How to Describe Your Education in a Resume

It takes time to build a resume. This is especially true if you choose to tailor your resume to each job you apply for. During the resume creation process, you need to decide which sections to include.

The majority of jobseekers will include a work experience section and a skills section. Including an education section, however, depends on a number of factors. In this article, we will explore whether you should include an education section and how you can describe it.

Should You Include the Education Section in Your Resume?

Many employers wish to know about your education when they look at resumes. It can help them see if you are a good fit for the role while also telling them a bit about your background. As well as this, it can give you an edge over other candidates if you hold the credentials that are required for the job.

With that being said, many jobseekers still choose to opt-out of including an education section, but why? Well, it can depend on where you are in your career. For example, if you have 20 years of experience managing a company, your experience will most likely be more important than your education in your resume.

Exceptions do apply, however, as some jobs may require a GPA or a degree to prove that you can work in the role. Ensure that you read job descriptions thoroughly to know the requirements of a role before writing your resume. The last thing you want is to leave your education out and damage your chances of getting the role.

If you lack experience or are young, you can use an education section to help convey who you are and what you can offer to an employer. Employers recognize that not everyone has the experience yet, so education can prove to be your best tool. Just make sure that what you write is accurate and up to date for the employer.

How to Describe Your Education in a Resume

The length of your education section depends on how much experience you have. The more experience, the shorter your education section is likely to be. In this section, employers will be looking for some basic information.

This information includes:

• The name and location of your school/university
• The degree you obtained or field of study
• Year of graduation
• Your GPA (you may want to only include this if it’s above 3.4)
• Any relevant coursework, awards, honors, academic recognition, or other accomplishments achieved during your education

If you are a current student or a recent graduate, we suggest that you include a full section near the top of your resume that is dedicated to your education. This is a great way to highlight academic success and the strengths that you have obtained from your time in school or university. You should also try to keep it relevant to the job you’re applying to, especially when it comes to any awards or coursework you have completed.

For jobseekers that have been out of school for a few years, you can make the education section smaller and place it near the bottom of your resume. While it is still, you should have enough work experience now to write about instead. All of this adds up to you not having to solely rely on your education to land you a job.

For jobseekers in professions that have educational requirements, you should clearly list your education in your resume. Placing it at the top of your resume can help the employer see that you have the necessary credentials. Although this section may only be 15-30 words in length, you must include it to prove you are qualified. This applies particularly to jobseekers in healthcare or finance.

Keep It Simple and Relevant

Your educational experience needs to match the requirements of the job that you’re applying for. Employers won’t always look for this section on your resume, but if they do, keep it simple and concise. Ensure that they receive the information that they want to know and that you convey yourself accurately to them.