Hunting for a job can be daunting, particularly if you lack a well-crafted resume.
Nonetheless, academic qualification is a vital asset to job seekers, and you should highlight it in your resume. Are you having issues listing education on your resume?
Many job seekers struggle with this, and some miss out on job opportunities due to simple mistakes.
Don’t fret, though! You can hack the process with simple tips. Read on to find out how.
Why Should You Include Education on a Resume?
Academic achievements are integral to your resume and aid potential employers in picturing your qualifications.
For instance, some roles require certain credentials, and your academic achievements will dictate whether you get the job.
You showcase things learned and relevant degrees and training by highlighting your education. Here are reasons to list education on your resume;
To Demonstrate What You’ve Learned
Your academic qualifications show what you have learned. The information should include your academic accolades, topics, and projects you worked hard to ace. You can also highlight essential skills you navigated during the course period and why you deem them important.
However, education on a resume shouldn’t be too descriptive, only include the necessary information, and be concise.
To Highlight Any Relevant Degrees or Training
Listing academic achievements on your resume showcases your academic prowess. It highlights your credentials and training; you should list all the certificates or degrees attained. Training is also vital, so include any apprenticeship training to make your resume stand out.
To Show Why You Weren’t Working During Certain Years
Some degree programs take four years; your resume should explain why you weren’t working for certain years. Show this by listing your academic achievements in this section.
What Do I Put for Education on a Resume?
Your resume should highlight all your academic achievements. The section should include degrees and other certifications held from different learning institutions. If you hold various accreditations, you may be unable to list everything.
Therefore, customize your resume to fit the specific job requirements. This way, you convince the hiring manager that you are the right fit for the job.
Here are critical things to note:
Do You Put High School Education on Resume?
This depends on your education level and experience. For instance, if you are a fresh graduate with minimal or no experience, you should add high school education to your resume.
Similarly, if a high school or diploma is your highest educational achievement, listing high school education on your resume will showcase your knowledge.
This will overshadow the lack of experience, improving your chances of getting hired.
What Do You Put On Your Resume If You Didn’t Graduate Education?
You don’t need to include your degree program in your resume if you didn’t graduate from college. Indicating it as incomplete doesn’t look good. Instead, mention the institution attended, dates, and credit hours finished.
If you insist on including the courses in the resume, highlight those relevant to the specific role you are applying for. This will showcase what you are good at rather than what you didn’t accomplish.
Do You Put Current Education on a Resume?
Always list your current education on your resume. The process is simple: include the degree program, the school name, the location, and the expected graduation date.
How to List Ongoing Education on a Resume
If your degree program is in progress, including such information is easy. Indicate the course you are undertaking and the name of the college. State the expected graduation date and also highlight your skills, additional credentials, and examples of your accomplishments.
List the Degree Program You’re In
Create an education section and indicate the degree course you are enrolled in. Put the education section before or after your experience and all academic achievements, including degrees and other certifications, in chronological order.
Give the Name of the School and Where It Is
Indicate the institution you are enrolled in, the name, and the location. List other schools attended and state whether you are a student in progress or have already graduated.
Include Your Expected Graduation Date
Indicate the expected graduation date. Although this may change depending on the college, don’t put just any date. You can simply indicate the name of the degree course and the expected graduation time in parentheses.
If taking Commerce, this can be listed as “Bachelor of Commerce (Expected to graduate in October 2023).”
How To Write an Education Description for a Resume
The description summary of your resume acts as a marketing tool. Hiring managers review this section to determine whether you have the right educational background for the job position.
Therefore, understanding how to write it gives you an edge over other applicants. There are various crucial details to include in this section; these include:
- Name and location of the school
- Course
- Honors or specialty subjects
- Graduation dates
Also, determine the kind of educational achievements to include. For once, you may want to skip high school education if you have a bachelor’s degree or higher qualifications. The section should be concise and easy to read.
Include the Name and Locations of the Schools
List the name of the school and the city and state where it is located. Also, indicate the country if applying for an international job. It is okay to list the school name before the degree is attained.
List Graduation Dates
Some employers may want to hire you before graduation and want to be sure of the graduation dates. Therefore, include the expected graduation date in the education section and indicate your GPA.
For instance, write the name of the degree course, school name, and location and indicate the expected graduation date in the preceding line.
Highlight Any Honors or Specialty Projects
Employers receive many applications, and highlighting your specialty projects makes you stand out. Include awards and honors received at work or academic excellence.
Why is this important? Every applicant is likely to have hard skills and many educational achievements. But soft skills are valuable, and including them in your resume shows your unique skills. These may include:
- Problem-solving skills
- Teamwork
- Creativity
- Time management
- Other valuable skills may make you a good fit for the position
Here is how to do this right:
- List the awards under the relevant section, whether education or employment sections.
- Only list significant awards and those relevant to your career goal or job search.
- Quantify the actual achievements for receiving the award.
- Include the award title, recognition, and date. Also, indicate your accomplishment and the purpose of the award.
- Describe your achievements using impressive verbs such as “awarded as, recognized as, etc., to draw attention to the award.
- Explain the impact of the achievement by explaining in detail the influence your actions had to warrant the award.
Where to Place Education on Your Resume
- If you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience, place your education section at the top of your resume before your work experience.
- For someone with significant work experience in your field, you can place your education section after your work experience section.
- If you have multiple degrees or certifications, list the most recent or relevant degree first.
- Provide the name of the institution, the degree or certification earned, and the date of graduation or completion.
- For an individual with a high GPA or any academic honors, include them in your education section.
- Consider including relevant coursework, projects, or research if they demonstrate your skills or knowledge in your field.
Wrapping Up
Your resume highlights your education accolades and other career achievements. Including your education on your resume is easy by indicating your academic qualifications, course, school attended, and location.
Make it stand out by including other skills, honors, and specialty awards. Remember, hirings managers receive thousands of applications, and you should give them a reason to hire you.
Feel free to comment in case of any questions and know where to place education on your resume to improve your hiring prospects!
