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Earning a certification can demonstrate your motivation and initiative to develop professionally, depending on your work industry and specific aspirations. When applying for jobs, you might demonstrate a variety of industry-specific certificates, so it’s crucial to think about listing your credentials on your resume. Although certifications may not be necessary for all positions, they can still be useful for showcasing your special skills and abilities to potential employers.

Now you already know the necessity of including education and professional experience in resumes. But it can be a real drag to correctly list your certifications on your resume. So, are you looking forward to mentioning your certifications, but are not sure how to do it correctly? Well don’t blame yourself; it’s not as easy as it seems.

For example- If your certifications are crucial for your profession, you must list them in the resume summary section, otherwise, you have a risk of getting your resume rejected by the recruiter.

If you have a lot of certifications, then you should make a separate section for all your important certifications (without cluttering your other sections).

 In this post, we’ll look at what certificates are, how to include them on a resume, and which ones are useful and common to have on your resume.

About certifications.

Special certificates are available from certified organizations or certifying bodies. These records serve as evidence of your professional standing, competence, or mastery of a certain talent. Most professionals must meet certain prerequisites, pay application fees, and pass relevant certification exams in order to receive a certification. Professionals are qualified to get relevant certification after passing the certifying tests. Professionals with certificates are frequently better equipped with competitive employment because many of the certifications can be difficult and time-consuming to achieve. Having a certification can help you become more well-known in your field of work.

Why Mention your Certifications?

A certification is a record provided by a recognized body that attests to your special competence. Earning such a certificate demonstrates your commitment to your profession and provides proof of your abilities. Professional certification is evidence that you are qualified to perform a task by adding it to your resume. And for some positions, this proof may be exactly what tips the scales in your favor. Even if the qualification is not essential for the position, it can still help you stand out from the competition, attract attention to your application and make you seem like a good hire.

How to Mention Certifications on a Resume?

Normally, you can showcase your suitability for the position by including your certifications in a separate area of your resume. The steps written below should serve as a reference for listing your certifications:

1. Mention the title of the certification

in a separate section of your resume, Write the complete title of the certificate first. To ensure that this section is coordinated with the rest of the section, use the same font and text size. Make sure you type the certificate’s title correctly. Additionally, it’s crucial to define any acronyms so that hiring managers, who might not be familiar with the particular qualification can comprehend what the certification is for.

2. Mention the name of the certifying institution

Include the name of the certifying board or the organization that granted you the certificate to give your certification validity. For companies to understand where you obtained your credentials, make sure to spell out any acronyms just like you would your certification titles. Including the entire name of the university also makes it simple for prospective employers to look up your credentials.

3. Mention the date when you received the certification

The date you obtained your certification must be mentioned because it demonstrates to companies how long you have held your credentials. It’s also crucial to list your completion dates so that the hiring managers can verify that you have attended any certification education. Employers can also be assured that their credentials are up to date by knowing the date of their certifications. Include the date you most recently renewed any certifications that need to be renewed.

4. Mention the anticipated completion date

If you are including a certification that you are currently working towards then you may mention the anticipated completion date of the certification. Instead of the date you anticipate taking any associated tests, this date should indicate the day you anticipate receiving the certificate. Additionally, you can indicate you far you think your certification process is in terms of progress.

5. Describe the related skills in detail

Although it is not necessary, it can be advantageous to add any pertinent abilities that are directly related to your qualifications. If you decide to include them, make sure to list any related abilities or competencies under your completion or anticipated completion dates. Employers will be able to quickly identify the special skills that make you qualified for the position for which you are applying. 

When to mention certifications on your resume?

Showing off your certifications might be very successful depending on the position you’re seeking for. However, there are a number of situations in which it can be essential to list certifications on your resume. The following situations call for including your certifications:

When the recruiter requires specific certifications

it is very important to mention certifications in your resume, especially when a recruiter has specifically asked for them. For open positions, certain employers may need a specific certification. In such situations, candidates must meet the requirements of the employers to consider them for employment. Make sure you do your homework on the company and the job description before submitting your application to find out whether the recruiter has any certifications requirements or not.

To showcase industry knowledge.

list your certificates on your resume to highlight your knowledge or years of experience in your area of employment. In order to qualify for many of the various certificates, professionals must have worked in their respective industries for a predetermined number of years. Hence to verify your level of experience, it is, therefore, effective to include your credentials.

To highlight some specific skills

In some cases, your credentials can assist in demonstrating to employers the useful or in-demand talents you possess that go beyond the demands of the position. For instance, if you’re seeking a job as a project manager, you can increase your credibility with potential employers by mentioning your Project Management Professional (PMP) or a Six Sigma certification. While it may not always be required to add certificates that are skill-focused, doing so in a section of your resume might help you stand out. From the competition.

If your experience is limited

Certifications might help you establish credibility if you lack the necessary practical experience but possess the necessary knowledge and abilities for your desired career. Listing a certificate can illustrate to employers your desire to learn and take on challenges and develop in your field in circumstances where you are unable to offer verifiable work experience. If you have little experience, think about adding pertinent credentials to demonstrate your capacity for self-evaluation and career success.

Some Common Certifications to Put on a Resume

There are several certifications that are advantageous to put on your resume depending on your work industry and unique credentials.

For example- In the medical field, Nursing qualifications, medical assistant credentials, and other certifications are important. Similarly, technology certifications are also useful markers of professional experience in the technology sector. Also, there are some business-focused credentials you can provide to highlight your qualifications and talents.

The following are a few common certifications that may be useful for you to have:

• First aid and CPR Certifications
• Human resources Certifications
• Accounting Certifications
• Customer service Certifications
• Project Management Certifications
• Language Certifications
• Management and leadership Certifications
• Sales and marketing certifications

you can earn many more certifications, depending on your career goal and experience level. While most professionals possess a lot of certifications, some certifications are industry-specific and job-specific and require proficiency in that particular field to qualify for related credentials.

Best certifications that you must possess.

The most-in-demand qualifications that companies frequently look for include job-specific credentials though this ultimately relies on your chosen field. For example- job-critical certifications that many employers seek for employment include credentials in information technology, computer science, health care, education, administration, marketing, and business. Here are some credentials that are frequently in demand across many industries for employment.

Certifications in the medical field

Some certifications that you must consider if you are planning to make your career in the medical industry.

• Certified patient care technician (CPCT) certification
• Certified EKG Technician (CET)
• Certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification
• Certified coding specialist, physician-based (CCS-P)
• Specialty Certified Medical Assistant (SCMA) certification

Certifications in technology

If you are interested in pursuing your career in the technology field, the following are some well-known certifications in this industry:

• Cisco certified network associate (CCNA) certification
• Microsoft certified systems engineer (MCSE) certification
• Certified cloud security professional (CCSP)
• Certified ethical hacker (CEH)
• Certified information security manager (CISM)
• Certified information system security professional (CISSP) certification
• CompTIA (A+, IT Fundamentals+, Cloud+ and Security+) certifications

Business certifications

Below mentioned are some common business certifications including credentials in management, analysis, and development, that you must consider:

• Certified business analysis professional (CBAP) certification
• Certified associate in project management (CAPM) certification
• Certified supply chain professional (CSCP) certification
• Professional Certificate in Team Leadership
• Salesforce administration certification

Finance and accounting certifications

Accounting and bookkeeping professionals frequently seek Finance professional certificates to demonstrate their expertise. Several of the popular certifications in the finance industry are listed below.

• Certified public accountant (CPA) certification

• Certified public bookkeeper (CPB) certification
• Chartered financial analyst (CFA) certification
• Chartered certified accountant (ACCA) certification
• Certified Bank Auditor certification
• Certified Internal Auditor certification
• Certified Fraud Examiner certification

Examples of how to list certifications on a resume.

Below written are some examples of how to mention the certifications on your resume.

Example 1: Certificates that you have already completed.  

• Chartered financial analyst (CFA), Indian Institute of Business Management and studies, Bombay, Maharashtra. Issued in September 2019.
• Chartered certified accountant (ACCA), Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune, Maharashtra. Renewal date: August 2022.

Example 2: Mentioning certificates with a prospective completion date

• Chartered financial analyst (CFA), Indian Institute of Business Management and studies, Bombay, Maharashtra.

Expected date of completion: September 2019.

• Chartered certified accountant (ACCA), Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune, Maharashtra.
• Expected date of completion: August 2022

Conclusion

Professional certification is evidence that you are qualified to perform a task by adding it to your resume. The four most important places where you should mention your certifications in your resume - In your name, In your resume summary/objectives, In your education section, and in the certification section. Make sure to always draw attention to make your prestigious certificates visible. Exclude any old, pointless, or unimportant certifications.