What are micro-credentials and can they help you get a job?

Move over hobbies and interests such as reading, playing football or travelling in your spare time. Nowadays if you want your CV to truly shine, micro-credentials are the way forward. 

So, what are micro-credentials, exactly? 

While further study will usually sit in the education section of your resume or application, micro-credentials relate to online courses or achievements that aren’t necessarily connected to the job you’re applying for, but which give hiring managers a better idea of the bigger picture. 

Also known as digital badges, micro-credentials are collected through apps, data systems or websites and examples include short, specialised courses such as a coding workshop or SEO workshop, or even volunteering at a local food bank for a period of time. 

Akin to blockchain digital ledgers, micro-credentials include details about the training provider and level of qualification and can be easily shared and verified guaranteeing authenticity and accessibility. 

Their scope is vast. You can even achieve micro-credentials in leadership, ideal for anyone transitioning into a management role, or hoping to ascend the rungs in the future. ESG and negotiating are just two more. 

Plus, you’re not limited to the amount of micro-credentials you can get and with the World Economic Forum predicting that half of all workers will need to re-skill in the next five years, and that 90% of employees should pick up new skills on the job, diversifying your skill set is not just a nice to have, it’s essential to stay relevant in a dynamic job market. 

Benefits

Another key benefit of micro-credentials is how they are more affordable than traditional educational routes like completing a Master’s degree or doctorate.  

That said, many universities are now offering micro-credentials to facilitate a more flexible and innovative approach to learning, and most courses can be delivered one day per week over the course of six to eight weeks. 

Another positive attribute is that micro-credentials can also be accrued over time, at a pace that suits your current workload, lifestyle or home responsibilities. 

And if your current employer doesn’t have learning and development opportunities on-site, exploring a field of study via micro-credentials courses that are highly specialised is a great alternative to keep your expertise sharp and skill set consistent and applicable. 

Challenges

Is there any downside to micro-credentials? While the Council of the European Union has adopted a recommendation on a European approach to micro-credentials and is supporting their development and implementation, not every organisation recognises micro-credentials and during the hiring process some still opt for candidates with more traditional college degrees.

Cross-border compatibility and standardisation can also be an issue. That said, the pros outweigh the cons and if your current employer isn’t facilitating further education or learning opportunities in or out of the workplace, it could be time to look for a new opportunity in an organisation that fosters professional development. 

If that is the case, the Tech EU Job Board is the perfect place to start your search as it features thousands of jobs in companies that are actively hiring, like the three below. 

Data Analysis - Product Performance Associate, Western Union, Madrid

Western Union is committed to supporting further education and offers staff L&D opportunities as well as scholarship programmes for students from low-income families in the US. At its Madrid office, it is hiring a Data Analysis - Product Performance Associate to ensure growth and success across its financial ecosystem in Europe and play a critical role in ensuring the success of its digital banking product by tracking and analysing performance metrics, identifying trends and opportunities for improvement, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive product optimisation. View more details here. 

Senior Software Engineer - Fashion Store, Zalando, Berlin

Zalando provides a range of employee benefits including training and professional development by analysing the skills that are in high demand or on the rise and offering learning opportunities accordingly. It is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join its Fashion Store team and be responsible for designing, developing, and operating high-load transactional systems for onsite advertising. With ownership of your code and utilising microservices architecture, you'll operate large-scale web applications on the cloud and drive the entire development cycle. See the full job description here. 

(Senior) Full Stack Developer (m/w/d), msg DAVID GmbH, Braunschweig

Employees at msg David have unlimited access to Udemy courses and the company has also invested in an internal education platform called CAMPUS that supports its core products and services and allows people to document and share knowledge across the organisation. As a (Senior) Full Stack Developer you will further the development of software applications using the latest technologies in the front and backend and design and provide quality assurance of the software by writing automated tests as well as code reviews or Pair Programming. Find additional information here. 

Accelerate your career today via the Tech EU Job Board