October 14, 2023

8 Words in English for Academic & Professional Achievements

Ever confuse “title” with “certificate”? What about “degree” with “career”? And what exactly is the difference between “mark” and “grade”? If you need to speak in English about your professional and academic achievements (for example, in a job interview, university application or a networking event), this vocabulary is key! Continue reading to master 8 words in English that will save you in these situations!

1. TITLE

If you use “title” in the context of employment, you’re probably talking about a person’s position in an organisation – basically, their job title. Examples of job titles are Community Manager, Web Developer or UX Designer. Note that in English, we use capital letters to write job titles in formal places like a CV heading. For example, Sara Brown: Graphic Designer (not Sara Brown: graphic designer).

“Your career, or career path, is your professional journey “

2. certificate

 A certificate is a document. It is tangible evidence that a person completed a course in a specific subject. You might receive a certificate for your school studies, or First Aid skills, or a training day at work. It normally includes your name and the name of the course, the date and some beautiful signatures or shiny stamps. Perfect for putting on the fridge door.

3. QUALIFICATION

Qualification is a generic expression that refers to  the education, training, skills, and knowledge a person has. Recruiters often state the qualifications they want the ideal candidate to possess, mentioning particular studies or level of expertise in the job description. While a certificate is essentially a piece of paper, a qualification is a reference to the actual learning and accomplishments a person has achieved.

4. DEGREE

A degree is an academic achievement that you get from college or university. It can refer to your Undergraduate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate studies. While you say that you have a degree in a subject, you say you have a degree from an educational institution. For example, I have a degree in History from the University of Edinburgh.

5. CAREER

Your career, or career path, is your professional “journey” over the years. It refers to all the jobs you have held and pretty much everything you’ve done in relation to your professional life. People sometimes talk about a career change, which is when you move to a different field of work – for example, from teaching to coding. Job interviewers also might ask about

2. certificate

 A certificate is a document. It is tangible evidence that a person completed a course in a specific subject. You might receive a certificate for your school studies, or First Aid skills, or a training day at work. It normally includes your name and the name of the course, the date and some beautiful signatures or shiny stamps. Perfect for putting on the fridge door.

6. MARK & 7. GRADE

Both mark and grade refer to the evaluation we give for academic performance. If you want to get very particular, then you can say that mark is more common in British English, and refers to the specific numerical score or percentage of an assessment. Grade, on the other hand, is more about the overall performance in a course. For example, you could get a mark of 87% in one exam, and be awarded an overall “A” as a grade. However, it is common to hear either word used interchangeably – so don’t lose sleep over the difference. 

8. NOTE

When we talk about notes in an educational context, it’s exactly that – notes, plural. This refers to the information that you write in your notebook during class. “Remember to take notes!” is a demand from the teacher that you are probably familiar with. (On behalf of all teachers, I apologise).

SPEAKING OF DEMANDS…

 

Today’s globalised job market definitely demands a certain level of English. Taking the time to expand your vocabulary is always a great investment, but it’s especially important for areas where career opportunities are involved. Now that you can talk confidently about your achievements, you are ready to go out and impress! 

 

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I train people to use English in a professional context. In my one-to-one sessions, online course and social media platforms, you’ll master tools to flourish in your English-speaking workplace. From job interviews to work meetings to presentations and more, you’ll prepare for professional challenges and speak with success.

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