By Anderson Gates – CareerCloud

In a competitive job market, certifications are a powerful way of standing out against the rest of the applicants in the stack. Not only does being certified expand your knowledge and add to your experience, but it also increases the chances of landing a job.

You can let potential employers know about your certifications by listing them on your resume. Having a professional-looking resume can help you get past applicant tracking systems (ATS) and into the focus of a potential employer. Keep reading to learn more about how to update your resume to include certifications and why it’s important.

According to Zety, only one in four job seekers lists certifications. If you do have certifications, make sure to include them on your resume. If you don’t, consider taking a certification course within your industry—this way, you’ll automatically be ahead of 73% of other job seekers.

What Certifications Look Good On Your Resume?

Professional certifications are certificates awarded for proficiency in a specific skill. Typically certifications are received from accredited associations or organizations within your career field.

Getting certified usually involves meeting specific requirements and passing an exam or assessment test.

Most certification programs come with a fee, although some are free. Depending on the program, getting certified is a lengthy process that can last several years. Certifications are available in most career fields. There are professional certifications available for almost every career field. Here’s a list of some of the most common certifications.

Event Management

• Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP)

• Certified Meetings Professional (CMP)

• Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE)

• Global Travel Professional (GTP)

• Digital Events Strategist (DES)

Finance

• Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

• Financial Risk Manager (FRM)

Human Resources

• Professional in Human Resource (PHR)

• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)

Information Technology

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect

• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

• Cisco Certified Professional Network Professional (CCNP)

• CompTIA A+ Certification

• Google IT Support Professional

• Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)

• Oracle Certified MySQL Database Administrator (CMDBA)

Marketing

• Google Adwords Certification

• Microsoft Advertising Certific

• Google Analytics Individual Qualific

• OMCP Digital Marketing Certification

• Hootsuite Academy Marketing Certification

• Google Ads Marketing Certification

• YouTube Certified

• HubSpot Content Marketing Certification

• Facebook Blueprint Marketing Certification

Design

• Certified in Adobe Photoshop

• Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)

• Adobe Illustrator Certification

• Graphic Design Certification

• Certified Graphic Designer

• Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)

• Adobe Captivate Certification

• Autodesk 3ds Max Certified

• Omg Certified Uml Professional

• Adobe Certified Instructor (ACI)

• Advertising Design Certification

• Adobe InDesign (Certified)

Medical

• National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)

• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

• Patient Care Technician (PCT)

• Certified Coding Specialist Physician-Based (CCS-P)

Project Management

• Project Management Professional (PMP)

• BVOP Certified Project Manager

• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)

• Certified Project Director

• Certified Project Management Practitioner (CPMP)

• Certified Project Manager (CPM)

• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

• CompTIA Project+

• Master Project Manager (MPM)

• PRINCE2 Foundation/PRINCE2 Practitioner

• Professional in Project Management (PPM)

• Project Management in IT Security (PMITS)

• Project Management Professional (PMP)

Sales

• Certified Inside Sales Professional (CISP)

• Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP)

• Certified Sales Executive (CSE)

Having certifications on your resume can help you only stand out against other applicants and get past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) utilized by many companies today. A potential employer might automatically filter out resumes that don’t contain desired certifications.

When Should You Include Certifications On Your Resume?

Your resume is the perfect showcase If you’ve pursued certification to expand your skillset or advance your career. There are also cases where you’ll need to list certifications that are required within a career field. Here are some other scenarios when you should include a professional certification on your resume.

IF THE CERTIFICATION IS RELEVANT TO THE POSITION YOU ARE APPLYING FOR

Depending on your career field, having specific professional certifications may be a requirement to work for a company. You might need a certificate to hold a particular position. Examples include:

• Dental Assistant Certification

• Medical Assistant Certification

• Truck Driver CDL Certification

• Security Guard Certification

• Teaching Certification

 If you hold certification relevant to your job search, update your resume to include them.

With the rise in companies using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to streamline the hiring process, adding your certifications could be the key to rank higher than other applicants. Hiring managers use ATS to set specific keywords and other criteria essential to an open position. There’s a good chance that a potential employer would use certifications as ATS keywords if they are relevant to the job.

IF THE CERTIFICATION WILL SHOW YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE INDUSTRY

Not only do certifications show that you’ve met requirements or passed an aptitude assessment. They also display a more in-depth knowledge of an industry. By listing your credentials, you’re telling a potential employer that you already know how to perform the job at hand.