relevant coursework for marketing

What Courses Do Marketing Majors Take?

• Business to Business (B2B) Marketing
• Global Marketing Techniques
• Marketing Research
• Marketing Strategy and Management
• Product Management
• Retail and Sales Management
• Logistical Strategies
• Corporations and Financing

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• Principles of Finance
• Business to Business Marketing
• Internet Marketing and E-commerce
• Product Innovation
• Global Marketing Strategies
• Advanced Quantitative Analysis
• Behavioral Marketing
• Multinational Marketing
• Multivariate Statistics
• Transportation and Distribution Theory
• Concepts and Foundations of Product Planning
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Next Post: What Jobs Can I Get With An Associate’s Degree In Marketing?

What You Need to Know About Becoming a Marketing Major

A marketing major studies the branding and promotion of products and services to the public, and how to target specific demographics.

Becoming a Marketing Major

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Marketing finds a need consumers have and creates products or services to satisfy that need, all while promoting the mission of the brand or organization.

Marketers are the conduits between consumers and every other aspect of a business, from product development to sales. People in this field help share a product’s value with consumers while also helping businesses understand what consumers want and need. Marketing majors learn about consumer behaviors, brand management, communication, marketing strategies, sales and more to prepare for these roles.

What Is a Marketing Major? 

People who major in marketing study how consumers think, why they think that way and how to use effective communication strategies to help sell products and services. Marketing majors learn social science as well as the nitty-gritty strategies of selling to customers. They'll also learn various aspects of running a business, which generally includes taking courses in accounting, economics, statistics and information systems. Typically, marketing majors study “soft skills” like interviewing and problem-solving. Like many undergrads, marketing majors may take a range of core classes toward the start of their college careers and then choose a special area of focus or concentration as they move toward graduation.

What’s the Difference Between a Marketing Major and a Business Major?

Universities house marketing degree programs inside the business college, which can sometimes make it difficult to discern the difference between a marketing major and a business major . At some schools, a marketing student might be a business major with a focus in marketing, and start out taking the same core classes that a business major takes, such as finance or international business. During the last two years, they’ll focus more specifically on topics like consumer behavior and digital marketing.

At other schools, business and marketing are two separate majors. In these instances, business majors differ by focusing on topics like entrepreneurship, finances, budgeting and management. Students who enjoy psychology, writing, research and analyzing data may be better suited to a marketing degree , while those with an entrepreneurial spirit may be better suited for a business degree .

Common Coursework Marketing Majors Can Expect

Common coursework for a marketing major typically includes:

• Marketing strategy.
• Consumer behavior.
• Marketing communication.
• Marketing research. 
• Sales and professional selling.
• Digital marketing. 

Concentrations

Marketing is a broad field, and to help students prepare for marketing careers, colleges may require students to select one or more areas of concentration. Common areas of concentration for marketing majors can include:

• Digital marketing.
• Sports marketing. 
• Brand marketing.
• Global marketing.
• Professional selling. 

How Long Does it Take to Complete a Marketing Degree? 

As with other bachelor’s degree programs, marketing degrees typically take four years to complete and require at least 120 credits, though the exact number of credits varies by school. If you’re pursuing a four-year bachelor’s degree, it’s important to plan your class schedule carefully. At some colleges, certain required courses may fill up fast or only be offered only at a certain time of the year. In addition, some courses in a marketing program build upon one another and must be taken in sequential order. This means any difficulties scheduling classes can result in the degree program taking longer than four years to complete.

Is Marketing a Good Major for Me? 

If you’re a business-savvy person who has good communication skills and likes helping others solve complex problems, this may be a major you should consider. At its core, marketing is a career that involves building relationships, whether those relationships are built online or through face-to-face interactions.

What Can I Do With a Marketing Major? 

Marketing majors can explore a variety of career paths, such as content creator, social media expert or sales representative . They may also consider a role in public relations or work as a copywriter, market research analyst or marketing manager .

While salaries vary by exact job, marketing jobs can lead to good pay and solid prospects. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, marketing managers made a median salary of $158,280 in 2022. The BLS projects a faster-than-average job growth for this role compared to other professions. Numerous other jobs in the field also offer competitive pay and above-average job growth.

As with any career, salaries can vary widely, and earning additional certifications or seeking specific training opportunities can set a job candidate apart. Google, for example, offers a certificate in e-commerce and digital marketing, while other sites offer online courses in topics like digital marketing and social media marketing . The world of marketing – and especially the digital space – is always changing, and as new technologies arise, marketing professionals will benefit from keeping their skills up-to-date.

Pick the Perfect Major

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What Marketing Majors Say 

“If you think about it, they (marketers) are the interpreter for every major player in the pipeline: product developers/engineers, corporate leadership, distribution, sales teams and most importantly, customers. Without marketing, the other departments would be in a vacuum and customers in the lurch.” - Tracy B., University of South Dakota marketing major

“While there was a heavy focus on targeting campaigns using social media I think the most valuable tool was learning how to collaborate and express ideas in a team setting. Both programs forced me to step out of my comfort zone and work in team settings where I had to learn to develop creative ideas and solutions while learning how to pitch these thoughts coherently. Learning how to develop ideas with a team rather than through a solo project helped me prepare for real world working environments where this creative problem solving is happening on a daily basis.” - Chris W., studied marketing and advertising, along with planning, public policy and management at the University of Oregon

Schools Offering a Marketing Major

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Your Guide to the Bachelor's Degree in Marketing

You have several options when you're interested in earning your undergraduate degree in marketing. Learn more about each degree type and what you can do after graduation.

Marketers promote a company’s products or services by researching and developing effective messaging. They’re an integral part of any company’s business plan, and the need for their talents only continues to rise. According to a report from LinkedIn, there’s more demand for marketers than ever before [ 1 ]. While a bachelor’s degree in marketing isn’t always required to qualify for entry-level roles, you may find that earning one helps you qualify for more jobs—and more senior-level jobs. You can also position yourself for roles outside of marketing with the versatile skills you’ll develop throughout your marketing degree program. 

In this article, we’ll go over key facts about the bachelor’s degree in marketing, including the different majors available in this area, the coursework you can expect to take, and what you can do with the degree after graduation. 

Bachelor’s degree in marketing: The basics 

A bachelor’s degree in marketing is an undergraduate degree. Marketing is often taught as a subset of business, which is among the most popular majors in the United States, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) [ 2 ].   

When you choose to study marketing, you may have the option of earning your Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in the subject or earning your Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BBA) with a concentration in marketing. Let’s go over the differences between each degree. 

Marketing majors 

Many colleges and universities offer a marketing major through their business school. In that case, you’ll earn your BBA and concentrate in marketing instead of another area, such as sales or management. 

However, you may find that some institutions offer a BS or BA in marketing. In that case, you’ll focus more exclusively on marketing, alongside some required business-related courses to augment your overall education. 

BBA with marketing concentration: You’ll learn broadly about business, including sales, customer management, and finance, with several courses focused on marketing. 

BS or BA in marketing: You’ll learn about marketing with several courses focused on business, sales, customer management, and related topics. Learn more about the central difference between the BS and BA degrees .

Earn your bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of London . The program covers operations and strategic management, international business and accounting, market research, consumer behavior, global marketing, and other key modules. 

Coursework 

Marketing degree requirements differ by institution, but after completing your general education courses, you will typically have to complete at least 30 credits toward your marketing or business major. 

With both majors, you can expect to take classes in business, sales, accounting, human resources, communication, and advertising, as well as specialized marketing courses in areas like global marketing, content marketing, and social media marketing. Classes may include: 

Principles of marketing

Strategic management

Corporate finance 

Economics of global business

Consumer behavior

Law, business, and society

Social media strategy

Digital analytics 

Tuition and degree length 

You’ll need to earn around 120 credits to graduate with your bachelor’s degree in marketing. That takes between four and five years to complete when you’re able to attend full-time. 

The cost of your bachelor’s degree will depend on whether you attend a public or a private non-profit school. During the 2019-2020 academic year, tuition and fees averaged $9,400 at public institutions and $36,700 at private non-profit institutions [ 3 ]. Those figures don’t include the cost of housing, books, and other expenses often associated with attending an undergraduate program. 

What can you do with a marketing degree? 

Marketers perform various functions depending on their area of focus, but by and large they are responsible for creating and distributing effective messaging intended to reach customers. There are a number of marketing areas worth exploring, including research, strategy, design, writing, events, and social media. Some marketers run a company’s social media channels, others research customer needs, while others still may work on a company’s search engine optimization (SEO) so customers learn about relevant products organically. 

Learn more: What Can You Do with a Marketing Degree? 11 Career Paths

Even if you choose not to go into marketing, you’ll often develop an array of transferable skills thanks to your marketing degree that will help you explore careers related to business, sales, research, communications, and more. A bachelor’s in marketing can help you hone your research, critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills, among many others.  

Learn more: Is a Marketing Degree Worth It?  

Marketing careers: Job growth and salary 

Marketing is among the top 10 in-demand majors in the US, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) [ 4 ]. That popularity parallels the demands of the workplace. Between 2020 and 2021, companies posted 381,000 marketing jobs to LinkedIn [ 5 ].  

In general, a bachelor’s degree can often lead to higher salaries. Bachelor’s degree holders earned a median weekly income of $1,334 in 2021 compared to high school graduates, who earned a median weekly income of $809, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [ 6 ]. For bachelor’s degree graduates in business, the average starting salary in 2022 is $60,695—an increase of 3.1 percent from 2021 [ 4 ]. 

Thanks to both specific marketing careers and the range of other opportunities you can explore with your bachelor’s in marketing, graduates qualify for a number of roles.  

*All salary data from Glassdoor

Is a bachelor’s in marketing right for you? 

Whether or not you should earn a marketing degree depends on your interests, career goals, and resources. Marketing can be an excellent major thanks to its versatility. Many students pursue an undergraduate degree because of the career pathways it opens up. While that is certainly an important factor, it’s not the only one. It can help to choose a major based on your interests, values, or long-term personal goals. 

Think about what you’ll learn over the course of your major and how that will help you achieve your larger goals, be they about personal development, subject knowledge, or career preparation. A bachelor’s degree in marketing is not always necessary for entry-level roles , but earning it may help you qualify for more senior-level opportunities, which in turn can increase your earning power. 

Alternatives to a bachelor’s degree in marketing 

Investing your time and other resources into earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing may be the best option for you, but there are educational alternatives worth considering. 

Associate degree: Earn your two-year associate degree in marketing, which can introduce you to important concepts. You can also enter the workforce and gain professional experience before returning to complete your bachelor’s.

Professional certificate: Often a shorter educational track, a certificate program doesn’t require an academic degree and is geared toward helping you gain important career-ready skills. 

Individual courses: It may not be necessary to earn a full degree in order to learn what you want or need to know. You may find that taking a course or two on specific marketing subjects better prepares you for a marketing career. Explore Introduction to Marketing from the University of Pennsylvania on Coursera. 

Explore further 

Earn your Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of London , and enjoy the flexibility of taking classes remotely and on your own schedule. Or if you’re looking for another means to learn about marketing, explore Meta Professional Certificates in high-demand marketing areas such as social media marketing or marketing analytics . You can gain valuable industry knowledge and apply it toward your career. 

Related articles

Is Marketing a Good Major?  

What Salaries Can You Earn with a Marketing Degree?

13 Marketing Skills to Boost Your Resume

A Guide to Online Bachelor’s Degrees

Article sources

1. LinkedIn. " The Changing Marketing Jobs Landscape , https://www.linkedin.com/business/marketing/blog/linkedin-ads/the-changing-marketing-jobs-landscape-key-hiring-trends-and-insights.” Accessed May 12, 2022. 

2. National Center for Education Statistics. " Fast Facts: Most Popular Majors,  https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=37.” Accessed May 12, 2022.

3. National Center for Education Statistics. “ Tuition Costs of Colleges and Universities , https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=76.” Accessed May 12, 2022. 

4. National Association of Colleges and Employers. “ NACE 2022 Salary Survey,  https://www.naceweb.org/uploadedfiles/files/2022/publication/executive-summary/nace-2022-winter-salary-survey-executive-summary.pdf.” Accessed May 12, 2022.

5. The Drum. " Exclusive LinkedIn data shows marketers are in demand, https://www.thedrum.com/news/2021/06/02/exclusive-linkedin-data-shows-marketers-are-demand-especially-the-digital-realm.”  Accessed May 12, 2022.

6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “ Employment Projections , https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm.” Accessed May 12, 2022.

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How (and When) To List Relevant Coursework on a Resume

Everything you need to know about listing relevant coursework on your resume, including where it belongs, what to include, and when to take it off.

a year ago   •   5 min read

You’re fresh out of school, armed with years’ worth of knowledge and the most up-to-date skills. But should you include specifics about your coursework on your resume?

If you graduated recently , are changing careers , or simply lack a lot of relevant work experience in the field you’re aiming for, the answer is probably yes. Keep reading as we cover exactly how to do that, including real examples and tips on where it belongs and how to match it to the job you want.

Let’s start with a brief rundown of when relevant coursework belongs on your resume — and when it doesn’t.

When (and when not) to include relevant coursework on your resume

Relevant coursework doesn’t belong on every resume. For most job seekers, it’s completely optional (and probably unnecessary if you have any actual work experience in a similar role or industry).

You can consider using coursework to highlight relevant skills and industry knowledge, especially if:

• You graduated recently (or are about to). As a recent graduate, your most relevant “experience” is likely to be your education, so it’s okay to focus on that.
• You’re changing careers. This is doubly true if you went back to school or completed a short course to retrain.
• You have limited experience and/or are applying for entry-level positions . Without a lot of experience in the field, it makes sense to focus on what you do have — things like relevant coursework, community involvement, or extracurricular activities .

Decided that listing relevant coursework on your resume is the right step for you? Here’s how to do it.

How to include relevant coursework on a resume

• Create an Education section on your resume. For recent graduates, this can go at the top of your resume, above your Work Experience section .
• List the name of the school, the degree you studied, and your graduation date (optional).
• Underneath, create a subheading titled “Relevant Coursework.”
• List a small number of courses (no more than 3-4) that are directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. That’s enough if you want to keep your education section brief, but if you choose to expand it, you can also:
• Include a single bullet point for each course that highlights a key accomplishment. Start each bullet point with an action verb so it more closely resembles your other resume bullets.
• Focus on how the course prepared you for the kind of job you aim to be doing — for example, if you’re applying for roles in marketing, focus on things like conducting market research surveys or implementing social media campaigns.
• Use our free resume scanner for more tips on how to perfect your resume bullet points and Education section.

Examples of listing relevant coursework on a resume

Here are some examples of including relevant coursework in a few common areas of study. Feel free to copy and paste or customize these to fit your own experience.

Finance coursework on a resume

EDUCATION Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance XYZ University, Graduated May 2022 Relevant Coursework : Corporate Finance : Analyzed financial statements and conducted valuation analysis to assess the financial health of a company. Investment Analysis : Evaluated investment opportunities and presented recommendations to a panel of industry professionals. Financial Modeling: Created complex financial models to forecast revenue and expense projections.

Marketing coursework on a resume

EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Marketing ABC College, Graduated June 2021 Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing: Created and implemented a social media campaign for a local business, resulting in a 30% increase in website traffic. Market Research : Conducted focus groups and surveys to gather insights on consumer preferences and behavior. Brand Management: Developed a brand identity and positioning strategy for a new product line.

Technology coursework on a resume

EDUCATION Bachelor of Science in Computer Science DEF University, Graduated December 2021 Relevant Coursework: Database Systems : Designed and implemented a database management system for a student organization to track membership and event attendance. Web Development: Built a responsive website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for a local business, resulting in a 50% increase in online sales. Operating Systems: Worked on a team to develop a custom operating system using C++, implementing process scheduling and memory management algorithms.

How to determine which coursework to include

The number one rule of writing a resume is that everything on it needs to be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for — even your education. Anything that isn’t relevant should be a) kept as brief as possible or b) left off altogether.

That means you should only list coursework that more or less matches the kinds of tasks you’ll be doing in your new job. Sometimes this is obvious — for example, if the job ad asks for experience with specific tools, software or programming languages, it makes sense to include any coursework you completed on those topics

Here’s an example:

Job Description: "Experience with programming languages such as Python, Java, and C++." Relevant Coursework: Introduction to Python, Object-Oriented Programming (Java), Data Structures and Algorithms (C++)

Other times, you’ll need to read between the lines a little — which can help demonstrate that you understand the basic requirements of the job. For example:

Job Description: "Experience with digital marketing tools and analytics software." Relevant Coursework: Digital Marketing, Marketing Analytics, Web Analytics

Here’s another example:

Job Description: "Strong knowledge of financial accounting principles." Relevant Coursework: Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Corporate Finance

I’d recommend using the tool below to get a list of skills and keywords relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Where to put relevant coursework on a resume

There are a few places where it makes sense to list relevant coursework on your resume. This could be in your:

• Education section. This is the most obvious place to list coursework, so it should always go here first.
• Skills section. If your coursework involved a specific hard skill, you can also list it in your skills section — for example, listing an “Adobe Photoshop Fundamentals” course under a subheading like “Software” or “Graphic Design.”
• Certifications or Licenses section. If you completed a course that led to a specific certification — especially if it’s one that’s well known or highly regarded in your industry — you can highlight that by listing the course separately in a dedicated section.

Key takeaways

Listing relevant coursework on your resume is optional. It’s generally a good fit for recent graduates and career changers, but not for more experienced job seekers.

• Alongside relevant coursework, you may also want to highlight educational accomplishments like GPA, honors , awards, study abroad , educational projects , and extracurricular activities. Check out our complete guide on how to list education on your resume for more tips and examples.
• Make sure you’re tailoring your resume for each position you apply to and reviewing it regularly to remove sections (like relevant coursework) that no longer belong.
• Career Advice

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Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Doug Wintemute

Contributing Writer

Learn about our editorial process .

Updated April 9, 2024

Lauren Mastbaum

Contributing Editor

TheBestSchools.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

A marketing associate is an entry-level role in the marketing industry that helps marketing teams research, plan, and monitor advertising and marketing campaigns. Although they may not have as much training as someone with a bachelor's degree in marketing , they perform similar tasks as marketing specialists and can be vital to a marketing team's success.

Employers typically seek candidates with a marketing associate degree for these positions. This degree takes about two years to complete and introduces concepts like consumer behavior, managerial accounting, and marketing decision-making.

A 2020 report from Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce found that graduates with associate degrees in marketing, business management, or administration earn a median salary of $40,000-$50,000.

Explore this guide to learn what to expect from a marketing associate degree, the kinds of jobs it can lead to, and how it can propel your marketing career. Browse some of the top online marketing associate degrees based on our ranking methodology.

Popular Online Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

The Best Online Associate in Marketing Programs

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. TheBestSchools.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.

#1 Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Southern New Hampshire University

• Manchester, NH
• Online + Campus

Programmatic Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Cost per Credit: In-State | $330 Out-of-State | $330

Credits to Graduate: 60

Southern New Hampshire University's AS in marketing can help you gain critical skills for an entry-level job in marketing. The program's 60 credits can also transfer into a bachelor's degree in digital or social media marketing. Courses include business law, principles of integrated marketing communications, and social media and marketing communications. You can transfer up to 45 credits into this 100% online program. The university waives standardized tests and application fees, and you can begin at one of six start dates throughout the year. 

#2 Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Zane State College

• Zanesville, OH

Cost per Credit: In-State | $194 Out-of-State | $381

Credits to Graduate: 61

Zanesville, Ohio's Zane State College offers an online associate of applied business in marketing management degree. This distance program introduces creative marketing and digital analytics to prepare you for a business career. Courses include advertising, graphic design, and retail management. The degree takes about two years to complete.

To apply, you should hold a high school diploma or GED certificate or have completed a comparable homeschool program. The college waives test scores and does not require an application fee. 

#3 Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Fox Valley Technical College

• Appleton, WI

Cost per Credit: In-State | $205 Out-of-State | $205

Credits to Graduate: 62

Fox Valley Technical College's AAS in marketing can prepare you for careers in wholesale, manufacturing, hospitality, or nonprofit management. Though located in Appleton, Wisconsin, the college offers this program 100% online.

Courses include content creation, digital media buying, and data technology tools for marketing. As part of the program, you also complete a 144-hour internship. The college reports that in 2022, 74% of its graduates were employed, 59% in the digital marketing field, earning an average salary of $43,250 within six months of graduation.

#4 Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Tulsa Community College

Cost per Credit: In-State | $117 Out-of-State | $342

Tulsa Community College's AS in marketing can provide the necessary skills to create sales presentations, understand marketing theory, identify social influences on customer behavior, and develop effective customer service techniques.

Courses include consumer behavior, principles of marketing, and advertising and promotion management. After graduation, you can pursue entry-level marketing careers or a four-year program. Admission requires a high school diploma or equivalent, along with scores from the ACT or a similar test. 

#5 Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Hinds Community College

• Raymond, MS

Cost per Credit: In-State | $150 Out-of-State | $275

Credits to Graduate: 64

Hinds Community College's AA in marketing can prepare you to pursue advertising, fundraising, and marketing careers. This fully online degree covers products, pricing, promotion, and placement of goods and services. 

Courses include business calculus, introduction to entrepreneurship, and introduction to marketing. After graduation, you may be able to transfer your coursework directly into a bachelor's program at another Mississippi college. To apply, submit your high school transcripts or GED certificate, along with ACT or Accuplacer test scores.

#6 Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Rowan College of South Jersey Gloucester Campus

Cost per Credit: In-State | $120 Out-of-State | $148

Rowan College of South Jersey's AAS in digital marketing can prepare you to conduct successful marketing projects in the contemporary digital space. This program emphasizes communication, technology, and digital marketing strategies. Courses include business communications, principles of advertising, and social media/internet marketing.

Fall and spring courses operate on seven-week cycles, while winter and summer sessions use a five-week model. The entire program lasts two years for full-time students. The school's free application takes about 5-10 minutes to complete.

#7 Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Southeast Technical College

• Sioux Falls, SD

Cost per Credit: In-State | $305 Out-of-State | $305

You can complete Southeast Technical College's associate degree in marketing online, at a campus in Sioux Falls, or through a hybrid of the two settings. This customizable degree allows you to explore fundamental principles of advertising, consumer behavior, social media, and management.

Courses include market research, principles of marketing, and a capstone. To apply, you need a high school GPA of 2.0 or above, a GED subscore greater than 144, an ACT score of 15 or higher, or an SAT of 830.

#8 Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Cuyahoga Community College District

• Cleveland, OH

Cost per Credit: In-State | $125 (in-county) or $155 (out-of-county) Out-of-State | $291

Cuyahoga Community College's AAB in marketing prepares you to meet customer needs in creative, fast-paced work environments. This fully online degree allows you to stack a certificate in digital marketing onto an associate of marketing to learn strategies for a digital marketplace.

Courses include principles of advertising, digital marketing design, principles of management and organizational behavior, and social media content strategies and analytics. You can receive admission if you are a high school graduate or hold a GED certificate. 

#9 Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Northcentral Technical College

Cost per Credit: In-State | $157 Out-of-State | $230

You can pursue Northcentral Technical College's associate in marketing fully online or at a Wisconsin-based campus. The curriculum covers product promotion, market research, and selling strategies. You also learn to anticipate market needs. Courses include video for social media, advanced sales, and graphics for web design. 

New students can pursue certificates that provide credit toward the associate degree in marketing sales, marketing promotions, and marketing basics. The school reports that graduates earn an average starting salary of $31,030-$38,982.

#10 Best Online Marketing Associate Degrees 2024

Florida Institute of Technology

• Melbourne, FL

Cost per Credit: In-State | $520 Out-of-State | $520

Credits to Graduate: 67

Florida Tech's AA in marketing can equip you with skills and knowledge in market segmentation, price determination, product demand, and startup markets. With this degree, you can pursue a career as a merchandiser, account manager, junior marketing associate, or product marketing manager.

Courses include statistics, entrepreneurial marketing, integrated marketing communication, and global business perspectives. To apply, you need a high school diploma, GED certificate, or 24 semester hours from an accredited college or university. New classes begin six times a year.

How We Chose These Schools

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Learn more about how our formula works on our ranking methodology page .

Is Marketing the Right Career Path for Me?

The marketing and business field attracts diverse candidates. Some aim to work with specific products and services, while others pursue the field for its flexibility. In general, marketing and sales careers often appeal to individuals with strong communication and organizational skills. Professionals usually possess high levels of self-confidence and initiative.

You Might Enjoy a Career in Marketing and Sales if You Have…

• Effective interpersonal skills
• Persistence
• Belief in yourself
• Problem-solving skills

What Is an Online Associate Degree in Marketing?

Associate degrees in marketing equip students with knowledge related to promoting goods and services. In addition to teaching learners marketing and selling strategies, most marketing degrees at this level offer general business and marketplace training.

Typically, an online associate degree in marketing features approximately 60 credits and takes students two years to complete. Learners often encounter general education classes, along with coursework in research and management.

While many graduates enter the workforce after completing associate degrees, these programs also provide an pathway to further education. Associate degree-holders can often transfer their credits directly to online bachelor's degrees in marketing to save money when compared to a four-year degree.

Associate Degree in Marketing Courses

The exact curriculum in a marketing program varies by school, but students can expect to encounter some common courses along the way. In addition to general education and business foundation courses, enrollees may take the following marketing-specific classes:

• Professional selling
• Digital marketing
• Market research
• Advertising
• Consumer behavior

Marketing Skills Learned

Students can pick up human and technical skills that apply to most careers in marketing, including:

• Business communication
• Campaign planning
• Social media management
• Basic design
• Marketing technology

Choosing an Online Associate in Marketing Program

Prospective students should consider multiple factors when choosing an online college to ensure it meets their needs and professional aspirations. As with on-campus schools, learners should research program curricula, specializations, and available student services.

They should also explore online-specific options, such as asynchronous vs. synchronous course delivery, flat-rate tuition policies, and residency requirements.

What Kind of Jobs Can You Get With a Marketing Associate Degree?

Graduates with associate degrees in marketing can qualify for entry-level positions as marketing assistants, media planners, content creators, and brand representatives. They may work under promotions or advertising managers or take on sales-related roles.

Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives

Median Salary (May 2022): $67,750

Wholesale and manufacturing sales representatives establish purchasing contracts and sell products to other businesses. They may help develop pricing and selling strategies while collaborating with technical experts to provide clients with in-depth product information. Sales representatives also attend trade shows and research potential markets.

Advertising Sales Agents

Median Salary (May 2022): $58,450

Advertising sales agents sell their organization's services to people and other companies. They may sell advertising space, ad placements, or entire campaign management services. These agents create presentations, attend trade shows, and work with commercial printers to create the final products.

Insurance Sales Agents

Median Salary (May 2022): $57,860

Insurance sales agents sell insurance coverage and plans to individuals and organizations. They work with customers to determine the best coverage for their needs and expand their customer bases with sales strategies. They provide consumers with policy information, oversee account changes, and process renewals.

Common Questions About Marketing Degrees and Careers

• Collapse All

What is AMA certification?

The American Marketing Association offers certifications for experienced marketing professionals. A certification candidate typically needs a degree and several years of experience for eligibility.

How long does it take to get an associate degree in marketing?

Most students take two years to complete associate degrees in marketing. Some programs offer accelerated pathways and/or part-time options.

Does marketing involve math?

Yes. An associate degree in marketing may include math courses in statistics, economics, finance, and pricing.

Does marketing pay well?

Yes. The marketing field offers some of the most competitive wages in business. For example, marketing managers make a median annual wage of $141,490, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics .

Is an associate degree in marketing worth it?

If you want to test the waters of the marketing industry before committing to the field, a marketing associate degree can provide an excellent place to start. This degree provides the skills necessary for an entry-level role, allowing you to gain experience in the field. You can also transfer this degree into a bachelor's degree in marketing or a similar field, like business, human resources, or finance.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• How to Include Relevant...

How to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume (with Examples)

13 min read · Updated on September 11, 2023

If you are a recent graduate struggling with a lack of work experience, knowing how to include relevant coursework on a resume can be one of the best ways to create a more compelling resume narrative.

One thing that many recent college graduates have in common with one another is a general lack of work experience. That lack of experience can sometimes make it difficult for them to construct a resume that sells their potential to be the best candidate for a job. Fortunately, there are ways to still create a strong and compelling resume, even without experience. For example, did you take classes that might be relevant to the position? If so, including relevant coursework on your resume may be the perfect solution to your resume challenges.

In this post, we will explain how you can identify relevant coursework and where it should be listed in your resume. We will also include several examples of relevant coursework on a resume so that you can see the best options for using these details to strengthen your job search efforts.

What is relevant coursework?

Of course, when we talk about relevant coursework, we are talking about those classes and educational activities that have direct relevance to the position you are seeking. The first thing you need to recognize is that many of the classes you took during your college career will not need to be included in your resume. After all, most degrees require that students complete any number of basic foundational courses that will have little if any relation to their chosen job — at least from a resume standpoint. 

So, what types of classes, achievements, and activities should you focus on as you identify suitable courses to add to your resume? While this sounds like a simple question, it actually requires some serious thought and evaluation. Fortunately, there are some basic rules that you can follow as you make that determination. Below are just some of the potentially relevant things that you might want to include in your resume: 

Coursework that demonstrates that you have a foundation of knowledge in a required aspect of the job you are seeking. For example, if communication skills are needed for the position, you should include courses that focused on business communications, writing, etc.

Projects that are related to particular job skills. For a marketing position, you should include any marketing-related projects you completed during your studies. Or you could include research projects you engaged in if you are seeking a job where research skills are essential.

Academic achievements can also be included, including notably high GPA scores or awards you received. Also, be sure to include any related extracurricular activities. That could include everything from clubs to sporting activities if they helped you develop skills that would be useful for the job.

Again, do not include coursework that has no bearing on the job at hand. This will require you to carefully consider each course to determine its relevance. One way to do that is to read the job posting and select keywords and phrases of import that seem to be describing the skills or educational qualifications needed for the job. Then go through your coursework and try to match courses to those skills. As you do so, remember that some basic courses like those involving communication—both written and verbal—may be included, since communication is one of those soft skills that every company values .

You can learn more about the difference between hard and soft skills by reading our excellent article, Key Differences Between Hard Skills and Soft Skills . A better understanding of those critical soft skills can help to ensure that you don't underestimate the value of any of your classes. There's a great chance that you have more marketable soft skills than you realize! 

When should you include relevant courses on your resume?

Before you add your job-related classes to your resume, you should decide whether it is necessary. For example, you can almost certainly benefit from including your relevant coursework on your resume if: 

You recently graduated from school or are beginning the process of looking for a job because you are close to graduation. Students and recent graduates typically have little or no real job experience to highlight skills. Fortunately, their studies and project assignments will likely have helped them to develop important skills that they can highlight in their resumes.

Your educational achievements are necessary to qualify for the position you are seeking. In those instances, your prospective employer will be interested in knowing that you have fulfilled those requirements and have the basic knowledge needed for the position.

There may also be times when you need to include coursework even after you have been in the workforce for some time. For example, if you are switching careers and your current work experience does not include the skills needed for your new job, that may not matter as much if you can show that your studies prepared you for the role. 

Including coursework related to your minor

As you select relevant coursework for your resume, don't forget to consider courses of study related to your minor too. Hopefully, you will have selected a minor that is at least tangentially related to your desired career path. If so, then chances are that some of the courses you completed may have some relevance that can translate to a useful resume listing. For more information about minors and when they can be added to your resume, read How to Include a Minor on Your Resume .

When should I take coursework off my resume?

Obviously, there will be times when you should forgo any mention of your courses in your resume. Some examples of situations where you might not need to list your specific coursework include:

When your coursework is not really relevant to the position you seek. Including irrelevant coursework could actually distract from your important skills and experiences.

Situations in which coursework was completed so long ago that the information is no longer useful. For instance, many technology-related courses can lose their value over time. Other examples include old marketing courses and other educational achievements that involve skills that have evolved rapidly in recent years.

If your resume is already filled with enough work experience and skills that there is no need or room for specific course details. Remember, you want to add your courses to enhance your value as an employee. If adding a particular course does nothing more than add length to the resume, skip it. 

Where should relevant coursework be listed in your resume?

In most resumes, the coursework should be placed in the education section, with a subheading titled “Relevant Coursework.” When creating this part of the education section, you should insert the subheading under the name of your degree, with a list of the courses you studied. For example:

Bachelor's in [Name of Degree]

[College Name, City, Graduation Date]

Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2], [Course 3], [Course 4], [Course 5]

Alternatively, you can also opt to show your courses in a bullet-point list if your resume is short and you need to fill more space. You can even elaborate on each course with a few words to describe the skills you learned in class. For example:

Relevant Coursework:

If you have no actual work experience, you may even want to consider using your education section as a substitute for that experience section. If you choose that option, you may want to place the education section closer to the top of your resume and flesh out each course in the same way you would detail a job listing in your work experience section. That means using detailed descriptions that include quantifiable results highlighting your achievements.

Key tips to remember when listing relevant coursework

Before we show you some examples of how to list relevant coursework on your resume, there are a few tips that can help to ensure that your final product is as compelling as possible. By incorporating these ideas into your resume creation process, you can more effectively make that all-important great first impression on any hiring manager.

Only list relevant coursework if you lack sufficient work experience to meet the job requirements.

Always make sure that the courses you list highlight skills and knowledge needed for the position. If a course has nothing to do with your chosen line of work, it has no place in your resume.

Relevant courses may be related to hard and soft skills.

If you choose to use descriptions for each course, use that as an opportunity to insert relevant keywords from the job description. This can be a great way to ensure that your resume can get past any applicant tracking system .

Always proofread your entire resume to eliminate spelling mistakes, punctuation and grammar errors, and style or formatting discrepancies.

Make sure that you tailor your resume to fit the job you want. Since you will likely be applying for different jobs during your job search, you may need to modify your educational coursework details to align with the needs of each position.

Do not forget to include important skill information in your coursework descriptions. Again, try to use those job description keywords.

If you are maintaining an updated resume throughout your educational career, be sure to continually edit your resume as your coursework evolves over time. This can make it easier to keep it updated and can save you some time when your job search begins.

3 Examples of relevant coursework on a resume

In this final section, we will explore some different examples to show you how you can successfully incorporate relevant coursework into your resume. We have included a couple of examples of the most basic listing options, as well as an expanded sample that enables you to provide more details and skills. You can refer to these samples and use them as guides as you create your own relevant coursework section.

Example #1: The Basics

Bachelor's in Information Technology

My College, Anytown 2022

Relevant Coursework: Cyber Security 101, Business Intelligence, Application Development, Networking and Telecom, Artificial Intelligence

This simple listing would be a good option for anyone who has at least some relevant work experience but who still needs an additional boost to meet the job requirements. In this case, the job seeker's coursework listing is presented in a minimalist format, documenting the specific courses and areas of focus—but without any other information about those studies.

Example #2: Bulletpoint List of Courses

Cyber Security 101

Business Intelligence

Application Development

Networking and Telecom

Artificial Intelligence

This option is similar to the first example but presents the classes and areas of focus as separate bullet points. This provides additional emphasis for each area of study, while also taking up a bit more space in the resume. This can be a great option if your resume is a little short and you need to expand the content.

Example #3: Detailed Format

My College, Anytown

Completed in 2022

Certified Cyber Security Expert, skilled in protecting data, information, and infrastructure.

Coursework included training on risk analysis, threat mitigation, compliance assurance, and cloud security.

Completed multiple projects and research assignments designed to test knowledge and adaptability to various types of cyber threats.

 Business Intelligence

Business analytics certificate, training focused on data interpretation and communication to resolve business problems with a data mindset.

Course included 3 projects testing analytical skills using hypothetical business challenges based on real-world business scenarios.

 Application Development

Courses focused on the development of software coding skills used for web application creation, troubleshooting, and debugging.

Final course project involved the creation of an independent web app to streamline online sales processes for a test company.

Training focused on routing, packet switching, and cybersecurity needs.

Spent eight weeks as a volunteer networking intern for a local ISP, receiving hands-on training from experienced networking professionals.

AI and machine learning studies, emphasizing tech integration into business processes, impact on sales and marketing, and ethical concerns.

Conducted study for the course final, evaluating potential AI benefits for enhanced marketing in the digital age and impact on online sales.

This more detailed example is a superior option for those who have no work experience and need their educational credentials to highlight their skills. In this sample, each area of interest is accompanied by bullet point details describing the types of courses studied and the lessons or skills developed during those classes. In addition, bullet points are added to highlight specific achievements, describe studies and real-world application of skills, and demonstrate competency in the subject matter.

This type of format can enable your coursework section to serve as a replacement for work experience if you have never been employed. When used for that purpose, you can expand on each course listing to include additional skills and keywords from the job post. Simply add new bullet points where needed to flesh out each area of emphasis.

Again, if you choose to replace your work experience section with this relevant coursework section, make sure that you move this section closer to the top of your resume so that it receives more prominence. Basically, if your strongest selling point is your education, then make sure that your important courses are one of the first things that a prospective employer sees. Also, you may want to highlight your educational qualifications in your resume summary so that the reader expects to see those coursework details.

Don't underestimate the power of a well-crafted and compelling resume

Finally, it is important to reiterate just how vital it is that your resume makes the best possible impression. When you approach the labor market with little or no work experience, you are usually already at a competitive disadvantage. There will almost always be someone else who has a similar level of skill and educational background, as well as real-world experience. To compete against a qualified rival, you need a resume that can effectively sell you as the best candidate for the job.

For recent graduates and job seekers moving to entirely new careers, a lack of relevant work experience can be a major impediment to landing job interviews and employment offers. One way to overcome this obstacle is to learn how to use relevant educational coursework on your resume to highlight your qualifications and skills. Hopefully, this post and its resume examples can provide you with the inspiration and help you need to translate your educational experience into a compelling resume narrative. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that your resume effectively positions you to have the best chance at landing any interview and job. To make sure that your resume is up to par, get a  free resume review  today. And if you really want to be sure that your resume is ready for prime time, take a few moments to discover just how easy it is to get professional resume assistance from our team of experts!

Recommended Reading:

What Should I Say About My Education On My Resume?

Ask Amanda: What's the Best Way to List Education on a Resume?

14 Reasons This is a Perfect Recent College Grad Resume Example

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

From Bland to Beautiful: How We Made This Professional's Resume Shine

See how your resume stacks up.

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• Career Blog

Listing Relevant Coursework on Your Resume in 2024

Your resume is often the first impression that an employer will have of you as a job candidate. It serves as a marketing tool to showcase your skills, experience, and qualifications. However, have you ever considered including your relevant coursework on your resume? In this article, we will explore why listing relevant coursework on your resume is important and how it can enhance your chances of getting hired.

The Purpose of a Resume

A resume is a document that outlines your professional experience, education, and skills. Its main purpose is to market you as a potential candidate for a job that you are applying for. The goal of a resume is to grab the attention of the employer and convince them that you have the necessary skills and qualifications to perform the job duties.

Why Listing Relevant Coursework on Your Resume is Important

Listing relevant coursework on your resume is important because it showcases your academic achievements and expertise in a particular field. Including relevant coursework on your resume can help you stand out from other candidates who may not have the same level of education or specialized knowledge.

Furthermore, if you are a recent graduate or have little work experience in your desired field, highlighting relevant coursework on your resume can demonstrate to employers that you have a solid foundation and understanding of the subject matter. It can also show that you have taken the initiative to learn and specialize in your field of interest.

Listing relevant coursework on your resume can enhance your overall candidacy and give you a competitive edge in the job market. In the next section of this article, we will discuss how to effectively incorporate relevant coursework into your resume.

Identifying Relevant Coursework

When it comes to listing coursework on your resume, it’s important to identify what is relevant to the job you’re applying for. This means recognizing the keywords and skills that employers are searching for and tailoring your coursework accordingly.

How to determine what coursework is relevant for your resume

First and foremost, look at the job description and identify the required or preferred qualifications. This will give you an idea of what the employer is looking for and what coursework you should focus on.

Next, consider the industry and position you’re applying for. Certain industries may place more importance on specific coursework. For example, a computer science degree would be more relevant for a software developer job than it would be for a marketing position.

Additionally, think about the skills and knowledge that are necessary for the job. If you have taken coursework that directly relates to these skills or pertains to the industry, then that coursework would be considered relevant.

Identifying the key keywords and skills employers are searching for

To effectively identify the relevant coursework to list on your resume, it’s crucial to understand the keywords and skills that employers are looking for. This requires some research and analysis of the job posting and industry trends.

Start by reviewing the job description for keywords and phrases that are repeated throughout the post. For example, the terms “analytical skills”, “project management”, or “communication skills” may be used frequently in a job posting. These are the skills that employers are looking for, and you should tailor your coursework to reflect these skills.

Another strategy is to research trends and skills pertaining to the industry or profession. Check out industry websites, blogs, or social media pages to keep up with the latest trends and skills. This information can help you identify relevant coursework and skills to include on your resume.

Identifying relevant coursework for your resume requires a combination of understanding the job requirements, the industry, and the specific skills employers are seeking. By tailoring your coursework and highlighting the relevant skills, you can increase your chances of landing the job.

Where to List Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

When it comes to listing relevant coursework on your resume, there are different locations where you can include this information. Each location has its pros and cons, and choosing the right one depends on your individual circumstances and goals.

Here are some of the places where you can list relevant coursework on your resume:

1. Education Section

The most common place to list relevant coursework is in the education section of your resume. This section typically comes after your work experience section and includes your academic achievements such as your degree(s) and the name of your institution.

• It’s the most traditional and expected location for listing education-related information.
• It provides a clear and organized overview of your academic background.
• Employers can easily see what courses you’ve taken that are relevant to the position.
• It might make your resume too lengthy if you have a long list of relevant coursework.
• It could highlight the fact that you don’t have a lot of professional experience.

2. Skills Section

Another option is to list your relevant coursework under the skills section of your resume. This section highlights your skills and abilities that match the requirements of the job.

• It allows you to emphasize your relevant coursework as a skill.
• It can complement your work experience and strengthen your candidacy for the role.
• It creates a differentiator for you against other applicants.
• It might not be as straightforward for employers to see where you obtained the coursework.
• It could make your skills section look cluttered and unorganized.

3. Additional Information Section

You can also use the additional information section to list your relevant coursework. This section is a catch-all for information that doesn’t fit other sections of your resume.

• It can provide context for other qualifications you may have.
• Employers may appreciate the added detail.
• It doesn’t take away from other sections of your resume.
• It may not be as visible as the other sections.
• It could look like an afterthought if not presented well.

How to Highlight Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

When it comes to highlighting relevant coursework on your resume, it’s important to use effective strategies that showcase your skills and knowledge. Here are a few strategies to consider:

Strategies for Effectively Showcasing Your Relevant Coursework

Create a separate section:  Consider adding a “Relevant Coursework” section to your resume. This section can come after your education section and can list relevant courses and their descriptions. Be sure to use relevant keywords to grab employers’ attention.

Include relevant coursework in your education section:  You can also include relevant coursework in your education section. This can give employers a quick snapshot of your relevant skills and coursework. Be sure to include the name of the course, the institution, and the grade earned.

List relevant coursework under each job experience:  If you have taken courses relevant to a particular job, consider listing them under the job experience section. This can highlight your skills and knowledge, and show how you can apply coursework to real-life situations.

The Importance of Targeting the Job Description

Another important strategy is to target the job description. Employers often use specific keywords in job descriptions to communicate what skills and experience they are looking for. By using these keywords in your resume, you can demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge needed for the job.

When listing relevant coursework on your resume, be sure to read the job description carefully and list courses that are directly related to the job. Use the same terminology and keywords that the employer uses in their job description.

Highlighting relevant coursework on your resume can help you stand out from other applicants. By using effective strategies and targeting the job description, you can showcase your skills and knowledge, and demonstrate that you are the right candidate for the job.

Using Keywords in Your Relevant Coursework

When it comes to listing relevant coursework on your resume, it’s important to realize the significance of industry-specific keywords. These keywords are the industry terms, jargon, and buzzwords that are commonly used in your field. Using the appropriate keywords can help you stand out in the applicant pool and demonstrate your proficiency in the subject matter.

Understanding industry-specific keywords and why they matter in your resume

Most hiring managers and recruiters use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes before they’re passed on to human reviewers. ATS software scans resumes for specific keywords based on the position requirements. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a graphic designer, the ATS may be looking for keywords like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

Therefore, including industry-specific keywords in your relevant coursework section can increase your chances of passing the ATS screening process. Additionally, keywords can help give context to the reader about the courses you’ve taken and demonstrate your fluency in the language of the industry.

How to incorporate keywords into your relevant coursework

Here are some tips for incorporating industry-specific keywords into your relevant coursework:

Research relevant job postings : Look at job postings for positions you’re interested in and note the common keywords used in the qualifications section.

Choose courses that align with your target job : Identify courses that directly relate to the positions you’re applying for and include them in your relevant coursework section. Be sure to include the course title, institution, and the skills or concepts you learned in each course.

Use industry jargon and technical terms : Incorporate industry-specific language and technical terms used in your field to demonstrate your familiarity with the industry.

Include relevant tools and software : If a job posting lists specific software or tools as requirements or preferred skills, be sure to include any courses that directly relate to those tools or software.

Including industry-specific keywords in your course listing can help you make a strong impression on hiring managers and improve your chances of landing an interview. It’s important to research the industry terms and language associated with the job you’re applying for and incorporate them into your relevant coursework section in a meaningful way.

Formatting Tips for Listing Relevant Coursework

When it comes to listing relevant coursework on your resume, proper formatting is key. Here are some tips to ensure your resume is visually appealing and easy to read:

Font, Size, and Spacing

Choose a professional font such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri, and use a font size no smaller than 10 points. It’s important to have enough spacing between lines to give your resume a clean look. A standard spacing of 1.15 or 1.5 is recommended.

Consistency

Consistency is important in order to make your resume look polished and well-organized. Use the same font and size throughout your entire resume, including your relevant coursework section. Consistency also applies to the formatting of your coursework section. Use a bullet point format with clear headings for each course.

Readability

Be mindful of readability as you format your relevant coursework section. Use bullet points and short, concise descriptions of each course to make it easy for the reader to quickly scan and understand the content. Avoid lengthy paragraphs or complicated language.

By following these formatting tips, you can ensure that your relevant coursework section is visually appealing and easy to read. Remember, your resume is often the first impression a potential employer has of you, so it’s important to make sure it looks professional and well-organized.

Example of Listing Relevant Coursework for New Graduates

As a new graduate, your coursework is an essential component of your resume, especially if it pertains to the job you are applying for. Here are some strategies you can use to highlight your relevant coursework on your resume:

Create a dedicated coursework section: This section should come after your education section and can be called “Relevant Coursework” or “Course Highlights.” List the courses that are most relevant to the job you are applying for, and include the course title, the semester you took it, and the grade you received.

Incorporate coursework into your experience section: If you have completed any projects or internships that are relevant to the job, you can include relevant coursework in the description. For example, if you were part of a team that designed a new marketing campaign, you could include the marketing coursework you completed that helped you contribute to the project.

Use bullet points to highlight coursework: Use bullet points to describe the skills and knowledge you gained from each course. Focus on skills that are relevant to the job, such as research skills, data analysis skills, or communication skills.

Customize your coursework section for each job application: When applying for different jobs, adjust your coursework section to highlight the coursework that is most relevant for the job. Look for keywords in the job description and include coursework that is related to those keywords.

Here is an example of how a new graduate applying for a marketing position could list their relevant coursework on their resume:

Relevant Coursework

• Essentials of Marketing
• Consumer Behavior
• Marketing Research and Analysis
• Social Media Marketing
• Advertising and Promotions
• Marketing Communications

By highlighting your relevant coursework, you can demonstrate to potential employers that you have the skills and knowledge needed for the job. So, take the time to review your coursework and tailor your resume accordingly.

Example of Listing Relevant Coursework for Experienced Professionals

As an experienced professional, it can be challenging to showcase your relevant coursework on your resume. However, it is essential to highlight your education and training, especially if it aligns with the job you’re applying for. Here are a few examples of how you can list your relevant coursework effectively:

1. Create a separate section for education

If you have accumulated a significant amount of coursework throughout your career, it’s best to create a separate section for education. This section should be placed after your work experience section and before your skills or certifications. List your education in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent degree or certificate program. You can use the following format:

• Degree Name  – Institution Name, Location, Graduation Date
• Relevant Coursework: Course Name, Course Name, Course Name

For instance, suppose you achieved an executive MBA degree and completed coursework relevant to your target job such as strategic management, financial analysis, and leadership. In that case, you could list your education section in the following way:

• Executive MBA  – XYZ University, Chicago IL, May 2021
• Relevant Coursework: Strategic Management, Financial Analysis, Leadership, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

2. Incorporate coursework into your bullet points

If you don’t want to create a separate education section, you can still highlight your relevant coursework in your work experience section. Specifically, you can integrate your coursework into your bullet points to show how your education and training have informed your work experience. Here’s an example:

Marketing Manager

• Developed and executed digital marketing campaigns that increased website traffic by 30%, including email marketing and social media advertising.
• Conducted market research to identify target audiences, analyze customer behaviors and preferences and develop data-driven marketing strategies. (Relevant Coursework: Marketing Research, Consumer Behavior)
• Collaborated with sales team to develop sales collateral (e.g., brochures, presentations) that highlight benefits of products and improve team productivity.

3. Emphasize relevant coursework in your cover letter

If you’ve completed coursework that is highly relevant to the job you’re applying for but doesn’t fit neatly into your resume, consider mentioning it in your cover letter. A cover letter is an opportunity to elaborate on your qualifications and expand on your resume. You can explain how your coursework has prepared you for the position and how you plan to apply that coursework to the role.

Listing relevant coursework is an excellent way to showcase your skills and knowledge, especially when transitioning careers or industries. By highlighting your education and training, you demonstrate your commitment to professional development and show that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in the position. With the above examples, you can create an effective resume that highlights your relevant coursework and improves your chances of landing an interview.

What if You Don’t Have Relevant Coursework to List?

If you don’t have relevant coursework to list, don’t worry. There are still several ways you can demonstrate your skills and knowledge:

Alternative ways to demonstrate your skills and knowledge

Certifications: Obtaining relevant certifications can be a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to a particular field. Look for certifications that are recognized in your industry and relevant to your desired position.

Projects: If you have completed any projects that are relevant to the position you’re applying for, list them in a separate section on your resume. Use this section to showcase your skills and experience.

Volunteer work: Volunteer work can be a great way to gain experience in a particular field and demonstrate your commitment to a cause. If you have volunteered for any organizations that are relevant to your desired position, list them on your resume.

How to leverage your work experience instead

If you don’t have relevant coursework or certifications, you can still leverage your work experience to demonstrate your skills and knowledge. Here are a few tips:

Focus on transferable skills: Look for skills that you have developed in your previous work experience that are transferable to the position you’re applying for. For example, if the position requires strong communication skills, highlight any roles where you had to communicate effectively with others.

Customize your resume: Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. Identify the key skills and requirements for the position and highlight your relevant experience in those areas.

Use action verbs: Use strong action verbs to describe your previous work experience. This will emphasize your skills and achievements and make your resume stand out from the crowd.

Remember, even if you don’t have relevant coursework to list, you can still demonstrate your skills and knowledge in other ways. Use your resume to showcase your experience, skills, and achievements, and don’t be afraid to highlight your transferable skills.

Mistakes to Avoid When Listing Relevant Coursework on Your Resume

When listing relevant coursework on your resume, it’s important to avoid some common mistakes that can hurt your chances of getting hired. Here are some of the most frequent errors candidates make and how to avoid them:

1. Listing Irrelevant Courses

One of the most common mistakes is listing coursework that is irrelevant to the position you’re applying to. For example, mentioning your graphic design class when you’re applying for a software engineering role. This will only confuse the hiring manager and may harm your application.

To avoid this mistake, carefully read the job description and the company’s requirements. Then, customize your resume to only list the coursework that aligns with the job requirements. By doing so, you’ll demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge the company is looking for.

2. Listing Too Many Courses

Another mistake that can hurt your chances of getting hired is listing too many courses. Hiring managers don’t have time to read a long list of every class you’ve ever taken. They want to see concise, relevant information that shows you’re qualified for the job.

Instead of flooding your resume with a laundry list of coursework, only list the courses that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Also, try to focus on the ones that are recent and that you’ve excelled in. This will help convey your expertise in the subject matter.

3. Failing to Highlight Achievements

When listing relevant coursework on your resume, it’s important to not just list the classes but to also highlight any achievements or notable projects you completed during those courses.

For example, if you completed a project that involved coding a website, you should mention that and highlight any successful results that came from it. By showcasing your achievements and how you tackled challenges during coursework, you’re providing tangible examples of your abilities.

4. Not Proofreading

As with any section of your resume, it’s vital to proofread your listing of relevant coursework for any typos or mistakes. An error like this can make you come across as careless and less qualified.

Take the time to double-check your writing and make any necessary corrections before submitting your application. Having error-free writing can demonstrate a high level of professionalism and attention to detail.

Listing relevant coursework on your resume can be a great way to demonstrate your skills and qualifications. But to do so successfully, it’s essential to avoid the mistakes above. By tailoring your resume to the job requirements, highlighting your achievements, and proofreading your work, you’ll be better placed to succeed in your job search.

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How to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume (with Examples)

Michael Samuel

As seen in:

Including relevant coursework on your resume can be a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers.

This can be especially useful if you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience in your field.

By highlighting the courses you have taken that are related to the job you are applying for, you can show that you have a strong foundation in the subject matter and are well-prepared to handle the tasks and responsibilities of the role.

In this article, we will provide some examples and tips for how to effectively include relevant coursework on your resume.

Find out: How to Create a Job-Winning Resume with No Education

What is relevant coursework?

Relevant coursework refers to coursework that is related to the job you are applying for.

For example, if you are applying for a job as a software developer, relevant coursework may include computer science courses such as data structures, algorithms, and programming languages.

On the other hand, if you are applying for a job in marketing, relevant coursework might include courses in marketing research, consumer behavior, and advertising.

Essentially, relevant coursework is any course like Power BI Course that helps demonstrate your knowledge and skills in the field you are pursuing.

Here are some examples of potentially relevant coursework that you might want to include on your resume:

• Courses that are directly related to the job you are applying for, such as programming languages for a software developer role or marketing research for a marketing role.
• Courses that have taught you skills that are applicable to the job, such as project management, teamwork, or problem-solving.
• Courses that demonstrate your knowledge in a particular subject area, such as economics for a finance role or biology for a healthcare role.

It’s important to keep in mind that not all coursework will be relevant to every job you apply for.

You should only include coursework that is directly related to the position you are seeking and that will help demonstrate your suitability for the role.

When should you include relevant courses on your resume?

There are a few situations when it may be appropriate to include relevant coursework on your resume:

1. When you are a recent graduate with limited work experience

If you are a recent graduate or have only had a few internships or part-time jobs, it can be helpful to include relevant coursework on your resume to show employers that you have a strong foundation in the subject matter and are well-prepared to handle the responsibilities of the role.

2. When you are changing careers

If you are transitioning into a new field , highlighting relevant coursework on your resume can help demonstrate your knowledge and skills in the new industry.

3. When you have taken advanced or specialized courses

If you have taken advanced or specialized courses that are related to the job you are applying for, it can be helpful to include them on your resume to show your level of expertise.

4. When the job posting specifically requests education or coursework

If the job posting lists specific courses or education requirements, it is a good idea to include any relevant coursework on your resume to show that you meet those requirements.

In general, including relevant coursework on your resume can be a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers.

However, it is important to consider whether or not the coursework is actually relevant to the job and will add value to your application.

Including coursework related to your minor

If you have a minor in a subject that is related to the job you are applying for, it can be a good idea to include this information on your resume.

For example, if you have a minor in computer science and are applying for a software development role, it can be helpful to mention your minor in your resume.

This can show that you have a strong foundation in the subject matter and are committed to learning and growing in your field.

To include your minor on your resume, you can list it under your education section along with your major and the name of your degree.

For example:

“Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Minor in Marketing”

It’s also a good idea to mention any relevant coursework or projects that you completed as part of your minor.

This can help to further demonstrate your knowledge and skills in the subject area.

Keep in mind that while a minor can be a valuable addition to your resume, it is not as important as your major and should not take up too much space or attention on your resume.

The focus should be on your major and any work or educational experience that is directly related to the job you are applying for.

When should I take coursework off my resume?

There may be times when it is appropriate to remove coursework from your resume.

Here are a few situations when this might be the case:

When the coursework is not relevant to the job

If the coursework you have listed on your resume is not related to the job you are applying for, it may be a good idea to remove it.

You want to make sure that the information on your resume is relevant and helps demonstrate your suitability for the role.

When you have limited space on your resume:

If you have a lot of coursework listed on your resume and are running out of space, it may be necessary to remove some of the less relevant courses in order to make room for other important information.

When the coursework is outdated

If you have taken a course that is no longer relevant to the jobs you are applying for, it may be a good idea to remove it from your resume.

For example, if you took a course on a programming language that is no longer widely used, it may not be necessary to include it on your resume.

in general, it’s essential to make sure that the information on your resume is relevant and up-to-date.

Removing outdated or irrelevant coursework can help ensure that your resume is focused and effectively showcases your skills and experience to potential employers.

Find out: How to Write An ATS Resume- Full Guide

Where should relevant coursework be listed on your resume?

There are a few options for where to list relevant coursework on your resume.

Here are a few examples:

Under the “Education” section

One option is to list your relevant coursework under the education section of your resume.

This can be a good choice if you have limited work experience and want to highlight your education and coursework as a way of demonstrating your knowledge and skills.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, XYZ University (20XX)

Relevant coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Object-Oriented Programming

Under a separate “Relevant Coursework” section

Another option is to create a separate section on your resume specifically for listing relevant coursework.

This can be a good choice if you have a lot of relevant coursework and want to give it its own section on your resume.

Relevant Coursework

Data Structures

Object-Oriented Programming

Computer Networks

In a “Skills” section

If you have a skills section on your resume, you can also list relevant coursework in this section.

This can be a good choice if you want to highlight specific skills or knowledge areas that you gained through your coursework.

Proficient in Java, C++, and Python (relevant coursework: Introduction to Programming, Data Structures)

Knowledge of marketing research and consumer behavior (relevant coursework: Marketing Research, Consumer Behavior)

After all said, the best place to list relevant coursework on your resume will depend on the specific content of your resume and the job you are applying for.

It’s important to consider which option will effectively showcase your skills and knowledge to potential employers.

Find out: 15 Key Skills To Put On a Resume Right Away

Key tips to remember when listing relevant coursework

Here are a few key tips to remember when listing relevant coursework on your resume:

1. Be selective

It’s important to be selective when deciding which coursework to include on your resume.

Only include courses that are directly related to the job you are applying for and that will help demonstrate your knowledge and skills.

2. Use specific course titles

Instead of just listing “Computer Science coursework,” list specific courses that are relevant to the job, such as “Data Structures” and “Object-Oriented Programming.”

This will help to show the depth of your knowledge and skills.

3. Include course descriptions

If possible, include a brief description of each course you list.

This can help to provide more context and detail about what you learned and can help to further demonstrate your knowledge and skills.

4. Keep it concise

It’s important to keep your resume concise and to the point.

Avoid listing every single course you have taken, and focus on the courses that are most relevant to the job you are applying for.

5. Customize for each job

Make sure to tailor your resume and the coursework you list to each specific job you apply for.

This will help to ensure that the information you include is relevant and shows that you are a strong fit for the role.

3 examples of relevant coursework on a resume

Find below three examples of how you might list relevant coursework on your resume:

Relevant coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Object-Oriented Programming, Computer Networks

-Data Structures

-Algorithms

-Object-Oriented Programming

-Computer Networks

-Human-Computer Interaction

Experience with project management (relevant coursework: Project Management, Agile Software Development)

Don’t underestimate the power of a well-crafted and compelling resume

It’s important not to underestimate the power of a well-crafted and compelling resume.

Your resume is often the first thing that a potential employer will see, and it’s your chance to make a good first impression.

By including relevant coursework on your resume, you can demonstrate your knowledge and skills in the field you are pursuing and show that you are well-prepared to handle the responsibilities of the role.

However, it’s important to remember that a strong resume is not just a list of courses and education.

It’s also important to highlight your work experience, skills, and achievements in a way that showcases your value to potential employers.

By combining relevant coursework with a well-written summary, strong work experience, and specific skills and achievements, you can create a resume that effectively showcases your strengths and sets you apart from other candidates.

SUMMARY- How to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume

In summary, including relevant coursework on your resume can be a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and skills to potential employers.

It is especially useful if you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience in your field.

It’s important to be selective and only include coursework that is directly related to the job and will add value to your application.

There are a few options for where to list relevant coursework on your resume, such as under the “Education” section, in a separate “Relevant Coursework” section, or in a “Skills” section.

Remember to tailor your resume and the coursework you include to each specific job you apply for and to keep your resume concise and focused.

If you are looking to improve your job prospects and stand out in the competitive job market, consider seeking the professional assistance of our affordable resume writing service .

We specialize in crafting visually appealing and content-rich resumes that showcase your skills and experience to potential employers. Let us help you land your dream job! Get started today.  

Further Reading

Curriculum Vitae vs Resume: The Differences And When To Use Which (2024 Updated)

Expert Resume Writing Tips for New Graduates- 2024 Best Guide

How to Respond to Desired Salary Questions on Job Applications and in Interviews

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Online marketing for beginners: 10 paid and free courses to start with

In today’s digital marketplace, personalization is king. Hubspot’s The State of Marketing 2024 report underscores this, revealing that 75% of marketers credit personalized experiences with boosting sales and customer loyalty. This strategic focus is reshaping companies’ online narratives, directly influencing a return on investment (ROI) and growth trajectories.

The digital realm demands a deep understanding of consumer behavior, market trends, and keeping up with technological trends and advancements. For those carving out a career in digital or online marketing, you’re in an era where science meets creativity. 

UNC Kenan-Flagler’s top-ranked online MBA

Dr. Jonah Berger, a Wharton School professor at the University of Pennsylvania and bestselling author of books like Magic Words and The Catalyst , views the right digital marketing course as a critical piece in the puzzle of success.

“If you already have your product, a class can teach you how to get it to the right customers,” he asserts. Berger emphasizes the versatility of digital marketing education, noting that it can guide entrepreneurs in everything from product design to startup selection.

He advises prospective students to first identify their needs and desired outcomes before choosing a course. “The more that courses help you address a particular tactical need you have, the better off you’re going to be,” he explains. He encourages focusing on “modern marketing” trends such as customer centricity, highlighting the shift towards prioritizing the customer’s perspective over the product or service.

For Berger, truly successful digital marketing lies in “the marriage of data science and behavioral science.” He stresses the importance of understanding customer decision-making while leveraging data for deeper insights. This approach is paramount in a landscape dominated by search engines, social media, and omni-channel marketing strategies.

For those interested in working in the online marketing industry, taking a course can be an effective way to build a solid foundation. Fortune compiled a list of both free and paid online marketing courses you can take on your home computer to help you add the skill to your digital toolbox. 

5 free online marketing courses

Enrolling in a free course can give you the necessary skills to get started without breaking the bank. These five free online courses teach digital marketing at an introductory level. Each varies on program length but offers generalized coursework. The list is in alphabetical order.

1. CareerFoundry: Digital Marketing Program

This one is for people who don’t have a lot of time but still want to dip their toes in the digital marketing waters. To figure out if digital marketing is right for you, CareerFoundry can send you a free five-day short course to your email inbox. Each lesson takes around 15 minutes, offering barebones instruction to the world of digital marketing and making a career change. It’s worth noting that the content you receive is the beginning lessons of a much more robust, four to seven-month long, $6,900 immersive, should you want to opt for the paid version. 

2. Google: Fundamentals of Digital Marketing

This 40-hour course, offered by one of the most popular search engine companies, teaches digital marketing at an entry-level . The 24-module class, accredited by the Interactive Advertising Bureau Europe and The Open University, contains hands-on exercises.

Tutorials include topics like making it easy to find a business on the internet and reaching customers through email and video. After passing each tutorial, the course offers one final assessment, and after taking and passing that, you will receive a sharable award to add to your LinkedIn profile.

3. Meta: Blueprint

Facebook’s parent company, Meta, offers 36 free courses in its Blueprint program . The program aims to give learners fast, self-guided digital marketing walkthroughs and training on sites like Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Topics range from bringing your business online and establishing marketing goals to attracting an audience and making creative Instagram Stories. 

4. Simplilearn: Digital Marketing Strategy

This free course by Simplilearn consists of seven main modules, each containing a self-paced string of video lessons. It aims to provide learners with an introduction to the digital marketing landscape. 

In two hours, you will learn about customer segmentation and persona, plus you’ll learn how to conduct market research and create a marketing calendar. After each chapter, there is a knowledge check, and after completing the class, you will receive a certificate of completion. According to the site, more than 25,000 people have enrolled in this course.

5. Udemy: Marketing on Instagram 

This introductory course from Three Sixty Academy , offered on the Udemy platform, teaches learners the fundamentals of Instagram marketing and how to increase your follower base and maximize ROI. The course consists of nine tutorials over the course of 40 minutes. According to the site, more than 30,000 students have enrolled in this course. 

5 paid online marketing courses

Taking paid courses can be an effective way to learn marketing concepts and practical applications. By paying for a course, you can access comprehensive content and detailed explanations in a structured learning environment. This can help you gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter and improve your skills. Courses are listed in alphabetical order.

1. Coursera: Introduction to Digital Marketing

Coursera has a beginner-level course that lasts for around nine hours and is taught by Steve Fritzenkotter, a continuing education instructor from the University of California, Irvine. The course covers everything from search engine marketing and two-way communication with customers to storytelling and reputation management. 

According to the site, it’s free to start, but after a seven-day trial period, you’ll be required to pay $49 monthly. The subscription gives you access to all of the lectures, assignments, knowledge checks, discussion forums, and even a certification of completion. Lastly, the course has more than 10,500 enrollees. 

2. eCornell: Assessing Opportunities in Paid Digital Media

eCornell’s online paid media course covers the basics of search engine marketing, email marketing, and video marketing through a paid lens. The course tackles topics like social media and mobile ads and will guide you through the process of drafting a paid media marketing plan. 

This two-week, fully online, instructor-led course is targeted towards marketing managers who want to understand the role digital marketing plays in an organization. The course is priced at $1,199 and is part of eCornell’s Digital Marketing program, which is priced at $3,699 and includes four courses. After completing the entire program, you will have earned a certificate.

3. Harvard Business School: Digital Marketing Strategy

Harvard Business School Online’s digital marketing course is seven weeks long, self-paced, and contains six modules. The key concepts taught are the evolution of marketing, different approaches to budget allocation, and customer engagement techniques like storytelling and personalization. 

The featured exercises include building a practice budget, calculating a customer’s lifetime value, and advising a real-life company on its marketing plan. The course costs $1,750, and the application is free, but you must be at least 18 years old to apply. 

4. LinkedIn Learning: Advance as a Digital Marketing Specialist

LinkedIn Learning’s digital marketing career path is a comprehensive program with nine courses. Each one is more than ten hours long and is designed to teach learners how to create effective customer touchpoints, develop content strategies, and gain expertise in SEO and analytics. Upon completing the program, students receive a certificate that can be added to their LinkedIn profile.

The lectures are delivered by industry experts Brad Batesole, who teaches part-time at California State University Northridge, and Marta Dapena-Baron, a former marketing lecturer at the University of Michigan and Cornell University.

To access this course path, users must subscribe to the service. The subscription costs $379.88 per seat per year, with a two-seat minimum requirement for teams.

5. Udemy: The Complete Digital Marketing Course—12 Courses in 1 

This $199.99 course offered by Udemy teaches students how to master digital marketing strategy and the fundamentals of social media, SEO, YouTube, email, X (formerly Twitter), Quora, and Facebook marketing. Taught in 17 languages over 22.5 hours of videos and articles, it also teaches you copywriting, making a website, and performing market research. 

According to the site, the course comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and it caters to three target audiences: individuals who wish to enhance their skills for job opportunities, website owners looking to boost their traffic and sales, and pre-launch business owners who are unsure where to begin.

Things to consider before enrolling in an online marketing course

If there’s one takeaway from this article, it’s that there are a lot of options in terms of the kinds of courses you can take. An overwhelming number of options can lead to analysis paralysis, so it’s important to remember that while some courses might sound great, they might not give you the exact results you’re looking for. 

Before spending your hard-earned cash or wasting your time with any marketing course, consider these factors:

• Hands-on practice : According to a report by the U.S. Department of Education ,  the term “hands-on approach” refers to guided instruction through experience. “It’s one thing to hear somebody say something. It can be quite another to make sure you can apply that thing,” Berger says. “It’s important to learn from others, but you need to make sure you can apply those learnings as well.” 
• Reviews : Berger says that word of mouth is another powerful tool in determining what you should spend your money and time on. “When I am making a tough decision, I turn to others—either looking at reviews online or talking with people offline—to understand what other people think and help make better decisions.” Sites like Udemy and Simplilearn provide ratings on the front pages of courses. 

So, what is the best online marketing course to take?

The best online marketing course is the one that best suits your needs. While you can scroll through thousands of TikTok and YouTube videos to pick up key information, a structured course can give you the backbone you need to improve your digital marketing skills. 

Whether you want to learn for free or for money, there’s an option for everyone. But if you’re still on the fence about taking an online marketing course, hear Berger’s advice: 

“Marketing touches almost everything we do—we all have a customer. Brand managers sell products, B2B companies sell services, leaders sell ideas, doctors convince patients to take medicine, lawyers try to convince their clients to take action, and employees try to convince their bosses.”

He explains that whether we interface with our customers, spouses, or children, we aim to understand them and meet them where they are. “It’s about understanding who you’re interacting with and delivering them value.” If that sounds interesting to you, then digital marketing could be a good career path. 

Fortune outlined the path you need to take to become a digital marketer , and we also compiled a list of 16 entrepreneurial classes you can take online now .

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Listing Relevant Coursework on a Resume: Get it Right!

Offering a very thin resume translates to modest employment potentials for newbie job hunters. Increasing the chances of finding work is dependent on the impression you make on the recruiter.

The best way to accomplish this is to have a major asset up your sleeve to enrich your resume—your overall coursework. It might not seem as relevant, but showcasing your coursework in your resume shows you’re a knowledgeable and well-prepared applicant for any position.

Featuring relevant coursework in your resume will build up your credibility—especially if you can share your projects and academic achievements that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

It’s crucial to remember when you are making your resume that it should not be a catalog of volunteer work or an internship —but a tailor-made document that emphasizes the professional qualities you need to get the job.

But, what makes coursework essential on a resume?

More importantly, how does getting your coursework into your resume template make for a more professional impression?

Read on as we answer these and more below and discuss the importance of featuring relevant coursework in your resume.

In this post, you will find:

What is Relevant Coursework on a Resume?

A resume featuring relevant coursework consists of various courses you took at school, alongside the academic experiences that actually apply to the job position. The education section is the best place in a resume for coursework as it highlights your most hirable achievements concerning the role.

Still, both the subjects and projects listed must be relevant for the job position.

For example, being a debate champion has nothing to do with culinary arts. Instead, pointing out that you took and excelled in a class on economics at college is far more appropriate for that accounting position you’re applying for.

It is also not important to list the number of subjects you studied as a students part of your resume coursework . The specifics of what you studied, on the other hand, will be what counts the most in the employer’s eyes. Solely listing a course on resumes will not be enough in making those highlights stand out.

A resume with relevant coursework targets the skills vital for the target job and steers clear of stuffing the resume with filler information. The best approach to listing courses on resumes is to include projects, internships, and certificates you have acquired.

How to Write a Resume: The Ins and Outs

If you are wondering how to add relevant classes/courses on a resume , there are a couple of principles to follow for the best results.

When to Include and Exclude Relevant Coursework

Relevant coursework you add to your resume can include a past or present class you are taking or projects you were involved with. Not just that, it’s also highly recommended to list examples of where you have competence in a given field, and the degree of experience that will interest your employer in taking a chance on you.

Some instances when you should include your relevant coursework on your resume are:

• If you are a recent graduate . The education system aims to prepare students to join the workforce immediately. However, employers always want to see clear evidence of your core competencies , which can be conveyed via your coursework projects.
• Lacking work experience . If you haven’t had a full time job in your sector before, you can build credibility by including related resume coursework, thus showcasing your professional potential for the suitable position. Check our guide on how to write a resume with no experience and to make the most of your education and related coursework to catch the recruiter’s attention.
• A change of career . You may be a highly qualified professional in a given industry. Still, if you decide to change industry, you’ll be forfeiting your status as an experienced professional and starting from scratch as a rookie.

Our free online resume builder lets you can add relevant coursework easily to showcase your professional potential, that, in tandem with your work ethic, can make you a good fit for your desired position.

When to Exclude Coursework from Your Resume

With all this being said, there are also occurrences when it’s wiser to exclude coursework on your resume:

• If your resume is too long . If you’re blessed with both skills and work experience, you can afford to be selective and choose what’s appropriate. Unless you have a crucial certification for the job, listing all the relative coursework may be misunderstood as a not-so-subtle attempt to impress.
• Outdated coursework . You just celebrated your class reunion, but it’s been20 years since your graduation. Times have changed, and with them, so has the curriculum used for college classes. So, it could be better to leave out some irrelevant details from the resume altogether.
• Not relevant to the position . Let’s not forget that resume coursework must be compatible with the job opening. After all, it’s called relevant coursework for a good reason. So, if the coursework has nothing in common with the job you are going for, there’s no benefit in mentioning the coursework at all.

How to List Relevant Coursework

Depending on the structure of your resume and the information you provide, there are several ways you can add relevant coursework to your resume. Remember, the entry-level candidate resume should not be longer than one page. Also, don’t forget to mention online courses you’ve completed and to place the relevant coursework in the right order.

If a job requires educational achievements, put your education at the top of the list.

If a skill in the job posting appears to be a priority for your potential employee, you ought to list both relevant internships and projects that align with this desired skill.

The visuals of the resume are important, so consider a column or a detailed resume format. Below are a few different ways to list any relevant course on resumes. Look at them!

Single-column format

The single-column format is similar to the education part of the resume, promoting your relevant coursework in list form.

As a practical resume example, a candidate applying for a psychology job should include the following:

Bachelor’s in Psychology Columbia University, New York Graduation: 2019

Relevant Coursework:

• Learning and Cognition
• Cognitive Linguistics
• Social Psychology
• Psychology of Emotion

Multi-column Format

If you have multiple skills you are looking to make the focal point of this section, consider a multi-column format. For each column, use a different header with the relevant courses listed underneath.

Example of a multi-column format:

Bachelor’s in Information Technology Pennsylvania State University, PA Graduation: 2020

Related Coursework:

• Application Development—developed IT concepts and skills for web development.
• Human-Centered Design—research into increasing the usability of IT systems with a human-centric approach.
• Networking and Telecommunications—studied transmission media, cybersecurity, and digital signal modulations.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning :

• Machine Learning: Studying the interrelation between AI and machine learning, its influence on business processes, and marketing teams.
• Artificial Intelligence implications for business strategy: Acquired knowledge to guide AI integrations into current companies to implement strategic decisions.

Detailed Format

A detailed format resume goes more in-depth than just using the course title. It provides more specifics on the skills you may have learned in each individual course. This format will look more like the layout you’re used to seeing under the work experience section of a resume.

Bachelor’s in Marketing University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN Graduation: 2020

Global Marketing Techniques

• Awareness of B2B marketing strategies, social media campaigning, public relations, and content creation.
• Studied the relationships between businesses and how acceptance to marketing is modified in contrast to B2C.

Public Relations

• Building contacts with editors, writing press releases, and pitching articles topics
• Implementing public relations campaigns, hosting open days, and event promotion.

Retail and Sales Management

• Learning the basics of marketing, copywriting, psychology of customers, analysis of data, and more.
• Formulating and implementing a marketing plan.

Coursework on a Resume: Conclusion

If you include relevant coursework on resumes, you make it easier to communicate the value you can bring to a business . Keep the job description in focus when choosing what information to incorporate when listing courses on resumes, and where you position it on the page.

Whether you opt for an online design tool, or want to use the free online resume builder of ResumeGiants specifically designed by professional resume experts—the details you put in it will be just as important as the things you decide to leave out.

Remember, at the end of the day, a quality resume is your signal bonfire to attract recruiters to your position—and including relevant coursework in it can be the fuel that ignites your dream career.

• Career Development

Incorporating Relevant Coursework into Your Resume

10 min read

If you've recently graduated, your practical job experience may be thin – but that doesn’t mean you don’t have other ways to show you’re qualified for the position. After all, your education should have included courses to prepare you for your chosen profession. The question is whether you should list relevant coursework on your resume. The good news is that you can include that information if it relates to your chosen career.

There are a few factors to consider before you list your last semester's classes, however. You need to think about where you are in your career, what your job target is, and how relevant your education is to that job target. This article will help you figure out if you should add relevant coursework to your resume, offer some tips on which types of courses and academic achievements to highlight, and explain how to incorporate relevant coursework into your resume.

What is relevant coursework in a resume?

It’s important to understand how you can determine whether coursework is relevant for the position you’re seeking. Fortunately, that determination is easy to make. All you need to do is consider whether the courses you completed are related to the job you’re seeking.

For example, if you are applying for a position in IT, those art classes you took in college would be irrelevant to employers. However, including any computer science courses that you completed could help demonstrate your competency and show that you’re qualified for the job.

While coursework is not the equivalent of actual hands-on professional experience, it can be enough to sway an employer who is impressed with the rest of your student resume. Remember, the whole goal of a resume is to garner enough interest to net you an interview. These tiny details may be just what you need to earn that consideration.

When should you include relevant coursework in your resume?

As a rule, relevant coursework should only be on your resume when it's both relevant and recent. Unlike your degree – which almost always belongs on your resume – your coursework is optional on a resume. In that case, you're most likely to want to list some coursework if you're a recent graduate and applying for an entry-level job.

If you’re a recent graduate, chances are that you have little to no relevant job experience to list on your resume . In that case, including relevant coursework on a resume will demonstrate your exposure to diverse topics.

Put simply, you may benefit from including relevant coursework on your resume if you are a recent graduate with little work experience, are changing careers, and need to demonstrate qualifications in your newly chosen industry or when you have additional space to fill in your resume.

KEY TAKEAWAY: When you have little work experience, including relevant coursework on a resume can be the best way to help you land that interview and get hired for a fantastic job!

What's your job target?

To help you decide whether to include relevant coursework in your resume, think about the type of job you want your resume to target. If your only professional experience with the job function or industry is through your education, it's a clever idea to list some of your classes. Again, you want to check that the classes are both relevant and recent.

Some positions have educational requirements where everyone has basically the same educational background. Others may have few educational requirements at all. If you have a BA or higher education and you're applying for jobs that only require an AA or a high school diploma, your college coursework is probably not relevant.

Before you decide to include any relevant coursework on a resume, you need to ask yourself whether it bolsters your qualifications for the job you want to land. In general, work experience, internships, and volunteer work are more compelling than education experience.

Where should you include your coursework?

Carefully consider the placement of relevant coursework on a resume. For jobs that emphasize educational achievements, you may want to list your coursework and education near the top.

If the position relies on skill and experience, you can list the topics you studied in your skills section. Otherwise, you can include your coursework in your education section of the resume . In fact, most job seekers place these details in their education section.

Finally, there may be times when you want to place this information in your work experience section. More on that later in the post.

How to include relevant coursework on a resume

If your experience is thin and you need to focus on relevant coursework, you want to do it correctly. Here are some tips to help you learn how to create a relevant coursework resume.

1. Be selective

You shouldn't include your full transcript on your resume. You should always prioritize the most advanced or specialized courses over any introductory or general coursework. "Advanced Financial Accounting" is a better choice than "Accounting 101." In that example, you would want to only include the advanced course since the more general class would be redundant.

While there isn't a fixed rule about how many classes you should list on your resume, somewhere between three and eight courses can be a good goal. If you plan to include more than four classes, you may want to get some advice about how to format your skills on a resume and apply it to a list of courses instead.

Using bullet points can help you save space and create a more visually appealing presentation. Remember, your resume is supposed to be one or two pages – and for entry-level candidates, one page is likely sufficient. Use commas, columns, or other visual dividers to keep your coursework organized.

2. Add other relevant educational experience

If you’re including relevant coursework, you might also include your high GPA on your resume.

You can also include other details related to your schoolwork. For example:

Academic awards like making the dean's list

School projects

Original research

Memberships and affiliations

Extra-curricular activities

3. Don't forget about online courses

If you've taken any online classes, you can put those relevant courses on your resume even if they weren't part of your degree. We have a separate guide about how to include online courses on your resume .

Relevant coursework: examples

There are a couple of acceptable ways to list your relevant coursework on a resume. Your choice should be based on need.

If you have some experience and just want to bolster your credentials, you can take a simple approach to this information. Recent graduates will want to spend more time on this section to emphasize its importance.

Remember to identify your coursework with a label. Many job seekers simply use the format:

Related Coursework: [Course #1], [Course #2], [Course #3], etc.

Below, we’ve included some relevant coursework resume examples that you can refer to as you prepare your resume.

Option One: When your resume already includes some relevant experience

If you have relevant experience to list on your resume, you can include your relevant coursework in that section. You don’t need to include a lot of details, though. Instead, you can address your coursework using a format like this:

Bachelor of Science, Marketing, Best College USA

Relevant Coursework: Advertising, Copywriting, Sales Management, E-Marketing, Brand Management

Option Two: For recent graduates with no relevant experience

If your coursework-focused resume needs to emphasize education over experience, then you might want to use a different format altogether. The example below can serve as a template when you’re listing relevant coursework on a resume:

EDUCATION Best College USA, AnyTown, AnyState May 20XX Bachelor of Science in Marketing Cumulative GPA: 3.9

RELEVANT MARKETING COURSEWORK Advertising Concepts & Practical Application, Best College Marketing Department

Fall 20XX-Spring 20XX

Explored advertising theory and history

Analyzed ad-market dynamics

Developed effective advertising campaigns for partner businesses in the area

Brand Management 101, Best College Marketing Department Spring 20XX

Hands-on program working in collaboration with area merchants

Successfully rebranded two major employers in the area

Developed proposed brand-enhancing campaigns for six other employers

Including relevant coursework in your work experience section

There may also be times when you want to include relevant courses in your work experience section. For example, if your desired position includes qualifications that focus on specific skills, you may want to include more details about your education to show the types of skills you developed and how you’ve used them.

One additional benefit that you can enjoy from this approach is the opportunity to include some of those relevant keywords from the job posting. Employers who use applicant tracking systems tend to include job qualifications as keywords in those postings. If you can use those exact terms in your relevant coursework descriptions, you can help enhance your chances of getting your resume past the ATS.

If you do decide to list this information in your work experience section, make sure that you include enough detail to demonstrate measurable achievements in those classes. This can help a prospective employer to better understand how those courses have prepared you for employment at their company. Below is an example of how you can highlight a relevant coursework listing in your work experience section:

Brand Management 101, Best College Marketing Department

Rebranding Lab : Successfully completed rebranding project with local merchant, modernizing the firm’s brand with offline and digital campaigns that increased brand awareness by 42%,

Online marketing : Developed and implemented an online survey for test company that measured client brand preferences for five distinct products.

Client presentation : Researched, crafted, and presented nine separate test client presentations related to brand enhancement, expansion into new markets, and digital rebranding efforts.

As you can see, the use of relevant coursework not only lists the course but also presents detailed information about the types of skills the job seeker developed during their education. This information could be crucial for a prospective employer whose focus is on hiring someone with those specific skills.

How to tell when you should avoid putting relevant coursework on your resume

Of course, adding relevant coursework to a resume may not always be the right thing to do. You need to decide whether the inclusion of this information adds or detracts from your other qualifications. Fortunately, there is a straightforward way to know when you can just skip this information altogether.

1.      Compare your resume to the job posting. Does it already include all the required skills that the employer has cited as necessary qualifications? Do you have work experience achievements that highlight those skills in a quantifiable way? If so, then there is no need to include your coursework.

2.      Is your resume already one or two pages in length? That’s usually a good sign that you already have enough relevant skills and experience to highlight your qualifications, so chances are that your coursework won’t add any additional value.

3.      Are you thinking about adding coursework that’s still in progress? Don’t. If your only relevant courses are ones that you’re still trying to complete, that information is better omitted.

Putting relevant coursework on a resume can make a real difference!

Like many job seekers, you may not be thrilled at the prospect of listing your relevant coursework on a resume. Still, adding coursework details can sometimes be crucial for establishing yourself as a viable candidate for a job. When you're short on work experience, your coursework is a wonderful way to include keywords from the job posting. This reinforces the relevance of your included coursework details and can also help your resume get past the applicant tracking systems (ATS) .

You just might find that your educational achievements are the one thing that pushes you past your rivals and gets you that all-important interview!

Need help deciding whether to include relevant coursework in your resume? Get a free resume review today and let our team of experts provide the help you need!

Recommended reading:

How To Write Your Resume's Education Section

What Is Relevant Experience on A Resume?

Resume Bullet Points or Paragraphs?

Ken Chase, Freelance Writer

During Ken's two decades as a freelance writer, he has covered everything from banking and fintech to business management and the entertainment industry. His true passion, however, has always been focused on helping others achieve their career goals with timely job search and interview advice or the occasional resume consultation. When he's not working, Ken can usually be found adventuring with family and friends or playing fetch with his demanding German Shepherd. Read more resume advice from Ken on  ZipJob’s blog .

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12 Best Marketing Resume Examples for 2024

Best for professionals eager to make a mark

Looking for one of the best resume templates? Your accomplishments are sure to stand out with these bold lines and distinct resume sections.

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Writing Your Marketing Resume

Marketing resume faqs.

You can construct a multi-step campaign to convert a new prospect into a customer, create Instagram ad campaigns to sell water to a fish, and build an organic traffic engine to drastically increase brand awareness.

While you’re a great marketer, you shouldn’t also be expected to be great at writing a marketing cover letter or  building a resume . We’ve pored over thousands of marketing resumes to discover what works and what doesn’t, to help you get an interview for your next marketing job.

We’ve distilled our findings into 12 marketing resume samples and an extensive resume guide that has  helped marketers get interviews at companies like Stripe and Facebook in 2024 . Use these examples and our top resume tips to get an interview (and a job) faster than ever!

Marketing Resume Example

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• The best way to do this is by utilizing bullet points in your skills and work experience sections.
• The details of how you exactly directed the launch of a new campaign may not fit in your resume, but they’ll be a perfect addition when you create a cover letter .
• The best way to do this is by using the  reverse-chronological resume format  to demonstrate your most recent positions and how you’ve grown from role to role. 

Marketing Intern Resume

• Integrate examples of how you’ve used marketing tools like Sprout Social or SEMrush to drive brand awareness. It’ll legitimize your personal experience and strengthen your candidate profile.

Entry-Level Marketing Resume

• For example, consider including relevant courses from college in a separate section.
• You can also add a  resume objective  to exhibit your skills, years of experience, and qualifications. 
• Use metrics to demonstrate how you’ve increased website traffic, saved reporting hours, reduced costs per lead, or improved conversion rates. 

Marketing Assistant Resume

• You can still make your marketing assistant resume look desirable by including internships and relevant college courses.
• If you don’t have relevant experience, you can still highlight transferable skills from other jobs.
• For example, if you worked as a server, you can highlight essential marketing assistant skills like time management, organization, collaboration, sales principles, and consumer behavior.
• An objective lets employers know what skills and qualities make you right for the job (in less than four sentences, no less!). Don’t hesitate to mention what you hope to bring to the table at your future place of employment!

Senior Marketing Resume

• Pick three of your most recent and relevant positions with four bullet points each.
• List six to 10 skills in your skills section, with a mix of hard and soft skills.
• If you’re feeling stuck about what to include, look up  resume examples  to get inspiration and help you format your content. You can also use a  resume builder  to make adding metrics, action verbs, and optional sections easier.

Influencer Marketing Resume

• Achievements such as – 44% increase in social media engagement, 7.8K increase in weekly referral traffic, 4% increase in ROI over a quarter, and more – are what potential employers will be excited to see in your influencer marketing resume.

Marketing Coordinator Resume

• Good marketing skills include paid ads, Google Analytics, Salesforce, MS Suite, and organization.
• Hiring managers use applicant tracking systems (ATS for short) to weed through potential employees. The ATS scans resumes for skills and keywords the employer has marked as important; you’re more likely to get an interview if you have those skills and keywords.
• As a marketing coordinator, you can include quantifiers like company profit, ROI, team sizes, media campaign success, increases in website traffic, etc.

Marketing Associate Resume

• Use a  resume checker  or spellcheck system to scan for typos, grammar errors, and punctuation mistakes so you can hand in your resume without worrying.
• Ensure you make it through ATS by including specific marketing keywords, like “Salesforce,” “paid ads,” and “communication.” Always check your resume against the job description to ensure you’re hitting the mark.

Growth Marketing Manager Resume

• There are many options to choose from, including business objectives like revenue, sales, and customer growth, or marketing-specific outcomes like retention, website traffic, social media, and digital marketing.
• Using a  resume template  is a great way to structure and format your content, but if you’re strapped for time, you can use a  resume outline  and add your own stylistic elements as you see fit.

Content Marketing Specialist Resume

• The best way to demonstrate your abilities is by giving hard numbers to quantify your content production. Good examples include:
• How many posts or blogs you’ve written
• How much your efforts improved conversion rates, engagement, or other social media KPIs
• How many new customers your business gained through your efforts
• Always use the job description to guide what you write; don’t copy the skills and requirements word for word, but do include what you feel is honest. 

Communications & Marketing Specialist Resume

• Luckily, there are a series of  resume tips and tricks  you can follow, starting with maximizing your contact header and skipping extraneous content (like a profile picture and extra pages).
• Marketing campaigns, customer surveys, and targeted emails are all things that demonstrate your knowledge of marketing strategies.

Marketing Specialist Resume

• Wharton is a top business school, and you’ll be more likely to secure an interview if recruiters see that you’ve learned from the best.

Related resume guides

• Business Development
• Digital Marketing
• Marketing Manager
• Business Owner

When it comes to writing your resume, remember your primary goal: getting an interview. We’ve written this guide to help you achieve that mission and eventually, get the job.

However, marketers have a wide range of skills and responsibilities, so it can be tough to figure out what to include and what to leave out.

To write a great resume, you need to ensure you’ve done these three things:

• Formatted your resume properly
• Included all the sections a hiring manager is looking for
• Talked about your skills/experience in the right way

To achieve that end, we’ll go over the following information:

• Marketing resume formatting tips
• Quantifying the impact of your work experience
• The skills to include in your “skills” section
• Customizing your marketing resume for each role you apply to
• The lowdown on your resume objective
• Mentioning your education and certifications

How to format your marketing resume

When it comes to formatting your resume, there are a few rules you should follow:

• Keep it to one page. Your resume should be your highlight reel, not an autobiography.
• Opt for a simple format. This is not the place to use seven fonts and fifteen colors to highlight your creativity.
• Don’t give the hiring manager a trivial reason to put you in the “no” pile.  Avoid any spelling or grammar errors at all costs!
• Keep your work experience to short, self-contained bullet points. This makes your resume much more readable.
• Only include a  resume objective  or  resume summary  if you can customize it for each role you apply to. Real estate is valuable on your resume, so don’t waste it.

Talking about your marketing work experience

This is going to be the single biggest factor when the hiring manager is deciding to give you an interview or not. Think of it as the entree at a several-course dinner; it should take up the most space on your resume.

Focus on the quantifiable, tangible impacts of the marketing projects you’ve worked on in the past.  Hiring managers want to be sure the candidates they interview will positively influence their business.

Think about it: would you keep running a paid ad if you had no idea whether it was working or not? Of course not!

Consider these two work experiences. They’re describing the same person in the same job, but one utilizes numbers to describe their impact, while the other doesn’t.

Which do you think is more convincing?

RIGHT – use numbers to describe your impact

Financial Services Company August 2016 – May 2018, New York NY Marketer

• Developed a comprehensive paid acquisition strategy across Google, Facebook, and industry newsletters, resulting in new leads that generated  $11M  in 2017
• Built a robust brand awareness campaign through conferences and speaking engagements, increasing inbound leads by  6 8%  per year
• Led the implementation of real-time reporting on marketing expenditures to adjust bid strategy, improving ROI by  31%
• Exceeded growth targets every quarter by  19%  on average

WRONG – avoid vague statements of impact

• Developed a comprehensive paid acquisition strategy across Google, Facebook, and industry newsletters, resulting in new leads
• Built a robust brand awareness campaign through conferences and speaking engagements, leading to an increase in inbound leads
• Led the implementation of real-time reporting on marketing expenditures to adjust bid strategy, leading to ROI improvement
• Exceeded growth targets every quarter

Which do you think performed better? The reality is, numbers speak louder than words. Numbers also help hiring managers read your resume faster, which is essential when you’re likely competing with 50+ other applicants. 

You can quantify your marketing impact in a wide range of ways. Here are some examples for to help inspire you:

Ways to quantify your impact as a marketer

• Example: Identified keyword opportunities and created content to generate 21,000 organic users and 432 new leads monthly
• Example: Launched an email campaign to notify power users of under-utilized features, resulting in $411,000 in incremental revenue
• Example: Built a culture of A/B testing to improve the lifetime conversion rate of a campaign by 78% 
• Example: Identified poorly performing external vendors and reduced costs by $110,000 annually while exceeding revenue targets
• Example: Created ads for each customer segment, resulting in an ROI improvement of 19% relative to generalized ad campaigns
• Example: Beat quarterly revenue targets by an average of 6% each quarter for the last year and a half

There’s no better way to convince a hiring manager that you deserve an interview than by demonstrating you’ve had a significant, measurable impact in your past marketing roles.

Showcase your marketing skills

The hiring process is a mystery, but it doesn’t have to be! Here’s what you need to know about the hiring process after you’ve submitted your resume:

• Companies use an Automated Tracking System (ATS) to filter out resumes based on certain keywords.
• The hiring manager or HR manager reviews your resume and determines whether you get an initial interview or not.

But how can you be sure you’ll get past this filter? Simple: include the relevant skills that are mentioned in the  marketing job description , of course!

In your  resume’s skills section , try to include  at least 90 percent technical skills  if you can. ATS filters don’t screen for soft skills like “communication” or “leadership.” Hiring managers like to see soft skills, but to pass the ATS, you will need primarily hard skills.

So what skills should you include? We’ve compiled a list of useful marketing skills that you can include on your resume. Remember,  only include skills you’d be comfortable explaining in an interview .

Skills to include on your marketing resume

• CRM: Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Pipedrive, HubSpot
• Web Analytics: Adobe Analytics, Mixpanel, Heap, Google Analytics
• General Office Administration Tools: Google Sheets/Docs/Slides, Microsoft Excel/Word/PowerPoint
• Optimization: customer segmentation, attribution modeling, A/B testing
• Paid Ads: AdWords, LinkedIn, Google Display Network, Facebook
• Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter
• Email Marketing: ConvertKit, Drip, Mailchimp
• SEO: keyword research, backlink building, content creation
• Direct Mail

The skills you include on your resume should vary based on the kind of job you’re seeking. For example, if you’re applying for an organic marketing role, then you’ll expand on your SEO skillset instead of your social media skillset.

For marketers, it’s much more important to be an expert in a few skills than have knowledge of a lot of skills.

A hiring manager would be skeptical of a digital marketer who claims to be an expert in paid ads, social media, SEO, and email marketing. Rather, it’s better to position yourself as an expert in one or two of those areas. 

Tailoring your resume for each marketing role

Because “marketing” is such a broad term, you’re much more likely to get an interview if you tailor your resume for each job to which you apply.

Tailoring your resume tells hiring managers that you’re detail-oriented and committed to the company. Remember, you’ll be competing with many other marketers for the role, so take advantage of any opportunity you can to impress the hiring manager.

Start customizing your marketing resume by following these steps:

• Read the job description thoroughly. As you read it, think of any past experience you’ve held that matches what you’re reading.
• On the first draft of your resume, list any work experience you have that is related to the role. Include the skills they’re looking for and specific responsibilities.

Let’s walk through a concrete example.

Let’s say the company Qapital is hiring a senior performance marketer. Here are the job responsibilities:

Example marketing job responsibilities

About the Role

As a Senior Performance Marketer, you will help to ensure that our investments in marketing pay off in the form of user and revenue growth. Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Officer, you will:

• Own all paid performance marketing channels and serve as a day-to-day steward of the budget.
• Manage acquisition strategy and execution for paid media across channels.  Continuously improve performance through detailed optimization to meet aggressive campaign goals and objectives. 
• Build and maintain a test-and-learn culture to determine the most effective channels.
• Source and manage media agencies, performance marketing agencies, and other external performance marketing partners.
• Work collaboratively to create and test messaging and creatives for multiple audiences and engagements/channels.
• Partner closely with media agencies to align on goals, and drive the strategy to get there.
• Devise innovative ways to drive subscriptions and KPIs. Create a testing agenda for new digital platforms and creatives.  
• Partner with Analytics, Design, and agencies to track and report acquisition performance.
• Own budget tracking and forecasting across channels.

Essentially, they’re looking for someone to take ownership of overpaid media and all the responsibilities that come with it, from budgeting to measuring performance. The highlighted keywords and concepts are those you might be able to incorporate into your resume. 

Here’s what your resume might look like if you were applying for this particular role:

Example – customizing your work experience for a given role

• Onboarded and monitored media agency partners, saving $250,000 by ending contracts with the least-performing partners while hitting revenue targets
• Led forecasting, budgeting, tracking, and reporting for all paid acquisitions, resulting in new leads that generated $17M in 2017
• Fostered a culture of testing and learning by encouraging constant optimization of ad strategy, increasing conversation rates by 87%
• Exceeded growth targets every quarter by 24% on average

As you can see, the work experience has been adjusted to closely match what Qapital wants from their new hire. Doing this will ensure you get past both the initial ATS scan and the hiring manager’s inspection.

Your marketing resume objective

Most of the time, you won’t need an objective, but it can be a useful tool for an entry-level candidate. (If you’re a senior-level candidate with at least 10 years of experience, use a  resume summary  instead.) But what exactly  is  an objective?

A  resume objective  expresses your specific interest in the marketing role you’re applying to while highlighting your skills and goals for your future job.

Since your resume is limited on space, you need to should scrutinize everything you include. Our rule of thumb: unless you’re going to customize your resume objective for each role you apply to, leave it out entirely. You want the first thing hiring managers read to be something that significantly improves your chances of getting an interview.

Which of these resume objectives would you prefer as a hiring manager?

WRONG – uninformative resume objective

“Looking to leverage my experience with social media marketing to help grow a customer-centric technology product”

This candidate didn’t bother to customize the resume objective for the specific role. Compare that to this   resume objective:

RIGHT – tailored resume objective

“Looking to leverage my experience with paid customer acquisition in new markets to further Stripe’s mission of making payments accessible to businesses of all sizes as they expand into South America.”

This resume objective clearly demonstrates how the candidate has researched both the role and the company. More than that, they succinctly stated why they’re a great fit for the role. This is the kind of resume objective that’s worth including!

Education and certifications

While your education section doesn’t need to be huge, you still need to include it. List the school you went to and the degree(s) you obtained while there. 

If you’re an entry-level candidate or have only a few years of experience, you can include relevant courses and your GPA (if it’s higher than 3.2). However, for more senior-level marketers, your education section should only have the school you went to (and where it was located), the years you were there, and the degree you earned.

Get ahead of other job applicants by quantifying your marketing impact on your resume. Can you quantify generated leads in a month, revenue gained from a social media campaign, improved performance from A/B testing, etc.? It’s okay if you can only give an estimate, but seeing numbers on the page not only helps solidify your impact, but they also disrupt the flow of text—meaning the hiring manager reviewing your resume is forced to slow down and look a little closer!

There are so many marketing positions out there, so it’s important to only include skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for (and, of course, relevant to the skills you honestly have). As a marketing analyst, skills that could make sense for your resume include CRM, A/B testing, social media ads, and SEO strategies. On the other hand, skills for a marketing specialist might be branding, digital and print copywriting, email marketing, and Microsoft and Google Suite.

If you decide to include an objective (you probably don’t need it!), the secret sauce in writing a good one is tailoring it to the company and making it clear why you’re the right fit to meet that company’s challenges or needs addressed in its job description. Here’s an example that hits the mark: Adept and high-speed thinker with 2 years of marketing internship experience and 3 years in office operations. Eager to demonstrate skills in crafting paid advertisements and executing tools, such as Salesforce, MS Suite, and Google Analytics as a marketing assistant at MIXD.

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April 9, 2024 MBA programs see surge in rankings

Two of Fisher’s graduate business degrees were highlighted as among some of the best in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s  2024-25 Best Graduate School rankings released on April 9.

The Working Professional MBA ( WPMBA ) was ranked #5 among part-time programs at public colleges and universities (#10 overall) ― marking the third time in the last five years it was selected as a top-10 program.

Fisher’s Full-Time MBA ( FTMBA ) program saw significant improvement in its standings in the annual rankings, climbing to #11 among public institutions (#30 overall).

“We are proud that the hard work of so many associated with our MBA programs is reflected in these rankings,” said Anil K. Makhija, dean and John W. Berry, Sr. Chair in Business. “We have been intentional in how we have enhanced both programs to provide students with graduate business degree experiences that leverage the strengths of our college. The result is an MBA that’s more flexible, experiential and career-focused than ever before.”

“We look forward to building on this momentum and finding additional ways to innovate within the graduate business degree space.”

The WPMBA’s flexibility, coupled with its focus on preparing students with ready-to-use managerial and leadership skills, continue to differentiate it as a popular Part-Time MBA program nationally. Students can take classes entirely online, on-campus or via a mix of both ― and they have opportunities to control the pace of the program and take semesters off. Although most complete their degrees in 2.5 years, students have up to six years to complete their coursework. 

The flexibility and “employer-ready” programming has sparked a recent jump in enrollment. With more than 500 students currently enrolled in the program, the program has grown by more than 60% since the 2021-22 school year.

Fisher’s Full-Time MBA continues its evolution into a degree that not only prepares students with the skills and perspectives to succeed, but it does so with a focus squarely on student outcomes. 

Recent enhancements , which were driven by feedback from alumni and recruiters and part of the college’s commitment to continuous innovation in programming, focus on professional development and building interpersonal skills. The creation of Career and Industry Immersion Academies will give students defined opportunities to specialize in disciplines related to four highly relevant industries: finance; marketing; operations; analytics and supply chain; and strategy, leadership, and consulting.

Academic specialties within Fisher’s graduate programs also garnered positive rankings: accounting (#4 among publics), production/operations (#4); supply chain (#5); marketing (#6); finance (#6); and management (#15). 

The graduate programs were among many other degree offerings at Fisher that have been recently recognized in U.S. News & World Report rankings, including: Undergraduate (#7 among publics), Executive MBA (#10) and Online Non-MBA program, namely Specialized Master in Business – Analytics (#20).

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Editorial: Financial literacy is important for teens to learn along with math and science

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Adulting is hard, and it’s gotten much harder even for mature adults. That’s especially true when it comes to personal finances.

We are subjected to more sophisticated and sometimes downright insidious online marketing that often uses influencers instead of ads. The investing world has grown more complicated, with investment apps, digital brokers and cryptocurrency. Hard-to-spot scams come to us every day via social media, emails and text.

We buy more of our goods online, sight unseen, and take the risk that our personal data might be compromised. Fewer employers provide traditional pensions; instead, it’s up to employees to figure out how much to put away for retirement, where the money should be stowed and how it should be managed.

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Many colleges are downright unaffordable , but the financial aid process makes doing taxes seem easy by comparison, and lenders beckon with federally guaranteed loans that have put far too many young Americans into serious debt. As the gig economy becomes a bigger slice of the employment picture, it shifts the burden of healthcare and calculating tax deductions on to workers, and makes getting a mortgage, buying a home and creating stability more difficult.

Clearly, young adults need to be better equipped to tangle with the modern world of money.

That’s why there’s been growing interest in teaching financial literacy in high school, the point at which students are old enough to understand the topic and find it relevant as they apply to college and prepare to enter the working world.

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According to Next Gen Personal Finance, a nonprofit that promotes financial literacy instruction and provides free curriculum and teacher training, half of all states have passed a requirement for a one-semester course. And more states require financial education to be taught as part of other courses, such as math or economics.

California isn’t among the states that require teens to take a designated financial literacy course, at least not yet. A bill before the Legislature this year would mandate a course for public schools. Silicon Valley businessman Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of Next Gen Personal Finance, has gathered signatures for a ballot measure to do the same; he says he would withdraw the measure if the bill becomes law.

The concept is great. But turning it into reality isn’t as simple as proponents would have us think.

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David Tokofsky, a former member of the Los Angeles school board, told The Times that if the state is going to add new high school requirements, it also has to take some things out. Otherwise, there will be practically no time for high school students to pursue electives that most interest them. It’s a good point. The state recently added a one-semester ethnic studies course to its requirements. How many more courses can be fit into the school day?

Adding new coursework should be undertaken only with a more comprehensive look at California’s curriculum standards, with the involvement of teachers and administrators. Educators should look for possible areas of overlap and repetition. That might make room for a couple of high school courses to be moved to eighth grade, though it would require the involvement of the University of California to ensure those courses would be accepted as part of the A-G curriculum.

The worst scenario would be a ballot initiative, no matter how well-intentioned. There is too little flexibility in such initiatives to meet changing needs of students and schools.

Mandates from Sacramento have generally not proved to be the best way to improve education, unless they are undertaken with the involvement of the people who have to carry them out. Let’s teach our high school students the complications of personal finance, but let’s do it thoughtfully, with the bigger picture in mind.

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