Credentials to boost your job search
Three ways to level up: short-term credentials that boost careers
Looking for a way to stand out in today’s tough job market? One way to help your resume resonate with employers is to earn a short-term credential to show you have specific skills the employer is looking for.
The key is to identify a credential that meets two criteria:
- Is it valued by employers? Will it actually help you land a job?
- Is it within your reach? Is the amount of time and/or money you’d need to invest worth it?
In this article we discuss three types of credentials and offer tips to understand both of the criteria above.
A certification is a credential that endorses knowledge and skills in a professional area. They’re awarded by organizations that specialize in fields such as cybersecurity or project management, and they often carry industry-wide recognition and credibility. You usually have to self-study and take an exam to earn one. They’re most common in highly specialized industries like healthcare and IT, but you can find certifications in just about every industry and career field.
CareerOneStop’s Certification Finder lets you search a collection of thousands of certifications that have been reviewed for authenticity and value to job seekers. You can search by your career field, industry, or job title. You can also search for certifications that can be helpful across career fields. For instance, searching for “AI” will bring up more than 40 national certifications related to using AI in the workplace. Or searching for “office” will provide a list of hundreds of office-related certifications from organizations like Microsoft. Try a few different keyword searches to see what you uncover. You can click on the name of any certification to find more details about the exam and any preparation or requirements.
How do I know employers will value my certification?
CareerOneStop has already done this work for you! In the Certification Finder, you’ll see a red chili-pepper icon next to certain certifications. This means that CareerOneStop has identified this as an in-demand credential. This is done by analyzing thousands of job postings across the country and identifying the certifications that employers mention most frequently. If you have a long list of certifications in your results list, select “Yes” under “Filter By: In Demand” to only see the ones with a chili pepper.
How do I know how much time and money the certification requires from me?
Certifications often offer very good return for your efforts. You can earn many certifications by simply taking an online exam to prove knowledge that you already have. Others offer free study aids to help you prepare for the exam (which often has a fee). Many cost somewhere between $50 to $2,000 for self-study and exam vouchers. Other certifications are best achieved by a comprehensive study bootcamp or specialized training, which can cost up to $10,000 (many job-seekers wait until they are employed to get assistance paying for these).
You can click on the name of any certification in the Certification Finder to learn details such as how much work experience or additional education you need before you can earn the certification. Once you’ve verified that you meet the requirements, click on the link to the organization to look for details such as how to study, how long the process generally takes, and how much it costs.
Microcredentials are short, targeted programs that can be completed quickly, often online. They usually focus on very specific skills such as time management, social media strategies, or AI fundamentals, rather that the broad professional knowledge and expertise covered by a certification. The microcredential you earn is sometimes called a badge, and it can usually be achieved in anywhere from one day to a few weeks. Many are built to be “stacked”, meaning you can complete a series of them to demonstrate deeper levels of expertise. They are also easy to share on LinkedIn or other social media platforms.
You can find microcredentials from many sources. Many are offered by massive open online course (MOOC) platforms like Coursera and edX. Professional and industry associations also offer microcredentials, and you can search for associations in your field with CareerOneStop’s Professional Association Finder. Specific employers also offer microcredentials; for instance, Google Career Certificates and IBM SkillsBuild both offer short, competency‑based programs.
How do I know employers will value my microcredential?
One great way to identify the microcredentials employers are looking for is to go directly to the source. You can review job postings by companies you want to work for or by job titles you’re looking at. Pay attention to any credentials listed in a posting, but also look for skills and knowledge requirements, and then search for microcredentials related to those requirements.
Another great way to discover microcredentials that might be a good investment for you is to ask an AI platform like ChatGPT or Claude. Ask them to review your resume along with job postings you’re interested in. Ask questions like “Can you identify skill or knowledge area gaps between my resume and this posting?” and “Can you identify in-demand microcredentials that can help me bridge any gaps or prove my existing skills and knowledge?”
How do I know how much time and money a microcredential will require?
Microcredential costs and time requirements vary a lot. Some are free, and require only a few minutes to take an exam. Others can cost from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. If you’re comfortable with AI or platforms like Reddit, you can ask about the return on investment for different credentials.
A third option for a short-term credential is to complete a certificate program at a local college, university, or other training provider. These short-term programs can prepare you to enter or advance in a field, and they can last anywhere from a few months to a couple years. Community colleges often offer reasonable tuition rates and federal financial aid options, but if you’ve been laid off from a job (or if you meet other criteria such as being a veteran or having barriers to employment like a criminal record or meeting income eligibility guidelines), you may qualify for free money for training under the federal WIOA legislation (find out if you’re eligible by contacting your local American Job Center.)
You can search for short-term training programs in any U.S. location with CareerOneStop’s Local Training Finder. Search using a keyword for your job title, career, industry, or specific skill you are interested in. Then use the Filter By function to narrow your results down to the length of time you want (for instance, less than 12 weeks, or 12 weeks to less than 1 year).
How do I know a training program is in demand by employers?
One way to learn about employer demand is to look at job postings and see if employers identify any specific degrees or training programs. Another way is to leverage the in-demand analysis the federal government uses to approve short-term programs for federal funding (one of the key indicators they consider is whether the occupation is in demand by employers). To do this, visit CareerOneStop’s Local Training Finder and select the checkbox for “WIOA-certified training programs” on your results page. If you are eligible for WIOA funding, you can use that funding for these programs. But even if you’re not eligible, you can use the WIOA certified flag as an indicator that the program has been determined to prepare students for an in-demand occupation.
How do I know how much time and money a certificate program will require?
Accredited colleges and training programs have to be upfront about the cost and time commitment for programs. From the Local Training Finder, you can select the name of any school or provider and link directly to their website. Then you can find program schedules and tuition costs. Contact the financial aid office at each school to learn about any grants, loans, or scholarships you might be eligible for. If you’ve recently been laid off, separated from the military, aged out of foster care, or released from prison, ask them if you might qualify for additional financial aid.
If you’ve found a short-term credential opportunity that seems like a good fit for you, don’t forget to include it on your resume when you’re job searching. You can include it once you’re enrolled, even if you haven’t earned the credential yet. It can help highlight that you are a qualified candidate. It’s also a great signal to potential employers that you’re motivated to learn and grow, and keep up in your career.
