For public relations jobs

• Introduction to Engineering and Design

• Integrated Digital Media

• Animation and CGI Motion

• Reputation Management in a Digital World

• Online Marketing Strategies

• Strategic Brand Management

You want your resume to be the most compelling advertisement for

If you’re applying for a summer job bussing tables at a restaurant, your coursework is obviously irrelevant because the skills you’ll need to perform well on the job have little to do with what you studied in school.

On the other hand, if you’re applying to intern at a magazine, the hiring manager may want to know that you took creative writing courses, were nominated for a short fiction prize, and spent time working on the school paper. Those experiences and the knowledge you gained from them directly pertain to working at a magazine.

Think about the skills that you’ll need in order to perform well on the job, and ask yourself if you’ve taken any classes or courses that contributed to those particular skills.

We live in strange world where many employers request entry-level candidates to have a few years of work experience under their belts. It’s a frustrating, convoluted predicament for graduates and anyone else who’s new or just coming back to the workforce.

When you don’t have a lot of work experience, you need something to fall back on. Relevant coursework on a resume is one of the more effective substitutes. Including it shows you have knowledge and skills even if you don’t have any real-world job experience. Just remember not to go overboard. You don’t need to list every class, lecture, lab, and practicum you’ve ever taken. The keyword is relevant.

Opinions also vary regarding where to put your relevant coursework on a resume. Again, it generally depends on the job.

For example, if you’re applying to an academic position, put your coursework in a place of pride toward the top of your resume. If it’s a technical position, place your coursework credits below your special skills. Otherwise, you could list it in the education section like this:

Bachelor of Arts, English, University of LMNO

Relevant Coursework: Literature, Creative Writing, and Literary Explication.