What If Your Degree Is Not Related To Your Job
I know someone who graduated with a degree in design that is nowworking as a life insurance agent, and I know a nursing graduate who worked inIT for years, before becoming a real estate agent. This happens more than youknow, so you shouldnt let this stop you from chasing after your dream job.
Below are two ways to downplay the lack of formal education inyour target job:
- List the relevant coursework in your degree.Lets say you have a Psychology degree, but want a job in marketing. If youtook units in social psychology, communications, grammar, and business, thosesubjects show you have the knowledge required for the job.
- List professional courses or ongoing trainingyou took to compensate for your lack of formal schooling on the subject.
What To Include In This Section
You can include any of the following in this part of your CV:
- Academic results, degrees, diplomas and certificates
- Technical and professional qualifications *
- Work and vocational training received *
Studies that you can list in this section include:
- Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees
- A-Levels, BTECs and other college-level courses
- GCSEs
* Note: If you have a separate Qualifications section, you should include any work or vocational courses/training in that section instead of here.
How To Put Study Abroad On Your Resume
Adding a study abroad semester or year to your resume can show employers that youre a go-getter. This information doesnt need to take up much space and should be included in the education section as well.
The correct place to put study abroad on your resume is just below the university you graduated from. You can format it the same way as you format the other institutions attended. For example:
DePaul University, Chicago, IL, December 2009-March 2013
Bachelor of Arts, Major English Composition, Minor Journalism
Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy September 2010-December 2010
- Completed coursework in journalism and international affairs.
- Became fluent in the Italian language
Everything you include in your resume should relate back to the job youre applying for. Its good to mention coursework and other activities that apply to that job when including your study abroad experience.
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What Is The Difference Between A Ged And A High School Equivalency Diploma
The difference between an HSED and a GED is not hugely significant, but there are cases where the HSED is preferred. Though both credentials are technically the same, a GED only indicates that youve passed a test, whereas an HSED indicates that youve passed a test and completed some other coursework.
Focus On Your Positive Attitude
If you really want the position youre applying to but dont possess enough of the required experience, you could put the focus on your attitude and the traits required for the position. This sort of skill is generally referred to as soft skills.
Lets look at some highly sought-after soft skills:
So when you really want that position, think of all the reasons why an employer should want to hire you. Emphasize your strengths all through your resume and dont pay attention to your lacking experience. Just emphasize why the employer should interview you and that youre worth the job!
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Where Does The Education Section Go
Where among your resume sections you choose to put your education depends on where you are in your career. For instance, if youre a recent graduate with little to no experience, your education section is your best asset and should be put at the top of your resume .
On the other hand, if you have some professional experience, you should let that be the focus, opting to place your education section below Work Experience.
If youve recently gone back to school, you may want to put your education section at the very top. For example, veterans who went to school after transitioning out of the military are advised to put their education above their experience on a military-to-civilian resume.
However, if youve returned to school in preparation for a career change but are still looking to work in your current field, keep highlighting your past experience.
Ultimately, where you place your education section depends on how relevant your education is for the job position compared with the other experiences on your resume.;
What Takes Priority Education Or Work Experience
Whether education or work experience is more important is determined by the job posting and your qualifications.
Generally, experienced candidates should list their previous work experience first, if the experience is relevant for the job.
However, teens, students, recent grads, and candidates with less work experience could list education and relevant qualifications first.
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Tips For Listing Degrees
The readability of a resume can be the defining factor of whether or not a job recruiter or potential employer moves the candidate into the next phase of the hiring process.
As such, using clear and concise wording and formatting is essential for not just the education section, but for all sections.
Here are a few tips for different formatting options depending on the level and type of education you have completed.
What Is Ged & Why You Should Include Ged In Your Resume
GED is a series of tests for people who have not graduated from high school. The tests are aimed at measuring ones proficiency in math, science, social studies, and reading at the high school level. A GED is considered to be a high school equivalency certificate. Typically, on completing the GED test, an individual receives a diploma or a certificate that is considered to be equal to a high school diploma. This certificate is either issued by GED or the state department of education.
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When You Land An Interview
You should also be prepared to;discuss your college courses;in your interview, when the time comes.
Its a good idea, if applicable, to prepare for the question of why you didnt complete your degree as well.
Remember to be honest and upfront, and cast your decision in the most flattering way possible, without placing blame or being negative.
How To List High School Education On Resume
Now that you understand when to include high school education, you need to know how to list that on your resume. Look at the below resume education examples:
If you graduated:
John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights, IL, Graduated in May 2012
If you did not graduate:
John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights, Illinois, Attended from May 2012-May 2015
If in process:
John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights, IL, Anticipated Graduation Date of May 2020
If you obtained a Many nonprofits offer free courses. A popular choice is General Educational Diploma:
GED High School Equivalency Diploma, San Bernardino Adult School; San Bernardino, CA; July 2018
List relevant awards or accomplishments to enhance this section. You will remove high school education and achievements when you graduate college or become an experienced applicant.
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Should I Include High School On Resume
A dilemma exists regarding when to include high school on your resume. Many candidates often wonder, Should I put high school on resume? The short explanation is it depends. However, following the below tips will help resolve the question:
- Current high school or college students younger applicants enrolled in high school or college likely lack experience. List all your education to back up your skills.
- Recent college graduate by graduation time, applicants have more experience or internships to demonstrate skills. However, a recent college graduate still fits into the entry-level category. Include high school if you graduated from a prestigious or well-known one.
- Entry-level applicants if you are starting your career and do not have an associates or another type of degree, include your high school diploma.
- Wording in the job posting if the job requires a high school diploma, but the position does not require college education, include this.
Consider removing high school if:
- Other forms of education take its place this means you have licenses, certifications, or additional training.
- You are an experienced applicant work experience and skills, along with soft skills that complement your background, make you a compelling potential employee based on merit.
- Including the information may result in age discrimination.
Resumesbot Advice:
SEE RESUMES BOT GUIDE:
Writing The Education Section Of A Resume
Here are the common guidelines to follow when listingeducation on a resume:
Of course, these guidelines dont apply to all situations. Illdiscuss all of these in more detail in the succeeding sections:
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Tailoring Your Resume For Each Application
Resume Education Section Examples
No matter which school you attended or degree you received, one of the following eight resume education section examples should be able to point you in the right direction when updating your resume.
- Bachelor of Applied Sciences , International Business, 2013Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL
- Georgetown University, McDonough School of Business, 2010-2014Bachelor of Arts, Accounting/Finance
- Miami University, Coral Gables, FLBachelor of Arts Social Psychology, 2013
- Doctor of Pharmacy , Magna Cum Laude, 2015Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
- Bachelor of Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, 2009Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
- University of Cattolica, Milan, ItalyBachelors Degree, Marketing and Finance, 2011
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, INBachelors Degree, Hospitality Tourism Management, 2012Activities: Intercollegiate Quidditch Association
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Takeaways: High School On Resume
Your resume is probably the first impression that a potential employer would have of you.
Make sure that you present the most important information about you in a way that stands out to hiring managers.
Depending on your education and your work experience, putting your high school information on your resume might be a good idea.
When considering it, you should remember:
- Include your high school details only if its your highest level of education, or you are still in high school
- Include your GPA if its higher than 3.5. If it is lower, you might want to leave it off your resume.
- Include your high school details properly, depending on whether you graduated or not.
So now you are good to go.
Now youre ready to write your resume and get your dream job.
***What are your thoughts? Did you list your high school details on your resume? Give us a shout-out in the comments below. Wed love to hear from you!
What To Include In Your Education Section
When reviewing a job posting or job description, be sure to look for educational requirements usually listed under “requirements” or “qualifications.” This information can provide insight into what the organization is looking for in potential candidates regarding training or certifications. You can then use this information to customize your resume for each application process.
There are specific details a hiring manager is looking for in your educational section that include:
- Your most recent degree, or education in progress
- The name of the school
- The location of the school
- Your field of study or degree major
- Graduation year, or expected graduation date
- Your GPA, if above 3.5
- Any academic honours or accolades
Your educational section is often the smallest part of your resume. Based on the job description, you want to provide varying amounts of detail, but an education section is typically 15-30 words. Customize your education section to reflect the requirements of the position. Ensure that your education section is truthful and accurate, as employers who complete background checks may also confirm your schooling.
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Why Include An Education Section On A Resume
Theres a good chance that every resume youve ever seen had an education section. But why?
Where To Put Education On Resume
Like a hotel in Monopoly, youve got to locate it strategically.
In the vast majority of cases, put the education resume section just below your work experience section.
Place it after your resume summary; when:
- Youve just graduated.
- You re writing an academic resume.
- Youre a professional returning to school.
If you’ve got little or no experience, put it above the experience section to focus the recruiter’s attention on what you have rather than what you don’t have.
Expert Hint: Went to a prestigious university? You might want to show that off to make use of the halo effect. This cognitive bias basically says that, because you went to Cornell, youve got to be an impressive candidate.
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How To List Education On A Resume
Education is one of a few key sections employers look for on resumes. This information will inform interviewers of your background, which can be a helpful way to understand more about your fit for the role. If your education is particularly relevant to the position or includes any credentials that are required for the job, this section may quickly set you apart from other candidates.
1. Name and contact information2. Summary or objectivec. Description of role and achievement4. Education5. Skills6. Optional
You have several options when it comes to choosing where and how you list education on your resume. You can identify the best place to put your education on your resume by carefully reading job descriptions. This will often help you understand whether certain levels of education are essential, nice-to-have or unnecessary for each role.
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How To Write An Education Section If Youre Changing Careers
True, your education is important. But its not as big of a selling point as your skills or professional experience. Because of that, you should probably put your skills and experience first. Its okay if you position your education section near the end of your resume.
If you feel like your education isnt related to the job youre applying to at all, write the name of the institution first. By doing so, you can first draw attention to the fact that you attended a prestigious university. It is only then that recruiters notice your somewhat unrelated degree.
But you need to impress the hiring manager with your education section anyway. Besides listing key information such as name of the institution, degree and dates, you should also consider including related accomplishments.
Think of any coursework related to your new career, student clubs and organizations where you gained transferable skills. You can also mention academic awards, even those that arent related to your new job. They can help you impress the hiring manager.
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How To List Education In Progress On Resume
Perhaps youre still in school now, looking for a job to make ends meet.
This means that you should add high school below, like so:
Townsend Harris High School, Flushing, NY
Graduated 2017
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Formatting Your Education Section
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