You must remember that education is an integral part of any job search. Today's knowledge-hungry culture is awash with diverse education experiences. These could include college, high school, graduate school, bootcamps and licenses.
If you're curious and driven, education can go on well beyond graduation. Many micro-learning opportunities are available that don't require three years, but they are worth including on your resume. Technology is increasing education accessibility. If you are willing to invest time in your development, it makes perfect sense to share that with potential employers.
Let's begin with the basics of listing education on a resume
The education section on a resume is the most important.
- Institution's title
- Qualification
- Where is the school situated?
- Graduation date
- GPA (only if you have a grade of 3.0 or higher)
How to list education in a resume
- Start with your highest qualification and work your way back in reverse-chronological order
- If you have not attended college, attended a prestigious academy or graduated recently, then high school is not included.
- The date of your graduation will affect the placement of your education section. This is why it's important to add the section closer to your top.
A resume must include a section on education. The basics are important, regardless of how much you learned in college and school. Employers will doubt your motivation and intelligence if you lack education.
How to make a unique education situation your resume?
Completed programs: If you start a degree but don't finish it, only include the relevant experience. It's not worth mentioning 40 credits from a Geology degree if you are applying to a sales job.
What can you do to add your education to your resume if your goal is to work in an art museum? You can always discuss your circumstances during an interview. It is okay to discuss any information you have added, including your education.
High school: If you are currently enrolled or graduated within the last five to ten years, it's a good idea that your diploma is listed on your resume. If you are currently enrolled in highschool, the education section can be used to highlight your extracurricular activities, academic achievements, and coursework.
If you're in highschool and creating a resume to apply for a part time job, you're first doing a great job. Second, you won't get the job due to your work experience. This section will highlight your strengths, work ethic, passions, and personality.
Certificates: Recent, relevant certifications should be included in your resume, unless they are already obsoleted or are otherwise assumed to be yours. Your resume should not contain too many abbreviations, jargons or terms to describe your certifications. Keep it professional.
Only accept share certificates that directly relate to the job. While you may be reluctant to reduce your education, it is vital that it does not interfere with your career. Any hiring manager will find a 100% relevant and compelling resume. You don't want to let any degree that isn't relevant ruin your impression.
Bootcamps: Recent participation in education beyond an academic institution such as a yoga workshop or code camp should be considered when listing education on a resume.
Avoid lengthy descriptions. If a program is not common, a hyperlink can be added to help provide context. It is important that the hiring manager spends as much time as possible reviewing your application.
Internships: If you were a student intern instead of adding an internship
Consider adding details to your education section. You will often only glance at the education section to see what is required. Your bullet descriptions of internship experience will be more easily found in the work history section or in a custom section at the top.
Internships offer a different approach to education because they are directly related to the job you will be doing. You should ensure that your internships match the job description. ATS systems may search for interns to help early-career professionals. It is important that you keep this separate from your work experience, as internships can often be unpaid.
Here are some tips to help you include education in your life
While content can differ between individuals, industries, or experience levels in different areas, there are some guidelines to follow when it comes to including education information on your resume.
Be honest. Never lie about your education. It's small and easy to have someone verify your education.
If your focus is not on formal education, there are other ways to show that education (and learning!) has been a part of your career. Your professional life is interwoven with your education. You do not need to have formal education. Instead, you can increase the section on special skills.
You shouldn't be afraid to skip education. It doesn't matter if you don't have the qualifications to do the job. Your skills, experience, and overall resume presentation should show it. Education is only an adjunct role. Your work experience and career potential are what is most important.
If you are a senior professional, list your education exactly as it was. You can, however, remove the graduation dates to avoid age discrimination. This is acceptable if your education spans more than 20 year. However, the exact years of your education are irrelevant. Employers may accept this same as if you don't include certain roles in your early career.
Be clear and consistent. Let's get to the point. It is important to keep your education brief and consistent. A clean resume template can help you to create a professional design.
Customize your information. You should tailor your resume to each job application, from your hobbies to your work description to your education. If you are applying for a job in the office, don't list your college degree. Consider removing any other education from your resume that isn't pertinent. Every line on a resume must be earned.
Honors and awards. Education is a section that can be included on a resume. Senior professionals will be more proud of their recent accomplishments than the early-career resume.
Professional development that is relevant. Some industries, like education, place a lot on the people you have studied with and how well you've received training. Pick the classes and workshops that are most relevant to your job.
It's better to give each academic experience a separate category or section if you have many publications, lectures, and/or studies.
List education where it matters. Just graduated college and you're now entering the job/internship scene. This is where the most important question is: How do you include education on your resume? It is best to include the education section before the work experience. Hire managers love freshmen from college so don't worry. List this situation at the top of you personal statement. This will allow you to add some experience from part-time or interning work to your resume.
If you haven't already, make sure to include the education section in the bottom of your resume.
Special skills and work experience are required.
A resume written without education
While you may think you don't have an educational background because you didn't go to college or university, many jobs are open to you that require you to be able learn more than just grades. Perhaps adding the word "education" to your resume is not as difficult as it seems.
- You can list incomplete education qualifications or even mediocre results from high school
- What online learning did you take advantage of?
- What are some lessons you have learned from your life outside of work that could be helpful?
Every day brings education. You don't have to be a star in the classroom. Think about the skills that you will need for the job, and the places where those skills may have been learned. Don't be ashamed – you're simply showing creativity and not desperate. You will be able to compete with the many empty seats in education.
Consider the jobs you are applying to. Many of them will hire someone with a good attitude and a less stellar education than you might think. You may have some flexibility if they don't require certain qualifications for the job description.
What are the differences between different educational qualifications?
Although it is a good idea to list your most recent achievements in education (grad school students don't have to share high school accomplishments), there are nuances to listing different types of education on a resume.
Education in high school
Your high school education should be considered, along with your academic achievements and exam results. You should also consider extra-curricular pursuits. Many people are impressed by team sports and any industry related will be of interest.
GED Certificate
A General Education Development Certificate may be awarded to you if you have been educated at home and didn't graduate high school. Employers are very keen to recognize this qualification. In fact, homeschooling does offer a number of advantages to employers, such as the ability to work independently, manage time, and motivate.
Undergraduate degree
Potential employers are always interested to see your undergraduate degree, whether you've graduated already or continue to study. If you are unsure about your major, it is important to mention it. You never know when your common interests will surface during an interview. It is a good idea not to overdo it.
Grad school degree
Congratulations to those who have completed graduate studies. You are right to give your resume space for this hard work. Your grad school education might not be as relevant if your experience is more than twenty years. However, if your career is just starting out, you should include more information about your research, theses and fellowships. Although it would be ideal for you to have relevant academics, this still shows that your ability to learn deeper.
Here are some key takeaways
You should now realize that there are more to education than meets the eyes when it comes to including it on your resume. It is not something that should be overlooked when you are looking for a job.
It is tempting to include more information about education in your resume. However, it is best to save these details for an interview. The education section is the most important part of resumes. Hiring managers will usually only need to know the name of the school and program.
Your resume should reflect your diverse education. This is how you will demonstrate the value of your skills and experience to your job.
