How to List Relevant Coursework on a Resume
Including your educational qualification in a resume is one of the ways of telling potential employers what you bring to the table. But is that reason enough to make it a permanent fixture on your resume? The courses you took in college highlight your academic and practical skills. They give recruiters an inkling about the kind of knowledge you possess and the level of duties you will be able to take up with the available roles.
Does online coursework on a resume matter?
The simple answer is yes. Online and offline classes can be listed in the education section of your resume, but they need to abide by the keyword – relevance is key. If the coursework you are including is not relevant to the job you seek, it does not add value to your application. It would be better to include irrelevant work experience instead of educational data. However, before you jump the gun, tailor the work data to show what you learned, it adds quality to the opportunity you might end up landing.
When should you include coursework in your resume?
In certain situations, it is better to have your coursework listed on your resume. It helps increase the chances of your application being shortlisted and advanced further into the hiring process. For example:
Start of career
If you are a recent graduate or have minimal work experience, your academic background is part of your identity. Specifying your education backs up the skill set you have talked about in your application. It also lets the recruiter gauge your knowledge and your level of understanding in the particular field.
Academics-heavy job
You are likely to come across jobs that are interested in your papers, academic knowledge, and accomplishments. In such a case, talking about your research papers and projects can earn you brownie points and keep you in the race.
Career change
Another possible scenario is when you are switching careers after having taken some courses to help you succeed in the field. Your online courses, certificate courses, or back-to-college experiences are a relevant factor here. It is depictive to the employer that you are willing to learn about the field you are switching over to and are keen to grow in the space. You can draw attention in your interview to how the course and the job field are related and why you chose that particular option.
When should you exclude the coursework section?
It might not cause you any harm, but there are times when your coursework is as redundant on your resume as “ay” in the word okay.
Quality and quantity of work experience
One of those instances is when your work experience takes up a lot of space on your work application. Even so, if your courses are related to the field or help you make an important point, you can mention them. However, when you have worked long and hard, your work experience and skills are your strengths, and will get you the next job interview instead of the course you took up years ago. Instead of focusing on where you started, highlight the elements that you have learned and achieved.
Unrelated jobs
On the other hand, do not bother much about your coursework if the job you are applying to does not connect with your academic choices. Some companies don’t give much weightage to the courses you’ve pursued if you are skilled.
Unrelated career
You should also skip the detailed academic history if you have or are looking for a change in career. Highlighting a degree on the resume that does not intersect with the desired career path does little to impress potential employers.
Including coursework on your resume earns you brownie points, provided it is relevant to your job application. That said, it is not an obligation and is an individual choice at best. If you think it helps with your chances of landing the position, by all means, add that list.