Including relevant coursework on a resume

We’ve all heard that what makes a formidable resume is a well-written work experience section. But what do you do when you are a recent graduate without even two years in the field? And how do people who are writing resumes for a first job convince someone to hire them?

Your coursework is your best friend when you write a resume without sufficient work experience. The best way to assure an employer that you know what you are talking about? Showing them how much knowledge you have on the subject. Most employers understand that graduates have to start somewhere. Whether you are looking for a first job or an internship, listing your coursework the right way on your resume could help you end that months-long job search.

What qualifies as relevant coursework?

Not every class you took in college will be directly related to the job for which you are applying. “Relevant coursework” are the classes and educational activities that are directly related to the job you seek and would have helped you cultivate the necessary skills for the job. Still, it’s hard to decide which coursework to mention on your resume from among the thirty subjects you studied during college. Here is some relevant coursework that you can consider adding to your resume:

• Coursework that gives you a foundation of knowledge for an aspect of the job role. Ex: If the job involves laboratory testing, you can mention courses that were based on laboratory techniques, chemistry, biochemistry, etc.
• Your projects which were directly related to a job skill. Ex: The 6-month research project you completed will show off your research skills.
• Extracurricular activities that helped you build necessary skills. Ex: College soccer that taught you teamwork.
• Notably high GPA or other academic achievements

What would not count as relevant coursework?

Any classes you took that have no direct relationship to the job you want can be omitted from your resume. When you review the job description, you will be able to identify certain keywords that tell you which knowledge is relevant. If your coursework doesn’t align with any of the keywords, it probably isn’t relevant.

How to know when it is necessary to mention relevant coursework on your resume?

Not every candidate will need to describe their relevant coursework in their resume to stand out during a job application. It is entirely up to you to decide whether you want to mention your coursework or not. You should consider several facts before you make a decision. If you are a recent graduate without much job experience to highlight your skills, you should mention coursework in your resume. Certain jobs will require you to show that you have the necessary educational background in specified fields. When applying for such a job, you must include your relevant coursework to qualify for the job.

Should you mention coursework related to your minor?

Most of the time, certain skills you need to perform a job well will come from the learning activities you did for your minor. If you are a healthcare professional who majored in physiotherapy, and the job description calls for communication skills, you will have to mention the communications minor you took in college to show how you are qualified.

When should you take coursework off of your resume?

Depending on the requirements of the job and the level of your expertise, you can omit coursework from your resume. Instead of mentioning irrelevant coursework to the job you are applying for, you can save that resume space to highlight transferrable skills. If you went to college a while back and the information from your coursework is not valid today, you must not mention those. Also, if you have enough experience to show in your resume, you don’t need to elaborate on coursework to qualify for a job.