should list your roles (company, job title, location, employment dates) in reverse chronological order. If you have significant professional experience, limit your resume to the past 10-15 years, as that is what is most relevant to the employer. 

Ideally, you want to list three to six roles on your resume that demonstrate progress on your career journey. Under each role, you should list your responsibilities and accomplishments in bullets. Responsibilities describe what you were supposed to do, and accomplishments are the specific outcomes that demonstrate how well you performed your role. 

Your most recent role should feature the most detail, with four to six bullets of no more than two lines each. Older roles should provide less information. Begin each bullet with an action verb that puts you in control. Include numbers to show the scope of your role and impact—how many leads did you convert, how much revenue growth did you drive, how many new hires did onboard, how large was the team you managed, and more.

Tip: Avoid chronological gaps in your Professional Experience. If you spent more than six months out of the workforce at any point—whether intentionally (for caregiving purposes or travel) or unintentionally (unemployment)—explain on your resume what you did during that time. Particularly highlight any activities relevant to your professional life, such as independent study, projects, and part-time or volunteer work. 

Example 

Big Box Story, Service Associate, Middleton, CA 01/2015 – 02/2016

• Provided customer service during checkout transactions and assisted customer questions and concerns in a big-box retail 
• Earned 8 Employee of the Week awards in one year on a team of 100+ associates
• Enrolled over 200 consumers in new credit cards within a 15-month time frame (4x average rate)
• Received “Certificate of Excellence” for success at upselling to customers

Education Section

In this section, include degrees beyond high-school in reverse chronological order (include your high-school information only if you don’t have any education or training beyond it). For each entry in the Education section, list the degree, institution, location, and date of completion.

Tip :  You can include pending or incomplete degrees by marking them as “In progress” or “Incomplete”—if you do so, make sure to include information on the classes/work you did complete. 

Finalize Your Resume

Once you’ve completed your resume using the guidance in this document, try to have someone proofread it for you. Recruiters consistently say they will discard resumes with typos, even if the resume is in great shape otherwise.

Tip : Consider asking a few people you trust—especially those familiar with your work—to provide feedback on the content. Don’t feel obligated to incorporate all the feedback you receive, but be open to recommendations that can help enhance the quality of your resume.

In conclusion, please keep in mind that, while there is no such thing as a perfect resume, you can use this guide to create an effective resume that avoids common problems and pitfalls. As you progress in your job search, remember that your resume is a living document. You can make revisions based on any feedback you receive, but try to avoid losing valuable time trying to over-optimize. Focus on your skills and experience, present yourself in the best light possible, and get ready to land that next role!

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This free resume course quickly teaches you how to organize, format, and write a resume that actually stands out

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• " How to Write a Resume " helps you strategically update, reformat, and improve your resume.
• The online course is led by a SUNY career counselor, with advice based on current job trends.
• It even includes a segment with an employer discussing how they approach a stack of resumes.

If you're looking to optimize your next career move, it'd be wise to start with a strong resume. This seemingly simple document is what markets you to prospective employers, and as something you'll submit over and over again, it's important that it's polished to the best version it can be.

"How to Write a Resume" is a free online Coursera course taught by Holly Justice , a SUNY career counselor and recruiter that walks you through creating the cornerstone of your job search. In roughly five hours total, you'll either revise a current resume or create one from scratch with the help of an insider's strategy. 

Broken down into shorter classes (which you can view at your own pace), the course covers everything from the foundations of a strong resume to the best formatting and buzzwords to make yours reach the top of the stack.  

While "How to Write a Resume" is mostly designed for college students or young professionals writing a resume for the first time, it provides a useful peek behind the curtain for anyone hoping to gain meaningful career guidance. And while resumes vary depending on the industry, Justice helps you to build a universal framework that's applicable to most, if not all, fields. She provides a top-to-bottom look at its typical sections, tips on extracting transferable skills from past experiences, and advice on crafting action statements, maximizing data, and organizing your work experience into a strong thesis statement to recruiters.

Students also hear from an employer about how they approach a stack of resumes, so they can understand how the application process works from a different perspective. By showing students the purpose of a great resume and what a gamechanger it can be, Justice makes this class feel as genuinely engaging as it is useful.

Enroll in How to Write a Resume for free here.

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