How To Add Relevant Courses On A Resume?
If you are trying make your resume exceptional, and if you are a student or an entry-level professional with limited work experience you might be even more confused! Including relevant courses on your CV or resume can help you a lot. In this article, we will explain this in simple terms how to put your courses into your CV and resume in the best possible way.
Why do you need Courses in Resume?
When you’re applying for jobs, having professional experience on your resume is important. But what if you don’t have much experience yet? This is where your courses can come to the rescue. Your courses, along with academic projects and extracurricular activities, can help you demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge required for the job, even if you have not worked in a similar role before. But not all courses are relevant. You should focus on the courses that directly related to the position you’re applying for. If you’re aiming for a job in graphic design, your achievements which are irrelevant do not make the hiring manager impressed. Highlighting your success in Design will show that you have potential as a graphic designer.
When Is Relevant Courses Necessary on a Resume?
Including relevant courses is important when:
When you’re still a student.
When you’re creating an entry-level resume.
When you’re applying for an internship.
When your courses directly related to the job.
But if you already have a few years of experience in the field, and you have the necessary skills, you may not need to list your courses. Instead of that you can focus on showcasing your practical experience.
If you are not sure whether to include courses, check the job description. If it requires you to list your majors, GPA, diploma, or portfolio, the employer is interested in your courses as well, especially if they are relevant to the position.
How to List Relevant Courses on Your CV
Now that you understand why relevant courses can be valuable let us tell you how to include it in your CV. Add a New Line in Your Education Section. To add relevant courses to your resume, you do not need to create a whole new section for it. You can just include your courses into the education section of your resume. This helps save space and keeps your CV organized. We will give you an example of how to do it
Example: Bachelor of Arts in World Literature UC Berkeley 2012 – 2016
Relevant courses:
- British Literature
- American Literature
- Medieval Literature
- William Shakespeare
- Language and Cognitive Development
List Your Relevant Courses in Bullet Points. To make your relevant courses more reader-friendly, you should list it in bullet points under your degree. This is how the above a graduate’s resume would appear with this formatting:
Example: Bachelor of Arts in World Literature UC Berkeley 2012 – 2016
Relevant Courses:
- British Literature
- American Literature
- Medieval Literature
- William Shakespeare
- Language and Cognitive Development
Explain How The Courses is Relevant to the Position
If you want to make your relevant courses section a bit better you should provide detailed explanations of your courses. Explain how they are directly relevant to the position you are applying for or how they helped you develop the necessary skills.
Employers and recruiters value skills and courses more than academic qualifications most of the times. Your courses should show how they has helped you acquire the skills required for the job.
Example: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication Northwestern University, IL 2015 – 2018
Relevant Courses:
- Learned news reporting through practical assignments and exams.
- Explored essential ethical theories and decision-making strategies in journalism and published a paper on Ethical Journalism and Human Rights.
- Gained experience in interviewing, research, newsgathering, and source communication.
Make sure your courses is as relevant as possible by matching it with the required skills in the job description. If you’ve taken courses that helped you master these skills, include all the necessary details in your CV.
Tips for Listing Courses on Your Resume
We’ve got you covered with some tips to ensure that your courses section shines on your resume:
- Recruiters often look for keywords mentioned in the job description. Include these relevant keywords in your courses section.
- Your courses should genuinely add value. If you’re applying for a job where academic background isn’t a significant factor, consider focusing on other important sections, like your skills.
- Don’t forget to include online courses that are relevant to the position.
- To make your courses more convincing, support it with your GPA, extracurricular activities, and other academic achievements.
- Explain how your courses helped you grow, both in terms of soft skills like communication and hard skills like programming or research.
- If you work part-time or gain new skills while studying, remember to update your resume accordingly.
- An error-free resume demonstrates your attention to detail and professionalism.
Resume Example With Relevant Courses
Here’s a sample resume that demonstrates how to include relevant courses effectively:
Example: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science XYZ University 2019 – 2022
Relevant Courses:
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Software Engineering
- Web Development
- Database Management
- Operating Systems
Conclusion
Including relevant courses on your resume is a valuable strategy for students, recent graduates, and entry-level professionals. It showcases your skills, even if you lack extensive professional experience. By following these simple steps, you can create a eye catching resume that impresses employers and increases your chances of getting your dream job. Remember to update your resume as your academic journey progresses, and you acquire new skills.We provide resume writing service, so if you are looking for one, Contact us today!