The job market is growing ever more competitive by the days. Companies nowadays are looking beyond a degree – simply having one doesn’t guarantee you a job anymore as compared to 10 or 20 years ago. Real skills and experience top the list of what employers are actively searching for in the current market. In other words, to stand out, you need to be capable of more than just your major.

That doesn’t mean you have to go out and grab another degree though. There are some small and easy to get certifications that can really beef up your resume and who knows, might just help you land your first job. Today on Topthingy, we’ll take a look at 5 bonus certifications that are especially helpful for fresh graduates.

1. Salesforce Administrator Certification

Salesforce is a customer relationship management software that many large and medium-sized corporations are using to manage their daily operations and interactions with their customers. It’s a hard software to use with plenty of options and optimizations. For a fresh graduate, a certification that shows you have the skills and knowledge to navigate the Salesforce system is a huge plus. A test costs approximately $200, but it’s not an easy test. There are many courses that you can follow to study for the test – some are even free if you can spare the time to look for them.

2. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

If you are an engineer or have a major in robotic, the RPA is a valuable certification to have in your resume. Many companies are chasing the automation trend and increasingly looking for opportunities to automate their business. A certification in RPA can very well land you an office job at these companies to help them with the automation workflow design and management. There are also opportunities at consultancy firms that help others with their automation efforts too if you dig deep enough.

3. Corporate Communication

Communication is an important aspect of any business, but it is especially important in a corporate environment. If you are looking for an office job in a large corporation, a certificate in corporate communication will make you stand out among the candidates. You can look for courses about corporate communication on online teaching platforms like Coursera and Lynda.com; they are affordable and very flexible. Make sure to get one that offers a certificate at the end if you plan to include that in your resume.

4. Microsoft Office Specialist

The Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Publisher is an integral part of any business that works with a computer. Most employers expect you to at least know how to handle Word and Excel nowadays, but if you can show that you know more than just messing around with spreadsheets, it can be a deciding factor during an interview. A certificate with Microsoft showing your proficiency with the Office suite is a huge plus in any resume and will definitely help you towards that first job.

Related Article: 5 Free Online Certificates That You Can Earn In Your Free Time