Contents
Many people are unsure of where to put their education on their resume. This blog will provide some helpful tips on where to place your education on your resume.
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Introduction
Most people put their education at the top of their resume, right under their name and contact information. This is especially common among recent college graduates who are looking for their first job in the professional world.
However, there are some cases where it might be better to move your education section further down your resume. If you have several years of professional experience, your education is likely less relevant to potential employers and can be listed towards the bottom of your resume.
In addition, if you have earned an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree or PhD, you may also want to list this information after your professional experience section. This will help show potential employers that you have the knowledge and skills required for the job.
Here are some tips on where to put your education on your resume:
-If you have little work experience, list your education towards the top of your resume
-If you have several years of professional experience, you can list your education towards the bottom of your resume
-If you have an advanced degree, such as a master’s degree or PhD, you may want to list this information after your professional experience section
The Three Main Places to Put Education on Your Resume
No matter which format you choose for your resume, there are three main places where you can include your education section:
-Near the top of your resume, under your name and contact information
-Underneath your work experience section
-At the bottom of your resume, under additional skills or qualifications
Near the Top of Your Resume:
If you have recently completed your education and/or do not have much experience in the workforce, putting your education near the top of your resume is a good idea. This will give the employer a better understanding of what type of job you are qualified for and help them see that you have the potential to be a great fit for their company.
Underneath Your Work Experience Section:
If you have several years of work experience, then putting your education underneath your work experience section is probably the best option. This will allow the employer to see what type of jobs you have been qualified for in the past and helps them understand how your skills and abilities have been utilized in previous positions. It also shows that you are continuing to develop new skills and grow as an employee.
At the Bottom of Your Resume:
If you have several years of experience in the workforce and/or advanced degrees, then putting your education at the bottom of your resume is probably the best option. This allows employers to see that you have a wealth of experience and knowledge to bring to their company. It also shows that you are committed to continued learning and development.
The Pros and Cons of Each Location
Positioning your education on your resume is tricky. The placement of where you went to school could mean the difference between getting an interview and getting the job—or not even making the cut.
So, where should you put your education on a resume? It depends on when or if you graduated, and what your job status is. Below are three different places where you can position your education on your resume: before experience, after experience, or at the end.
Before experience:
If you just graduated or are about to graduate and have little to no job experience, it’s best to put your education first on your resume. Your lack of job experience is not a liability at this stage in your career—rather, it’s an asset that makes you more hirable because employers know they can train you in specific ways for their company culture and needs.
Positioning your education before your work history also allows you to show off any academic honors or awards you’ve earned, as well as any relevant coursework (more on that later). This section can also include professional development courses and certs that make you more qualified for the role but don’t warrant their own section further down on the resume (we’ll get to that next).
After experience:
If you have several years of work experience under your belt, place your education after your professional summary or objective statement and before work history. At this point in time, an employer will care more about what tangible value you bring to their company than any honors or awards received during academic stints—although including relevant coursework is still encouraged (more on that in a bit). You might be wondering: Should I put my degree type in parentheses after my alma mater? The answer is no; it’s implied that if you list the name of the school, hiring managers will know what type of degree or diploma was earned there. If there’s extra room at the bottom of this section and including this information wouldn’t crowd out anything else more important, go ahead and list it for clarity’s sake—this applies especially to those with advanced degrees such as doctorates or master’s degrees.
At the end:
If including graduation dates would age you out of consideration for a role (i.e., if listing dates would reveal that you’re too old for the job), leave them off entirely. In today’s climate where many workers are choosing to stay with one company for longer periods of time instead of hopping around every few years, omitting graduation dates has become increasingly common among resumes—especially among those who have been out of school for 10-plus years and are established in their careers. This is also true for individuals who attended college but did not graduate; instead of listing dates next to the name of the school (which would reveal that no degree was earned), simply state “coursework completed” under the heading “Education.” No matter what route you take with this section, remember to focus on quality over quantity by only highlighting those institutions attended that are most relevant to the role being applied for.
How to Decide Where to Put Education on Your Resume
If you’re like many job seekers, you’re probably thinking about where to put your education on your resume. After all, education is an important part of your resume, and you want to make sure that recruiters and hiring managers see it when they’re reviewing your qualifications.
The good news is that there are a few different ways to list your education on your resume, and the best option for you will depend on your educational history and the type of job you’re applying for. In this article, we’ll provide some tips on how to decide where to put your education on your resume.
If you have a college degree:
If you have a college degree, you should list it prominently on your resume. In general, you should list your degree after your name and contact information, and before your professional experience. For example:
John Smith
555-555-1212
[email protected]
B.A., English, XYZ University
If you have a graduate degree:
If you have a graduate degree, such as an MBA or PhD, you can choose to list it before or after your professional experience. If you have less than 10 years of professional experience, it’s generally best to list your graduate degree after your professional experience. For example:
John Smith
555-555-1212
[email protected]
MBA, XYZ University
Manager, ABC Company (2009-present)
Associate Manager, XYZ Company (2007-2009)
Recruiter, ABC Company (2006-2007)
Conclusion
In conclusion, your education section should go:
-If you have a college degree, put your education above your work experience.
-If you have a graduate degree, put your education above your work experience, unless you have professional experience that closely relates to the graduate degree.
-If you have no college degree and limited relevant professional experience, put your education below your work experience.
-If you have no college degree but plenty of relevant professional experience, put your education below your work experience.
