You decided to write the resume yourself and now you are sitting in front of a blank screen. You have your degree and your experience, but you’re missing that extra something to make your resume stand out from the rest. What could it be? If you’ve completed any courses on Coursera, adding your certificate to your resume is a great way to catch an employer’s eye. Here’s how to list your Coursera certificate on your resume.
What Is Coursera?
In case you are the one who didn`t know, Coursera is an online platform that partners with top universities and organizations around the world to offer courses online for anyone to take. Coursera is an online course provider that offers courses, certification programs, and degrees from various universities and organizations. Founded in 2012 by Stanford University computer science professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, Coursera has become a leading provider.
Being one of the first online learning platforms, Coursera has always taken measures to ensure user safety and privacy. With such notable partners as Yale, Stanford, Duke University, and more, you can be sure that Coursera is a reliable website that won’t try to scam you.
These courses range in subjects, from computer science to public health. While you won’t receive college credit for completing a Coursera course, you can earn a certificate of completion which you can add to your resume.
Many people choose these courses because they are interested in the subject matter and want to learn more. And Coursera allows you to pick and choose which courses you want to take, so you can enroll in as many or as few as you like. Certificates from Coursera can be a great way to pad your resume, especially if you’re looking to change careers or add new skills.
Some of the world’s best learning institutions have validated many of Coursera’s courses. And these certifications do have some worth with employers, provided that they understand the quality that Coursera provides and its instructors provide. On top of this, Coursera is also well-known for having whole bachelor’s degrees on its platform.
Where Can You List Coursera Certificate on the Resume?
Although we may receive various licenses, diplomas, and certificates during our education, not all of them will be applicable to every job. Instead of including all that you have earned on your CV, assess the potential employer and only list the relevant ones that pertain to the specific job announcement. In this way, you are more likely to appear as a qualified candidate and increase your chances of being hired.
That is why it is so important to know when and where to list the certain certificate. The best way to list the Coursera certificate on the resume is in the Education section. This is especially so if you do not have any working experience yet or if the job you are applying for is entry-level.
However, if you have been working for a while and completed the Coursera course in order to gain new skills for your current position or future ones, then you can add it to the Professional development section or even create a separate section for courses, licenses, and certificates.
Licenses and Certifications section in your resume will present you as a well-qualified candidate and will catch the employer`s eye almost immediately. Sometimes, this section seems the most befitting because the courses were taken to improve your professional development and make you more competent in the workplace.
You can also include the Coursera certificate on your resume in the Skills section. If the course is directly related to the job you are applying for, then it would make sense to list it here. For example, if you are applying for a position as a web developer and took a Coursera course in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, then you would want to include that information in the Skills section.
This is a great way to show potential employers that you have the skills they are looking for and that you are always trying to improve upon your skillset.
Should you mention it in your CV?
Cover letters are created for the specific purpose of introducing a candidate and their qualifications to a potential employer.
Including the Coursera certificate in the cover letter is a great way to discuss your relevant skills and experience in more detail and explain why you are the best candidate for the job.
The cover letter is also a good place to mention any relevant coursework that you have completed, even if it is not from Coursera. For example, if you took a class at a local community college that is related to the job you are applying for, you can include that information in your cover letter as well.
If you decide to include the Coursera certificate on your resume, be sure to mention it in your cover letter as well so that the employer knows that you have the relevant skills and experience for the job.
What about your LinkedIn profile?
Many people lack a college education, but an upcoming Coursera certificate may assist them in stating the required degree on their resume, which you can learn more about here.
This news is encouraging for individuals who are just learning to program on their own and aim to deal with it professionally one day. If you have adequate expertise and abilities and learn fast, businesses, particularly startups, will frequently excuse your lack of formal education.
You can take full advantage of this by ensuring that your LinkedIn profile contains all the relevant information about your skills and experience, as well as your upcoming Coursera certificate.
Including the Coursera certificate on your LinkedIn profile is a great way to show potential employers that you are constantly learning new things and expanding your skill set. It is also a good way to show that you are interested in the field you are applying for and that you have the relevant skills and experience for the job.
In case you came to a decision to include the Coursera certificate on your CV, be sure to note it down in your LinkedIn profile so that potential employers can see that you have the appropriate abilities and experience for the position.
What Should You Write?
Keep in mind that you should always tailor your resume according to the position you are applying for. If the job requires certain skills, then be sure to list the certification that proves you have those skills.
The most important thing is to ensure that the employer will see it. They should be able to understand its relevance and importance without having to search for it among other information. To make sure this happens, use typography such as font size and bolding to draw attention to the section.
When listing the Coursera certificate on the resume, include the following information:
- The name of the course
- The name of the institution that offered the course
- The date of completion
- Any other relevant details such as the grade you received or special projects you completed as part of the course.
So, the example of your Coursera certificate might look like this:
CERTIFICATE IN MARKETING
Coursera
June 2019
Grade: A
Special Project: Developed a marketing campaign for a local business.
If you have earned multiple Coursera certificates, then you can include all of them in the same section or create a separate section for each one. Just be sure to list them in order of importance and relevance to the job you are applying for.
You can also choose to list the Coursera certificates on your resume that pertain to the job you are applying for in chronological order or reverse chronological order. Whichever way you choose, just be consistent throughout your resume.
Things To Avoid In Your Resume
However, don`t write every little detail from your biography in the recent resume. It still should be laconic and contain only the most significant information. Employers don`t want to read a list of your hobbies, awards, and skills.
To make sure your resume is not overloaded with unnecessary information, avoid these common mistakes:
- Listing too many Coursera certificates: Only list the Coursera certificates that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Including irrelevant information: Only include information that is relevant to the job you are applying for.
- Listing outdated information: Remove any outdated or irrelevant information from your resume.
- Making it too long: Keep your resume concise and to the point.
- Including typos or grammatical errors: Be sure to proofread your resume before you submit it.
By following these tips, you can be sure that your resume will stand out from the rest and that you will have a better chance of getting the job you want.
In general, your resume should be short enough for the supervisor to read it through in one go. At the same time, all key information should be included so that they don`t have to search for it.
If your resume is too long, the supervisor will most likely not read it at all. So, make sure you keep your resume short and sweet!
Final Words
A Coursera certificate on your resume is a great way to show potential employers that you have the relevant skills and experience for the job. However, be sure to only include the Coursera certificates that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Be consistent with the order in which you list them and proofread your resume before you submit it. By following our hints, you can be sure that your resume will stand out from the rest!
