Are MOOC and OCW Completions Valuable on a Resume?

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SUMMARY

Including MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and OCWs (OpenCourseWare) on a resume can enhance a candidate's profile, particularly when relevant to the job applied for. Courses from platforms like Udacity and Coursera, which offer Statements of Accomplishment, are more valuable than those without formal recognition, such as MIT OCW. Candidates should selectively list completed courses in a personal development or hobbies section, focusing on those that demonstrate applicable skills or knowledge. The relevance of the course to the job position significantly influences its value on a resume.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of MOOCs and OCWs, specifically platforms like Udacity and Coursera.
  • Familiarity with resume formatting and best practices.
  • Knowledge of how to assess the relevance of educational experiences to job applications.
  • Awareness of employer expectations regarding educational credentials.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research how to effectively list online courses on a resume.
  • Explore the differences between MOOCs and traditional education credentials.
  • Learn about the impact of online learning on career advancement.
  • Investigate employer attitudes towards non-traditional education in specific industries.
USEFUL FOR

Job seekers, career coaches, HR professionals, and anyone interested in leveraging online education for career development.

Cod
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I have a question about how resumes can portray MOOCs (Udacity, etc.) and OCW (MIT, etc.) completions.

Should one put such completed courses on a resume? I know some sites like Coursera have a Signature Track that allows you to pay a small amount and earn credit for the course. Others like Udacity and Coursera free courses, offer you a Statement of Accomplishment. Last, course like MIT OCW don't offer anything proving you completed the course successfully. I was thinking it wouldn't hurt to put them in a personal development / hobbies section, but unsure since I'm not an HR guy. I wouldn't put all of the courses I completed, just the relevant ones for the specific position I'm applying for.

Or should they not be included at all?
 
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I would look at it like this. On your CV/resume you're trying to sell your most significant virtues to a potential employer.

If you've taken a course, been tested on the material, and/or applied it on a project that was later evaluated to demonstrate a degree of mastery, that's one thing.

If all you've done is watched a series of You Tube videos, that's another.

And a lot may depend on the particulars of the position you're applying to as well. If for example, you're a formally educated chemist applying for an chemist position with a butter company, and you've taken a MOOC on the history of butter, that might be a selling point.
 

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