If employers can’t find job-critical certifications on your CV, you’re sunk.
Your professional certifications list must stand out like a rescue flare.
Even easy certifications like Udemy certificates or bartending certificates can make a CV shine.
Certifications should be added in different sections of the CV depending on whether they are critical or not. Critical certifications should be added front and centre: by your name, in your CV summary, or in your work experience section. Extra certifications can go before your education and after your experience.
But—
There are more rules for how to put certifications on CVs.
In this guide:
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TL;DR—Where to put certifications on CVs? If they’re job-critical, in four places. After your name, in your summary, in a certifications section near the top, and in your experience section.
If they’re not, in a CV certifications section below your education.
Nightmare.
The hiring manager just tossed your CV atop a blazing bonfire.
She thought, this applicant’s not qualified.
But you are! You just don’t know how to list certifications on CVs.
Put job-critical certifications for jobs in four places:
1. By your name
2. In your CV summary
3. In a special certifications section near the top
4. In your work experience section
These CV certification examples show how:
Steve Madland, (1) PMP
Phone: 206-817-7846
E-mail: steveqmadland@gmail.com
Summary
(2) Certified PMP with 5+ years of experience and solid planning skills, seeking to improve delivery times and quality for DHGX International Foods. At Blarz-Gigney, cut project costs 18% in 7 months and slashed wasted labour cost 25%. Trained 120 employees in Lean Principles.
(3) Certifications
Work Experience
Aardvark Edibles, Inc.
(4) PMP
2014–2018
That how to add certification in CV sample will get attention like a klieg light.
What are job-critical CV certifications?
They’re certs you absolutely need to get the job.
For examples, see this professional certifications list:
How to list certification in progress on CV:
Show certifications in progress on a CV by adding “Anticipated completion” and the date.
Need to know how to list certifications on CVs not central to the job? Non-critical, good certifications to have are up next.
Expert Hint: Job-critical certs and licences are necessary. You can’t get the job without them. Easy certifications help more when you’re an entry-level candidate.
Easy certifications can put turbo thrusters on an entry-level CV.
But there are rules.
Listing certifications on CVs when they’re “extra”:
These IT certifications examples show how:
[Contact Info]
[CV Summary]
[Experience]
[Education]
Certifications
[Additional Activities]
That how to list certifications on CVs sample is unicorn-level. It’s got the right list of certifications in the right place to make hiring managers fumble for the phone.
When should you leave certifications off a CV?
When they’re unimpressive, out of date, or not relevant to the job. Unless you’re angling for a bottle-washing job, leave that bottle brush certification off your CV.
And—
Put newer and more impressive certs higher in the list.
Expert Hint: Online courses don’t always offer certification. But—you can still list non-cert classes on a CV to show proficiency.
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Now you know how to list certifications on CVs.
But—
Need a list of good certifications to have?
Who could blame you?
Showing a cert on a CV is the difference between saying you’ve got a skill and proving it.
CV certifications can also land a bigger paycheck.
This list of certifications shows the 12 best certs for popular careers.
Also check out Udemy Certificates and LinkedIn Learning Certificates.
Udemy offers PMP, IT, and other certifications online.
Easy Certifications List:
Expert Hint: Should you show CPR certifications on CVs? If it’s a medical job or dealing with the public, yes. Otherwise, save the space for impressive achievements.
Do IT and Google certifications matter?
In the IT, tech, and marketing world, yes.
Most IT professionals tout the CompTIA A+ as the best cert for the industry.
Will it make up for thin experience?
Nope.
But it’ll put you fifty steps ahead of other entry-level candidates.
Find yours in this IT certifications list and Google Certifications list:
Check out more computer skills here.
Microsoft Office Specialist Certification: Is it worth it?
If you’re an entry-level candidate, definitely.
Otherwise, save you money and list on-the-job MS Office accomplishments.
Expert Tips: Certification online can be just as impressive as in-person licencing. Servsafe certifications, PMP certifications, and Fema Certifications are all available online.
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Here’s a recap of how to list certifications on CVs:
Need more career advice? Check out these blog posts:
How to list relevant coursework on CV?
What should you include in a CV?
Which skills should i put on my CV?
Got a question about how to put certifications on CVs? Wondering what certifications should I get? Need to know how to include certifications in CVs for a specific career? Leave a comment. We’d be happy to reply!
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Having published over 200 career-advice articles, Tom Gerencer is a career expert who covers the whole array of job-seeking topics for people at all career stages, from interns to C-suite members. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages.
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