University life, where you can secure a large amount of free time, is the perfect time to acquire qualifications with an eye on your future career. However, it would be a waste to aimlessly try to get a difficult qualification just because it will give you an advantage in job hunting, and end up giving up, or to waste your time on a minor qualification that is difficult to evaluate in practice.

We will announce a ranking of recommended qualifications for university students, based on a comprehensive evaluation of practicality, job-hunting appeal, and cost-effectiveness.

1st place: Nissho Bookkeeping Certification (Level 2/3)

This is the strongest qualification to acquire the ability to read corporate finances, which is essential for all business people, regardless of whether they are in the liberal arts or sciences. At Level 3, you will learn the basic accounting flow of a company, and by completing Level 2, you will acquire the skills to read securities reports and financial statements. It is highly valued in a wide range of industries such as trading companies, finance, manufacturers, and consulting, and can be used as evidence that you are ``strong with numbers’’ in interviews.

2nd place: TOEIC L&R (aim for 730 points or more)

In today’s world of globalization, English proficiency remains a powerful filter and weapon. The standard for getting a positive evaluation on your resume is 600 points or more, and if you are aiming for a major Japanese or foreign company, a standard of 730 to 800 points or more is one standard. By preparing steadily from the early stages of university, you can use the precious time just before job hunting to research companies and prepare for interviews.

3rd place: Basic Information Engineer Examination (FE) / IT Passport

With DX (digital transformation) being a hot topic, this national qualification is recommended not only for those aspiring to the IT industry but also for all students. You can comprehensively learn the basic knowledge of programming, networks, and information security. If a liberal arts student obtains this certification, it will serve as a strong point of differentiation in an interview as someone with high IT literacy and the ability to adapt to change.

Collecting qualifications without a purpose is no good! How to make an action plan

Qualifications themselves do not guarantee a job offer. The key to success is to have a sense of purpose: ``Why do I need that qualification and how do I want to make use of it?’’ and to focus on studying during a period of time, such as spring break during your second or third year of university, is the key to success.