Each of us knows what it’s like to look for a job with a no work experience resume; it’s a nerve-racking process which requires lots of time and effort. The situation can be less burdensome if you possess relevant work experience, but what if you don’t? Then educational qualification becomes your biggest asset.
So, where should you put it? How to list high school on resume and make it look more solid if you have just finished school or are still studying? All of these issues will be considered in this article.
Where to Place Education Section
Your educational background plays a great role in the selection process; however, your professional skills are more important as they show what you can eventually bring to the table as a future employee.
Knowing this, do not make the recruiter look for the necessary information in your resume. If you haven’t acquired any work experience at all and only finished school, put the Education section right after your Objectives; if you are a qualified specialist in your field, with a great pool of completed projects, place your degrees after the Experience section.
Remember, you must put the most important information first.
Example for a Qualified Professional
Summary
Willing to apply my education, great customer service skills and ability to set and achieve goals as a Sales Representative.
Professional skills and experience
- 6+ years of working in the Sales field
- Ability to come up with fresh and creative ideas to boost sales
- Ability to apply a personalized approach to different categories of clients
- Knowledge of different negotiation techniques
- Experienced in the development of sales and marketing strategies
Education
MS in Marketing, 2010
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MA
Example for a Young Professional
Summary
Willing to apply my education and gain hands-on experience as an Intern in the Sales Department.
Education
MS in Brand Management and Development, Expected in 2019
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MA
BS in Brand Management and Development, 2018
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MA
As you can see, in the second case, the applicant wrote an expected graduation date instead of actual graduation date to show an incomplete degree on resume.
How to Specify Education on Resume (General Rules)
The description of both the main education and additional courses must be brief and clear. Your purpose is to convince your would-be employer that you possess fundamental knowledge and strong academic background, which makes you a competitive candidate for the position.
Taking this into account, there are only two things a recruiter should find out from your resume Education section:
- If your education is related to the position
- Where you obtained your Bachelors or Masters degree (or any other type)
Another important question is how to write a double major on a resume. The main rule is to list the most relevant one at the top of the Education section; the same goes for relevant courses and other items in the list of qualifications for a resume.
Example:
BA in Linguistics, 2016
Boston University, Boston, MA
OR
BA in International Relations
State University of New York, New York, NY, 2017
How to Specify Education in Resume if You’re Still Studying
If you’re looking for a job and still attending school, you need to inform your employer on this matter. Don’t know how to put college on resume if you haven't graduated yet? We will help you find out and teach how to make your Education section look impressive. If you’re still in high school, college or university, use the following examples.
If You’re Studying in High School
Marquette High School, Chesterfield, MO
Expected to graduate in 2019
If You’re Studying in College
BE in Civil Engineering in Progress
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
If You’re Studying at University
MS in Information Technology, Expected in 2019
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MA
BS in Information Technology, 2017
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MA
How to Specify Education on Resume if You Dropped out of School
There are various reasons why people leave school. However, you can still benefit from it. Follow the example below.
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
2015-2016: Completed 47 credits towards BA in Education
Marquette High School, 2014
Chesterfield, MO
Additional Information to Put on Your Resume if You Lack Work Experience
If you’ve just graduated from school and looking for a job in a relevant field, there several ways to cover the lack of your work experience.
GPA on Resume
Should you put your GPA on your resume? Well, if you did well at school – make use of it. However, if your grades weren’t good enough and your GPA is less than 3.5, it’s better to exclude it from your resume. Here’s an example.
BS in Marketing, 2017
Boston University, Boston, MA
GPA 3.6
Relevant Coursework
Another way to stand out among the pool of freshly graduated students who are looking for a job in the same field, is to list relevant coursework or research you’ve done at school. Find out how to list relevant coursework on resume from the following example:
BE in Structural Engineering, 2016
Boston University, Boston, MA
Relevant coursework: Investigation of electrochemical characteristics of carbons - ionic liquid for the development of electric energy storage devices.
Honors and Awards
You can always gain extra points if you graduated with honors by listing your achievements at school. If the amount of received distinctions doesn’t exceed three items, place them right after your education. If you got more than three, create a separate section called “Honors and Awards.” So, how to list graduating with honors on a resume? Simply specify the names of the awards, honors or scholarships and the actual date when you’ve obtained them.
And there you have it. Now you know all the intricacies of how to list education on resume, whether you’re still studying, finished or dropped out of school. Remember that it’s always about presenting your achievements in a favorable light, no matter what they are.
