Certifications and practical work: how to present them without professional experience

A certification or training course can strengthen a junior IT application. It is more convincing when you explain what you practised and describe your status accurately.

1. Label achievements correctly

Situation	Possible wording
Exam passed	Exact certification name, issuing body, date and public verification link if available.
Course completed	Training or completion certificate, without implying that a separate certification exam was passed.
Preparation underway	Certification being prepared, progress and a planned date only if realistic.

Check official titles and validity where applicable. Do not publish unnecessary personal identifiers or account information on your CV.

2. Link learning to an exercise

Networking might involve an IP plan and lab tests. Support might involve a documented diagnosis and fictional ticket. Systems practice might involve a virtual-machine configuration, checks and a procedure. Choose exercises relevant to the target role.

3. Explain your contribution

Fictional example: “Online networking course — 2026. Personal project: built a simulated two-subnet network, ran connectivity tests and wrote a report. Followed a tutorial, then adapted the exercise using my own address plan.”

Acknowledge help received. Following a tutorial supports learning; explaining your modifications and findings demonstrates understanding.

4. Prepare a small evidence portfolio

Use one page per project: objective, tools, diagram, tests, difficulty and limitation. Selected screenshots with comments are more useful than fifty unexplained images. Check that files are accessible and contain no confidential data.

5. Relate learning to the job

Explain which tasks you could handle and where you would need supervision. A certification does not automatically replace production experience, but your work can demonstrate method, learning ability and careful documentation.

Before paying for another course, compare its syllabus with your target vacancies and check the provider’s official conditions.

Stock photograph used for illustration; it does not show a Kamerjob employer.

Cover and illustration: Pexels / Pexels.

Explore vacancies on Kamerjob and adapt your application to the duties and requirements of each employer.

The Kamerjob team