Should I list classes on my resume if I didn't do well?

In response to "Should I list classes on my resume?" a reader writes:

"What if you did not do too hot in a course that is relevant to the job? should you still put it on the resume? I've taken this course, and although I did not do well in it, I still know the basics of it and it is completely relevant to the internship I am applying to. I'm not very good at test taking, which is what the grade reflected, but I can still talk about what I learned. The only thing I fear is if they ask me about my grade. I'm not lying on my resume when I said I took the course, but I am drawing attention to a bad grade."

This can be tricky because some employers don't care about grades and others put a lot of value on grades, but you have no way of knowing which is which from the outside. With that in mind, remember that your resume is a marketing document meant to highlight the very best you have to offer potential employers, so you only want to include relevant information that paints you in a positive light.

A less than stellar grade in a relevant class does NOT reflect well on you, so the class does NOT belong on your resume. You're absolutely correct that if you list the course and it comes to light that you did not do well in the class, it will not look good for you. Something like that can make potential employers question your credibility, integrity, or even  and once that's damaged it is almost impossible to recover from as an applicant.

The safest route is to not list the class on your resume, but potentially bring up your experience from the class during an interview if it comes up naturally. This way you'd have the chance to address it on your own terms, but only if needed.

Got questions? Please feel free to ask The Advisor about it.