Putting WSET on Your CV and LinkedIn
A WSET qualification is only worth as much as the way you present it. Listed clearly, it signals genuine, structured wine knowledge to anyone in the trade. Listed vaguely or incorrectly, it reads as a half-remembered course. This guide covers how to put WSET on your CV and LinkedIn so it carries the weight it should. For where the qualification can take you, see our WSET career paths guide.
Name the qualification correctly
Precision signals that you understand the qualification. Use the full, correct title rather than a casual shorthand:
- Give the exact level and award name, for example WSET Level 3 Award in Wines.
- State the year you achieved it.
- Include your grade if it was Pass with Merit or Pass with Distinction, because those carry real signal.
Avoid writing simply WSET or wine diploma, which is vague and, in the case of diploma, can imply the much larger Level 4 qualification you may not hold. If you are mid-study, say so honestly: WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, in progress, with your expected date.
Should you show your grade
Yes, if it is a Merit or a Distinction. Anyone familiar with WSET knows that Distinction is the top band and that it is genuinely hard to reach, so it is worth stating plainly. If you passed without a higher grade, simply listing the qualification and year is perfectly respectable; there is no need to write Pass, as the qualification itself is the achievement. This is one of the quiet reasons it is worth studying toward Distinction rather than a bare pass, as our WSET grading explained guide discusses.
Where to list it
On a CV, the placement depends on relevance. For a wine, hospitality or drinks-trade role, put it under education or a dedicated certifications section near the top, where it supports your candidacy directly. For an unrelated role, it still works as a credible interests-and-development item lower down, showing commitment and self-direction.
On LinkedIn, add it under Licenses and Certifications, with the level, the issuing context and the year. You can also mention a notable grade in your headline or summary if wine is central to your professional identity. WSET publishes brand and logo guidelines, so if you wish to display a certified logo, follow their current rules on permitted use.
What it actually signals
To people in the trade, a WSET level is a recognised shorthand. Level 2 signals solid working knowledge across grapes, regions and styles. Level 3 signals the ability to reason about wine, not just recall it, and a Distinction signals you did so at a high standard. Outside the trade, it signals something subtler but still valuable: that you can commit to a structured programme and see it through. Frame it for your audience accordingly.
Where to go from here
If you are deciding whether the next level is worth it for your goals, read is WSET worth it and after WSET Level 3, what is next. And if you want the grade that stands out on the page, Distinction Wines is built to take you there.
FAQ
How do I write WSET on my CV? Use the full award name, the level, the year, and your grade if it was Merit or Distinction. Avoid vague shorthand like just WSET.
Should I put my WSET grade on LinkedIn? Yes if it is a Merit or Distinction, since those are recognised as strong results. A plain pass is fine to list without the grade.
Can I list a WSET qualification I am still studying? Yes. State it as in progress with your expected completion date, which is honest and still shows commitment.