Top Certifications That Will Boost Your Resume in 2025

September 17, 2025

In 2025, finding a job within Ontario is more difficult than ever. With thousands of applications and extremely qualified candidates in the running, individuals must do whatever they can to put themselves ahead of the competition. One easy way to enhance your qualifications is through professional certifications.

Pathways offers many online and in-person certification opportunities to boost your skills and stand out as a job candidate. Many of these certifications can be completed within 24 hours, making them a valuable asset for leveling up your professional skills.

In this article, we’ll be walking you through some of the top certifications offered by Pathways and what industries benefit from these certifications the most. Let’s jump right in!

Get Hired Faster: Certifications That Make Your Resume Stand Out

First-Aid and CPR Certification

Our first-aid and CPR certification courses involve virtual and in-person learning at an incredibly affordable price. You can become certified in as little as 6-16 hours of coursework.

Why it’s Valuable

First-aid and CPR certification is an invaluable skill that shows you how to react in emergency situations and perform life-saving measures when needed. It doesn’t make you a medical professional, but it is an asset to any workplace, not just healthcare.

Medical emergencies like cardiac arrest can happen at any moment, including in the workplace. Employers will always be happy to have someone qualified in emergency responsiveness on their team, especially if you’re applying for a management role. Being certified will give employers peace of mind if an emergency situation were to occur at work.

Industries that Benefit from First-Aid and CPR Certification

Any industry can benefit from first-aid and CPR certification! It’s an incredibly useful skill that could be needed at any time, in any place.

Get Your Red Cross Certification Within 24 Hours!

Certified Administrative Professional with Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Associate

Why it’s Valuable

Microsoft Office Suite is a popular tool used globally by businesses small and large. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Powerpoint, and Microsoft Excel are just a few of the tools available in Microsoft Suite, with a host of capabilities waiting to be explored.

Despite this, not many professionals are experienced with everything Microsoft Suite is capable of, especially entry-level professionals. This often leads to time being lost due to confusion with the software and user error.

Most employers want to avoid spending too much time teaching new recruits how to use basic Microsoft tools — it’s an extremely small part of the bigger picture. Proving that you’re experienced with Microsoft Suite is a big advantage among other candidates.

Industries that Benefit from MOS Certification

Microsoft Suite is used by most industries, including but not limited to:

Administrative and Office Support (in any sector)
Project Management
Finance
Education
Marketing
Writing
Human Resources
Sales

Get Certified in Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

The Complete Project Manager with CAPM® and PMP® Prep

This program helps you align yourself with PMI® (Project Management Institute) standards, project management methodologies, and widely recognized best practices. It prepares you to take the CAPM and PMP exam administered by PMI.

Why it’s Valuable

Project management is the heart and soul of any successful business. Its methodologies apply to practically any industry and are designed to be adapted for a variety of situations. It not only teaches you how to lead and organize a project successfully, it also shows you how to spot the signs of a failing project and save it from disaster.

While project management certifications like CAPM and PMP are primarily for project managers tackling large projects, its methodologies can apply to any project or assignment you take on. Employers know this, which is why a CAPM and PMP certification can be an impressive feat. Employers value candidates who understand how to manage/organize themselves, their team, and keep projects running smoothly in the workplace.

Industries that Benefit from CAPM & PMP Certification

Any industry can benefit from CAPM & PMP certification, especially if you’re applying for a management/leadership position.

Start preparing for your CAPM and PMP Exam!

Microsoft Excel Certification Training

While training for Microsoft Excel is widely covered by the Microsoft Office Specialist certification, Excel is far more complex than other tools like Word, Powerpoint, and Outlook.

While MOS can teach you a comprehensive range of functionalities, there’s still far more to learn about Excel. It’s most known for simple data entry — but data visualization, advanced financial modeling, and automatic performance tracking are just a few of the things Excel makes possible.

Why it’s Valuable

Employers know that Excel is significantly more difficult to use than any other Microsoft program. In fact, your own employer might not even be able to use Excel to its full potential.

Demonstrating that you are capable of performing advanced formulas, functions, and automations through Excel is a key skill that not everyone has. These capabilities can heavily streamline business operation and workflow, forgoing the need for manual data entry.

Manual data entry can be as time-consuming as it is insignificant to a business’ success. Time spent on data entry would often be better spent on brainstorming strategy and executing deliverables. Being able to automate this repetitive task immediately demonstrates your value as a candidate.