You have probably heard the importance of the job experience section in a resume on numerous occasions. What you may not know, however, is that it’s not the only thing that hiring managers are interested in when looking for the ideal candidate to fill a job opening. Even though related experience does matter, you should also pay attention to other sections, like relevant coursework, to come up with a well-balanced resume that persuades the potential employer to hire you.
In this piece, we will expound on:
- When it is right to add a coursework section and when it isn’t necessary;
- Where your coursework should appear and how to include it;
- Samples of coursework listed on resumes.
Listing Relevant Coursework on Resume and When to Leave It Out
In essence, listing related coursework on resume is optional. It is usually an essential section for your first resume with no work experience, i.e., student and entry-level resumes. The purpose of this part is to highlight any completed coursework that relates to the position you are targeting. It strengthens other components, such as academic accomplishments, volunteer experience, projects, and extra-curricular activities.
Adding relevant coursework can also be a great idea when you are crafting your resume for an internship. In this case, it can help you show why you are fit for the organization. So, when is listing related coursework not necessary?
If you have a year or more of working experience that you can list on your resume, then adding a section for your coursework isn’t essential. Instead, pay attention to making your resume resound with the job description and add any other parts that you think could improve your candidacy.
Don’t also list coursework if you are forcing it. That is to say that any coursework you highlight in your resume should be relevant. If it does not relate to the job you are applying for, it will not make sense to the recruiting manager. Instead, work on drawing attention to your skillset.
How to Put Relevant Coursework on Resume Correctly
Now that you know when to include coursework, it’s time to figure out where to put relevant coursework on a resume. Relevant coursework on a resume should be included as a sub-section within the education part. Now, both the education or experience part can come first, depending on how much working history you have. For an entry-level candidate whose job experience is limited, the education section should precede experience.
Here are some ways of adding coursework to resume:
List Coursework as an Extra Line Within Your Education Part
One easy way to talk about relevant coursework is to include an additional sentence below your degree. This method allows you to highlight other educational accomplishments too. For example:
University of Illinois
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, May 2018
Relevant coursework: enterprise accounting systems, advanced financial accounting, income taxation, valuation and analysis, cost accounting, business law.
Use Bulleted Points to Emphasize on Your Coursework
Bullet points play a huge role when it comes to emphasizing the statements you put on your application. The same is true when it comes to showing your relevant coursework. Below is an excellent relevant coursework resume example.
2019 BA in Geography with Transport Studies
University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
Coursework:
- Digital Geographies
- The Urban Age
- Global Geopolitics, Migration and Uneven Development
- Transport Policy in Action
- Population, Society, and Space
- Planet Under Threat
Show the Relevance of the Coursework to the Role with Detailed Bullets
Describe the relevance of the coursework to the role you want to take up using more comprehensive bullet points. This way, you will provide the talent acquisition executive with a better perspective regarding the suitability of your coursework to the vacancy you want to fill. Below is an example showing how to write detailed bullet points for relevant coursework on resume.
2019 BA in Geography with Transport Studies
University of Leeds, Woodhouse, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
Coursework:
- Digital Geographies - submitted a term paper on how digital devices, logic, forth are transforming geography.
- The Urban Age - covered the details on how the modern age has impacted existence on the universe.
- Global Geopolitics, Migration, and Uneven Development - learned how migration and disparity in economic development are impacting worldwide geopolitics.
- Transport Policy in Action - examined the impact and efficacy of transport policies by analyzing different case studies.
- Population, Society, and Space - understood the relationship between people, communities, and land.
- Planet Under Threat - examined the different threats to earth in the 21st century and beyond.
An essential thing to keep in mind is that if the role demands an excellent educational background and accomplishments, it would be sensible if you dedicated a whole CV section to your coursework. Then, you will have to provide bulleted-lists with more detailed descriptions of your resume related coursework.
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What to Remember When Including Relevant Coursework on Resume
All told, when putting coursework on resume, there are essential things to have in mind. These include the following:
- Ensure that your CV matches the role you want to fill.
- If your coursework is vital to the position, include it in the upper section of your document.
- Coursework info should be accompanied by other academic details, case in point, GPA, honors, recognitions, etc.
- Include keywords from the vacancy description in your coursework info to make ATS find your CV quickly.
- Provide information other than your coursework, for instance, school projects, publications, etc.
- List online certifications, if any.
- Go through to ensure all the info you have provided is relevant.
To conclude, these are the tips for crafting the perfect resume with relevant coursework. By following this guide, you will write an application that stands out in a pile, boosting your chances of getting accepted for the occupation of your dream.
