What To Include In The Education Section Of A Resume
Use your education to show that you have the knowledge to land the job.
Your education is an essential detail to include on your resume, as it indicates that you are trained in your field. Even if your formal education is not directly related to your current career path , it is still worthwhile to show that you succeeded in a high-level learning environment.
As with much of resume writing, the content and format of your resume Education section is fluid and will depend on where you are in your career. Still, it’s important that you get it right to prove you’re qualified for the job you want.
Here, we break down what to include in the Education section of a resume, and how to do it.
One Part Of The Big Picture
Having a college degree doesnt guarantee you a job, notanymore. Still, a college education is one of the job requirements forhigh-paying work. So you should learn how to list your education on a resume in away that paints you as a skilled and knowledgeable professional, not just astudent who only did the minimum work to pass.
Now that you’re done listing your education on a resume, why not improve the other parts of your resume too?
Write A High School Graduate Resume Objective
The recruiter just deleted your high school graduate resume.
You just seemed a little mediocre for the job.
How can you drop jaws instead?
Write an educated resume profile in the form of a resume objective.
Write it at the end so you dont struggle with the material.
You may have come across the term resume summary as well.
Generally, resume summaries serve the same purpose as resume objectives, but are suitable for experienced candidates who have several years of professional experience under the belt.
Now, see these high school graduate resume examples:
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How To Format A High School Resume
Lets start with the basicsformatting your high school resume. The good news is, you dont have to start from scratch. Weve created a modern high school resume template for you thats perfectly suited to showcase your skills and experiences at any level. And if youre a creative type looking to add extra personality to your resume, you might consider exploring the high school resume template options on sites like Canva.
What makes a good high school resume template, anyway? Here are a few of the most important formatting rules your resume should follow:
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Limit your high school resume to one page.
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Ensure your resume is skimmable by using big headings, bullet points, and plenty of white space.
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Use classic and easy-to-read fonts, such as Cambria, Calibri, Georgia, Helvetica, or Garamond, to name a few.
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Save your high school resume as a PDF file so the formatting wont change when someone views or downloads it.
Once youre set with a great high school resume template following these guidelines, your first step is to add your contact information. Here are a few tips on what to include:
Once youve expertly added and arranged your contact info, youre ready to move on to the next part of the high school resumeyour objective statement.
High School Graduate Resume Example
Its time to leap into the unknown and start your life for real. Build yourself a solid pair of wings and nail the interview with this on-point high school graduate resume sample.
Here comes a job-winning resume for a high-school graduate. But first
You have to impress the recruiter.
One false move can ruin your career plans.
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Your high school graduate resume has to land you a job youve dreamed of.
- A high school graduate resume template better than most.
- How to write a resume for high school graduates that get interviews.
- What to put in a recent high school grad resume so they cant ignore you.
- How to format your high school graduate resume perfectly.
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Do I Put My High School On An Application
When filling out a job application, you want to remember two key questions: “What have you done?” and “What have you done lately?” Thus, the value of including your high school education or diploma in the education section of a job application depends on how far you have gotten in your education or career.
What To Include In Your Resume
Your goal is to recognize and highlight the experience that you do have and tie it to the requirements as listed in the job description. For example, you might not have held a formal position as a manager, but perhaps youve trained new workers at your after-school job and helped your supervisor balance schedules and make deposits. Demonstrating responsibility and leadership qualities may help make up for the lack of an official title.
On the other hand, maybe you have little in the way of paid job experience but a lot of volunteer work on your resume. Dont just match apples to apples.
Dig into your experience and abilities and focus on what you can do for a prospective employer.
Here are some of the experiences and activities that can be included on your resume:
- Academic projects
- Volunteering
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How To Put Down Your Education In Your Resume
Now that you have an idea of where to put your education section, lets start with the basics.
In terms of structuring your education section, the general practice is to follow a reverse chronological order: list your latest educational entry first, and then go backwards from there.
Okay, but how far back should you go? Do you put your high school education in there as well?
Usually, if you have a relevant university degree, its not advisable to waste precious space on your resume by listing your high school education.
Now that weve got all of that out of the way, we can show you a general template of how to write down your education. You list the following features in this particular order:
- Name of degree : e.g. B.A. English Language and Culture, Minor in Teaching*
- Name of educational institution: e.g. University of Groningen
- Years attended: e.g. 2016 – 2019
- Location of the program : e.g. Groningen, the Netherlands
- GPA : e.g. 3,84. Keep in mind, though, that you only list education if its at an impressive scale . This shows determination and hard work on your part. If its lower, you might want to omit it altogether.
- Honors : e.g. Magna Cum Laude
- Courses that are relevant to the job : e.g. Modern Popular Literature track
- Exchange programs : e.g. Exchange Program in Oslo, Norway
* Possible ways to write down the same degree:
The full listing for this educational entry, then, is:
EDUCATION
B.A. English Language and Culture, Minor in Teaching
University of Groningen
Education For A Working Professional
If you are a working professional with up to 5 years of experience, place your education section below your professional experience section. In your case, the function of the education section is to show employers you meet the academic requirements for the role.
Recruiters are more interested in your recent achievements at work, not educational accomplishments. If you gained higher academic qualifications recently, place the education section at the top of your resume if it applies to the role. Rank advanced degrees from the most recent.
Example of the education section for a working professional:
Georgetown University Graduate School of Physics | Washington DC
Master of Science in Fluid Dynamics
University of Baltimore | Baltimore, Maryland
Bachelor of Science in Geophysics Studies
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What To Include In An Education Section
As we’ve covered, different formats of resumes may require different information to be included within an education section.
In general, there is some basic information that should be included within the education section of a resume:
- The name of the school â “e.g. Georgia Institute of Technology”
- The location of the school
- Your degree
- Graduation year
- Major field or department of study
- Minor field or department of study
- GPA
Here’s what that looks like for and university grad:
Georgia Institute of Technology ⢠Atlanta, GAB.S. in Computer Engineering, 2006 – 2010GPA: 3.9/4.0
For high-school students, you can do something like the following:
Georgia Institute of Technology ⢠Atlanta, GAHigh School Diploma, Graduated in 2010GPA: 3.9/4.0
Remember, including a GPA is optional. Only add it if it’s required by the job listing or it’s relatively high. If your GPA is low , it’s better to just leave it out.
What Is The Ged
The GED refers to a series of tests that you can take if you haven’t graduated from high school. It measures your proficiency in a variety of subjects including language arts, mathematics and science at the high school level.
When you pass the GED test, you earn a certificate or degree. It’s essentially equivalent to a high school diploma since the GED certifies that you have the same knowledge and skills as a high school graduate. If you’re looking for a job, having a GED shows hiring managers that you have the same credentials as someone with a high school diploma. Not only does completing your GED present you with better job opportunities but it also gives you a better chance of furthering your education.
To pass the GED test, you need to score at least 145 out of 200 on each one of the four components. When you score from 165 to 175, you’re considered career- or college-ready. If you earn over 175, you can even earn some college credits. Keep in mind that you have to do better than 60% of the high school seniors who take the test to pass.
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Is Your Education Your Strongest Qualification
You may have little or no work experience in your chosen field, but a recent and relevant degree is sometimes all you need to get your foot in the door.
If you attended an elite school, received a prestigious scholarship, or completed a thesis or dissertation, your education credentials might be especially interesting to employers.
If your education is your greatest asset, your education section should be prominently featured on your resumeyou can even lead with it.
Listing Education With Limited Work Experience
In resumes that have limited or no work experience, as may be the case with college students or recent graduates, the education section may be a good opportunity to show off educational achievements instead.
Additional information that can be included in longer education sections can include:
- Internships completed as part of a curriculum
- Academic assistantships with professors or other academic professionals
As covered, in documents such as CVs the education section could be fairly lengthy.
However, the education section for most resumes will be one of the shortest sections.
This is mostly because standard resumes will be used for entry-level or mid-level positions, while longer-form resumes like the CV will only come into play for more prestigious or hard to obtain positions.
It is much more important to show either a robust work history or detail relevant and transferable skills, using your education as support rather than the main point of interest.
Here are some quick tips for deciding what educational information to include in a resume:
1) When including professional hobbies and extra curricular activities, it is important to keep relevance in mind
Incorrect: Do not include information about sports clubs or other clubs that cannot be connected back to your qualifications for a job.
Keep your descriptions simple and concise
Correct: Use bullet points to separate bits of information to keep your resume easy to read or skim.
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Why You Should Include Your Education On Your Resume
A resume is most effective when it includes a synopsis of your work experience, academic background, and explanation of your skills and competencies that help you be successful in the position you’re applying for. Including your academic achievements on your resume allows the hiring company an opportunity to assess your learned technical knowledge that qualifies you for the job. Many companies have educational requirements to qualify candidates for their open positions. This helps the company screen out less qualified applicants from candidates who have the training needed to perform the position’s duties.
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How To List Education On A Resume With Examples
The education section of your resume provides hiring managers with a detailed insight into your background and how it relates to the role. When written to reflect the job requirements, your education section can give you an advantage over other candidates. The best way to list your education depends on your work and academic achievements.
There are several ways to list education on your resume. Reading and understanding the job description can help identify the perfect location and level of qualification to include when applying to a position. Not all jobs need your full credentials, so you can check the job listing to see what the hiring managers are looking for. In this article, you can learn about how to list your education on a resume.
Experienced Professional With Five Or More Years
If you have over five years of work experience history, move your education section below your work history. A hiring manager will focus more on your work experience at this point in your career but still refer to your academic achievements and training. You can also exclude your graduation dates and grade point average if you have over five years of work experience. You want to highlight your skills and experience more than your academic history. Again, if you have multiple degrees or certifications, list them in order of highest degree first. Here is an example:
*The University of Victoria, Victoria, British ColumbiaBachelor of Science Honour Degree in Biology
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British ColumbiaMaster of Science in Oceanography *
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What Employers Look For In Your Education Section
Every employer looks for different things when reviewing your educational section on your resume, based on the job requirements and qualifications. A hiring manager ultimately wants to know by reviewing your resume that you have the knowledge and the experience to perform the duties of the position. You outline your knowledge in the educational section of your resume.
For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level position within a company, the hiring manager typically looks for a high school diploma, completion of a GED, or college certificate. If you’re applying for a mid-level position, the company may require a university degree. And sometimes, such as health care or finance, they need advanced academic training and certifications to practise your profession within your home province.
How Does Rizal Value Education
Rizal always considered education as a medicine or something that could cure the problems of Colonial Philippines. He believed in education that is free from political and religious control. He asserted that reform can not be achieved if there is no suitable education, a liberal one available to Filipinos.
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Adding Associates And Bachelors Degrees On Resume
- When listing an associateâs or bachelorâs degree on a resume, always include the name and location of the institution, as well as the date or expected date of graduation.
- While the education section should still be kept short, inclusion of any collegiate level academic achievements, such as honor societies or deanâs lists, can be useful to include.
- Donât go too crazy including coursework of extracurricular information â stick to including the most relevant information.
How To Align Your Resume With The Job Description
Aligning your resume with the job description helps you get the attention of the hiring manager and strengthens your chance at getting an interview. When making a decision on the best candidate, the hiring manager needs to see you have the background to fit in with the company culture and handle the required tasks. To do this, you should customize a single resume for each position you apply for instead of sending out a standard general resume.
To do this, start by scanning through the job description, and highlight all important skills and requirements the company has listed. Your resume should include as many of these skills as possible. As a high school graduate, focus on any skills and achievements you achieved throughout the course of your educational career, including any experience gained through part-time employment and summer jobs.
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