Employers’ Perceptions of Microcredentials on Entry-Level Résumés in Technical and Professional Communication

Increasingly, higher education institutions are investing in a booming microcredentialing industry. These flexible, self-paced courses often promise to improve learners’ hireability through teaching skills that meet market and employer demands. This paper investigates the perceptions of microcredentials within the context of hiring entry-level workers who recently graduated from undergraduate technical and professional writing academic programs. Our qualitative research study reports on the findings from 4 interviews with hiring managers and recruiters in a U.S. metropolitan area. In the guided interview protocol, participants were asked to reflect on their reactions to two sample résumés that included different qualifying credentials. The findings suggest that while microcredentials are appreciated for demonstrating a candidate's initiative and eagerness for self-improvement, they are not yet seen as equivalent to traditional degrees. Portfolios were highlighted as a valuable tool for candidates to demonstrate the practical application of skills, especially when microcredential rigor is in question.