How to List Pluralsight (And Other on-line Training) on Your Resume

I was recently asked how to list Pluralsight courses on a technical resume.  

This is an an excellent question!  My answer -

"Treat your Pluralsight courses as you would any other class or course. "

Great.  What does that mean!? 

Well… let’s explore how you provide useful information related to traditional coursework.  First, what is going to be helpful to the reader of your resume?  A full list or a partial list?  If you completed a University Degree you would probably not list all of the courses you completed but may provide or augment your resume with your University Transcript.

If there is a course you are super proud of or one you think will catch the attention of the Hiring Manager and help you get an interview, highlight it.

For example, if I were applying for a medical lab position I might mention I completed a graduate level course in Human Immunology taught by Seth Pincus.  This would be appropriate in my Summary, as well as under the resume section "Education and Professional Training".

Now let’s look at this same application with a Pluralsight course.

First, what do you believe the Hiring Manager would find of value?  If a specific course may be of interest, list it at the end of your resume and you may also want to mention it in your Summary either in a general or specific manner.  By the way, this demonstrates your staying current and interest in continuing personal growth – a very good thing!

Below are examples of what you might put in your Summary:

• Continually strive to stay current and learn new technologies by continually viewing Pluralsight courses.
• Continually strive to stay current and learn new technologies by continually viewing Pluralsight courses related to <insert your favorite technology>.
• Continually strive to stay current and learn new technologies by continually viewing Pluralsight courses (recently completed WebRTC Fundamentals by Lisa Larson-Kelley).

Under your resume section "Education and Professional Training", you may opt to have a list of the Pluralsight courses you have watched or (as I suspect and hope) if it is a super long list this may be a bit overwhelming and not a good use of space on your resume.  For this scenario, Keep a Master List - and use what is relevant to the position you are interested in pursuing. Be selective and highlight your favorites - the courses you believe the reader will find of interest.  Also it is fair to look at the Hiring Manager’s LinkedIn Profile to see if they know an Author or list a course in their profile that you share in common.  But be careful, make sure if you list a similar or same course your interest is genuine --- otherwise it may appear that you are just bringing an apple to class to become the teacher's favorite.   ;-)

Below is an example of what you might put on your Resume in your "Professional Training" Section

Pluralsight Courses completed (Web Technology focus):

• WebRTC Fundamentals by Lisa Larson-Kelley
• Java Web Fundamentals by Kevin Jones
• Building Web Application with NancyFX by Richard Cirerol
• For a complete list visit my <LinkedIn Page> or please request

Another item to keep in mind is that unlike references requesting a list of your Pluralsight Courses is not obvious to the reader.  Feel free to state a “full list of courses available upon request”.

And if you are not linking your Pluralsight courses to LinkedIn, I highly recommend you do so.  

http://blog.pluralsight.com/add-course-completions-and-assessment-certifications-to-your-linkedin-profile

Resumes aren't about YOU!

Did I catch your attention?

Resumes, ironically, are not about you.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Resumes are all about the reader.  What questions do they have and what is their intent in reading your resume.  Remember this and you'll find content (about you) that is of value.  

Take yourself out of the picture and write as if you are writing about your best friend --- which you are.  

Be Kind. Be honest. Be forgiving. Have Fun!

No small task!

After 10+ years of professional career coaching, hiring 100s of software and technical professionals, as well as writing and rewriting many resumes, I embarked on what I thought would be a simple task.  

One that would be fun!  And add value to the world --- building upon my experience and stories (successes and failures).

What simple task you ask.  A simple conversion of my resume writing presentations and resume writing workshop into an online course - Pluralsight style.  This may be why you are reading.

How hard could it possibly be? - after all, I work for Pluralsight.  So of course, I have all the secrets.  Ha!  ... Ha! I say.  The secret is hard work.  And, listening to your Editor (my course took so long I had two.)  Oh yeah - and the thing I really need to work on - asking for help when your audio glitches and the yellow screen of death appears.  Yes, yellow --- we still don't have a clue how that video artifact was created.

And, like most things in life I underestimated the amount of time and effort.  The style to provide value (well, I hope I added value) to an audience that is varied and site unseen was daunting.  My "ah ha" moment was when I realized that the easiest way to guide my viewers was through the same advice I give myself every day.  

What are the questions I am asked?  And, what is the perspective of the individual asking the questions?  Also remembering, I ask everyone I coach the question --- "What questions are you asked when people read your resume?".

After many, many hours - I believe I am finally satisfied with my simple small task.  And am looking forward to a little R&R, as well as dusting off my mountain bike and my skis.