Are Google Career Certificates Worth It for Getting Hired? Employers Weigh In
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If you’re considering a
Google has built a strong reputation with its Coursera-hosted certificate programs across digital marketing, project management, data analytics, IT support, and UX design. But what do employers think?
We spoke with legal experts, recruiters, and business owners who hire entry-level talent to get their unfiltered thoughts on whether
But before we get to their thoughts on employability post-training, let me quickly recap what you can expect from the
What are Google Career Certificates?
Google Career Certificates are self-paced, online training programs developed by
Designed for beginners, the certificates cover job-ready skills in:
Read more about all the professional certificates offered from Google, designed to give you job-ready, real-world skills, and backed by the Google brand and an employer consortium.
Each certificate takes roughly 3–6 months to complete at 10 hours/week and ends with a shareable digital credential on Credly (this is my Credly profile).
But you can do them faster (as I did) if you put the work in – it also helps to have some prior experience as there is quite a learning curve if you’re coming to the topics from nothing.
So on to the big question: Do
What employers said
“A positive signal”
I have over 15 years in law and run a specialised wills and estates practice, which means recruitment is very deliberate. I’ve come across candidates mentioning
While the certificate alone doesn’t guarantee success, it shows commitment to learning. I once hired a paralegal who had the
In my view, these certificates work best as a supplement to hands-on experience, showing a candidate’s willingness to grow and adapt.
Oliver Morrisey, estate lawyer, owner and director at Empower Wills & Estate Lawyers
“Recommended”
This is one certification we recommend that our remote candidates pick up if they’re interested in project management positions.
It gives employers a recognizable resume line to pair with their overseas universities, and also helps with aspects of U.S. corporate culture that may be unfamiliar to Latin American candidates.
Hayden Cohen, CEO of Hire With Near
“Demonstrate initiative and technical upskilling”
These certificates can be great for demonstrating initiative and technical upskilling, but they’re not always seen as a direct substitute for real-world experience. Some clients have faced frustration when recruiters or hiring managers dismissed their qualifications, despite having completed these intensive programs and showing clear competency.
The certificates tend to carry the most weight in companies that already value alternative pathways into the workforce, especially tech startups or forward-thinking mid-sized businesses.
I’ve advised clients to pair the certificate with tangible project work such as freelance gigs, case studies, or internships, which significantly boosts their credibility.
For employers, it’s not just about the credential, it’s about whether the candidate can apply what they learned in real workplace scenarios.
Edward Hones, Founder at Hones Law
“Most valuable for entry-level and early career candidates”
The individual’s background and the role they’re applying for influence how much value the
In these situations, a
The context around the certification makes a difference here, too.
However, they increase in value when paired with a well-rounded portfolio of work like project plans and retrospectives.
Matt Erhard, Managing Partner, Summit Search Group
“Not a game changer”
Typically, these certifications aren’t game changers in our interview processes. There will be very niche roles where Certifications could add great value, such as our
Generally, I do like to see that candidates are continuing their education and learning new things to keep ahead of trends and convey that their interests match what we are looking for, but more often than not, having a
It may be a keyword that gets a recruiter to find your profile, but other than that it’s just a confirmation that the candidate is continuing to learn.
Todd Riesterer, Chief People Officer, Huntress
Do employers recognize Google Certificates?
Short answer: increasingly, yes. Employers do respect
Google Career Certificates are supported by an Employer Consortium of over 150 companies, including Deloitte, T-Mobile, Accenture, and SAP. These organizations consider graduates from
Beyond that, the
Where they help (and where they don’t)
Most employers who responded to my request for an interview agreed:
They help when:
- You’re early in your career
- You’re switching industries or roles
- You use them to build a portfolio or complete side projects
- You can speak to what you learned in an interview.
They may not be enough when:
- You’re applying for mid or senior roles without experience
- You treat the certificate as the end goal rather than a launchpad.
Final thoughts: Are Google Certificates worth it?
So, are
- For self-starters? Yes.
- For changing industries? A helpful stepping stone.
- As a signal of skill? Stronger than you might expect, especially with
Google ’s brand behind it.
Remember, there are a lot of
In a competitive job market, getting a job after earning a
As someone who’s reviewed the course and spoken to employers, I’d say yes, but you have to put the work in. Also, the hiring value is different for different employers.
They won’t guarantee a job, but they can absolutely get your foot in the door, especially when combined with self-led projects, volunteer experience, and a standout LinkedIn profile.
Thinking about enrolling? Explore all Google Career Certificates on Coursera.
If you’re serious about changing careers or launching into digital-first roles, it’s one of the smartest steps you can take.
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