Land the Job: The Best Free Certifications to Boost Resume Today
Free Certifications That Can Boost Your Resume and Career
Introduction
I’m sure you’ve wondered how you’re supposed to fill in the blanks on a new, pristine resume the first time you’re applying for a job. The truth is, many people feel the same way. Something that can really help recent graduates, career changers, and people trying to enter a field with a lot of competition is the experience gap. Employers want someone with experience, but you can’t get experience without being given the opportunity in the first place.
Free certifications can help with this.An employer wants to see that you have the skills related to the job that you are applying for, and certifications help to show that you have those skills. Many organizations provide this training for free.
There is a catch though, doing this can only help your resume if you do it in a strategic way. Resembling an individual who does random online courses is not good, and some certificates hold no value whatsoever to an employer. Others, however, can show your knowledge on a tool or skill that is required for a job. The point is to help propel your career in the right direction with the right certifications.
What Are Free Certifications?
A free certification is a credential or digital badge that is given after an individual completes a course, training, assessment, or exam. This type of credential can help show knowledge of a software program, a skill, a subject, or a practice that is beneficial to a career or industry.
The importance of the issuer and the process required to obtain a credential determines the value of a certification. Generally speaking, a credential from a reputable technology company or professional association is better than a random certificate from an unknown source.
Let’s say you’re reviewing resumes for an entry-level digital marketing position. One applicant writes that they’re “good at marketing and social media.” The other specifically names a reputable provider and lists training in content marketing, analytics, or advertising. Which applicant do you think the hiring manager will look into first?
Of course, a certificate won’t necessarily lead to a job offer, but it reduces the uncertainty a hiring manager feels about your qualifications. It provides them with evidence that you’ve pursued learning related to the role.
Why Certifications Can Strengthen a Resume
A resume has to be relevant to catch a recruiter’s eye. Making vague statements like “I’m hardworking” or “I’m motivated” will not help you stand out amongst the hundreds of applicants for a role.
Breaking the Experience Barrier
It’s no secret that getting your first job is difficult. Many entry-level positions require experience, creating what feels like a Catch-22 for entry-level candidates. One way to overcome this is through training. Someone interested in data analysis, for example, could benefit from training in tools such as Excel, databases, and other data visualization tools. While the training and certifications are valuable, it’s the projects you complete that really speak for themselves. Having a project to showcase is much stronger than simply saying “I’m interested in data analysis.”
Showing Initiative During a Career Change
Career changers have a different obstacle. While your past employment is a great way to demonstrate transferable skills, it may not help you prove your understanding of a new industry. Someone who was a sales professional for many years and is interested in a new career in IT support may have great communication and selling skills but potential employers may be reluctant to hire them without the understanding of the IT support computer skills. Earning a certification in IT support, for example, demonstrates your interest in the career change and helps fill in the knowledge gap.
Improving Keyword Relevance
Many organizations use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan resumes for keywords related to the job requirements. Including the right certifications on your resume can help you get called for an interview if you have the right experience and skills for the role. Be aware of the keywords you include. If a company is looking for someone with knowledge of a specific analytics platform or method of project management, for example, including that certificate on your resume is a good way to showcase that knowledge. Including the wrong keywords, or any at all for that matter, just to try to game the system is unethical and shows a lack of integrity.
How to Pick the Right Free Certification
The biggest issue people have when pursuing a certification is doing so blindly. The order should be career goals first, free certificates second.
Picture yourself in the job you want. Multiple current listings for that role exist, right? Take note of the skills each listing asks for, whether it be analytics, SEO, CRM, cloud platforms, coding, project management, etc. The skills you observe should serve as your learning objectives to avoid wasting time on unrelated courses.
Think about who issues the credential, too. Established learning platforms, organizations, universities, etc. issue better certifications than random websites giving out hundreds of credentials. A course that is issued a certification requires real learning, as evidenced by projects, exercises, or an assessment.
Get Some Real World Experience for Your Certifications
One way to make your certifications more marketable is to back them up with real world examples. For example, if you have a certification in graphic design, create a few made up client projects to showcase your design skills. If you have a data analytics certification, analyze a public data set and create a report to share your findings. If you have a web development certification, create a simple website to showcase your new skills.
This makes your resume a showcase of your skills rather than a simple list. It also gives you things to talk about in your interviews. Your interviewer is bound to ask you about a project you worked on and how you overcame the challenges you faced. A certificate can’t do that on its own.
How to List Certifications on Your Resume
Your level of work experience determines the level of your certifications on your resume. If you are fresh out of school or have very little work experience, your certifications should be relatively higher on your resume, especially if they relate to the job you are applying to. If you have a lot of work experience, your certifications should be listed lower on your resume.
In your “Certifications” or “Professional Development” section, include the name of the certification, the organization that awarded it to you, the date you received it, and a link to proof if you have it. Keep your course explanations short. A resume should be easy to read and quickly communicate all the information it needs to.
Using LinkedIn with Your Certifications
Your credentials on LinkedIn can be strengthened with your certifications as that helps recruiters and professional contacts see your qualifications easier. Use the section on LinkedIn for certifications and include the organization that issued them, and if there is a verification URL add that as well.
Your LinkedIn should be your professional resume, and if your focus is data analysis, don’t have certificates for other things that don’t relate to that and make your profile cluttered. That can make your professional story look unfocused and scattered.
Being a Certificate Collector
Just because you have a bunch of certificates, doesn’t mean your resume is better. There is a candidate who has twelve certificates in different fields and one who has three certificates in the field of interest for the position, and the second candidate is better because of the focus.
Irrelevant certificates don’t help, and a long list of irrelevant courses is not better than a short list of relevant certificates. Each certificate should be added to tell a part of your career story, and each should be asked “does this certificate help me achieve this career goal?”
Getting the Most Out of Your Certifications
Learning for the sake of learning is not the goal, the goal should be professional development. If a course has a project or capstone, that should be done to be useful, as it can be added to your portfolio and be something you discuss in an interview.
Update your credentials as quickly as the tech world changes. The fields of cloud computing, cybersecurity, software development, and digital advertising are examples of areas where the pace of change is particularly high. Outdated certificates may not represent your current level of knowledge. Check to see if your credentials have an expiration date or require regular updates.
It is acceptable to list major programs as “in progress” if that is that case. If you have initiated a respected certification program and it is only a matter of time before you complete it, then say so; do not misrepresent the program as completed certification.
It is important to focus on skills that have value to employers. A course in Something like Advanced Excel or Something, SQL, Google Analytics, project management software, or cybersecurity fundamentals is likely to be more beneficial than a course in Something like motivation or time management.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Thinking All Free Certificates Are Worthwhile
There are many certificate providers that offer little substance in their courses and hand out certificates far too liberally. Do your due diligence in assessing the value of a certificate.
Overstating Your Level of Expertise
Just because you took an introduction course on a topic, it does not mean you are an expert on that topic. Be realistic when assessing your level of knowledge.
Unnecessarily Spending Money for a Physical Copy of a Digital Credential
If an employer is able to verify it online, then a printed copy is of little value.
Combining a Lot of Short, Online Certificates with Traditional Degrees
Keep your professional certifications in a clearly labeled section of their own.
Claiming to Have Finished Something You Haven’t
If you aren’t done with your studies, say “In Progress” or “Expected Completion.” Being honest about your certificates is better than getting caught lying about them during a job interview.
Free Certifications: The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown
The Good
Free certifications can be a great way to try out a career path without having to fully commit and take on the financial burden of a degree or bootcamp. They are also very flexible as they usually allow you to set your own schedule and can be done along for other commitments you may have. Finally, if you are wanting to get some employment related training, doing a free certification can be a good way to show your initiative and have something to talk about with prospective employers.
The Bad
Because there are so many people who can access free certifications, having a certification alone usually isn’t enough to get you noticed. There can also be a large variation in the quality of the free courses and some of the credentials can have very little recognition. It is also unlikely that doing a course will get you a job, even if if you do get a certification. The best results come from doing a collection of things such as projects, a portfolio, training, and job interviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Employers Care About Free Certifications?
They can care, especially if the certification is from a reputable source and is related to the job you are applying to. The most important thing for an employer is that you are able to do the job, so the best certifications are the ones that help you learn the skills needed for the job.
Can I Get a Job With Certifications but No Degree?
It is possible in many fields. Emphasis on practical skills in places like technology, marketing, design, and support means that some employers don’t require degrees or licenses. Requirements vary widely.
How Many Certifications Should I Put on My Resume?
There is no magic number. If your certifications are related to your goal, then including a few strong ones is better than including a long list of unrelated courses.
Should I List a Course That Doesn’t Provide a Certificate?
If the course helped you develop a skills, then you can talk about that skill or the learning experience. Just don’t call it a certification if you didn’t get one.
Are Free Online Courses Better Than Paid Courses?
Not always. You get what you pay for in some cases, but there are plenty of great courses that you can take for free. Look at the instructors, the material, and the exercises. You need to do your research on who is offering the course.
Do Certifications Expire?
It depends on the certifications. Some do. With changing technologies and standards, it is best to check the requirements for each credential.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Free Certification?
It depends on the program. Some may take only a few hours to complete, while others may take weeks or months to complete.
Should Certifications Be Placed Above Work Experience?
It’s relative to your situation. If you have little to no work experience and some highly related certifications, it could be warranted to place them at, or near, the top of your resume. However, if you have a good deal of work experience, it makes sense to place that at the top of your resume.
Can Certifications Be Used to Facilitate a Career Change?
They definitely can. If your work experience is in one industry and your certifications are in another, they can help to show that you are pursuing knowledge in the new field. It can even be more helpful if you have project related things to show along with your certifications.
Are Certificates of Completion Worthwhile?
They can be used to show that you have completed some sort of training, but in terms of value, they usually take a backseat to certifications that are earned through an assessment of your competency. If there is a program that is helping to reinforce your knowledge, it is usually a good option to go with the program that has an assessment at the end.
Final Thoughts
Although a traditional degree or experience can sometimes feel like the only way to gain the skills employers want, the right certifications can be a good alternative.
The real value of a certification is in what it can represent along with other things. When you have practical projects, a clear career goal, and a recognized certification, a thin resume can represent a good jump start for an employer to consider you for a role.
Instead of wasting time collecting random digital badges, go after the job you actually want. Look at a few different job postings. See what skills employers ask for, find a good certification, and then add that to your toolbox. The key difference between a certificate collector and a serious candidate is the project. You need to learn the skill, create something, show what you made, and then then then the certification becomes a good addition to your toolbox. If you take this focused approach, some of the free education you find can turn into more than just a supplemental entry on your resume. It can help you create a new opportunity.
