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When and How To List Online Courses on a Resume

Wondering if you should add online courses to your resume? This guide will tell you exactly when and how it’s worth doing.

3 years ago   •   11 min read

The appeal of online courses is simple — they’re quick, low-commitment, and often free. But are they actually useful? And more importantly, are they ever going to help you get a job?

There are many types of certifications that belong — and don’t belong — on a resume. Obviously, significant qualifications like degrees or mandatory professional accreditations should be listed, but what about short courses you can take fully online?

Do online courses belong on your resume?

The short answer is: It depends .

The longer answer is, there are a few things you should consider when listing an online course on your resume, like:

• Is it relevant to the job you’re applying for?
• Does it demonstrate key skills?
• Is it from a reputable source?
• How senior are you?

We'll discuss when to list online courses on your resume — and when to leave them off — in more detail below. First, let's take a look at how to list online courses on your resume.

Listing online courses on your resume: A step by step guide

• Focus on relevant courses. If you've completed multiple online courses, choose 1-2 that are most relevant to the specific job you're applying for.
• Choose where to list them. Online courses can be listed in your education, certifications, projects, or other section — more on that below.
• List the name of the course.
• Include the name of the provider.
• Specify the date you completed the qualification.
• Include 1-3 accomplishments or key learnings in bullet points (optional).

Here it is in practice:

Examples of listing online courses in your resume

Here are some examples of the most effective ways to list online courses on a resume, as used by successful job seekers and verified by recruiters.

In your education section

List entries in this section chronologically, with the most recent qualification first. If your education section is the most relevant part of your resume (for example, if you’re a recent graduate or are changing careers), pin it at the top of your resume above your work experience .

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS ABC Institute , Online SQL for Developers certificate, February 2021

When: If you’ve taken an online course recently — or if it’s particularly relevant or well-known and you want to emphasize it — you can include it in your education section.

More information: The must-haves when writing your education on your resume

As a separate online course section

Typically, you won’t want to dedicate too much resume space to your online course, as most of them can be covered in a couple of lines.

The exception to this is if you have multiple online courses or certifications that are all particularly relevant to the job. In that case, you can create a separate section for your online courses to help them stand out.

CERTIFICATIONS - Cisco - CCNA - SQL for Developers certificate from ABC Institute (2016)

When: This is a good idea for career changers who want to emphasize recent educational experience in a new field.

Only do this if it genuinely adds value to your resume — if you’re considering adding a certifications section to list a bunch of very short courses or to include qualifications in an unrelated area, it’s better to leave those off instead.

More information: How to list certifications on a resume

In a projects section

Projects give you a chance to include a few relevant accomplishments and demonstrate how you’ve used those skills in action. List the project name, your specific role, and 1-3 bullet points. If possible, make sure you also include a portfolio or GitHub link so recruiters can see examples of your work for themselves.

PROJECTS Project Name | Developer , Feb 2021 GitHub link: [link] - Designed the overall architecture of the editor using React.JS, with XYZ collaboration - Set up multiple authentication methods, including Google OAuth, magic link and Shibboleth SSO

When: If your online course included substantial project experience, or if you lack more relevant paid work experience.

More information: How to list projects on a resume

In an additional section

Online courses in an additional section should be listed on a single line with a clear subheading: something simple like 'Online Courses' or 'Certifications' will tell a recruiter exactly what the section consists of. If it adds credibility, make sure to specify where you completed the course or who the provider was.

ADDITIONAL Certifications & Training: Online Course in Management (Coursera), Passed Resume Worded Examinations

When: An ‘additional’ or ‘other’ section at the bottom of your resume is ideal for things that don’t merit their own sections, or if you’re running low on space. This could include online courses that aren’t required but demonstrate relevant skills, or that are relevant but not noteworthy enough to include in a more prominent section.

More information: Including skills and additional information on a resume

If you’re not sure if you’ve listed your online courses the right way, upload it to the tool below — it’ll scan your resume and give you detailed feedback and suggestions on how to improve your resume sections.

The best online courses to list on your resume

The best online courses to list on your resume are ones from reputable providers. Here are some of the best ones + examples of how (and when) to include them on your resume.

How to put Udacity on a resume

Should you mention a Udacity degree on your resume? Udacity offers "nanodegrees" that, despite their length, are well-regarded in professional circles. Udacity have gained a reputation for offering strong courses, partnering with reputable businesses, and requiring stronger effort to pass than similar online courses, which makes them a good option for picking up a new skill.

To list a Udacity degree on your resume, you have a few options:

• List it in your education section
• Put it in a separate certifications section
• Include Udacity in your resume projects section

Putting a Udemy certificate on a resume

Unlike other online course providers, Udemy doesn't grade students or require tests to pass. That doesn't mean you can't include a Udemy completion on your resume — just make sure it adds value before you do.

Putting an eCornell certificate on a resume

If you have an online certificate from a reputable institution like Cornell, it's worth highlighting that on your resume. Be sure to specify that you hold a certificate, not a full degree — listing it in a Certifications or Additional Information section rather than your Education section can help make this clear.

Putting a Lynda certificate on a resume

Getting a Lynda certificate with LinkedIn Learning can be a great way to boost an existing skill or change course with a new one. Like any unaccredited online course, it's important to back up your learning with other qualifications, projects, or professional experience.

Putting a Coursera certificate on a resume

Coursera offers a wide range of certificate and other courses, which means it pays to be specific about which one you took. Be sure to note if it you completed a full certificate, the name of the program, and the specific provider — keeping in mind that some are more reputable than others.

How to add a Google Data Analytics Certificate to a resume

A Google Data Analytics certificate on its own isn't going to be enough to convince a recruiter you have the skills they're looking for. So why include it? Because it's one piece of the puzzle — when included alongside technical skills, projects, and other relevant qualifications.

Related : What You Need to Know About Google Career Certificates (and The Best Ones for Your Resume)

Putting a HarvardX certificate on resume

Like eCornell, HarvardX is Harvard University's online offering. The platform offers over 140 courses ranging from single subjects to full professional courses.

Putting an EdX certificate on a resume

EdX is also a Harvard initiative, co-created with MIT. EdX offers accredited online courses from universities across the United States and is highly regarded as a provider of top-quality academic content — you can even complete a full degree program online or use EdX courses to transfer with academic credit.

When to list online courses on your resume

Here are a few situations where listing an online course can be worth it:

If it’s required for the job

Anything listed in the job description should be addressed on your resume. If a specific qualification is mentioned in the job ad — either as a minimum requirement or as a ‘nice to have’ — you should list it on your resume. These must-haves are often set as filters on ATS software, which means that if you leave them off, you risk having your resume sent straight to the ‘no’ pile before it even reaches a recruiter’s desk.

If it adds credibility

Not all online courses are created equal. Certified courses are generally held in higher regard than non-certified courses, and a six-week online course from an accredited institution looks far more impressive than a four-hour Zoom workshop. You can increase the credibility of online courses by opting for a verified certificate or completing a project that puts the skills you learned into practice.

If you’re changing careers

When you’re looking to break into a new role or industry, either as a recent grad or a career changer , your education takes on an extra layer of importance.

Not only can taking an online course help you develop some of the basic skills you’ll need for the new position, but listing it on your resume is a good way to show that you have the skills required for the job and include the keywords necessary to get past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

When to leave your online course off your resume

So, when shouldn’t you list an online course on your resume? Here are some general principles to keep in mind:

Keep very short courses off your resume

On the flip side, any course that only takes a very short time to complete (less than a few days or so) usually won’t be significant enough to include on your resume. In general, aim to include no more than 1-2 certifications — listing every single workshop or conference you’ve ever attended will only waste valuable resume space and dilute the impact of any genuinely relevant certifications.

Only list relevant online courses

This is the basic litmus test for everything on your resume: Is it relevant to the specific job you’re applying for? It doesn’t matter how impressive the qualification, if it has nothing to do with the role or industry you’re targeting, it’s better to leave it off.

Experience trumps qualifications

If you're a senior-level candidate or have at 8+ years of experience in your field, it's often a good idea to leave off short online courses from your resume, unless they're clearly credited, like an Executive MBA or similar. Most hiring managers only will focus on your formal work experience on a resume when you're at the senior level, and education, extra-curricular and online courses are much less important.

Reputation matters

Avoid notoriously unreliable institutions, which can do more harm to your candidacy than good. A lot of online for-profit colleges (like the University of Phoenix) have such bad reputations that it may be worth leaving those qualifications off your resume entirely, unless you can’t avoid it.

How can I find online courses?

Want to include online courses on your resume but aren’t sure where to find them? Here are some good places to start looking:

Check the job description

This is oft-repeated advice, but that’s because the job posting itself is almost always the best place to start when building your resume. If the ad mentions a specific certification candidates should have, it may be worth your while to pursue it as an online course — that way you don't need to take time off work.

Target specific skills

If you know what skills you need to brush up on, try searching for online courses that target those areas. If you aren’t sure, use the skills and keywords tool below to find the right skills based on your desired industry or job title.

Ask your network

The best way to know what qualifications are actually useful is to ask people with experience in similar roles. Ask your existing network, search LinkedIn or alumni databases for potential contacts, and ask for informational interviews with people who can help steer you in the right direction.

Ask them if an online course in the field is worth doing, and if there are any reputable ones they recommend. People who work in the industry will be more in-the-know about the right online courses to do and which ones are respected.

Choose a legitimate provider

The more well-known a course or institution, the better. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of reputable online course providers:

• CodeAcademy
• FutureLearn
• LinkedIn Learning
• Google Analytics Academy

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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 Development

How to List Online Courses on a Resume (Examples and Tips)

If you’re one of the millions of people who pursue continuing education through online courses – congratulations! In an ever-evolving economy where new technology can quickly render old skills obsolete, it’s vital for employees to continually upgrade their skills. In addition, employers appreciate workers who are invested in their own skill sets. However, those online courses and certifications may pose a challenge for your resume if you decide to seek a new job. In this post, we will explain how to list online courses on a resume the right way.

What are online courses?

The term online courses typically refers to MOOCs. MOOCs, or Massive Open Online Courses, are the leading source of non-academia education and professional development. You’ve probably heard of some of the more popular MOOC websites, like Lynda, Udemy, and Coursera. But there are actually hundreds more!

When you browse MOOCs, you will be inundated with so many options for ways to develop professionally. The courses, though delivered through the sites listed above, are actually designed by leading global companies and ivy league colleges. There are short- and long-term professional certification courses, online Master's degrees, and in-depth skill development courses. 

The true benefit of MOOCs though? They’re open-source. Meaning the content is free to access, and the certifications are still professionally verified. If you want to advance your career but don’t have the means or time to go back to school for a degree, online courses through MOOCs are excellent to know about. 

Here are some of the other popular online services that offer courses :

Khan Academy

Should you List Online Courses on a Resume?

You might be wondering whether you should list online courses on your resume. Does it add value – or is it even worth listing online courses on your resume? Or any online studies, for that matter?

The answer is – Yes!

The world is changing – faster than most of us realize. Today’s skills often have a short shelf-life, and smart employees will recognize the need to upgrade their talents. That’s the best way to ensure that you maintain and enhance your value as an employee. In the end, that value is what makes employers want to hire you.

Of course, most of us would struggle to hold down a job and go to a traditional college at the same time. Fortunately, the rise of the internet has presented workers with alternative options for continuing education.

Why is it important to show online courses on a resume?

Any way that you are able to showcase professional development on a resume is encouraged. For many people, their careers don’t inherently follow a linear path, which can make a resume appear less strong. However, if you have a section in your resume to describe professional development, you can list out your online courses, adding value. 

Online courses are appreciated by recruiters because usually for someone to enroll, it means they have an authentic desire to grow professionally. It also shows an affinity for keeping up with market and industry trends. 

For example, the field of UX design has become very popular recently. In that time, the ethics and standards have also changed significantly. If someone entered UX in the early 2000s and has kept the same job, a recruiter might question the relevance of their insight. If that same candidate also showed professional development courses throughout the last twenty years, it would indicate that they are up to date with trends and have likely obtained the skills to produce appropriate content. 

How to List Online Courses on Your Resume

MOOCs, including sites like Lynda, Udemy, and Coursera, offer workers valuable education, new or enhanced skills, and certifications that can carry real value in the marketplace. More importantly, employers need to be able to see how you’ve tried to keep pace with skillset changes. For all those reasons, you need to know how to list online courses on your resume.

Keep in mind that online courses are a recent phenomenon. That means that some employers may not understand their relevance – or even give them much credence. If you know how to list online courses on your resume, however, you can overcome those challenges. 

These tips can help.

Choose Relevant Coursework

First, it’s important to be selective when you list online courses on your resume. You may include continuing education courses on a resume , but that doesn’t mean that the employer needs to hear about every class you take.

Instead, think about the skills you need for the job you’re seeking. Which courses provided skills that directly relate to that job? Those are the courses that you want to emphasize in your resume. Try to tailor your list as much as possible, for maximum impact.

Don’t Include Any Courses That Could Be Considered “Beginning-Level”

Skip any courses that might present you as a novice in that skill area. So, if you took a course introducing students to PowerPoint, for example, you can leave it off your resume. Its inclusion would mark you as a beginner and detract from your other areas of expertise. In short, only include courses that enhance your credibility as an expert in your field.

Some other beginner-level certs that might be most effective when omitted are the use of Microsoft Word, the Google Suite, or how to organize files on your computer. Your resume should be reserved for your proudest achievements. A recruiter might get the wrong idea about you if you consider using Word as a proud achievement. 

Use online courses to advance your career

If you are interested in changing careers or pursuing a promotion at work, use online courses to your advantage! One of the biggest setbacks professionals face when trying to make a big career change is that a lot of the time, they don’t quite have the experience or meet the qualifications. Online courses can offset that. 

Perhaps you don’t have five years of data analysis experience on top of your project management job. But, if you took an inline certification course in professional data analysis, you could still come out as a top candidate. 

Choose Your Placement Wisely

Be smart about where you list online courses on your resume. Sure, they’re educational in nature, but that doesn’t mean that they belong in the education section of your resume .

Formal education is just that: formal. That includes university degrees and other college or trade school accomplishments. List those achievements in your education section, and then create a different section for your continuing education efforts. 

We recommend using a title like "Professional Development", "Certifications", or "Professional Training" (or something similar) to highlight these online courses and skills.

(We wrote a good post on including certifications on your resume .)

You can use that section to list online courses on your resume, as well as other professional development. Try to limit those courses and skills to no more than five or six. You can include everything from online courses to technical certifications in this section.

Depending on the relevance of these courses to the job you’re applying for, you can choose to include the section on either the front page near the top, or towards the bottom. 

Example of Online Courses on a Resume

Bachelor of Arts, Communications – Seattle University

Professional Development & Affiliations

Excel for Marketers – Lynda.com

Marketing Courses – UC Berkeley Extension

Affiliations – National Association of Sales Professionals, Think LA, SF BIG, IAA Board SF

Here is an example on a resume:

Focus on How You’ve Used Those Skills

How you list online courses on your resume matters too. While you might be tempted to just use a dry list of your certifications and other continuing education, don’t. Those skill enhancements are basically meaningless without context. In other words, you need to do more than just list them; you need to showcase their value.

The best way to do that is to cite projects or tasks where you have used those skills. So, for example, if you received software certification of some kind, include a project that involved that skill.

That helps to flesh out the coursework and demonstrate its value to any prospective employer. It might require a little more creativity and thought on your part, but the results will be well worth the added effort.

Closing Thoughts

When you know how to list online courses on a resume, you can enhance your image as an expert in your field. At the same time, you will also demonstrate a passion for your industry. Just remember to focus intently on showcasing value. That will help any potential employer to better understand why you’re the best candidate for the job!

Recommended reading:

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out in 2023

50 Resume Dos and Don’ts You Need to Know in 2023

Including Professional Development on a Resume (Examples)

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How To List Online Courses on Resume & 5 Reasons You Should

Why mentioning online courses on your resume can help you stand out

As the US job market became increasingly competitive during lockdown, many people turned to online courses to differentiate themselves from similar applicants.

It’s a smart strategy!

Online courses and certificate programs are an excellent way to build your skills and make yourself more marketable to employers.

If you’re looking to switch careers, online courses can be especially helpful in getting your foot in the door.

The best part?

You can study exactly the topics you need on your own time for free or for a small fee, without shelling out $100K+ for an MBA.

In this article, we explain:

• Why you should include online courses on your resume
• How to select online courses that match your career objectives
• Where to list online courses on your resume
• Where to find reputable online course providers

Why should I include online courses on my resume?

Clients often ask us whether including an online course on their resumes is a good use of space.

While we don’t recommend taking several courses just to beef up your resume, pursuing relevant courses accomplishes the following:

1) Demonstrates that you actively pursue career growth and development, signaling that you’ll likely be an engaged employee

2) Allows you to learn new skills and hone existing skills, making you more effective on the job

3) Enables you to differentiate yourself from similar applicants , increasing your chances of landing interviews

4) Serves as a natural way to incorporate relevant keywords, helping your resume pass ATS scans

5) Provides a productive way to fill a career gap,  showing that you still prioritized your career during your time off

Which online courses should I take?

You should select online courses that match your career objectives.

To best explain what we mean, we’ll consider two scenarios: jobseekers who are looking to grow in their current roles and jobseekers who are looking to switch careers.

Jobseekers looking to grow in current role

If you are looking to grow in your current field, you’ll want to select courses that allow you to be more effective on the job.

For example, if you are a business analyst and often work with spreadsheets, you might consider courses that teach you how to:

• Create models that your team can use to quickly consolidate data
• Pull data from your company’s data warehouse using SQL
• Write VBA programs to run automated macros

By building these skills and applying them on the job, you’ll effectively position yourself for a promotion.

If you’re more senior and have recently started leading your own team, you might consider courses that hone your leadership skills.

As a result, you’ll be more confident in your management abilities manage your team more effectively.

Jobseekers looking to switch careers

If you are looking to switch careers, online courses can be especially helpful because they will:

1) Demonstrate that you are serious about pursuing the career change – not just trying to test the waters

2) Prepare you to hit the ground running – especially if you are entering a technical role

3) Enable you to position your resume effectively

The third point we mentioned can be key.

Career-switchers often struggle to land interviews because recruiters don’t see their experience as related to the role they’re recruiting for or their resumes get filtered out by ATS (due to a lack of relevant keywords).

Online courses can help you naturally add the relevant keywords into your resume.

For example, if you are working in sales and want to pursue a role in real estate finance, you might struggle to incorporate phrases with real estate-related keywords such as:

• Leveraged Excel to create underwriting models…
• Analyzed lending risks for new investment opportunities…
• Prepared deal summary memorandums…
• Researched real estate market trends…

Without demonstrating that you are both familiar with industry terminology and able to fulfil the position requirements, you likely won’t land an interview.

A candidate looking to transition to real estate, for example, might consider the following options whose titles include target keywords:

Modeling Risks and Realities  from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania on Coursera (free)

Socially Responsible Real Estate Development from MIT on edX (free)

Commercial Real Estate Certificate from Cornell University’s eCornell (paid)

Where should I list online courses on my resume?

We recommend listing online courses in the Certifications or Professional Development sections on your resume.

You can add them to your resume by:

1) Listing the course titles and providers

2) Writing one or two bullet points summarizing what you learned in the course

Some people list online courses in the Education section.

We don’t recommend doing so because it can detract attention from your degree programs, which you should highlight more prominently.

Recruiters we work with have also pointed out an increasing trend of people making it seem like they graduated from “Cornell University” when they only took a two-week online course.

As such, it’s important to be transparent and make the nature of the course you took clear.

Recruiters know that many prestigious universities offer online courses and recognize their value.

However, a free MIT online course is simply not the same thing as earning a degree from MIT.

By separating your Education from your Certifications or Professional Development, you’ll avoid any confusion or appearance of manipulation.

Who are the best online course providers?

You should be able to find both free and paid online courses relevant to your niche.

Free online course providers to consider include:

Coursera offers free courses from top universities such as Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Duke, Imperial College London, University of Michigan, and Google.

The website claims that "87% of people learning for professional development report career benefits like getting a promotion, a raise, or starting a new career" ( Coursera Learner Outcomes Survey 2019).

edEx  is another reputable online course provider, with free options from MIT, Harvard, University of California – Berkeley, and Boston University.

You'll find over 2,500 courses spanning computer science, foreign languages, data science, engineering, business, and humanities.

Paid online course providers to consider include:

eCornell offers certificate programs for hospitality management, real estate, data science, healthcare, and project management.

Harvard Business School Online

Harvard Business School Online courses cover topics including business analytics, strategy, entrepreneurship, financial accounting, leadership, and negotiations.

Whether you're looking to grow in your field or switch careers, online courses can help get your foot in the door.

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Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer. After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents. At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background - which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication - to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, and Thrive Global.

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How to List Online Courses on Your Resume the Right Way (Because Yes, There Is a Wrong Way)

So you’ve been taking some online courses . You’ve learned a ton, and you’ve even been using your new skills at work or to develop a side project.

But now you’re contemplating a career move and wondering how (and even whether) to include your continuing education on your resume. You’re right to approach this task thoughtfully. Online courses are still relatively new, recruiters can be skeptical, and in certain cases, listing your online education can actually make your resume worse.

I spoke to several recruiters and hiring managers to gather insight on what they think when they see online courses listed on candidates’ resumes. So, whether you aced your marketing MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), killed it in coding bootcamp , or taught yourself graphic design; here are some of their tips on how to tell that story in your application:

1. Put Them in Their Proper Place

Across the board, the hiring managers and recruiters I spoke with agreed that MOOCs and other online courses can help make the case that you can do the job. However, they also think these classes shouldn’t be the star of the show. As Anne Lewis, the Director of Sales and Recruitment for Betts Recruiting , a firm specializing in recruitment for technology companies, told me, “In general, MOOCs can help to make candidate profiles stronger, especially junior candidates that don’t have as much experience.”

If you’ve taken courses that have taught you something that will help you on the job, by all means, include them on your resume, she says. Just keep the list of courses short, and confine them to a single, small area, such as a “Professional Training” section under your work history.

2. Keep it Relevant

Kudos for being a lifelong learner, but in all honesty, no one cares that you studied Ancient Greek Art when you're up for a job in the sales department. You wouldn’t list every course from your college transcript, so why do it with your online learning?

Instead, include only those courses that are relevant to the work you expect to do. Lewis suggests editing the list of courses on your resume depending on the job for which you’re applying. “It’s all about positioning these certifications as relevant to a particular role and outlining how [they] add value," she says.

3. Skip the Intro Classes

Multiple recruiters mentioned that listing introductory-level online courses can make a candidate look bad when the expectation is that he or she will be an expert. For example, Sham Mustafa, the CEO of Correlation One , a company that recruits for data science positions, told me a story about a candidate whose current title is "Senior Data Scientist." The candidate holds a PhD and has worked in roles requiring advanced quantitative skills for the past 25 years. “Yet,” Mustafa says, “Under his education, he lists introductory MOOCs in Machine Learning and Data Science.” Rather than helping him, these courses making him sound less experienced and actually decrease his competitiveness for the job.

Muse Master Coach Erica Breuer takes it one step further: “I advise my clients to include details about their professional development—including online courses—only when they've completed a major certification or other notable credential.” You want anything on your resume to bolster your credibility: Don’t waste lines on a low-level course that’s not adding to what you’d bring to the table.

4. Show How You Put Your Skills Into Practice

Recruiters were also in agreement that providing evidence of how you put your skills into practice can help strengthen the case that your continuing education meant something. While your education is important—whether we’re talking online courses or a university degree—it’s how you’ve put that education to work that really counts.

Breuer says, “It's crucial for candidates to demonstrate that they're keeping their skills fresh. So, don’t just list a class you took, include a special project, or pro-bono work with your favorite charity to provide context around the results you’ve brought using that new skill.”

Mustafa, of Correlation One, shared a story of a candidate for a data science position. The candidate’s degrees are in unrelated fields, but he has listed several data science courses on his resume. He has also successfully completed several projects and competitions on Kaggle, a popular data science site. “The reader of the resume can see that he is putting his newly acquired skills to work,” Mustafa says.

5. Prepared to Be Quizzed

OK, this one is kind of a bonus, because it’s about your interview—but hopefully your stellar resume gets you to this point in the process! If you list online courses, expect an open-ended question like, “Your resume lists a digital marketing class. What can you tell me about that experience?” Or you may have to field more specific questions, especially if you are claiming technical expertise.

So, while you’re thinking about your answers to common interview questions , also make a list of some you might be asked about your studies and come up with answers for each of them.

Listing online classes on your resume is a definite do. Just make sure you do it thoughtfully so you’re sending the right message about your continuing education. After all, you worked hard to complete all these courses in your free time, you owe it to yourself to make sure they count.

How to list online courses on your resume

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You did it: you’ve finished up another online course to help you advance in your career as a developer. How can you share the work you’ve put in with your future employer?

A lot of our learners ask us for guidance on listing online courses on their resumes. That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide on why this is a great idea and how to do it.

Why you should list online courses on your resume

There are several reasons why you should list the online courses you’ve completed on your resume. We’ve rounded the up here.

It shows employers that you’re proactive

Today, most companies want to hire people who can work independently rather than waiting around to be told what to do. When you take a professional online course on your own initiative, it shows employers that you’re serious about advancing your career and have the discipline to follow through on your plans.

Online courses can fill career gaps

Employers don’t like to see long gaps in your resume. Whether you’ve been looking for a job for a while or you just wanted to take some time off, taking relevant online courses is one way to show that you’ve been keeping a foot in your professional field since your last job position.

Online courses validate your skills

Yes, it’s true that many professionals improve their skills and learn new ones in the workplace. And it’s completely valid to provide a list of these skills on your resume.

But think about it from the perspective of a future employer. Hundreds, maybe thousands of people submit resumes claiming the same skills. How is it possible to pick out who’s better?

Online courses can validate your skills and give companies an objective understanding of your professional knowledge.

5 tips on how to list online courses on your resume

While you can simply list all the online courses you’ve taken on your resume, that might not attract a potential employer. Here are some tips to help you list these courses in a way that will impress interviewers:

1. Have the job description in front of you

Read (or re-read) the job description to give yourself a clear idea of what kind of person the company is looking for. This is especially important if you’re applying to several jobs at once.

As you go through these other tips, keep referring to the job description as your guide to listing online courses on your resume.

2. Add courses that matter

Remember that most hiring managers take just a few seconds to look through each resume they get. If you list every online course you’ve taken, the reader will skip over the important parts of your resume.

This is why you should keep that job description handy. Take a look at the description. Then, as you add in online courses, ask yourself, “Did I learn a skill here that the company is looking for?” If so, then include it in your resume.

3. Make sure your list is easy to verify

Include the course provider in your list and write course names exactly as they appear on the course provider’s website.

You should also make sure you take courses from a reputable provider. Before starting a course, check that the provider has a strong online presence, good reviews, and works with well-known clients.

You’ll also want to download and organize certification documents and completion certificates so that you can quickly provide them to your future employer if requested.

4. Don’t forget to add the dates

Including the dates of your online courses helps employers understand how current your knowledge is. If you include the length of the course, either in weeks or hours, employers can also gauge how in-depth your knowledge is. If it’s been years since you’ve taken a course, you may want to look into taking a refresher course to show employers that you’re staying up to date.

If you’re still taking the course, it’s okay to write in “In Progress” or the expected completion date.

5. Briefly mention what you learned

It’s easy to sign up for a course, but what employers really want to know is what you took away from it. In particular, what did you learn during this course that would help you succeed in your new job? Take a look at the job description and write one or two bullet points that directly connect what you learned in the course with something in the job description.

Where to list your online courses

In most cases, you’ll want to have a separate “Professional Development” section in your resume that lists your online courses in order of completion date — the most recent courses should come first.

Don’t forget about your online profile

Your professional online presence is just as important as your CV. If you’re active on LinkedIn — and you should be — you can also share your certificates there. Hiring managers constantly use social media to find new talent, and having a certificate in your professional profile is another way to distinguish yourself.

Codecademy Pro members earn certificates each time they complete a course, Skill Path, or Career Path, and these certificates can be shared directly to LinkedIn.

Online courses can help make you the perfect candidate

We know how much effort and commitment you’ve put into your development career. And ideally, hiring managers would be able to learn everything about your skills and experience before deciding whether to move you to their interview list. Unfortunately, most of us only have a few seconds to grab someone’s attention. The online courses on your resume should help show that your entire professional history up to now has made you the perfect candidate for the job.

If there are any specific skills or languages you’re looking to brush up on before starting to apply for jobs, head over to our course catalog to find the right course to help your resume stand out.

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How To Include Your Relevant Coursework On A Resume

In This Guide:

What is coursework, when to include coursework, when not to list coursework on resume, where to list coursework on a resume, 3 ways to list coursework on resume.

In today’s competitive job market, wielding a degree isn't the golden ticket it once was—with nearly half of college grads underemployed , the diploma alone might not cut it​. Your resume can turn into a beacon of opportunity when you smartly list relevant coursework. It’s a strategic display of your skills tailored to meet the precise needs of employers. In an era that favors skill over a title, showcasing the right courses can move you past the competition, connecting your academic efforts directly to the job's demands​. Make every line count and let your resume tell the story of a candidate ready to excel.

You are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward.

Conrad Hall

Coursework refers to the written or practical work students are required to complete as part of a course in a school or university. It can include a variety of tasks, such as:

• Assignments
• Examinations
• Class participation
• Presentations
• Practicals and labs
• Research projects

What is r elevant  coursework

The answer will depend on the specific job you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a front-end developer, a course in UX and UI design will be very relevant.

This corresponds to the need to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. Look for specific keywords in the job description  and think about how your qualifications match them.

Even if your coursework was optional or a minor component of your studies, it can still offer significant value to potential employers, provided you completed the assignments and can demonstrate the knowledge you gained.

Mentioning any significant online courses or certifications  could also be beneficial, especially in fields where ongoing education and skill development are crucial.

There are situations where it makes perfect sense to include relevant coursework on your resume:

When you’re a recent graduate

If you’re fresh out of college, it’s only natural you don’t have much practical experience yet. So, your resume should focus on the knowledge and skills you acquired during your studies, or in the form of additional projects and volunteer work.

College resume components

• Education–major and minor, relevant coursework, academic honors , high GPA
• Certifications
• Transferable skills
• Language skills
• Volunteer work

Including relevant coursework on your entry-level resume  isn't just a formality—it's a strategic move that exhibits your expertise in critical areas, making you stand out in fields where specific skills are paramount. It’s an arena for the practical and soft skills you've honed through academic projects, and fills the gap left by limited professional experience.

This approach showcases your dedication and passion for your field and ensures your resume stands out to Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)  by highlighting key job-related terms. It also sets a strong foundation for interviews and allows you to effectively discuss how your educational experiences prepare you for your career. By emphasizing relevant coursework, you signal to employers your readiness to thrive in the professional world.

When you’re switching careers

Listing relevant coursework on your resume when switching careers can be a bit controversial, but it's generally beneficial if done correctly. Here’s how to include it:

• Focus on courses directly relating to your new field to demonstrate foundational knowledge.
• Mention any hands-on projects or specialized training from your courses that relate to the job.
• If your previous work experience isn’t directly related, feature your coursework more prominently, perhaps under a “Professional Development” section.
• Link your coursework with applicable skills in your resume, showcasing your readiness for the new role.
• Only list the most pertinent courses to keep your resume streamlined and focused.

Including coursework can help bridge the gap between your past experience and your new career path, showing potential employers your dedication to transitioning into the field.

While listing relevant coursework can be beneficial, especially for those new to the workforce or changing careers, there are times when it's more strategic to omit it—usually in favor of more important information, such as work experience . Here are several scenarios where you might consider leaving coursework off your resume:

• If the coursework is not relevant to the job you're applying for, it's best to leave it off. This keeps your resume focused and tailored to the position.
• If you are trying to save space on your resume , prioritize work experience and skills over listing coursework, especially if it doesn't add significant value.
• When you have more than a year of work experience, focus on your professional accomplishments  and skills rather than academic courses, unless those courses directly enhance your job application.
• If you don't have a strong grasp or sufficient expertise in the area taught by the course, despite having taken it, it’s better not to list it.
• Do not include courses if the knowledge they impart is already implied by your degree or is redundant given your other qualifications.

Here are three common approaches to including coursework on a resume, along with the pros and cons of each:

Under the education section

Placement : List relevant courses as a bullet, directly under the details of your degree in the education section.

• Keeps all educational information consolidated, making it easier for employers to see the relationship between your courses and your degree.
• Useful for students or recent graduates who want to highlight academic achievements due to limited work experience.
• May clutter the education section if you list too many courses.
• May not capture the attention of employers who prioritize practical work experience over academic coursework.

Here’s a good example:

• • Relevant Coursework: Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Database Management

In a dedicated section

Placement : Create a separate section titled “Relevant Coursework” or “Advanced Training,” listing courses relevant to the job you're applying for.

• Highlights specific relevant courses directly, making them more noticeable to the employer.
• Allows for greater detail about what you learned in each course, linking coursework to job requirements.
• Bonus:  It’s the best option for listing coursework on an academic resume.
• Takes up valuable space that could be used for showcasing work experience or skills.
• Might be overlooked if poorly positioned on the resume or if the courses aren’t directly relevant to the job.

It could look like this:

In the cover letter

If a job requires certain qualifications that you've, until now, only gained experience with through coursework, it's wise to mention this in your cover letter . This approach allows you to openly discuss your actual level of proficiency with the relevant instruments, without it seeming unprofessional or taking up too much space on your resume.

Choosing the best option

The placement of coursework on your resume depends on your career stage and the job you're targeting . If it’s highly relevant or showcases skills you haven't used professionally, adding a dedicated section might be beneficial. For recent graduates, including detailed coursework under your education section can enhance your profile. In your cover letter, integrate coursework to highlight how specific academic experiences directly relate to the job requirements.

Make this your resume

Use Enhancv’s Resume Builder and make a resume that stands out.

Coursework resume example #1: Bulleted list

If you have several relevant entries to present, and sufficient space in your document, opt for a bulleted list. It sits well with recruiters as it lets their gaze slide along your list of competencies.

• • Relevant Coursework:
• • Ecological Modeling
• • Conservation Biology
• • Environmental Policy and Law
• • Climate Change and Human Impact

Coursework resume example #2: Detailed bulleted list

If you have enough space on your resume and want to be more precise in the specific knowledge the coursework you did gave you, opt for the detailed bulleted list. Keep in mind that recruiters might still only look at the lead-ins.

• • Ecological Modeling – Focused on the creation and application of models to predict environmental impacts and ecosystem responses.
• • Conservation Biology – Studied the preservation, protection, and restoration of natural environments and wildlife.
• • Environmental Policy and Law – Analyzed policies affecting environmental regulation and compliance; included case studies on landmark legal decisions.
• • Climate Change and Human Impact – Examined the effects of human activity on climate change, including mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Coursework resume example #3: Standard list

That’s the classic option that saves space but is still easy to read: the standard list where you list your relevant coursework, separating entries with commas.

• • Relevant Coursework: Ecological Modeling, Conservation Biology, Environmental Policy and Law, Climate Change and Human Impact.

Practical tips for listing coursework

Finally, here are some extra tips to effectively present your academic pursuits:

• Select relevant courses : Only list coursework directly relevant to the job you're applying for. Avoid cluttering your resume with every course you’ve taken—focus on the most impactful ones like Machine Learning, Data Analysis, or other specialized subjects.
• Keep it brief : Limit the coursework section to 3-5 key courses to conserve space for more substantial content like significant projects  or any experience you have. Remember to update and trim this section as you gain more relevant experience.
• Use generic titles : Instead of course codes or overly specific titles, use general subject names that clearly convey the content, such as “Computer Science Fundamentals” instead of “Introduction to Computer Science.”
• Future courses : Mention planned coursework only if it’s directly relevant to the job. Indicate that these are future courses to manage expectations.
• Highlight applied skills : Instead of merely listing courses, briefly mention how the skills learned apply to the job you’re seeking. This can be integrated into a separate skills or projects section that showcases your ability to apply your academic knowledge.
• Projects over coursework : Whenever possible, prioritize describing projects and accomplishments over coursework. Projects often provide tangible proof  of your skills and adaptability.
• Early career emphasis : If you are early in your career, such as a freshman or sophomore, it's more acceptable to include relevant courses until more substantial experiences or projects can replace them.

FAQs about coursework on resume

Should i put future coursework on a resume.

Including future coursework can be a good idea, especially if it's directly relevant to the job you are applying for. Indicate that the coursework is “In Progress”, or note the anticipated completion dates. This shows your commitment to furthering your education and acquiring new skills.

Is it OK to put no experience on a resume?

It's OK to have a resume with no professional experience . Emphasize academic achievements, volunteer work, internships, and relevant skills developed through coursework and extracurricular activities. Describe any roles or projects that prove your abilities and enthusiasm for the field.

Should I include a job I’ve only just started on my resume?

Adding a recently started job can be advantageous as it shows current employment and a proactive attitude. List it by stating the start date and “present” to indicate that you are still employed in this role. Briefly mention your responsibilities and any accomplishments, even if they are preliminary.

How do I list incomplete education on my resume?

For incomplete education , list the school and the degree you were pursuing, followed by the dates you attended. Use a phrase like “Courses completed towards [degree]” to indicate your progress. If you plan to finish the degree, note this by including “Expected to resume studies” or “ Expected completion by [date] .”

How do I add a training course to my resume?

Add any relevant training courses in a separate section titled “Training & Certifications.” Include the name of the course, the institution or organization providing it, and the completion date or expected completion date if you're currently enrolled. Highlight any specific skills or knowledge acquired that relate to the job you’re applying for.

Listing relevant coursework on a resume is essential for those at the beginning of their careers. It provides potential employers with insight into your skills and knowledge, helping to demonstrate your capability to handle required tasks, even if you lack direct experience. Remember, your inexperience isn’t a setback–it's an opportunity to grow and adapt. Embrace this phase with confidence and show future employers that you’re prepared to take on challenges, and also eager to learn and contribute.

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What to Include in Your Education Section

The education section on a resume gives hiring managers a glimpse into your academic achievements , interests, and skills.

It can demonstrate your commitment to learning, your ability to succeed in a structured environment, and the relevant knowledge you've acquired.

The information you should include in this section, though, varies based on things like your career level, the exact job you're applying for, and how recent your education is.

This means you don’t always have to be super detailed. Some of the information about your education is optional, and some of it may even be redundant if you have relevant work experience, so you should only use it if you think it can give your resume a boost.

Let’s start with the details most employers expect to see:

Essential Information

• Degree Name. Include the type of degree and the relevant major. (E.g.: BFA in Graphic Design)
• University Name. Add the name of the institution you studied at. (E.g.: University of Saint Andrews)
• Location. If the university isn’t well known or the name doesn’t specify where it is, include the general location. (E.g.: St Andrews, Scotland)
• Years Attended. Usually, only the years you attend there are enough, but the mm/yyyy format is also popular. (E.g.: 09/2018 - 06/2021)

Optional Information

• Honors and Awards. If you’ve received any acknowledgments, list them here. (E.g.: Dean's List, Summa Cum Laude, Merit Scholarships, Valedictorian)
• Relevant Coursework. List three to five courses that directly apply to your target job. (E.g.: Marketing 101, Marketing Strategy, PR Basics)
• Thesis or Dissertation. We recommend including this for graduate-level degrees in research-heavy fields.
• Minor. If relevant, include any additional areas of study. (E.g.: BA in Creative Writing, Minor in Journalism)
• Grade Point Average. Only include your GPA if it's 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale. Anything lower can undermine your application.
• Extracurricular Activities. Mention any clubs or organizations that seem relevant. (E.g.: Debate team, Theater Club, School Newspaper)

Here’s an example of an education section that includes information from both categories:

Getting ready to find a job? Start by learning how to write a resume with our detailed guide!

How to Format Education on Your Resume

Now that you have an idea of what to include in your education section, let’s explain how you should do it.

In terms of structuring your education section, follow a reverse-chronological order ; this means, list your latest educational entry first and then go backward from there.

And remember – if you have a relevant university degree, there’s no need to waste precious space on your resume by listing your high school education .

As a general rule, if you’re an experienced professional and you have a Master’s degree, you can also omit your undergrad degree. Hiring managers are a lot more interested in your work experience section, so your education section should only focus on the basics.

However, if you’re a recent graduate , you might want to include more details to give your resume an extra kick. It’s always a good idea to leverage your education if you don’t have enough relevant work experience.

Now, regardless of your level of experience, add the name of your degree at the very top of the entry in your education section.

The same degree can be written down differently, for instance:

• Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Culture with a Minor in Teaching
• BA in English Language and Culture, Minor in Teaching
• B.A. English Language and Culture (Major), Teaching (Minor)
• BA, English Language and Culture

Here’s an example of what the formatting in your education section should look like:

If you graduated from a famous university with a good reputation, you can highlight that first. For example, list “Harvard University” before the name of your degree.

Where to Place Education on Your Resume

Another important thing to consider is where to position the education section on your resume.

This mostly depends on where you are in your career. Do you have a lot of relevant achievements in the field, or are you looking for your first job ?

As a rule of thumb, the top third of your resume should be reserved for your accomplishments , which are most relevant to the job you are applying for.

So before you place this section on your resume, ask yourself: is your education your biggest selling point to the hiring manager?

Most of the time, it won’t be. Work experience is way more important for just about any position above entry level, so it should be listed first.

Let’s look at an example of a resume that puts this into action:

As you can see, this architect resume starts by listing their relevant work experience and then includes a detailed entry of their most recent degree.

When Does Education Go Before Work Experience?

While your work experience section is generally more important, there are a few cases where you should list your education first.

These include:

• You have no work experience. When you have absolutely no work experience yet, you should focus on your academic achievements instead.
• You just graduated college. If you don’t have relevant work experience, you’re often better off not listing it. For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level office job, the part-time teenage jobs you had won’t be anywhere near as relevant as your recently earned BA in Marketing.
• You are currently studying. If you’re in the process of earning a degree that’s relevant to your targeted field, it’s better to list education before work experience. For example, if you’re making a career change , you would want your new education to be the first thing the hiring manager sees.
• You recently earned a new degree. Getting a fresh MSc, Ph.D., or MBA in your field is worth showing off. For example, if you’ve been a line manager for years but earned an MBA to qualify for an executive position, your education section should go first.
• You are applying to academia. Usually, when applying for a research or teaching position in academia, you’ll need an academic CV , not a resume. In that case, your education will always come first.

Not sure if you need a CV or a resume ? Check out our guide to learn what the difference between the two is and when to use which.

Use a (Free) Resume Template

Creating a resume can be a hassle.

You have to find a template that works with your favorite text editor, set the page margins, adjust the line spacing, choose a professional font , and all while making sure you never go past page one.

What if there was an easier way?

This is where our resume builder comes in!

Novoresume lets you choose from 16 professional resume templates , each crafted with feedback from HR professionals around the world, and create the perfect resume in minutes.

Just look at how one of our resume templates compares to a basic text editor resume template:

16 Examples of Education on a Resume

Looking for inspiration?

We’ve compiled a list filled with real-life examples of how education can be listed on a resume, with practical examples for different types and levels of education:

#1. High School Education

If you’re a high school student, you might have some volunteer experience or extracurriculars you can show off. In that case, you can start by listing those sections, so long as they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for.

For example, if you volunteered with your local branch of the Red Cross, that’s a good experience to have when you’re applying to work at a shelter.

In most other cases, the education section would take the upper hand, and it would look something like this:

High School Diploma

Chapel Hill High School

2017 - 2021

• Courses: AP Science, Mathematics, Advanced Chemistry

If you’re still in high school, you can disclose it in your resume by writing down your expected graduation year or otherwise specifying that you’re currently still there.

2021 - Present

#2. General Education Development

If you were homeschooled or haven’t graduated high school, the previous example won’t apply to you.

But if you still received a General Education Development certificate, you can mention that in your resume in the following way:

GED Diploma

Durham Literacy Center

Just like with high school education, you can include the location of your school or GED center, as well as any relevant courses, if you have enough space.

#3. Associate Degree

If you went to a community college or opted for a vocational program, you can list it in your education section the same as any other undergraduate degree.

Associate degrees are typically cheaper and take less time than a bachelor’s degree. They tend to be focused on specific occupations and place more emphasis on daily job functions. Other than that, they follow the same formatting as any other educational entry.

Let’s look at some real-life examples of different types of degrees at this level.

First, an Associate of Arts degree:

AA in Business Designation

Community College of Denver

2015 - 2016

Summa Cum Laude

Next, here’s how you would list an ongoing Associate’s of Applied Science degree:

AAS in Medical Assisting

2018 - Present

Some associate degrees are what’s known as “transfer degrees.” Here, the long-term goal is to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program.

Similarly, if you’ve completed accredited courses at a community college that can go towards a degree, you can list them under your education section, like this:

Medical Assisting Certificate

• 30 credits completed

#4. Certificates

Certificates can be included on your resume, either as part of the education section or in a dedicated section.

Unlike broad academic degrees, certificates can show specialized expertise and commitment to professional development. They tend to demonstrate more focused, essential skills that are directly applicable to a particular job or industry.

Treat these entries the same as any other: list the name of the certificate, the institution or organization that issued it, and the year you obtained it.

Here’s an example of how to list a professional certificate in an education section:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

American Institute of CPAs

And here’s how they would look in a separate section:

CERTIFICATES

• Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) - National Academy of Sports Medicine, 2020
• Certified Nutrition Coach - American Nutrition Association, 2023

But there are also other certificates you could list , such as after specialized software courses:

• Maya Autodesk: Advanced 3D & Animation Udemy, 2022
• Creation of Pixel Art Scenes for Video Games Domestika, 2023

#5. Undergraduate Degree

There are different ways to list a bachelor’s degree.

Let’s take a look at three different cases for a candidate with an engineering degree.

First, if you’ve graduated from university and received the degree, list it according to the following template:

B.Sc. Mechanical Engine ering

University of California, Berkeley

2002 - 2006

If you obtained a double major, you would write it down as:

B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering

If you have two or more majors, keep in mind that you should list the major that’s most relevant to the job you are applying to.

For example, if you majored in Applied Languages and International Relations, you should focus on the languages for a job as a translator.

Lastly, if you’re still attending college, just omit the finishing year when filling in your education section and add “Present” instead, like so:

But there are also different ways you can specify that you’re still studying. Instead of “Present,” you could write:

• 2021 - Current
• Expected Graduation: 2024
• 2021 - 2024 (expected graduation)
• 2021 - In progress
• To Be Completed: 2024

#6. Graduate and Postgraduate Degrees

Graduate-level education is, in general, more detailed since it requires participating in a more focused area of research on top of your graduate-level work. 

At this level, you probably contributed to the field with a dissertation of your own, which you should include in your resume.

Here’s an example:

Ph.D. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences

University of Rochester

Dissertation: Imaging, Computational Analysis, & Neural Representations in Young Children

Graduate and postgraduate education often includes scholarships , fellowships, or outside funding involved, which you might want to include in addition to all the general information about your degree.

Here are some real-life examples:

MBA in Business Administration

University of Maine

• Avangrid Scholarship
• Magna Cum Laude

When it comes to honors and awards, there are different ways you can list them to save space on your resume. Here’s an example that mentions them but leaves more space for the dissertation title:

MSc. in Information Systems

WU Vienna University of Economics & Business

Salutatorian, Summa Cum Laude

2015 - 2017

Dissertation: Leveraging User-Generated Content for Advertising Purposes Through Information Systems

And if you’re still studying, don’t forget to check out our student resume templates to get started on your job hunt.

#7. Unfinished Education

Even if you didn’t graduate from university, you can still mention it in your education section. Just be strategic about it.

If you have several years of relevant coursework from a degree program that relates to the job you're applying for, it can show that you’re knowledgeable even without the final credential.

B.Sc. in Civil Engineering

34 credits completed

2018 - 2019

However, if you only have basic courses or your degree isn’t relevant to the role, you might be better off skipping it altogether. There’s no need to draw attention to an unfinished degree if it won’t help you impress the hiring manager.

Need more examples? Check out our 90+ resume examples for different professions .

Do you still wonder something about education on a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions here:

#1. How Do You Put Your Degree on a CV?

Adding your degree to your CV is pretty much the same as adding it to your resume.

List your degrees in reverse chronological order, with the most recent degree on top. Always include the essential information, such as the degree name, your major, the name of the university, and the years you attended. If relevant, you can include your GPA, thesis title, study abroad experiences, and academic honors.

#2. How Do You Write Down Your Bachelor’s Degree?

There are different ways that a bachelor's degree can be written down on your resume. Usually, there’s no need to spell out the full degree name, so there are ways you can abbreviate it for your resume. These include:

BA (Bachelor of Arts) BS (Bachelor of Science) BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

Just use the specific abbreviation that matches your degree type. (E.g.: BSc Computer Science, BA History, BBA Economics, etc. )

#3. What If I Have an Education Gap or Took Time Off from Studies?

Treat any gaps in your education the same as you would treat an employment gap . Be upfront with the hiring manager and list the start and end dates to account for the time of the gap on your resume.

Use your cover letter to briefly explain the gap without going into too much detail. Hiring managers are understanding, and reasons like health, family, or professional experience are all common to justify education gaps.

#4. How Far Back Should I Go When Listing My Education History?

Generally, you only need to list basic information about your education if you graduated a long time ago. Your work experience and more recent achievements will have a lot more weight than details about your time in college 14 years ago.

For most professionals, listing just your highest degree is more than enough. However, an academic CV for scientific or research-heavy roles might need a more comprehensive educational background.

Key Takeaways

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of our article!

We’re confident you’re an expert on how to list education on a resume by now, but before we part ways, let’s quickly wrap up our main points:

• Your education section belongs after your work experience section, though there are some exceptions.
• If you don’t have any work experience, recently earned a relevant degree, or if you’re applying for a research-oriented position or in academia, the education section should be listed first.
• When listing your educational entries, use a reverse chronological order. Start with the most recent degree you have and go backward from there.
• If you have some sort of higher education, there’s no need to list your high school education.
• Unless your GPA is exceptional, don’t list it. It might undermine your resume otherwise.
• There are different ways to list your education, depending on the type of school you went to and what you want to highlight. Scroll back up if you want to see some examples.

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How to Add Online Courses to Your Resume

Published: Sep 09, 2020

Recruiters search for candidates who can add value to organizations. As an applicant, your job is to help recruiters see that you can add this value. You do this through our resume, showcasing the education, experience, and training that sets you apart from the competition. When you also have certificates and additional courses, these should become a vital part of your  resume , giving recruiters (and employers) an even better idea of your skill set—as well as your proactive personality.

Select trustworthy courses only

Sometimes, recruiters are skeptical of online courses, so be careful when you list yours on your resume. If placed inappropriately or worded poorly, recruiters may deem your skills unreliable and leave your resume  “on file.”

Also, while online courses build upon your professional growth and personality as a candidate, recruiters and employers sometimes see less value in remote classes. So be mindful of what you list and include only online courses from trustworthy institutions. Of course,  passing a Cambridge exam  weighs more heavily than receiving a certificate of completion from an unknown, obscure academy.

Strategically place courses on your resume

Online courses particularly strengthen the resumes of candidates with little experience in the field they're hoping to join. For experienced candidates, courses are links between formal education and work experience. No matter which candidate you are, never make the online course the center of your resume. Instead, keep your list of courses short, confine the classes to a small designated area on your resume, and strategically place them.

For example, you might create a specific section with a title such as "Professional Development" for the online courses in your resume. You could place this below your "Work Experience"—always the primary focus of your resume. The key with your courses is to make sure they provide value but don't take up too much attention.

Other strategic places to put them include in the "Education" section of your resume (perfect for junior candidates with no experience) and your cover letter (to create a personal connection with the recruiter and an opening to discuss your relevant skills).

Also, it's good practice to only include completed courses and their major takeaways. And always be concise. Never ramble on about your courses.

Only include relevant courses

When you're up for a sales job, few recruiters will likely care if you have an American History course certificate. The same goes for irrelevant hobbies and interests. While they might make you stand out to some recruiters, to most they're not too relevant. Recruiters and employers are interested in expertise and skills that add value to the position at hand. So, only include online courses relevant to the position, and outline their value to the position.

For example, a data analysis course is beneficial to marketing professionals, and could improve their chances of receiving a higher salary. In fact,  research shows that having a hybrid skill can boost your salary by as much as 40 percent.

Omit intro classes

When you list courses on your resume, you want to present yourself as an expert for the job. Don't make an introductory level online course part of your achievement list . Intro classes under the education section can make a candidate appear less qualified. But there might be a time and place for them. You can include intro online classes on your resume if they're part of a whole curriculum program that you completed. Otherwise, talk about your intro classes as part of your professional journey during your interview.

For instance, a Certified Information Systems Auditor online certification is a perfect addition to your resume if you're an auditor. But Introduction to Financial Accounting might be too basic to include. 

Showcase your knowledge

If you really want your resume to stand out, go beyond simple certificate and course lists. Add weight to your resume and make it more valuable to recruiters by identifying all the relevant courses for the job, listing important information you've learned from each course and highlighting your professional achievements. 

When you show what you've learned, recruiters can easily see your commitment. It also shows your awareness of the current market and e-learning trends. Add any outside projects related to the mentioned courses to provide context. 

Prepare to speak about your courses in interviews

Now that you know how to list online courses on your resume, you need to prepare for the interview . Since online courses and training stand out, they usually grab the attention of the interviewers—a brilliant resume with online courses provokes conversation. So, prepare to receive questions such as:

• Why did you enroll in this online course?
• What information did you learn from these courses? 
• Why did you feel the need to further your education?
• How did your skills change?
• How was your experience?

Also, you'll likely have to answer specific technical questions if your online course claim certain technical expertise. So make sure you're ready for a detailed Q&A session regarding all of your certifications and courses.

Dimitar Karamarinov is an award-winning digital professional with a background in multimedia and a wide range of digital mediums. He has more than a decade of experience in audio, graphic, and motion design, and other forms of business and communication. He has experience working for Entrepreneur Franchise, Inc., and other companies, as well as with various nonprofits.

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How to Add Coursera Credentials to Your Resume

January 19, 2021

Download this Guide in PDF format

Congratulations on completing your Coursera course or program! It’s now time to let the world know about your new skills and accomplishments. 

The first thing to remember as you begin the process of determining how best to feature your achievements on your resume, is that a resume is a tool you can use to showcase your unique talents, skills, and experience. It is not some fixed and locked template that you have to figure out how to squeeze yourself into. 

A resume is made up of different sections, each of which can be optimized to present yourself in the best light possible. Adding a new credential is a part of the process, but there are also additional ways that you can highlight your newfound skills and demonstrate the value you can bring to an organization. Here are some key things to consider about your Coursera training as you prepare to update your resume:

• What did you learn?  Be specific about the skills you learned on Coursera. Recruiters and hiring managers need to know exactly what functions you’re able to perform so they can determine if you’re a good fit for the job.
• What are you proud of?  Completing Coursera courses and earning credentials can be hard work, and the ability to persevere in the face of challenges is a very valuable skill. Make sure to communicate not just what you achieved, but what you had to do to get there. Demonstrating self-motivation, work ethic, and tenacity is a great way to show employers you’re the right choice for the role.
• What is most important for the reader to know?  Employers may or may not be familiar with Coursera or the specific course or program you’ve completed. Consider what they need to know about the program in order to be able to evaluate your learnings and accomplishments, and add additional information as necessary to make it clear what you learned, how you learned it, and how you applied what you learned.

Once you know what you want to communicate to employers about your Coursera experience, you can determine which resume sections are best suited to conveying that information. Below is a list of the major resume sections you’ll want to use, with guidance on how to optimize each section.

Education section

Depending on the type of credential you’ve earned, you may have questions about where to place it on your resume—should you list it under Education, or in a different section such as Training and Certifications? 

Unless there is a specific reason not to, you should list Coursera credentials in your Education section. 

One reason why you might want to make an exception is if your previously earned academic credentials are in a field unrelated to the role you’re pursuing. In that case, it can be advantageous to separately highlight your Coursera credential at the top of your resume, to make clear your current focus to anyone reading your resume. But in most cases, Education is the appropriate location.

When adding Coursera credentials to this section, you should follow the standard best practices for listing education on your resume and include the following information:

• Name . This is the official title of the course or program you completed.  Example: Big Data MasterTrack(™) Certificate, Digital Marketing Analytics Course, Master of Computer Science
• Education provider . This is the name of the university or industry partner who created the course or program. Example: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IBM
• Completion date
• GPA  (degrees only)
• Summary . Here, you’ll want to include a short overview of the program so that those not familiar with Coursera will understand what was covered. Example: Four-course program covering health system development, policy and research, health service delivery, human resources for health; includes a hands-on Capstone project.

Skills section

The Skills section is usually located above the Professional Experience section of your resume. An employer should be able to read this section and easily determine that you’re qualified for the role, so make sure to include the job-relevant skills you’ve learned on Coursera.

For a non-technical role, the Skills sections can consist of 4-8 short bullets detailing your core skills (also known as Areas of Expertise) organized in two or three columns. Focus on quantifiable skills like copywriting, agile project management, Google Analytics, or sales funnel management. 

For a technical role, the Skills list can be longer and be organized by type, i.e., software, programming languages, hardware, data analytics, or any other categories that apply.

Projects section

This is where you want to feature any job-relevant projects you’ve completed on Coursera. Projects are a great way to demonstrate to employers what you can accomplish using your skills, especially if you are starting a new career and don’t have other professional experience. 

When including a Projects section, always focus on what’s most important for the employer:

• List out a maximum of 3-5 projects. You want to avoid overwhelming the reader with too much information.
• Summarize each project, explain the context, and include numbers to show the scope. When applicable, link out to additional information on the projects, such as your Github repository.
• Include measurable outcomes to demonstrate your accomplishments. 

Don’t worry if you haven’t completed any projects as part of your Coursera coursework. It’s not a requirement that you have them. However, it is important to remember that any time you can demonstrate your real-world skills, you should try to do so. What you want is to convince a potential employer that you already have the skills and experience to perform the role you’re applying for.

Other sections

If the information you wanted to communicate to the employers doesn’t fit under the Education, Skills, or Projects sections, consider other existing or additional resume sections, such as Summary, Accomplishments, Hobbies and Interests, etc. 

Remember that the resume structure should support the information you want to communicate. As long as you follow the standard  best practices for resume writing , you can add and organize sections in whatever way allows you to clearly tell your story.

Learning on Coursera is an excellent way to master job-ready skills, earn valuable credentials, and advance your career. Your resume is how you’ll showcase these accomplishments to recruiters and hiring managers, as well as your network. It’s important to present your skills and experience in the best light possible, and in a way that makes it easy for potential employers to see that you’re the right candidate for the job. When you’re able to clearly demonstrate how learning on Coursera has prepared you for success in your target role, you can be sure to get the kind of attention you deserve whenever you apply for a new opportunity.

Keep reading

• Ready for a tech career? How to choose between IT and cloud support
• Practical AI skills to increase productivity—regardless of your job title
• AI Grading in Peer Reviews: Enhancing Coursera’s Learning Experience with Faster, High-Quality Feedback

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How to Include Relevant Coursework On Your Resume

Craft a Resume That Focuses on Student Coursework

What Courses and Projects to Include

Other experience to include.

• How to Add Relevant Coursework

Use Keywords in Your Descriptions

Proofread and edit.

• Where to Put the Education Section
• Example of a Coursework-Focused Resume

As a current student or recent graduate, you may not have very much work experience to include on your resume. However, you can potentially strengthen your resume by emphasizing related coursework and other academic projects. 

Employers understand that entry-level employees may not have a whole lot of career experience. They will often look at your coursework and academic experiences to help determine whether you have the knowledge to fill the open position.

Add Relevant Coursework

When  creating a resume , you can add a section titled “Relevant Coursework." In it, include the courses directly related to the position you are applying for. For example, if you're applying for work as a paralegal, list any classes you took related to law or politics.

List Projects

Similarly, if you have completed any research projects related to your future career, list these too. If you're applying for a job that involves conducting research, list any extensive research projects you worked on.

Having a section listing relevant coursework makes sense if you're applying for an internship or entry-level position. Once you can no longer be termed a recent graduate, and have some on-the-job experience, you can remove this section from your resume. 

Emphasize Your Achievements

Beyond related coursework, you should also emphasize any academic successes, such as a high GPA or an award from an academic department. It's a good idea to include this information in the education section.

Although these successes may not appear to be directly related to the job for which you are applying, they demonstrate your hard work and responsibility.

Extracurricular Activities

If you participated in any sports or clubs where you developed skills relevant to the job you’re applying for, include these too. You could, for example, include a section in your resume titled “Extracurricular Activities,” or you might highlight activities in a broader section titled “Relevant Experience.”

Volunteering

Volunteer work is a relevant experience. Even if you didn't get paid for this work,  volunteer experiences  can make terrific additions to your resume. For example, if you're applying for a job as a teacher’s assistant, describe your volunteer tutor experience.

How to Add Relevant Coursework to Your Resume

You'll likely want to add this information below your college or graduate information.

Relevant Coursework Section

You can format it as a single section—for example, if you're applying for a role as a journalist:

Relevant coursework:  Ethics in Journalism, Modern Media Communications, and Forensic Accounting for Journalists

Relevant Coursework List

Or, you may opt to format the information as a bullet-point list. For instance, if you're applying for a role in marketing, you could present your coursework like this: 

Relevant Coursework

• Developing a Brand 
• Communications 
• Public Speaking 

More Options

Finally, you may want to share several types of experience, using more detailed bullet points. Or, you may want to share some descriptive details about the courses you've listed if it's not clear from the course titles. 

If you include coursework on your resume, be prepared to talk about the classes and what you learned in them during interviews. 

Including relevant coursework on your resume is a good way to incorporate keywords. Look for keywords in the job listing, and try to include them in this section. 

For instance, if the job requires field research experience, you can mention your “30+ hours of field research” in the description of your senior project. Or, you can add "Field Research Methods" as one of the courses you've taken. 

Take the time to thoroughly edit your resume for spelling and grammar errors. Also, make sure that your font and style choices are consistent—for example, if you format one section title in bold, all section titles should be bold.

You might set up a meeting with a counselor at your college career services office to have someone else read through your resume too.

Where to List the Education Section of Your Resume

The education section of your resume—which generally includes relevant coursework—can be placed at the top or bottom of the document. If it's your best experience, or if you think your educational background will be relevant to hiring managers, include whatever is most appropriate at the top of the document.

Example of a Coursework-Focused Resume

This resume focuses on relevant coursework and leadership experiences.

Student Resume Focusing on Coursework

Hailey Applicant 456 Oakwood Terrace Anytown, PA 99999 (555) 555-555 haileyapplicant@XYZcollege.edu

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Advancing science and law through dedicated legal and scientific research

A respected research assistant who has worked with tenured professors, practicing lawyers, school administrators, and company executives to produce research reports on scientific study and Supreme Court case law.

Key skills include:

• Computer-Assisted Research
• Organizing Research Data for Comprehensive Reports
• Analyzing Case Law
• Working with Research Teams
• Presenting Research Data

RELEVANT LEGAL COURSEWORK AND RESEARCH

XYZ LABS, White Plains, NY RESEARCH ASSISTANT (Fall 2020 – Present) Collaborate with an adviser, research team, and Smith School of Medicine to conduct research regarding the effects of steroids on the activity level of rats.

Notable accomplishments:

• Use a computer to gather and analyze data for distribution to the research team.
• Present new findings in bimonthly discussion with the department.

SOCIOLOGY OF LAW COURSE, SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, XYZ COLLEGE, White Plains, NY RESEARCH INTERN (Spring 2020) Researched case law dealing with social policy and the Supreme Court.

Notable Accomplishments:

• Analyzed cases and produced final paper regarding social policy in court cases.
• Explained results and conclusions in a final presentation to practicing lawyers.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

XYZ COLLEGE , White Plains, NY Bachelor of Arts in Government (Cumulative GPA: 3.9) Awarded Outstanding Government Student, May 2020

Computer Skills

Microsoft Word • Excel • PowerPoint • LexisNexis • Adobe