Top 13 'Empty-Résumé-to-Evidence-Rich' Certifications to try for beginners to land their first tech-adjacent role - Goh Ling Yong
Staring at a blank résumé can feel like standing at the bottom of a mountain with no climbing gear. You see the peak—your first role in the exciting world of tech—but the path up seems to require experience you don't have. It's the classic career catch-22: you can't get a job without experience, and you can't get experience without a job. It's a frustrating cycle that stops too many talented people before they even start.
But what if you could transform that empty space on your résumé into a compelling showcase of your skills and initiative? What if, instead of just saying you're a quick learner, you could prove it with tangible evidence? This is where the right kind of certification comes in. We’re not talking about just another line item on your LinkedIn profile. We're talking about certifications that are less about memorization and more about application—programs that force you to build, analyze, design, and manage, leaving you with a portfolio of work that speaks louder than any bullet point ever could.
Here on the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe in practical, actionable steps to build the career you want. That's why we've curated this list of 13 "empty-résumé-to-evidence-rich" certifications. These are specifically chosen for beginners aiming for tech-adjacent roles—the crucial non-coding jobs in project management, data analysis, marketing, and operations that make the tech world go 'round. Get ready to turn that blank page into a testament to your capabilities.
1. Google Project Management Professional Certificate
What it is: This comprehensive program, offered on Coursera, covers the entire project management lifecycle, from initiation and planning to execution and closure. It’s designed for absolute beginners and teaches you the methodologies (like Agile and Scrum) and tools (like Asana and spreadsheets) that are used in the real world.
The 'Evidence' Factor: This certificate’s superpower is its capstone project. You don't just learn theory; you are required to create a full suite of project documentation for a fictional project. This means you finish the course with tangible artifacts for your portfolio, like a project charter, a risk management plan, stakeholder analysis maps, and a detailed project plan. When a recruiter asks, "Tell me about a time you managed a project," you can walk them through the documents you personally created.
Pro Tip: Don't just list the certificate on your résumé. Create a simple, clean portfolio page (using a free tool like Canva or Google Sites) and upload your capstone project documents. In your cover letter or LinkedIn profile, you can then say, "I recently completed Google's PM certificate, where I developed a full project plan, which you can view here [link]." This is an immediate, powerful differentiator.
2. Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
What it is: Another gem from Google, this certificate demystifies the world of data. It takes you from the fundamentals of data collection and cleaning to analysis and visualization using tools like SQL, R, and Tableau. It’s perfect for anyone looking to enter roles like Junior Data Analyst, Business Analyst, or Marketing Analyst.
The 'Evidence' Factor: The program is packed with hands-on labs and culminates in a case study where you must solve a real-world business problem using a dataset. You'll create a full presentation, complete with dashboards and visualizations you built yourself in Tableau. This isn't just a certificate; it's a portfolio piece that demonstrates your entire analytical process—from asking the right questions to presenting your findings.
Pro Tip: Choose a case study for your capstone that genuinely interests you. When you're passionate about the data (whether it's about bike-sharing trends or coffee shop sales), your analysis and presentation will be far more compelling and will make for a great talking point in interviews.
3. Salesforce Certified Administrator
What it is: Salesforce is the world's leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, and almost every major tech company uses it. The Salesforce Administrator is the person who customizes and manages the platform. This certification proves you can handle user accounts, build reports and dashboards, and automate business processes.
The 'Evidence' Factor: The path to this certification is through Salesforce's free learning platform, Trailhead. Trailhead is a gamified, hands-on system where you complete real tasks in a "developer org," which is a free, fully functional version of Salesforce. By the time you’re ready for the exam, you'll have a Trailhead profile full of badges and projects that prove you can do the work, not just talk about it.
Pro Tip: Focus on building a "Superbadge" on Trailhead, like the "Business Administration Specialist" Superbadge. These are complex, multi-stage projects that mimic real-world business challenges and are highly respected by hiring managers in the Salesforce ecosystem.
4. HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification
What it is: This is a foundational certification in the world of digital marketing, and best of all, it's free. It teaches you the "inbound" methodology—creating valuable content and experiences that attract customers to you, rather than you chasing them. It covers content marketing, social media strategy, and lead nurturing.
The 'Evidence' Factor: While the cert itself is multiple-choice, its value comes from applying the concepts. The evidence is created by you. After completing the course, you can immediately put the lessons into practice. Start a simple blog, create a content calendar, or analyze the social media strategy of a company you admire using the frameworks you've learned.
Pro Tip: Pair this certification with a small, personal project. For example, offer to help a local non-profit or a friend's small business with their marketing strategy for free. Document your process and results (e.g., "Increased Instagram engagement by 15% in one month by applying inbound principles"). This turns theoretical knowledge into a real-world case study.
5. Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
What it is: You don't need to be a cloud engineer to work in tech, but you absolutely need to understand what the cloud is. This entry-level Microsoft certification provides a high-level overview of cloud computing concepts, Azure services, security, and pricing. It's not deeply technical, making it perfect for aspiring project managers, business analysts, or sales professionals in the tech space.
The 'Evidence' Factor: Holding this certification is evidence that you speak the language of modern technology. You can confidently participate in conversations about IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. It shows you've taken the initiative to understand the fundamental infrastructure that powers the company you want to work for.
Pro Tip: During an interview for a non-technical role at a company that uses Azure, mentioning that you're AZ-900 certified shows you've done your homework and are invested in their technology stack. You can say, "I saw you use Azure, and I took the initiative to get my AZ-900 certification to better understand the platform's capabilities."
6. CompTIA A+
What it is: The A+ is the industry standard for establishing a career in IT. It certifies foundational skills in hardware, software, networking, security, and troubleshooting. While it's often seen as a stepping stone to IT support and help desk roles, its value is much broader.
The 'Evidence' Factor: This certification proves one of the most valuable and transferable skills in any tech-adjacent role: problem-solving. It demonstrates a methodical approach to troubleshooting, a skill essential for a business analyst debugging a requirement or a project manager figuring out why a timeline is slipping. It’s evidence that you know how technology works from the ground up.
Pro Tip: After getting certified, volunteer to be the "go-to tech person" for your family, friends, or a local community center. Keep a simple log of the problems you solve. This gives you a bank of real-world examples to use in interviews for "tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem" questions.
7. Google UX Design Professional Certificate
What it is: This certificate covers the end-to-end process of User Experience (UX) design, from user research and ideation to wireframing and prototyping. It’s an incredibly well-structured program for anyone creative and empathetic who wants to help build user-friendly products.
The 'Evidence' Factor: This is perhaps the most portfolio-rich certification on the list. The program requires you to complete three distinct projects: a mobile app, a responsive website, and a cross-platform experience. You will have a professional-grade UX portfolio hosted on a platform like Behance or Adobe Portfolio by the time you're done, filled with case studies that showcase your design process.
Pro Tip: For one of your portfolio projects, choose to design a solution for a problem in an industry you're passionate about (e.g., a fitness app, a travel planner, a sustainability tool). This passion will shine through in your work and give you a more compelling story to tell potential employers.
8. Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)
What it is: Offered by Scrum.org, the PSM I certification validates your understanding of the Scrum framework, its roles, events, and artifacts. Unlike some other Scrum certifications, it doesn't require an expensive two-day course, and the exam is known for being a true test of knowledge.
The 'Evidence' Factor: Having this on your résumé is concrete proof that you understand the Agile methodology that powers the vast majority of modern tech teams. For a role like a Project Coordinator or Junior Product Manager, this is a massive advantage. It shows you can integrate seamlessly into their development process from day one. A strategy I often recommend, something Goh Ling Yong also advocates for, is to stack a certification like this with a more general one like the Google PM certificate to show both broad and specific knowledge.
Pro Tip: Don't just read the Scrum Guide. Find an open-source project or a small startup and observe their process. Join online Agile communities. Being able to talk about how the Scrum framework is applied in messy, real-world scenarios is far more valuable than just knowing the definitions.
9. Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals (PL-900)
What it is: The "low-code/no-code" revolution is here, and Microsoft's Power Platform is at the forefront. This certification proves you understand how to build simple apps (Power Apps), automate workflows (Power Automate), and analyze data (Power BI) with minimal to no coding.
The 'Evidence' Factor: This is the ultimate "show, don't tell" certification. After learning the basics, you can immediately build things that solve real problems. Create a simple mobile app to track your personal budget. Automate a repetitive task in your current job, like sending a weekly reminder email. These small projects become powerful stories and portfolio pieces.
Pro Tip: Find a manual, inefficient process at your current job (or in your personal life) and build a simple Power Automate flow to improve it. Document the "before" (e.g., "took 15 minutes a day") and "after" (e.g., "now fully automated"). This is a perfect example of adding measurable business value.
10. IIBA Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA)
What it is: This certification from the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is designed for individuals new to the BA profession. It covers foundational knowledge of how to identify business needs, elicit requirements from stakeholders, and help bridge the gap between the business and technology teams.
The 'Evidence' Factor: While less project-based than the Google certs, the ECBA provides a formal, globally recognized framework for your skills. It shows that you understand the professional standards and vocabulary of business analysis. This is evidence of your commitment to the profession and your ability to follow established best practices.
Pro Tip: As you study for the ECBA, practice the techniques. Conduct a mock "stakeholder interview" with a friend about their needs for a new website. Draw a simple process flow diagram for making your morning coffee. These small exercises make the theory stick and give you practical examples to talk about.
11. Google Technical Writing Courses
What it is: Google offers a fantastic pair of free technical writing courses for engineers, but they are incredibly valuable for anyone. They teach you how to write clear, concise, and accessible documentation—a skill that is desperately needed in tech.
The 'Evidence' Factor: Clear communication is a top-tier skill. After taking these courses, find a piece of confusing public documentation (like the setup guide for a new gadget or an open-source software's GitHub page) and rewrite it using the principles you learned. This becomes an incredible "before and after" portfolio piece that concretely demonstrates your value.
Pro Tip: Start a small blog or a Medium account where you explain complex technical topics in simple terms. This not only hones your skills but also creates a public body of work that hiring managers can see.
12. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
What it is: Similar to Azure Fundamentals, this is the entry-level certification for Amazon Web Services (AWS), the dominant player in the cloud market. It provides a fundamental understanding of the AWS cloud, its core services, and its value proposition.
The 'Evidence' Factor: Given that a huge number of startups and enterprises run on AWS, this certification is a signal that you are commercially aware. You understand the business and technology landscape. For roles in sales, marketing, or operations at a tech company, this knowledge is a significant advantage over candidates who don't have it.
Pro Tip: After getting certified, use the AWS Free Tier to get hands-on experience with a few core services. Spin up a simple EC2 instance or store a file in S3. Being able to say "I'm certified and I've also used the AWS console to..." makes your knowledge feel much more real.
13. CompTIA Security+
What it is: This is a step up in technicality from A+, but it’s still very accessible for dedicated beginners. Security+ is a global certification that validates the baseline skills necessary to perform core security functions. It covers topics like threats, vulnerabilities, and risk management.
The 'Evidence' Factor: In today's world, every role is a security-adjacent role. Having this certification is powerful evidence that you have a "security-first" mindset. For a project manager, it means you'll think about security risks in your project plan. For a business analyst, it means you'll consider data privacy when writing requirements. It shows a level of maturity and responsibility that is highly valued.
Pro Tip: Start following security news and blogs (like Krebs on Security or The Hacker News). In an interview, being able to connect a concept from the Security+ curriculum to a recent, real-world security breach shows that you're not just book-smart, but actively engaged in the field.
From Certified to Hired
Choosing a certification is the first step. The real magic happens when you treat it not as a finish line, but as a starting block. Each of these programs gives you the tools and the opportunity to create proof of your skills. That proof—whether it's a project portfolio, a case study, or a hands-on demonstration—is what will fill the empty space on your résumé and give you the confidence to ace your interviews.
Don't let analysis paralysis stop you. Scan this list again, pick the one that sparks the most excitement in you, and commit to starting the first module this week. That's it. One small step. Your journey from an empty résumé to an evidence-rich career starts now.
Which certification are you going to tackle first? Share your choice in the comments below to make a public commitment and find others on the same path
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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