How to Showcase Your Tech Certifications

Table of Contents

---

• What is a Certification vs Credential?
• How to List Certifications on Your Resume
• How to Feature Certifications on LinkedIn
• How to Talk About Your Certification in an Interview

You worked hard to get those tech certifications, and now it’s time to put them to good use—on your resume! Certifications help your job search by verifying to potential employers that you have the skills that they’re looking for, so make sure to effectively include them on your resume to give you the edge you need to stand out from the crowd. In this guide, learn how to incorporate your certifications into your resume and LinkedIn profile. Plus, our advice on how to talk about your certifications in a job interview. 

What is a Certification vs Credential?

While these terms are often—incorrectly—used interchangeably, they’re actually different things. A credential is a broad term that means anything that can be used to prove a person’s qualifications or skills, while a certification is a specific type of credential that demonstrates competence in a particular skill or area. To illustrate,  a “credential” is an umbrella term, and “certification” is one of the things that can fall under that umbrella. 

You can also break it down this way:

• Credential: a document that shows that a person has the knowledge to complete a task, such as a college degree, professional license, or a security clearance.

• Certification: a formal confirmation by a professional organization that an individual has met a set of standards and demonstrated competency in a specific area, such as CompTIA, Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals, or AWS Cloud Practitioner. 

Keep in mind, too, that getting a certification is different from a degree, and will be listed separately on your resume. A certification is also not to be confused with a professional license, which is usually issued by a state organization and is required by law before you can do the job, such as a teaching, nursing or law license (and they also require ongoing professional development to renew them).

Why should you list certifications on your resume?

You should list certifications because they may be required for the position, and you don’t want your resume to be overlooked if you have them! But even if a certification isn’t listed as a job requirement, you should list them:

• To show you have the experience and credibility
• To demonstrate your skill level
• To compensate for practical experience, if you’re new to the field
• To pass the Automated Tracking System (ATS), important especially if you’re applying to larger companies

However, best practice dictates that you shouldn’t include certifications on your resume that are not relevant to the job you’re applying for, or if the certification has expired (and you’re not going to renew it). Also make sure to differentiate between your certifications and your online certificates.

How to List Certifications on Your Resume

Include certifications that are relevant to the position you’re applying for on your resume. If you’re applying for a software developer position, you would definitely want to feature your Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) certification. Try to take the point of view of a hiring manager, and tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for and what skills your certification implies. 

• For example: A Scrum master certification demonstrates your coaching, teaching, and organizational skills, and that you can facilitate streamlined work processes. This would give you an edge and help you stand out from other similarly skilled candidates.

Remember: Only include certifications if they’re relevant to the position you're applying for and increase your value as a candidate. If you include other certifications—say, your Human Resources certification when you’re applying for a data scientist role—hiring managers might think your application was in error or that you’re not committed to your current career path. You might be proud of that CPR certification, but unless you’re applying for a job in a hospital, leave it out of your job materials!

Where to List Your Certifications on Your Resume

You have a bit of flexibility when it comes to listing your certifications on your resume, as it depends on your format and overall work experience. You can modify your “Education” section and call it “Education and Certifications” and place it near the bottom of your resume after your work history. 

There’s no “one size fits all” rule when it comes to your resume, so use your best judgement on placement, or use a resume template that fits your current experience level.

How to Format Your Certifications

If you choose to have one section titled, “Education and Certifications,” list your degrees first (school name, degree, and your graduation date if it’s less than 10 years ago), then list your certifications in a second paragraph. You can also place them under separately titled sections. 

Regardless, the formatting of your certifications will be the same. List them in reverse-chronological order (most recent certification first) and include:

• Full title of the certification (with any common abbreviations in parentheses)
• The issuing association or organization
• Date of certification (or “in progress” if you haven’t completed it, along with anticipated date of completion)
• Certification expiration date, if applicable
• Any pertinent additional details about the certification, if you have enough space on your resume

Examples of formatting:

• CompTIA A+ (CompTIA) - April 2024
• Certified Scrum Master, Scrum Alliance (in progress, anticipated September 2025)
• Certified Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute, 2023
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services, May 2024

You should also list these certifications in your “Skills” section so that the hiring manager doesn’t miss them! 

How to Feature Certifications on LinkedIn

To include your certifications on LinkedIn, you’ll include the same information as above. To add to your LinkedIn profile, follow the following steps:

1. Log into your LinkedIn account (and if you don’t have one, create one)
2. Click on “Add profile section”
3. Choose “Licenses & Certifications”
4. Enter your details as mentioned above, including any optional details
5. Hit “Save”
6. Repeat this process for additional certifications

LinkedIn breaks it down this way for desktop: 

How to Talk About Your Certification in an Interview

Chances are that the hiring manager will have a good idea of your certifications before calling you into an interview—after all, they’ve seen your resume. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bring them up during the course of discussion. The key is to work your certifications into your answers, rather than just listing them (unless they ask you to, of course). 

So how do you do that? The key is to keep it relevant to the position you’re interviewing for. Instead of just “name dropping,” explain how you used a specific certification on the job in past projects and the successful outcomes you had from utilizing the skills you learned to get that certification. Since the person you’re talking to may not have a tech background (more likely if it’s a first-round interview), avoid overly-technical jargon and explain how your skills and expertise contributed positively to the success of the project.

Interested in certifications? We've got you covered!

• Best AWS Certifications
• Best Machine Learning Certifications
• Best Generative AI Certifications
• Best Networking Certifications
• Best Project Management Certifications