If you are using English for job applications, you might be feeling confused. Are “title” and “certificate” the same? What about “degree” with “career”? And what exactly is the difference between “mark” and “grade”? This type of vocabulary is key for situations where you explain your professional and academic achievements. Stop wasting time scratching your head, and master 8 English words you need for successful applications, interviews and conversations.
1. Title
If you use “title” in the context of employment or English for job applications, 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).
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 English for job applications, or for putting on the fridge door – whatever you prefer.
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.
To go deeper with this topic, check out this resource on how to explain your skills and qualifications in English.
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. Make sure you use the right English for job applications!
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
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 use effective English for job applications!
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