Get guidance on what to include in the education section of your resume, as well as tips on how to best present your educational background.
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Introduction
Most people will simply list their education on a resume in chronological order. However, there are other ways to present your educational history that may be more effective. Here are some tips on how to present your education on a resume in a way that will capture the employer’s attention and give you the best chance of getting the job.
1. List your education in reverse chronological order.
2. Include your GPA if it is strong and if it is relevant to the job you are applying for.
3. If you have relevant coursework, include it after your degree information.
4. List any relevant awards or honors you received during your time in school.
5. If you took any gap years, include them on your resume along with a brief explanation of what you did during that time.
High School
The education section of your resume can be a little tricky: Where should it go? How detailed should it be? What if you didn’t graduate? Here’s our advice on how to feature your schooling on your resume, along with some examples.
If you have a college degree, you should list it before any other form of higher education, including high school. If you have multiple degrees, list them in order of importance to the employer.
Name and location of the school
Dates attended (include just the month and year if you didn’t graduate)
Degree or certificate received
Your GPA (only include if it’s above 3.0)
Honors and activities (again, only if they’re relevant to the job)
High school is usually listed last on a resume, unless you’re a recent graduate and don’t have any other form of higher education. In that case, it would go above your college degree.
Name and location of the school
Dates attended (include just the month and year)
Diploma or certificate received
College
Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, your resume needs to highlight your skills and accomplishments in a way that captures the attention of a hiring manager. The education section of your resume can be a little tricky: Where should it go? Should you list your GPA? All of the schools you’ve attended, or just the most recent one?
Here’s a rundown of what to include in the education section on your resume, as well as how to list qualifications like alternative coursework and study abroad experiences.
First things first: where should your education section go on your resume?
If you have relevant work experience, put your education section below your employment history. If you don’t have much (or any) work experience, put your education section above the other sections — like skills, endorsements, and volunteer work.
Listing Education on Your Resume: The Basics
When listing education on your resume, remember to:
-List degrees in progress as “in progress.” For example: “B.A. in English Literature, expected May 2020.” Don’t forget to list the name of the school and its location!
-Include relevant coursework under each degree you list. You don’t need to get too specific (a few broad descriptions will do), but this is an opportunity to give potential employers an idea of what you studied and how it relates to the job you want.
-If you took part in any special programs (like study abroad), mention it here too!
Tips for Listing Alternative Education on Your Resume
An important part of tailoring your resume is including only the information that is relevant to the jobs you are applying for. If you have extensive experience in one field but are looking to move into another, it might not be necessary to include all of your past positions — especially if they don’t relate directly to the job you want. The same goes for listing alternative forms of education on your resume.
Some examples of alternative forms of education include:
-Professional development courses (like online courses, bootcamps, or certification programs)
-Informal learning experiences (like coding challenges or side projects)
Post-Graduate
If you have completed any post-graduate education, such as a master’s degree, PhD, or professional degree, you will want to list it after your bachelor’s degree on your resume. List the institution, location, degree type, and major. If you are still completing your post-graduate education, you can list the anticipated graduation date. For example:
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
PhD in History, expected May 2020
Dissertation: “The Impact of the French Revolution on European Political Thought”
Conclusion
In conclusion, there is no one answer to the question of what to put for education on a resume. The most important thing is to be honest about your level of education and to list the educational information that is most relevant to the job you are applying for.
