Listing
Education on your Resume
Education
is an integral part of a resume,
but there is no exact rule stating
where it should be listed. Its
importance will depend on many
factors including your position
or what industry you are in.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that your resume should be designed to get you an interview and therefore highlight your accomplishments. There are several things to think about when deciding where to place this section in your resume.
Reasons why you should list your education at the top of your resume:
- If you are a new graduate with little or no professional work experience
in the field you are entering
- If you have graduated within the past 10 years from a prestigious university,
or from a college that is well known for their computer science or
engineering department
- If your degree is in line with the field in which you are applying
- If you feel that your education is impressive, or more impressive than your professional experience, then list it near the top
Reasons why you should list your education towards the end of your resume:
- If you are a professional with several years of commercial experience, the
"Work Experience" section should be above 'Education'
- If your degree is in a major that is not associated with the field in which
you are applying
- If you have attended college, but never received a degree
Format Examples
Once you figure out where you are going to put your Education section, you need to know what type of format it should be listed in. If you have multiple degrees, they should be listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent listed first.
If degree was received:
Sydney University, NSW
B.S. Computer Science, completed 1986, (Honors)
If degree was not received:
Sydney University, NSW
Computer Science Major, 1982-1984
Students Currently Enrolled:
If you are currently enrolled, include an estimated date of graduation:
Sydney University, NSW
Computer Science Major, B.S. degree expected December 1996
No Degree -Exceptional Information:
If there is any exceptional information regarding why you did not, or have not, received your degree, it would be helpful to clarify this information briefly in the resume. If the information is too detailed, include an explanation in the cover letter.
Examples of possible situations:
Sydney University, NSW
Computer Science Major, B.S. degree expected December 1996
All Computer Science course work completed, need 1 semester of general education courses to graduate.
Sydney University, NSW
Computer Science Graduate Program, 1994-1996
All Course work completed. Final examination pending.
Course Work and Technical Classes
Course
work does not need to be included
in your resume. Recent graduates
with little or no professional
experience, however, you may want
to include course work to show
relevant experience. This is also
true if your degree is in a different
major, but you took courses, which
are suitable to the job for which
you are applying.
Relevant technical classes and seminars that you participated in outside of university should normally be listed after education. This shows a future employer that you are making a conscious effort to keep up with new technology.
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