You’re about to launch your search for a project management role, and you’re looking for ways to give yourself every advantage. So what can you do to add value to your resume and increase the confidence and trust of potential employers? Here are a few moves that give you a little extra boost and put you a step ahead of your competitors.

Consider a project management certification.

The actual nuts and bolts of a specific PM job depend on the nature of the company and the project. But some aspects of the task remain standard. For example, successful PMs need to know how to communicate complex information in a simple way to a diverse group of workers and stakeholders. They need to know how to manage complex schedules. They need to know how keep up with changing project parameters and budgets in real time, and they should know how to persuade, listen, adapt, allocate financial and human resources, train, coach, and inspire. Some of these things are innate or can be learned through professional experience. But the right course can put you on the fast track, and the right certification can prove to employers that you have the skills they need.

Consider a BS in business.

You may already have a bachelors degree in another subject, and you may even have a bachelors plus a few years of experience in the working world. But it might be smart to add a business degree to your list of credentials. An undergraduate in business can give you a basic foundation in accounting and marketing principles, and the right teachers can also prepare you for whatever the modern business landscape presents in terms of challenges, opportunities, and tools. The knowledge you’ll receive from your coursework can be invaluable, and night courses and accelerated programs may make a degree more accessible than you realize, even if you’re a busy adult.

Consider an MBA.

Once considered out of reach for most working, middle class people, an MBA may now be surprisingly accessible—and affordable—if you can find the right program. Intensive, full immersion programs may require you to give up your weekends but graduate in just 12 months, and your company may be willing to pay or sponsor you in exchange for certain requirements. Ask your employer about your options, and look up programs in your area. But be careful: since MBAs imply the promise of lucrative salary returns, degree programs are popular, and some may not be legitimate. Don’t be scammed; find a program with a strong academic foundation and a record of high post-graduation employment rates.

For more on how to clear the path to a successful project management career, talk to the job search experts at Extension.