How to List Education on a Resume Tips and Examples - Zipjob

How to List Education on a Resume Tips and Examples Spread the loveA resume can and should look very different depending on the individual it is representing. Everyone has strong and weak points to address. Of course, the focal point of a veteran executive will be very different from that of a recent college graduate. However, whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, you want to include your education on your resume. In this blog post, we go over how education on a resume should look depending on a few key factors.Why is including education on your resume so important?At the most basic level, a clear education section demonstrates that you have a good background and the basic knowledge to succeed.Your education can also be a point of connection or conversation. For example, if you are  alumni of the same university or shared a major with the hiring manager or potential employer. Maybe you went to a rival school or university and can get into some friendly trash talk.The point is, education is a shared experience people can understand and talk about regardless of their current professional position.So, regardless of your position or situation, you should always include education on your resume.There are, however, many different approaches to a resumes education section.Differences in style, placement of the section and included information can greatly change the message you are sending with your education section. A change in the message will change the ensuing conversation. So, it is very, very important.In this blog post, we are going to go over the many different approaches you can take when adding education to your resume. This also includes how to construct the section stylistically, where to put it, and what information to include.Styling Resume Education SectionThe key to effectively styling resume education sections is to make sure the most important information is easiest to notice. There are a few techniques you can use to maximize the use of this strategy.Highest level of educatio n should be on topOf course, you want to put the education that makes you sound best at the top. This is almost always the highest level of education that you’ve completed.There are some exceptions. Let’s say, for example, you have an advanced degree in psychology. Recently, you’ve grown unhappy in that industry and have been working on transitioning into technology. You went back to school and took a bunch of courses that are relevant to the tech industry.In that situation, you will want to list your relevant coursework higher even though your other degree is more advanced. Why? Simply because it has relevance to the position youre applying for. And, while an advanced psychology degree may be impressive, it doesnt do anything in explaining why youll be successful in the tech industry.Let’s look at some examples of resume education sections.EDUCATION2015   Master of  Social Work (MSW)  NYU School of Social Work, New York,  NY2013   Bachelor of Science in Criminal JusticeJo hn Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York,  NYIn this simple example, notice how the highest level of education (Master of Science) is listed on top of the second highest level (Bachelor of Science). This is the pattern you should always follow unless you’re transitioning between industries.As we discussed earlier, when you are transitioning to a new and unrelated industry to that of your degrees, your resume education section should look like this:EDUCATION2016    Graphic Design CertificationThe New School, Parsons Digital Design, New York, NY2007    Master of Science in Information TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA2005    Bachelor of Science in Computer ScienceUniversity of Idaho, Moscow, IDNotice how even though a graphic design certification is the least advanced degree, it is correctly placed on top. Again, this should ONLY be done in situations where you are transitioning into a new industry in which your old degrees are irrelevant.Drawing attentio n to the important partsThere are a bunch of options when writing the education section on your resume. Depending on the listing, you’re going to want to draw attention to the most relevant parts of your resume. This includes the education section as well.How can you draw attention? As we discussed, listing the most important parts first is essential.   After that, you can draw attention to the parts you really want to be noticed by altering the text. If you want to draw attention to the university name, bold that text. If you want the hiring manager to notice your major first, bold that part.The same rule applies throughout the resume’s education section. Of course, you want your resume to look neat. So, if your layout or bold your major on one point, it’s important to do it on all the others.In short, use text alteration to draw attention to the parts you want while at the same time, making sure that it maintains a neat look.What information to include in the Resume Educatio n sectionThere are a few pieces of information that are absolutely essential to any effective education section. This information includes: School NameMajorSchool location Including GPAThe general rules for including GPA in on your resume are as follows: IF you graduated in the last 4 years AND your GPA is over 3.5, include it. If you graduated over 4 years ago OR if your GPA is below 3.5, DO NOT include it.Here are a few examples of GPA inclusion with various resume stylings:  2005    Bachelor of Science in Computer ScienceUniversity of Idaho, Moscow, IDGPA: 3.8/4.0Here is another example of GPA inclusion in a more detailed education section:As you can see, if included, your GPA should be a part of, but not the main focus of your education section. The reason for this is simply because it’s not the main thing employers are looking for.Relevant coursework is also something you can include if you dont have much relevant experience.How Important Is Your GPA?According to this recen t study by National Association of Colleges and Employers,  GPA is not as important as your actual major or other extracurricular activities:For more details, check out our post on including GPA on your resume.Including extracurricular activities or honorsIf you’re a recent graduate, it is appropriate to list extracurricular in your resume’s education section. It is wise, however, to exclude anything controversial. For example, religious or political activity.Always include any honors on your resume, they look great. Even if you graduated  more than four years ago, a relevant honor still looks great.In short, you want to include any benign extracurricular activities. It shows passion and motivation. Same idea goes with honors. If it’s relevant, include it.Including graduation year This completely depends on the message you want to send. What you should keep in mind is that including a graduation year will usually give away your general age-range. Whether that is a good or bad thing depends on the job you’re applying for and the message you want to send. There is no “right” way of doing this so we’ll leave it up to you to decide.Including incomplete educationYou should include education even if you’re only partway finished with it. But, you must make it clear to the reader. There are graceful ways of including incomplete education on your resume, here’s a great example from KRG Staffing:EducationUniversity at Buffalo   2010-2012Completed 60 credits towards a Bachelor’s Degree in BiologyRelevant Courses Included:Intro to Biology        Chemistry 101Microbiology                Organic ChemistryUniversity at Buffalo, BS in Biology   In progressAs you can see, it’s obvious that the degree is incomplete yet it still makes it clear what has already been completed and when it is scheduled to be completed in full.Where to place the resume education sectionIf you’re a recent graduate with no relevant work experience under your belt, put you r education at the top. If you’re a recent graduate with internship experience, put education at the bottomWhen changing career paths and if just added relevant coursework, put it at the topIn all other scenarios, the resume education section goes at the bottomFor more information on organizing resume sections and laying them out effectively on the page, check out our blog on resume sections and headers.Resume Education Section ConclusionEvery section of your resume is super important. The education section is no exception. It demonstrates commitment and basic knowledge. It can also be a topic of conversation with fellow alumni or rivals. You never know what will catch the eye of a hiring manager. Your resumes education section could be the thing that lands you the interview! For more awesome job tips, check out the rest of our blog here. Good luck on your job hunt and thanks for reading! How to List Education on a Resume Tips and Examples Spread the loveA resume can and should look very different depending on the individual it is representing. Everyone has strong and weak points to address. Of course, the focal point of a veteran executive will be very different from that of a recent college graduate. However, whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, you want to include your education on your resume. In this blog post, we go over how education on a resume should look depending on a few key factors.Why is including education on your resume so important?At the most basic level, a clear education section demonstrates that you have a good background and the basic knowledge to succeed.Your education can also be a point of connection or conversation. For example, if you are  alumni of the same university or shared a major with the hiring manager or potential employer. Maybe you went to a rival school or university and can get into some friendly trash talk.The point is, education is a shared experience people can understand and talk about regardless of their current professional position.So, regardless of your position or situation, you should always include education on your resume.There are, however, many different approaches to a resumes education section.Differences in style, placement of the section and included information can greatly change the message you are sending with your education section. A change in the message will change the ensuing conversation. So, it is very, very important.In this blog post, we are going to go over the many different approaches you can take when adding education to your resume. This also includes how to construct the section stylistically, where to put it, and what information to include.Styling Resume Education SectionThe key to effectively styling resume education sections is to make sure the most important information is easiest to notice. There are a few techniques you can use to maximize the use of this strategy.Highest level of educatio n should be on topOf course, you want to put the education that makes you sound best at the top. This is almost always the highest level of education that you’ve completed.There are some exceptions. Let’s say, for example, you have an advanced degree in psychology. Recently, you’ve grown unhappy in that industry and have been working on transitioning into technology. You went back to school and took a bunch of courses that are relevant to the tech industry.In that situation, you will want to list your relevant coursework higher even though your other degree is more advanced. Why? Simply because it has relevance to the position youre applying for. And, while an advanced psychology degree may be impressive, it doesnt do anything in explaining why youll be successful in the tech industry.Let’s look at some examples of resume education sections.EDUCATION2015   Master of  Social Work (MSW)  NYU School of Social Work, New York,  NY2013   Bachelor of Science in Criminal JusticeJo hn Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York,  NYIn this simple example, notice how the highest level of education (Master of Science) is listed on top of the second highest level (Bachelor of Science). This is the pattern you should always follow unless you’re transitioning between industries.As we discussed earlier, when you are transitioning to a new and unrelated industry to that of your degrees, your resume education section should look like this:EDUCATION2016    Graphic Design CertificationThe New School, Parsons Digital Design, New York, NY2007    Master of Science in Information TechnologyGeorgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA2005    Bachelor of Science in Computer ScienceUniversity of Idaho, Moscow, IDNotice how even though a graphic design certification is the least advanced degree, it is correctly placed on top. Again, this should ONLY be done in situations where you are transitioning into a new industry in which your old degrees are irrelevant.Drawing attentio n to the important partsThere are a bunch of options when writing the education section on your resume. Depending on the listing, you’re going to want to draw attention to the most relevant parts of your resume. This includes the education section as well.How can you draw attention? As we discussed, listing the most important parts first is essential.   After that, you can draw attention to the parts you really want to be noticed by altering the text. If you want to draw attention to the university name, bold that text. If you want the hiring manager to notice your major first, bold that part.The same rule applies throughout the resume’s education section. Of course, you want your resume to look neat. So, if your layout or bold your major on one point, it’s important to do it on all the others.In short, use text alteration to draw attention to the parts you want while at the same time, making sure that it maintains a neat look.What information to include in the Resume Educatio n sectionThere are a few pieces of information that are absolutely essential to any effective education section. This information includes: School NameMajorSchool location Including GPAThe general rules for including GPA in on your resume are as follows: IF you graduated in the last 4 years AND your GPA is over 3.5, include it. If you graduated over 4 years ago OR if your GPA is below 3.5, DO NOT include it.Here are a few examples of GPA inclusion with various resume stylings:  2005    Bachelor of Science in Computer ScienceUniversity of Idaho, Moscow, IDGPA: 3.8/4.0Here is another example of GPA inclusion in a more detailed education section:As you can see, if included, your GPA should be a part of, but not the main focus of your education section. The reason for this is simply because it’s not the main thing employers are looking for.Relevant coursework is also something you can include if you dont have much relevant experience.How Important Is Your GPA?According to this recen t study by National Association of Colleges and Employers,  GPA is not as important as your actual major or other extracurricular activities:For more details, check out our post on including GPA on your resume.Including extracurricular activities or honorsIf you’re a recent graduate, it is appropriate to list extracurricular in your resume’s education section. It is wise, however, to exclude anything controversial. For example, religious or political activity.Always include any honors on your resume, they look great. Even if you graduated  more than four years ago, a relevant honor still looks great.In short, you want to include any benign extracurricular activities. It shows passion and motivation. Same idea goes with honors. If it’s relevant, include it.Including graduation year This completely depends on the message you want to send. What you should keep in mind is that including a graduation year will usually give away your general age-range. Whether that is a good or bad thing depends on the job you’re applying for and the message you want to send. There is no “right” way of doing this so we’ll leave it up to you to decide.Including incomplete educationYou should include education even if you’re only partway finished with it. But, you must make it clear to the reader. There are graceful ways of including incomplete education on your resume, here’s a great example from KRG Staffing:EducationUniversity at Buffalo   2010-2012Completed 60 credits towards a Bachelor’s Degree in BiologyRelevant Courses Included:Intro to Biology        Chemistry 101Microbiology                Organic ChemistryUniversity at Buffalo, BS in Biology   In progressAs you can see, it’s obvious that the degree is incomplete yet it still makes it clear what has already been completed and when it is scheduled to be completed in full.Where to place the resume education sectionIf you’re a recent graduate with no relevant work experience under your belt, put you r education at the top. If you’re a recent graduate with internship experience, put education at the bottomWhen changing career paths and if just added relevant coursework, put it at the topIn all other scenarios, the resume education section goes at the bottomFor more information on organizing resume sections and laying them out effectively on the page, check out our blog on resume sections and headers.Resume Education Section ConclusionEvery section of your resume is super important. The education section is no exception. It demonstrates commitment and basic knowledge. It can also be a topic of conversation with fellow alumni or rivals. You never know what will catch the eye of a hiring manager. Your resumes education section could be the thing that lands you the interview! For more awesome job tips, check out the rest of our blog here. Good luck on your job hunt and thanks for reading!