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If you are actively looking for a promotion or exploring your next career move, you already know that standing out matters. The challenge? Doing it quickly, credibly and in a way that works just as well with a hiring manager as it does with the AI tools that are increasingly screening your profile before any human ever sees it.
Did you know that a 2024 LinkedIn study found that candidates who list relevant certifications are 30% more likely to receive interview callbacks?
Traditionally, it was enough to update your CV with whichever knowledge you gained, but the shift towards skill-based hiring is reshaping how roles are filled and your professional credentials need to keep up.
One emerging way to do so is through microcredentials that come with online certificates or digital badges on completion. These learning units are becoming increasingly valuable in the hiring process, recognised as verifiable, bite-sized proof of skill that recruiters can instantly match against role requirements.
Why digital badges are becoming the new norm
Microcredential badges from reputable organisations – like our Tax Academy microcredentials – are issued through a trusted platform that integrates directly with platforms like LinkedIn via API, syncing your credentials with full metadata.
This means that hiring managers and recruiters can see not just that you have a credential, but what knowledge you demonstrated to earn it, who issued it and when. Given that over 90% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates, that increased visibility is not a small thing. It also means that AI tools that can take a snapshot of your entire professional profile – not just you CV – can find, recognise and validate your added skillset.
In short: A digital badge actively works for you across platforms, in ways that a line on a CV simply cannot replicate.
How to get a digital badge
So, if digital badges are the new norm for displaying your skillset and experience, the next question is: how do you get one to display your tax expertise on your LinkedIn and beyond? Here’s the easy guide to getting started:
Step 1: Choose a microcredential to complete
Tax Academy, powered by The Tax Institute, has partnered with Credly to issue digital badges to professionals who complete any of our 32 microcredential learning units.
Each microcredential is designed for tax professionals at any stage of their career, with or without a university degree, whether you are building a foundation, refreshing your knowledge ahead of a move or adding a credential that speaks to a specific area of expertise.
So the first step is to choose the unit that builds your skillset in the way that makes sense for your career and goals.
Tip: checkout our Tax Academy stacks – bundles of Tax Academy microcredentials that have been handpicked to put you on a recognised learning path.
Step 2: Purchase your microcredential
When you’ve picked the unit that makes most sense for you, purchasing is easy. After checkout, we’ll send you the details to our online learning platform so you can get started.
Step 3: Complete your learning within 3 months
Once you’ve purchased your unit, you’ll have three months to complete your learning and successfully pass the unit assessment.
This is where you’re in the driver’s seat. Tax Academy microcredentials are targeted, specialised units that you can do at your own pace, with regular knowledge tests. We estimate about 10 hours of learning per unit – but of course the time you spend on your learning will depend how far you want to dive in, how long you spend revising and how new you are to the topic.
To claim your badge you must firstly successfully complete the unit.
Step 4: Claim your digital badge
When your unit is complete, you’ll receive an email and be prompted to download your digital badge. From there, you can add the badge directly to your LinkedIn profile, download it for your CV, or embed it in your email signature.
Wherever it appears, anyone who clicks on it will be able to verify exactly what it represents, instantly. An employer, recruiter or peer can view details including when the badge was issued, who it was issued to and a summary of the knowledge you’ve displayed to earn the credential.
For more info, check out our step-by-step guide to uploading your digital badge.
So, if you’re ready to build your skillset, your expertise and your career, there’s only one question left: how many badges will you claim?