how to write a cv education section

How to write your CV education section + examples

Your education section of your CV is crucial part of the document.

But it can be tough to know to write, where to put it, and what you should include.

This guide will show you exactly how to write an impressive education section for your own CV, whether you are a school leaver, experienced professional, or anything in between.

Where to put your education on your CV?

Where you position your education section on your CV will largely depend on your level of experience and how long ago you left full-time education.

• Little/no experience – If you’re just leaving education and therefore don’t have a lot of experience behind you, place your education section nearer the top of your CV, under your personal profile . Be sure to go into plenty of detail because, at this point in your career, your academic record will receive more attention, and employers will need lots of info to be persuaded to hire you.
• Experienced candidate – If you’re a more experienced candidate who has gained skills and knowledge through past positions, your employment history takes precedence. In this case, your education section should go under your employment section because employers are likely to be more interested in your real-world experience – although they will still value your education.

CV templates 

What to include in your education section?

This section should outline your formal education, qualifications and certificates in reverse chronological order. Here’s an overview of what this might include:

• Degree – As a university graduate, you need to include your degree , and if you’ve got post-graduate qualifications, your most recent degree must come first. To do this, include the name of the university, the title of your degree, the dates you studied there and the grade you received. You might also wish to include details of any relevant modules you studied
• A-levels – If you took A-levels at college, you probably completed three to four subjects. Be sure to include the name of your college, the dates you studied there and the subjects you completed.
• Vocational qualifications – School or college aren’t the end of the road for your education but if you chose not to study a degree, you may have obtained other vocational qualifications. If so, you need to include these too. Follow the same formatting rules by including the name of the institution, the qualification and the date you achieved it
• GCSEs – Listing your GCSEs can be trickier as there are often more of these. So if you have lots of GCSEs, include your school name, the years you were there and then abbreviate your list of subjects. For example, ‘10 GCSEs including maths and English’
• Mandatory certificates – There might be mandatory training you need to undertake to get a job, for example, health and safety certificates. In this case, you should include these in your education section, listing the level of certification, name of the course and date you received it. You might also wish to include the name of the accrediting body if they are well-known in the industry.

Education section examples

Now you have a better understanding of what could be included in your education section, let’s take a closer look at how these should be written with some examples.

School leaver

As a school leaver hoping to land a job, it’s likely that your GCSEs are going to be your highest level of qualification.

When adding these to your CV, you should include the full name of your school and the dates you attended. Underneath this, you can begin to outline your GCSEs.

Baxton Hill High School – 2014 to 2019 10 GCSEs

• English (A) | Language & Literature
• Maths (A) | Achieved best coursework award
• Biology (B)
• Physics (B)
• Chemistry (B)
• Information Technology (A) | Specialised in Microsoft Office
• Geography (C)

Extracurricular activities and achievements:

• Grade 5 piano
• Grade 3 flute
• Captain of the school hockey team
• Voted ‘Most Spectacular Sportsperson of the Year’ in Year 10 and 11

Because this makes up the basis of your educational background, you can afford to outline all of your subjects and grades in more detail.

You could also include any awards or clubs in which you participated, it might look a little something like the above.

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College leaver

As a college leaver, you will still need to include your GCSEs, particularly if they are relevant to the role you’re applying for, but your main focus should be on your more recent A-Levels.

London Central College – 2019 to 2021 3 A-Levels

• Photography (A) | Including wildlife photography project and paper
• English Language (A) | Studying “Of Mice and Men”
• Graphic Design (B) | Completed a complete product design of a toy package

Achievements

• Practical experience in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
• Proficient using DLSR camera, as well as experience developing film in the darkroom
• Achieved A grade and finished in top 10% of my class for print media and photography project

Baxton Hill High School – 2014 to 2019

10 GCSEs grade A to C including English, Maths, IT and Art

As you study fewer subjects at A-Level (typically three to four), you can give a bit more detail about each subject, your grades and anything else that could boost your application.

For example , you could outline particular projects that you were proud of or some of your key achievements. In this case, your education section might look a little something like the above.

Experienced professional

After college, or perhaps even during your time at college, you may have chosen to undertake a vocational qualification as a way of boosting your skills and gaining some real-world experience. This could be in the form of an NVQ , BTEC or a diploma.

City & Guilds NVQ (L1) in Hospitality Skills – 2020 – 2021

• Learning to maintain a safe, hygienic and secure working environment
• Working with the team to prepare, cook and safely store food
• Industry-standard training in kitchens and restaurants around London

London Central College – 2018 to 2020

A-Levels including English Language (A), Business Studies (A) and Food Science (B)

Baxton Hill High School – 2013 to 2018

10 GCSEs grade A to C including English, Maths and Food Technology

So although your experience in the workplace will likely take precedent on your CV, your education section is still important, and you need to give a little more detail about your vocational qualifications.

You can still include any A-Levels you have as well as GCSEs, but these should be kept to brief summaries like the above.

Recent Graduate

As a recent graduate , your degree is going to be one of your key selling points, particularly if you don’t have a great deal of work experience behind you.

BSc (Hons) Computer Science – Queen Mary University – 2018 – 2021 Final grade: 1st Class

• Modules including: Big data processing, data mining, Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) and algorithms and data structures
• Achieved a 1st (96%) for my dissertation on ‘issues with privacy and security when dealing with big data’, coming top of my class
• Gained practical experience in software engineering, procedural programming and data mining

A-Levels including Information Technology (A), Business Studies (A) and Graphic Design (B)

10 GCSEs grade A to C including English, Maths and IT 

You will still need to include your A-Levels and GCEs, but these sections don’t need to contain as much detail. Your focus should be on showcasing your degree, the key skills you gained and any achievements during your studies. You might also include any modules you studied that are relevant to the role.

The format should include the type of degree, as well as the full title, and you should include any honours along with your final grade.

Experienced Graduate

If you are a graduate with experience, whether that is because you left university a few years back or because you undertook a work placement as part of your course, this section can be less detailed.

BA (Hons) Digital Marketing – Queen Mary University – 2018 – 2021 Final grade: 2:1

• Modules including: Interactive media technologies, media streaming and the Cloud, programming for data analysis and personalising the digital experience

A-Levels including English Language (A), Media Studies(A) and History (B)

10 GCSEs grade A to C including English, Maths and Media Studies 

You should still include your degree, A-Levels and GCSEs as shown above, but you can give fewer details, as the focus will lie with your real-world experience.

That said, this section should follow a similar format, including the type of degree and the full title, the university you attended and your final grade. In this case, your education section might look something like the above.

How to write your education on your CV

No matter what stage you’re at in your career, knowing how to structure , format and effectively showcase your education on your CV is critical. To help you get it right, we have pulled together some of our top tips for nailing your education section.

Adapt for your experience level

As we mentioned earlier, you should always include your educational experience in reverse chronological order, listing your most recent qualifications first. You also need to adapt this section depending on your level of experience.

You can see in the examples we’ve given above, if you’ve got work experience behind you, then you can afford to be more sparing on the details. However, if you don’t have a lot of relevant experience to speak of, you should go more in-depth about your key subjects, skills and achievements in your education section.

Only include relevant qualifications

As with every section on your CV, you need to make sure that you’re only providing information that is relevant to the role and employer. Otherwise, you could be wasting valuable space.

The more experience you have behind you, the less detail you need to give in terms of your education. Therefore, you can leave out any qualifications that aren’t relevant to the role. This is the reason you don’t need to list all 10 of your GCSEs unless this is the only educational background you have.

The same applies when you include your modules, achievements or extra-curricular activities. If they aren’t relevant to your career path, you are better off saving that space for something that is.

Use bullet points and break information up

Finally, it can be helpful to use bullet points throughout your education section, particularly when going into more detail about your experience. This is because bullet points can improve the format, make your CV more readable and help draw the recruiter’s attention to the details that matter the most.

Remember, you only have a few seconds to grab their attention and impress them, so you need to make it as easy as possible for the reader to find the key information quickly and effortlessly.

How to List Education on a Resume in 2024 (With Examples & Tips)

Not sure what degree to list? If you should include a GPA? It just so happens that there's a variety of ways to effectively list your eduction.

The education section of a resume may not always be the star of the document but knowing how to properly list your education can be essential for advancing into the next phase of the hiring process.

In this guide, we will cover all the ins and outs of crafting an education section for your resume. 

We'll cover the following:

• What to Include in an Education Section?

Tips for Listing Degrees (College, High-School, GED)

Listing incomplete education.

• Where to Include Education on a Resume?

What Employers Look for in an Education Section

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job.

What to Include in an Education Section

As we've covered, different formats of resumes may require different information to be included within an education section.

In general, there is some basic information that should be included within the education section of a resume:

• The name of the school — "e.g. Georgia Institute of Technology"
• The location of the school
• Your degree ( high-school diploma, GED, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, etc. )
• Graduation year ( if applicable )
• Major field or department of study (if applicable )
• Minor field or department of study (if applicable and relevant )
• GPA ( If you're a student or graduates who held lower GPAs, this bit of information may be good to omit unless specifically requested by the employer )

Here's what that looks like for and university grad:

Georgia Institute of Technology • Atlanta, GA B.S. in Computer Engineering, 2006 - 2010 GPA: 3.9/4.0

For high-school students, you can do something like the following:

Georgia Institute of Technology • Atlanta, GA High School Diploma, Graduated in 2010 GPA: 3.9/4.0

Remember, including a GPA  is optional. Only add it if it's required by the job listing or it's relatively high. If your GPA is low (under 3.5), it's better to just leave it out.

Listing Education with Limited Work Experience

In resumes that have limited or no work experience , as may be the case with college students or recent graduates, the education section may be a good opportunity to show off educational achievements instead.

Additional information that can be included in longer education sections can include:

• Internships completed as part of a curriculum 
• Academic awards or sponsorships
• Relevant coursework
• Academic assistantships with professors or other academic professionals

As covered, in documents such as CVs the education section could be fairly lengthy.

However, the education section for most resumes will be one of the shortest sections.

This is mostly because standard resumes will be used for entry-level or mid-level positions, while longer-form resumes like the CV will only come into play for more prestigious or hard to obtain positions. 

It is much more important to show either a robust work history or detail relevant and transferable skills, using your education as support rather than the main point of interest. 

Here are some quick tips for deciding what educational information to include in a resume:

1) When including professional hobbies and extra curricular activities, it is important to keep relevance in mind

Incorrect: Do not include information about sports clubs or other clubs that cannot be connected back to your qualifications for a job.

Correct: If you held leadership positions in clubs or other extra-curricular activities, this can be useful information to include to highlight non-paid leadership or management experience.

Keep your descriptions simple and concise

Incorrect: Including long-winded and wordy paragraphs explaining the relevance of a certain piece of information. If a piece of information is relevant, it should be easily explained in one, simple sentence.

Correct: Use bullet points to separate bits of information to keep your resume easy to read or skim.

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.

1) Adding High School and GED on Resume

• If your highest level of education is a high school diploma or a GED, this should still be included as there are many jobs that are open to high school graduates as well as college graduates.
• Generally, this type of education section should be kept short and sweet. Listing that you have received either a diploma or a GED should be sufficient.
• If you have recently graduated high school or received your GED, including additional high school-related achievements may be beneficial (such as leadership positions, honor roll awards, athletics, etc.)

2) Adding Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degrees on Resume

• When listing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree on a resume, always include the name and location of the institution, as well as the date or expected date of graduation.
• While the education section should still be kept short, inclusion of any collegiate level academic achievements, such as honor societies or dean’s lists, can be useful to include.
• Don’t go too crazy including coursework of extracurricular information – stick to including the most relevant information. 

3) Adding Graduate School or Doctoral Programs on Resume

• Graduate and doctoral students may feel inclined to always include this information; however, it is important to be wary of including too much academic information in scenarios where it may render you overqualified for the position.
• Graduate and doctoral information is more likely to come into play for candidates seeking higher level positions at the management level. 
• For candidates seeking jobs in academic or scientific fields, a CV-style resume and longer-form education section providing higher level of details regarding graduate or doctoral programs may be necessary.

4) Adding Certifications on Resume

• In some cases, a candidate may not have attended college but may have completed a trade school or other program that resulted in various certifications. These certifications should be included when relevant.
• Certifications such as CPR or First Aid can be useful to include in most resumes, although they should perhaps be saved for a separate certifications section .

5) Listing Incomplete Education on Resume

Incomplete education can be tricky to include in a way that sounds positive — as such, if you have incomplete education, be wary of your wording and avoid words such as “incomplete” or “unfinished.” Instead try to do the following:

• Include relevant coursework or credits earned during your duration of education before the point of departure from the institution.
• Omit any wordy or lengthy explanations of why the education is incomplete. 

However, we've seen this be a common problem that many candidates have. Continue reading below to see how to effectively list education that is left incomplete. ‍

In some cases, a job applicant may have a partially-complete or incomplete educational credential they want to list on their resume.

Incomplete education can result from a variety of circumstances, including:

• A person who is still in the process of earning their diploma, GED, or degree, but has not yet earned the credential or graduated.
• A person who started a degree and completed relevant coursework, but ultimately did not finish the degree program.
• A person who chose a different career path than what they studied for, but still has relevant coursework for the new career path.

When listing incomplete education on a resume, it is important to stay highly mindful of how you are wording your limited educational credentials — as words such as “ unfinished ” or “ incomplete ” are not ideal to include within a resume. 

Here are some quick examples on how to properly list incomplete education in the education section of a resume:

For applicants who are in the process of completing a degree, it is important to note the expected timeframe of completion.

Incorrect: ‍ B.S. in Communications University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC Not yet complete

Correct: B.S. in Communications University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC Expected graduation May 2021

For applicants who began a degree, but ultimately did not complete the degree, it is key to be mindful of how you frame the education you did receive. 

Incorrect: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC

Why is this incorrect? Sure, this example indicates you, at some point, attended a university.

However, it provides no insight as to what relevant coursework or studies you may have completed.

Here's the correct way to describe your educational experience instead:

Correct: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC Completed 20 credits towards a BS in Communications

Alternatively: This could be a good opportunity to include a bulleted list of relevant coursework.

For applicants who did not complete high school, it is important to note if you either earned a GED or are in the process of earning a GED.

Incorrect: ‍ Watauga County High School Boone, NC Incomplete

Correct: General Educational Development Diploma Earned May 2021 — OR — Expected to earn May 2021

Generally speaking, the majority of jobs will require applicants to have earned at minimum a GED certification in order to qualify.

In some cases, an applicant may lack a degree but may be certified by a trade school.

For instance, a beautician would want to include any beauty and health related certifications or licenses earned under the education section. 

Take a look at this resume example of a college student below to see how to do this.

Where to Include Education on a Resume

When it comes to placing your educational credentials on a resume, there are many considerations to make.

Resumes can serve a variety of purposes and, as a general rule of thumb, should be tailored for specific jobs . 

It is also important to take into consideration the level of education you have completed, as this will impact how it should be presented as well.

For instance, a job applicant seeking a position in academia would have a much heavier emphasis on education and academic-related achievements — than someone seeking a job in a corporate environment.

Ultimately, not all resumes are the same, so the placement of the education section will differ depending on the type of resume being used and the intention behind its structuring. 

Choosing the right resume format

There are several different types of resume formats to choose from, but the main ones that are used are as follows:

1) Reverse-Chronological

‍ Emphasis is placed on the most relevant work experience, listing jobs from most recent to oldest. Education can be placed before or after the work experience section. However higher degrees that qualify a candidate for the position may be beneficial to mention sooner rather than later. 

2) Functional

‍ Functional resumes place a much heavier emphasis on skillsets and areas of expertise. This format of resume is typically used by job applicants lacking the relevant work experience or educational credentials. In this format, the education section may lead if the applicant has educational credentials but limited work experience but should follow after the skills section if education is limited. 

‍ Hybrid resumes combine the reverse-chronological work experience ordering with the emphasizing of skills. This can help to supplement resumes of applicants who may have some relevant work experience but still need to beef up their resumes with a skills section . The placement of the education section will depend on how applicable or high level the credentials are and should generally be kept brief. 

4) Curriculum Vitae (CV)

‍ CVs are a type of long-form and multi-page resume used most commonly by applicants seeking positions in either academic or scientific fields. In a CV, the education section will be a prominent component and should appear early in the document. This type of education section should include all credentials, published works, projects, awards, or other academic achievements — no details should be spared. 

The below example of a Physician Assistant's resume is listing education in the bottom-right corner as it's using a reverse-chronological resume format to shine on it's work history.

Employers can gather a variety of information about a job candidate from an education section, including:

• A job applicant’s work ethic, reflected through GPAs or other grade-related information
• Relevant skills or training an applicant has received through their schooling
• Name recognition of specific universities, such as ivy leagues, that may give a candidate a leg up on the competition
• Insight into a candidate’s interests or talents based on academic-related extracurricular activities included 

Understanding what employers are looking for in an education section included on a resume is key to understand how much or how little information to include.

What an employer is looking for will vary depending on the nature of the job being offered. 

For instance, an entry-level communications job at a corporation is likely to require a bachelor’s degree in communications or a related field.

Comparatively, a job in the welding industry may require the completion of a trade school program but not require a four-year degree. 

It is of the utmost importance when you are applying to various jobs that you read the job descriptions provided carefully, as this is where you will find the necessary information regarding what educational credentials are required of eligible candidates.

This will also help you to tailor your education section according to what credentials or qualifications you have that meet the requirements of the job. 

In general, what an employer is mostly looking for is simply that an education section exists on a resume.

The majority of employers will want candidates who have shown a commitment to their education, reflected through the inclusion of an education section.

For candidates lacking a completed education, it is still considered best practice to include some information regarding what level of education was reached before the point of incompletion, as well as the inclusion of any relevant coursework and knowledge gained from the time the candidate spent pursuing further education. 

Here is a quick rundown of a few key factors to consider for applicants who may be unsure how much information to provide in an education section for a specific employer or position:

• The education section should prove that you have the credentials necessary to complete the job at hand.
• Oversharing of education can be detrimental in some situations, as overqualified candidates may not be considered by employers.
• Job descriptions will always be the best place to look for indicators regarding how much educational background information an employer is looking for.
• Never lie or over-exaggerate — while not all employers double-check applicants’ educational histories, many still do, and dishonesty can cost you the position in the long run.

Final Thoughts

Unless you are crafting a longer-form resume, such as a CV, the education section will generally be a fairly short summary of your academic credentials and achievements.

Education sections can be longer in some cases where job applicants may have hefty academic backgrounds but limited work experience.

Ultimately, the key to making a strong education section is to include only the most relevant information.

Always avoid deceptive wording, as employers can fairly easily run academic background checks if need be. 

Check out our resume templates to get your creativity flowing and get started on your ideal resume today. 

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What to Include in Your Education Section

The education section on a resume gives hiring managers a glimpse into your academic achievements , interests, and skills.

It can demonstrate your commitment to learning, your ability to succeed in a structured environment, and the relevant knowledge you've acquired.

The information you should include in this section, though, varies based on things like your career level, the exact job you're applying for, and how recent your education is.

This means you don’t always have to be super detailed. Some of the information about your education is optional, and some of it may even be redundant if you have relevant work experience, so you should only use it if you think it can give your resume a boost.

Let’s start with the details most employers expect to see:

Essential Information

• Degree Name. Include the type of degree and the relevant major. (E.g.: BFA in Graphic Design)
• University Name. Add the name of the institution you studied at. (E.g.: University of Saint Andrews)
• Location. If the university isn’t well known or the name doesn’t specify where it is, include the general location. (E.g.: St Andrews, Scotland)
• Years Attended. Usually, only the years you attend there are enough, but the mm/yyyy format is also popular. (E.g.: 09/2018 - 06/2021)

Optional Information

• Honors and Awards. If you’ve received any acknowledgments, list them here. (E.g.: Dean's List, Summa Cum Laude, Merit Scholarships, Valedictorian)
• Relevant Coursework. List three to five courses that directly apply to your target job. (E.g.: Marketing 101, Marketing Strategy, PR Basics)
• Thesis or Dissertation. We recommend including this for graduate-level degrees in research-heavy fields.
• Minor. If relevant, include any additional areas of study. (E.g.: BA in Creative Writing, Minor in Journalism)
• Grade Point Average. Only include your GPA if it's 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale. Anything lower can undermine your application.
• Extracurricular Activities. Mention any clubs or organizations that seem relevant. (E.g.: Debate team, Theater Club, School Newspaper)

Here’s an example of an education section that includes information from both categories:

Getting ready to find a job? Start by learning how to write a resume with our detailed guide!

How to Format Education on Your Resume

Now that you have an idea of what to include in your education section, let’s explain how you should do it.

In terms of structuring your education section, follow a reverse-chronological order ; this means, list your latest educational entry first and then go backward from there.

And remember – if you have a relevant university degree, there’s no need to waste precious space on your resume by listing your high school education .

As a general rule, if you’re an experienced professional and you have a Master’s degree, you can also omit your undergrad degree. Hiring managers are a lot more interested in your work experience section, so your education section should only focus on the basics.

However, if you’re a recent graduate , you might want to include more details to give your resume an extra kick. It’s always a good idea to leverage your education if you don’t have enough relevant work experience.

Now, regardless of your level of experience, add the name of your degree at the very top of the entry in your education section.

The same degree can be written down differently, for instance:

• Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Culture with a Minor in Teaching
• BA in English Language and Culture, Minor in Teaching
• B.A. English Language and Culture (Major), Teaching (Minor)
• BA, English Language and Culture

Here’s an example of what the formatting in your education section should look like:

If you graduated from a famous university with a good reputation, you can highlight that first. For example, list “Harvard University” before the name of your degree.

Where to Place Education on Your Resume

Another important thing to consider is where to position the education section on your resume.

This mostly depends on where you are in your career. Do you have a lot of relevant achievements in the field, or are you looking for your first job ?

As a rule of thumb, the top third of your resume should be reserved for your accomplishments , which are most relevant to the job you are applying for.

So before you place this section on your resume, ask yourself: is your education your biggest selling point to the hiring manager?

Most of the time, it won’t be. Work experience is way more important for just about any position above entry level, so it should be listed first.

Let’s look at an example of a resume that puts this into action:

As you can see, this architect resume starts by listing their relevant work experience and then includes a detailed entry of their most recent degree.

When Does Education Go Before Work Experience?

While your work experience section is generally more important, there are a few cases where you should list your education first.

These include:

• You have no work experience. When you have absolutely no work experience yet, you should focus on your academic achievements instead.
• You just graduated college. If you don’t have relevant work experience, you’re often better off not listing it. For example, if you’re applying for an entry-level office job, the part-time teenage jobs you had won’t be anywhere near as relevant as your recently earned BA in Marketing.
• You are currently studying. If you’re in the process of earning a degree that’s relevant to your targeted field, it’s better to list education before work experience. For example, if you’re making a career change , you would want your new education to be the first thing the hiring manager sees.
• You recently earned a new degree. Getting a fresh MSc, Ph.D., or MBA in your field is worth showing off. For example, if you’ve been a line manager for years but earned an MBA to qualify for an executive position, your education section should go first.
• You are applying to academia. Usually, when applying for a research or teaching position in academia, you’ll need an academic CV , not a resume. In that case, your education will always come first.

Not sure if you need a CV or a resume ? Check out our guide to learn what the difference between the two is and when to use which.

Use a (Free) Resume Template

Creating a resume can be a hassle.

You have to find a template that works with your favorite text editor, set the page margins, adjust the line spacing, choose a professional font , and all while making sure you never go past page one.

What if there was an easier way?

This is where our resume builder comes in!

Novoresume lets you choose from 16 professional resume templates , each crafted with feedback from HR professionals around the world, and create the perfect resume in minutes.

Just look at how one of our resume templates compares to a basic text editor resume template:

16 Examples of Education on a Resume

Looking for inspiration?

We’ve compiled a list filled with real-life examples of how education can be listed on a resume, with practical examples for different types and levels of education:

#1. High School Education

If you’re a high school student, you might have some volunteer experience or extracurriculars you can show off. In that case, you can start by listing those sections, so long as they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for.

For example, if you volunteered with your local branch of the Red Cross, that’s a good experience to have when you’re applying to work at a shelter.

In most other cases, the education section would take the upper hand, and it would look something like this:

High School Diploma

Chapel Hill High School

2017 - 2021

• Courses: AP Science, Mathematics, Advanced Chemistry

If you’re still in high school, you can disclose it in your resume by writing down your expected graduation year or otherwise specifying that you’re currently still there.

2021 - Present

#2. General Education Development

If you were homeschooled or haven’t graduated high school, the previous example won’t apply to you.

But if you still received a General Education Development certificate, you can mention that in your resume in the following way:

GED Diploma

Durham Literacy Center

Just like with high school education, you can include the location of your school or GED center, as well as any relevant courses, if you have enough space.

#3. Associate Degree

If you went to a community college or opted for a vocational program, you can list it in your education section the same as any other undergraduate degree.

Associate degrees are typically cheaper and take less time than a bachelor’s degree. They tend to be focused on specific occupations and place more emphasis on daily job functions. Other than that, they follow the same formatting as any other educational entry.

Let’s look at some real-life examples of different types of degrees at this level.

First, an Associate of Arts degree:

AA in Business Designation

Community College of Denver

2015 - 2016

Summa Cum Laude

Next, here’s how you would list an ongoing Associate’s of Applied Science degree:

AAS in Medical Assisting

2018 - Present

Some associate degrees are what’s known as “transfer degrees.” Here, the long-term goal is to transfer into a bachelor’s degree program.

Similarly, if you’ve completed accredited courses at a community college that can go towards a degree, you can list them under your education section, like this:

Medical Assisting Certificate

• 30 credits completed

#4. Certificates

Certificates can be included on your resume, either as part of the education section or in a dedicated section.

Unlike broad academic degrees, certificates can show specialized expertise and commitment to professional development. They tend to demonstrate more focused, essential skills that are directly applicable to a particular job or industry.

Treat these entries the same as any other: list the name of the certificate, the institution or organization that issued it, and the year you obtained it.

Here’s an example of how to list a professional certificate in an education section:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

American Institute of CPAs

And here’s how they would look in a separate section:

CERTIFICATES

• Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) - National Academy of Sports Medicine, 2020
• Certified Nutrition Coach - American Nutrition Association, 2023

But there are also other certificates you could list , such as after specialized software courses:

• Maya Autodesk: Advanced 3D & Animation Udemy, 2022
• Creation of Pixel Art Scenes for Video Games Domestika, 2023

#5. Undergraduate Degree

There are different ways to list a bachelor’s degree.

Let’s take a look at three different cases for a candidate with an engineering degree.

First, if you’ve graduated from university and received the degree, list it according to the following template:

B.Sc. Mechanical Engine ering

University of California, Berkeley

2002 - 2006

If you obtained a double major, you would write it down as:

B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering

If you have two or more majors, keep in mind that you should list the major that’s most relevant to the job you are applying to.

For example, if you majored in Applied Languages and International Relations, you should focus on the languages for a job as a translator.

Lastly, if you’re still attending college, just omit the finishing year when filling in your education section and add “Present” instead, like so:

But there are also different ways you can specify that you’re still studying. Instead of “Present,” you could write:

• 2021 - Current
• Expected Graduation: 2024
• 2021 - 2024 (expected graduation)
• 2021 - In progress
• To Be Completed: 2024

#6. Graduate and Postgraduate Degrees

Graduate-level education is, in general, more detailed since it requires participating in a more focused area of research on top of your graduate-level work. 

At this level, you probably contributed to the field with a dissertation of your own, which you should include in your resume.

Here’s an example:

Ph.D. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences

University of Rochester

Dissertation: Imaging, Computational Analysis, & Neural Representations in Young Children

Graduate and postgraduate education often includes scholarships , fellowships, or outside funding involved, which you might want to include in addition to all the general information about your degree.

Here are some real-life examples:

MBA in Business Administration

University of Maine

• Avangrid Scholarship
• Magna Cum Laude

When it comes to honors and awards, there are different ways you can list them to save space on your resume. Here’s an example that mentions them but leaves more space for the dissertation title:

MSc. in Information Systems

WU Vienna University of Economics & Business

Salutatorian, Summa Cum Laude

2015 - 2017

Dissertation: Leveraging User-Generated Content for Advertising Purposes Through Information Systems

And if you’re still studying, don’t forget to check out our student resume templates to get started on your job hunt.

#7. Unfinished Education

Even if you didn’t graduate from university, you can still mention it in your education section. Just be strategic about it.

If you have several years of relevant coursework from a degree program that relates to the job you're applying for, it can show that you’re knowledgeable even without the final credential.

B.Sc. in Civil Engineering

34 credits completed

2018 - 2019

However, if you only have basic courses or your degree isn’t relevant to the role, you might be better off skipping it altogether. There’s no need to draw attention to an unfinished degree if it won’t help you impress the hiring manager.

Need more examples? Check out our 90+ resume examples for different professions .

Do you still wonder something about education on a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions here:

#1. How Do You Put Your Degree on a CV?

Adding your degree to your CV is pretty much the same as adding it to your resume.

List your degrees in reverse chronological order, with the most recent degree on top. Always include the essential information, such as the degree name, your major, the name of the university, and the years you attended. If relevant, you can include your GPA, thesis title, study abroad experiences, and academic honors.

#2. How Do You Write Down Your Bachelor’s Degree?

There are different ways that a bachelor's degree can be written down on your resume. Usually, there’s no need to spell out the full degree name, so there are ways you can abbreviate it for your resume. These include:

BA (Bachelor of Arts) BS (Bachelor of Science) BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration) BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

Just use the specific abbreviation that matches your degree type. (E.g.: BSc Computer Science, BA History, BBA Economics, etc. )

#3. What If I Have an Education Gap or Took Time Off from Studies?

Treat any gaps in your education the same as you would treat an employment gap . Be upfront with the hiring manager and list the start and end dates to account for the time of the gap on your resume.

Use your cover letter to briefly explain the gap without going into too much detail. Hiring managers are understanding, and reasons like health, family, or professional experience are all common to justify education gaps.

#4. How Far Back Should I Go When Listing My Education History?

Generally, you only need to list basic information about your education if you graduated a long time ago. Your work experience and more recent achievements will have a lot more weight than details about your time in college 14 years ago.

For most professionals, listing just your highest degree is more than enough. However, an academic CV for scientific or research-heavy roles might need a more comprehensive educational background.

Key Takeaways

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of our article!

We’re confident you’re an expert on how to list education on a resume by now, but before we part ways, let’s quickly wrap up our main points:

• Your education section belongs after your work experience section, though there are some exceptions.
• If you don’t have any work experience, recently earned a relevant degree, or if you’re applying for a research-oriented position or in academia, the education section should be listed first.
• When listing your educational entries, use a reverse chronological order. Start with the most recent degree you have and go backward from there.
• If you have some sort of higher education, there’s no need to list your high school education.
• Unless your GPA is exceptional, don’t list it. It might undermine your resume otherwise.
• There are different ways to list your education, depending on the type of school you went to and what you want to highlight. Scroll back up if you want to see some examples.

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• Career Blog

How to List Education on a Resume: 30 Examples & Tips

In today’s competitive job market, having a strong education section on your resume can be a game-changer. Highlighting your educational achievements not only demonstrates your knowledge and expertise but also showcases your commitment and dedication towards personal growth and career development.

The ultimate purpose of this article is to guide job seekers in presenting their education credentials effectively on their resumes. Through a comprehensive compilation of 30+ real-life examples and practical tips, this piece aims to help applicants in crafting a compelling education section that will impress hiring managers and land them their dream job.

Whether you’re a recent graduate, a mid-career professional, or a seasoned executive, this article provides valuable insights and actionable advice that are proven to enhance your resume and increase your chances of getting hired. So, stay with us, and be ready to learn how to shine a spotlight on your educational background and leverage it for your next career move!

The Basics of Education on a Resume

When it comes to creating a winning resume, the education section plays a significant role. This section is particularly important for recent graduates or those looking to change careers. Employers want to see that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform the job, and education serves as a reliable indicator of this.

Importance of Education Section

The education section is often used as a method of filtering out candidates. Employers want to see a clear progression of your academic qualifications, as this demonstrates a commitment to learning and personal development. Failure to include this section can result in your resume being discarded without further consideration.

How to Format Education Section

The education section should be listed in reverse chronological order with your most recent qualification first. This format makes it easier for employers to see your academic progress and the relevance of your education to the current job position.

Format for education section:

What to Include in Education Section

The education section should include the following:

Degree: State the degree you obtained or are currently in the progress of obtaining, for example, Bachelor of Science (BSc), Master of Arts (MA).

Major: Indicate the field of study in which you took most of your academic courses, for example, Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering.

University: Mention the institute or university from which you earned your degree.

Graduation Date: Include the date of your graduation or expected graduation date if you are still pursuing your education.

What Not to Include in Education Section

There are specific details that you should avoid including in the education section that may work against you. Some of them are:

GPA: Unless you have recently graduated and have a high GPA, it is best to leave this information off your resume.

High School Diploma: Unless you have no higher education or in junior level, don’t include high school education.

Coursework: Unless it is directly related to the position you are applying for, it is not relevant to list your coursework.

The education section is your chance to show your credentials and qualifications to your potential employers. Ensure that your education section is properly formatted and reflects your academic achievements clearly. By following the above guidelines, you can present your educational background in a professional and impressive way.

Where to Place Education on a Resume

When it comes to listing your education on a resume, the placement can be just as important as the information itself. Here are some of the best options for where to place your education section:

At the top of the resume : If you are a recent graduate or your education is directly related to the job you are applying for, placing your education section at the top of your resume can help to draw attention to your qualifications.

After your work experience : If you have several years of relevant work experience, placing your education section after your work experience section can help to showcase your skills and experience first.

In a separate section : You can also create a separate section for your education, which can be especially helpful if you have multiple degrees or certifications. This can also help to make it easy for recruiters to find your education information quickly.

Tips for selecting placement options:

Consider the job requirements : When deciding where to place your education section, consider the job requirements and whether your education is a significant factor in the hiring decision.

Highlight your strengths : If your education is a strong selling point for you, make sure to highlight it in a prominent position on your resume.

Keep it concise : While it’s important to include your education information, don’t overdo it. Keep your education section concise and relevant to the job you are applying for.

How to make your education section stand out:

Include relevant coursework : If you have coursework that is relevant to the job you are applying for, make sure to include it in your education section.

Highlight any honors or awards : If you received any honors or awards during your education, make sure to showcase them in your education section.

Quantify your accomplishments : If you have any accomplishments from your education, such as publishing a research paper or completing a thesis, try to quantify them with specific numbers or details.

The placement and presentation of your education on your resume can play a significant role in your job search. By carefully selecting the placement and making your education section stand out, you can increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Listing High School Education on a Resume

When it comes to including high school education on a resume, it’s important to understand that it’s typically not necessary for most job positions. However, if you are early in your career or lacking in higher-level education, you may want to include it. Here are some tips for including high school education on your resume:

How to Include High School Education on Resume

• Start with your most recent education and work backwards. List your high school education at the bottom of your education section, following any college or vocational training you may have completed.
• Be concise. Simply list your high school name, location, and the year you graduated.
• Highlight any academic achievements or honors. If you received any academic awards or honors during your high school education, include those on your resume.
• Limit the amount of detail. Unlike college education, high school education does not require a lot of detail. Keep it brief and to-the-point.

Tricks to Make High School Education More Professional

If you are concerned about how including high school education on your resume may come across, here are some tricks to make it more professional:

• Use your high school education to show transferable skills. Even if the education itself may not be relevant to the job, there may be skills you learned during that time that are transferable to the job you are applying for. For example, if you were heavily involved in a sport during high school, you may have developed leadership and teamwork skills that are applicable to many job positions. Highlight these skills on your resume.
• Show continuous learning. If you have not pursued higher education, but have taken classes, workshops, or courses since high school, include them on your resume. This shows that you have a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
• Focus on your experiences outside of education. If you are concerned about how your high school education will be perceived, focus on highlighting experiences outside of education. If you participated in clubs, sports teams, or community organizations during your high school years, include them on your resume. These experiences can demonstrate important soft skills such as leadership, communication, and teamwork.

By following these tips for including high school education on your resume, it can help you present yourself in the best possible light to potential employers. Remember, the most important thing is to demonstrate your unique skills, experiences, and qualifications in a way that will make you stand out from other candidates.

How to List Bachelor’s Degree on a Resume

When it comes to listing your Bachelor’s degree on your resume, there are a few techniques that can help you highlight this accomplishment and make it stand out to potential employers.

Techniques to Highlight Bachelor’s Degree on Resume

Use a clear and concise format:  When listing your Bachelor’s degree, make sure it is easy to find and read. Use a straightforward format that includes the name of your degree, the name of the institution where you earned it, and the date of graduation.

Include relevant coursework and honors:  If you completed coursework or received any honors related to your Bachelor’s degree, be sure to include them on your resume. This can help demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in a particular area.

Emphasize relevant skills and experiences:  Instead of simply listing your degree, try to tie it in with your relevant skills and experiences. For example, if you majored in marketing, make sure to highlight any marketing-related projects or experiences you’ve had.

Quantify your achievements:  Whether it’s a high GPA, a specific project you worked on, or an award you received, try to quantify your achievements related to your Bachelor’s degree. This can help make it stand out and demonstrate your accomplishments.

Sample Sections to List Bachelor’s Degree

Education section:  This is the most common section to list your Bachelor’s degree. Simply include the name of your degree, the name of the institution, and the date of graduation.

Skills section:  If your Bachelor’s degree is relevant to your desired job, you can include it in your skills section to emphasize your expertise.

Experience section:  If you completed any related coursework or had relevant experiences while earning your Bachelor’s degree, you can list them under the appropriate job or experience in your experience section.

Example of Listing Bachelor’s Degree in a Different Format

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Institution: XYZ University, City, State Graduation: May 2022

• Proficient in programming languages such as Java, C++, and Python
• Strong understanding of algorithms and data structures
• Experience with database management systems

Experience:

Software Development Intern ABC Company, City, State June 2021 – August 2021

• Developed and tested software modules for a web application using Java and HTML/CSS
• Collaborated with a team of developers to troubleshoot and debug issues
• Participated in code reviews and implemented improvements based on feedback

Coursework:

• Introduction to Computer Science
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Database Management Systems

By presenting your Bachelor’s degree in a different format, you can highlight it as a separate section and provide more details about your skills, relevant experiences, and coursework. This alternative format allows the degree to stand out and provides a comprehensive overview of your educational background and related accomplishments.

How to List Associate’s Degree on a Resume

Strategies to highlight associate’s degree on resume.

Listing your associate’s degree on a resume requires a strategic approach. Here are some strategies you can use to highlight your associate’s degree:

• Place your associate’s degree prominently: Be sure to mention your associate’s degree in the education section of your resume. You can either add it directly under your high school diploma or create a separate section for your associate’s degree.
• Highlight your skills: Your skills are a crucial part of your resume, and you can use them to showcase your qualifications. Emphasize the skills that you gained as part of your associate’s degree program, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication.
• Showcase your GPA: If you excelled in your associate’s degree program, showcase your GPA prominently on your resume. A high GPA can show potential employers that you are a diligent learner and have a strong work ethic.

Sample Sections to List Associate’s Degree

Here are some sample sections you can use to list your associate’s degree:

• Associate’s Degree in Business Administration, XYZ College, 2018-2020
• High School Diploma, ABC High School, 2014-2018

Certifications and Education

• Associate’s Degree in Accounting, XYZ College, 2018-2020
• CPA certification, 2021

Example of Listing Associate’s Degree in a Different Format

Here’s an example of how you can list your associate’s degree in a different format:

Professional Summary

As a diligent and detail-oriented professional with a background in business administration, I have gained essential skills in critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving through my associate’s degree program.

By strategically highlighting your associate’s degree, you can impress potential employers and show them that you have the skills and education necessary to succeed in your desired role.

How to List Master’s Degree on a Resume

When listing your master’s degree on your resume, it’s important to do so in a way that highlights your education and makes it easy for potential employers to see your qualifications. Here are some tips for highlighting your master’s degree on your resume:

Tips for highlighting master’s degree on resume

Start with your highest degree: When listing your education, start with your highest degree first. In most cases, this will be your master’s degree.

Be concise: You don’t need to include every detail about your master’s degree on your resume. Keep it concise and relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Use bullet points: Use bullet points to make your education section easy to scan. This will help potential employers quickly see your qualifications.

Include relevant coursework: If you took coursework that is relevant to the job you’re applying for, include it in your education section.

Sample sections to list master’s degree

Here are some sample sections to list your master’s degree on your resume:

• Master of Science in Computer Science, XYZ University, 2020
• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, ABC University, 2018

Academic achievements

• Graduated with honors
• Recipient of the Dean’s List award

Professional development

• Completed coursework in curriculum development and instructional design
• Facilitated professional development sessions for other educators

Example of listing master’s degree in a different format

Here’s an example of how you could list your master’s degree on your resume in a different format:

Professional experience

Director of Marketing, ABC Corporation

• Led the development and execution of marketing campaigns for a leading technology company
• Managed a team of five marketing professionals
• Increased website traffic by 25% through targeted content marketing strategies

Master of Science in Marketing, XYZ University

• Coursework included: Marketing Research, Consumer Behavior, Marketing Analytics
• Recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student award

By listing your master’s degree in the education section of your resume, you’re able to highlight your academic achievements and qualifications. However, you can also choose to list your degree in other sections of your resume, such as your professional experience section, to show how your education has prepared you for your work.

How to List PhD on a Resume

If you have earned a PhD, it is important to highlight this achievement on your resume. Here are some steps to help you effectively list your PhD:

Include your degree title: Begin by listing your degree title, such as “Doctor of Philosophy” or “PhD” after your name at the top of your resume.

Highlight your field of study: Under the education section of your resume, include the name of your university, the dates of your attendance, and your field of study.

Detail your dissertation: Highlight your dissertation topic and provide a brief summary of your research under your education section.

Emphasize your contributions: If you were actively involved in any research or publications during your PhD program, consider creating a separate section to highlight these achievements.

Here are some sample sections you could use to list your PhD on a resume:

• Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, XYZ University, 2016-2022
• Dissertation: “The Effect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Anxiety Among Children and Adolescents”

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

• Conducted empirical research on the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on stress levels among university students
• Published several articles in peer-reviewed journals related to social behavior and mental health in adolescence

PUBLICATIONS

• John Doe, Jane Doe, & Sam Smith. (2021). “Impacts of Social Media on Mental Health in Adolescents.” Journal of Adolescence, 87, 35-41.

If you want to highlight your PhD in a different format, consider these tips:

• Create a separate section for your education, research experience, and publications.
• Use bullet points to list your relevant achievements and responsibilities.
• Keep it concise but specific – employers want to see your accomplishments, but they don’t want to read a thesis.

Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work, XYZ University, 2014-2019

• Dissertation: “The Role of Social Support in Reducing Depression Among Adults with Chronic Illnesses”
• Conducted a mixed-methods research project on the experiences of individuals with disabilities in accessing healthcare services
• Presented research findings at several conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals
• John Doe & Jane Smith. (2019). “Barriers and facilitators to accessing mental health care among individuals with disabilities.” Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation, 18(1), 30-40.

Listing your PhD on a resume is an essential aspect of showcasing your expertise and qualifications. By following these steps and examples, you can effectively and clearly highlight your achievements and make a positive impact on potential employers.

How to List Certifications and Licenses

When it comes to creating a resume, highlighting your education is a key component. However, it’s not just your degrees that can impress potential employers. Listing certifications and licenses you hold can also make you stand out as a qualified candidate. Here, we’ll discuss what essential certificates and licenses to list on a resume, how to format and list them properly, and provide sample sections to make your resume stand out.

Essential Certificates and Licenses

When it comes to listing certifications and licenses, there are many to choose from. However, certain certifications and licenses are more relevant to specific career paths. Here are the essential certificates and licenses that you should list on your resume based on the industry you’re in:

• Healthcare: CPR certification, BLS certification, CNA certification, RN license, AHA certification, etc.
• Education: Teaching license, administrator license, TEFL certification, etc.
• Information technology: Microsoft certifications, CompTIA certifications, Cisco certifications, etc.
• Finance: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification, etc.
• Law: Bar admission, legal secretary certification, notary public commission, etc.
• Real estate: Real estate license, certified residential specialist (CRS) certification, etc.

Formatting and Listing Certifications and Licenses

When listing certifications and licenses on your resume, it’s essential to format them properly. Here are some tips to ensure that you list them correctly:

• Place relevant certifications and licenses in an area of your resume that makes sense. If you’re in healthcare, you may want to include them under a “Certifications” header after your education section. If you’re in finance, you could list your CPA license under your “Professional Development” section.
• Always list the most recent certification or license first, followed by the less recent ones in descending order.
• If the certification or license has an expiration date, make sure to list it along with the certificate’s title, followed by the issuing institution and the date it was earned.

Sample Sections for Listing Certifications and Licenses

Now that you know the essential certificates and licenses to list and how to format them, here are some sample sections that you can use on your resume for some inspiration:

Certifications

• BLS Certification, American Red Cross, Exp. 04/2022
• Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Certification, State of California, Exp. 12/2023
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification, American Heart Association, Exp. 06/2024
• Teaching License, State of New York, Exp. 06/2027
• Administrator License, State of Illinois, Exp. 06/2029

Information Technology

• CompTIA Security+ Certification, CompTIA, Exp.

How to List Relevant Coursework on a Resume

When crafting a resume, it is important to showcase all aspects of your education and relevant experiences. One way to do this is by including relevant coursework on your resume. In this section, we will discuss why including coursework on your resume can be helpful, the importance of relevant coursework, how to format it, and provide examples of sections to list relevant coursework.

Why Include Coursework on Resume

Including relevant coursework on your resume can be helpful in showcasing the skills and knowledge you have gained in your academic career. If you do not have much work experience or are applying for a job in a field that you studied in school, including coursework can show the employer that you have a solid foundation in the industry.

Importance of Relevant Coursework on Resume

Listing relevant coursework on your resume can demonstrate to the employer that you have gained valuable knowledge and experience in a particular subject area. This can be especially important if the job you are applying for requires specific skills or knowledge that you gained through your coursework. Additionally, it can show your dedication and interest in a particular field or subject.

How to Format Relevant Coursework

When formatting relevant coursework on your resume, it is important to keep it concise and relevant. You should only include coursework that is relevant to the job you are applying for, and ensure that the information is easy to read and understand. Consider highlighting the relevant coursework in a separate section, or within the education section of your resume.

Example Sections to List Relevant Coursework

Below are some examples of sections to list relevant coursework on your resume:

Education Section

Bachelor of Science in Marketing

• Marketing Research Methods
• Consumer Behavior
• Marketing Communications

Relevant Coursework Section

• Web Design and Development
• Digital Security

Including relevant coursework on your resume can be a valuable addition, especially if you are new to the workforce or transitioning to a new field. Use the tips provided to format your relevant coursework in a clear and concise way, and showcase your skills and knowledge to potential employers.

Listing Education Based on Career Level

When it comes to listing your education on a resume, it’s important to consider your career level and tailor your education section accordingly. Depending on your level of experience and the job you’re applying for, you may need to highlight different aspects of your academic background.

Tailoring Education Section to Fit Career Level

For entry-level positions, your education may be the most important section of your resume, especially if you have limited work experience. In this case, you should list your education and any relevant coursework, certifications or awards related to the job you’re applying for at the top of your resume.

If you’re a more experienced professional, your work experience will likely take center stage on your resume. However, your education can still be valuable to showcase, particularly if you completed advanced degrees or specialized training.

For senior-level positions, it’s common to list your education at the end of your resume, after you’ve highlighted your extensive work experience. At this stage of your career, employers are likely more interested in your professional achievements and leadership experience than your academic background.

Example Sections to List Education Based on Career Level

Entry-level example:.

• Bachelor of Science in Marketing, XYZ University
• Relevant Coursework: Marketing Research, Consumer Behavior, Advertising and Promotion, Digital Marketing
• Dean’s List, Fall 2018 – Spring 2021

Experienced Professional Example:

• Master of Business Administration, ABC School of Business
• Bachelor of Science in Management, XYZ University
• Relevant Coursework: Strategic Management, Operations Management, Corporate Finance, Marketing Analytics
• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Awards: Outstanding Graduate Student, ABC School of Business

Senior-Level Example:

Professional Experience

• Director of Sales, XYZ Corporation
• Vice President of Marketing, ABC Company
• Chief Revenue Officer, DEF Inc.

Education on a Functional Resume: Tips & Samples

When it comes to creating a functional resume, highlighting your education can be incredibly important. Whether you’re a recent graduate or have years of experience under your belt, your educational background can demonstrate your qualifications and expertise in your chosen field.

Importance of Education in a Functional Resume

Including your education on a functional resume can help you stand out from other job seekers. It can demonstrate that you have the necessary knowledge and skills to be successful in your desired position, and it can also show that you value ongoing learning and professional development.

When listing your education on a functional resume, be sure to include any relevant degrees, courses, certifications, or training programs that you’ve completed. This can help demonstrate your expertise and show that you’ve taken the initiative to further your education and skills.

Techniques to Highlight Education in a Functional Resume

One technique for highlighting your education on a functional resume is to create a separate “Education” section. This section should include the name of the school or institution you attended, the degree or certification you earned, and the year of completion.

When listing your education, be sure to include any relevant coursework or honors that demonstrate your expertise in your field. For example, if you’re applying for a position as a software engineer, you might include coursework in programming languages or computer science.

Another technique for highlighting your education on a functional resume is to incorporate it into your work experience section. For example, if you completed an internship or apprenticeship during your education, you might list that experience under a relevant job title.

Sample Sections to List Education in a Functional Resume

Here are a few sample sections that you might use to list your education on a functional resume:

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of XYZ, 2014-2018
• Relevant coursework: Business Law, Financial Accounting, Marketing
• Marketing Intern, ABC Company, 2017-2018 (completed as part of the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program at the University of XYZ)
• Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program, Red Cross, 2016
• Relevant coursework: Patient Care, Infection Control, Anatomy and Physiology
• Nursing Assistant, XYZ Hospital, 2016-2018 (completed as part of the Certified Nursing Assistant Training Program at the Red Cross)

By including your education in your functional resume, you can demonstrate your qualifications, expertise, and ongoing commitment to learning and professional development. These sample sections can help you highlight your educational background in a clear and effective way.

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• Nursing Student Resume: Examples and Templates for 2023
• Pros and Cons of Working for a Small Company in 2023
• Utility Worker Job Description: A Complete Guide for 2023
• Charge Nurse Job Description & Examples for Resume in 2023

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• CV and Cover Letter
• How to list education on a CV...

How to list education on a CV (with examples)

7 min read · Updated on July 30, 2024

Learn how to write the education section on your CV

An education section is one of the basic requirements of a great CV, but it's crucial to ensure that it's in the right place and that you have the right level of detail. In this article, we'll share a few tips and discuss the main considerations to ensure your education has the right impact when listing it on your CV. 

Why is it important to list education on your CV?

The education section enables hiring managers to assess whether you have the right academic qualifications for the job. This will carry greater or lesser weight in the recruitment process depending on how much work experience and relevant coursework you have. However, it's still considered to be vital information to include.

How to write an education section on a CV

Here are the basics of how to list education on your CV:

What to include in your CV education section

There are a few fundamentals the recruiter will expect to see in the education section of your CV. They include:

Name of the institution – school, college, or university

Qualification with grades

Dates of attendance or the year the qualification was awarded

If you're a recent university graduate, you should also include details of relevant modules to highlight your candidacy.

Where to list education on a CV

Where you position your qualifications depends on how recent your education is and how relevant your work experience is to your intended next steps. 

Education leaver: If you're just leaving formal education, your academic record will carry more weight with a recruiter or hiring manager than your professional experience, so you should position an education section above your employment history.

Current professional: If you're settled into your career and have gained skills and knowledge through your work, then the employment history section will take precedence and education can be positioned below it.

Career changer: The exception to this rule is for those writing CVs to change careers . For example, suppose you've had a long career in retail but wish to pursue a career as an accountant. In that case, you can place education before employment history and include details of the accountancy qualifications and relevant coursework you're taking in preparation for the transition.

How to format the education section of your CV

A few general rules exist for adding your academic qualifications and achievements to your CV. Here are a few guidelines to follow:

Reverse-chronological order: Start with your most recent education and work backwards

Add extra detail: Include relevant modules, coursework, and awards if they will add weight to your job application

Formatting consistency: Mimic the formatting of your CV, including a bold section heading, bullet points, and sentence structure

When writing your education, use this template:

Institution name – Dates attended (from-to)

Qualification/subject – Grade

Or, for space-saving, you could try a more compact version:

Qualification, grade – Institution – Year

How to list your education if you're still studying

You can still list a qualification on your CV if you're working towards completion. You just need to clarify that it still needs to be finished. For example, say “In progress” or “Due to complete in 2025.” 

You'll need to include the level of the qualification, such as BSc (Hons) or MBA, as well as the name of the course, like “International Business” or “Sports Therapy.” You should also include the name of the educational institution awarding the qualification ‒ usually the name of your university.

Modules, projects, dissertations, and theses can also be listed, focusing on the higher-level work and modules of particular interest or relevance. You can also mention if you're a member of any clubs or societies relevant to your chosen career path.

As your high school education or undergraduate degree is the main selling point on your CV at this time, you should also include any lower-level qualifications you have. Level, subject and year of completion are enough details here.

If you're still studying, your education section may look like this:

How to write your degree on your CV

It's always best to include any postgraduate or undergraduate degrees on your CV, no matter where you are in your career. If you're a seasoned professional, lower-level qualifications can be omitted if they don't add anything of value to your application.

Recent graduates will still need to include all of the details above and the completion date of the high school diploma or college degree. If you received a strong grade – a first or a 2:1 – you can also include that.

In this case, you may list further education like this:

How to write your A-Levels and GSCEs on your CV

Suppose you have no plans to go to university and are planning to start work after finishing your formal education at school or college. In that case, you must include more details about the qualifications you've achieved there. The level of the course, the subjects and the years of completion are the bare minimum.

Also include any strong grades, defined as grade C or above for A-levels and grade 4 or above for GCSEs (grade C for those slightly older!).

If you held any positions of responsibility during your studies and academic career, you could include those too – maybe you were a prefect, football team captain or student council member. Once you have some work history behind you, you can omit this level of detail.

Your education section could look like this for now:

Writing education on a CV: FAQs

What should i include in my education section if i have professional experience.

When you have some strong work experience or professional training under your belt, you need less detail in your education section; your career will carry more weight with a recruiter at this stage. However, you should still include a top-level summary of your highest level of education.

One line stating the level of qualification and subject is enough. For university-level qualifications, include the name of the institution as well. Do include the year of completion unless there's a risk of age discrimination. Suppose your qualifications were O-levels or CSEs rather than GCSEs. In that case, you might want to consider leaving them off completely ‒ even without stating the year, your age is implied, and ageism could affect your application.

At this stage of your career, your education section may look like this:

What should I do if I started a qualification but never completed it?

Incomplete qualifications or unfinished education should not be mentioned at all. Even though there may be perfectly valid reasons for not completing a course, when written in summary and compared against the CVs of other candidates, it looks weak.

If eliminating the qualification or incomplete education creates a large and unmistakable gap in your CV , you may need to include it to cover the gap. In this case, try to present the incomplete qualification positively.

For example:

What should I do if my grades are poor?

If you didn't quite achieve the grades you hoped for, the solution is easy: leave them out! A third-class degree is still a degree. For GCSEs or A-levels, list only the subjects that you passed.

How often should I update the education section of my CV?

Your education is integral to the CV, so it should be reviewed every time you update the document with a new job or ongoing course. Make sure that you still have the right amount of detail for your experience level and that irrelevant parts are removed. You should gradually move from a long and detailed section to a one-liner as you progress from high school or college student to seasoned professional.

Ultimate objective

In summary, your aim for the education section is to ensure that it complements your career goals by being relevant and sufficiently detailed. You won't go far wrong with this golden rule as your guide. 

Are you properly showcasing your education and other academic achievements on your CV? Find out by getting a free CV review here .

This article was originally written by Jen David and has been updated by Laura Slingo. 

Recommended reading:

How to write first class honours on a CV

Certifications on your CV: how to list them - with examples

How to make a CV for your first job

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CVs & Résumés

• Jan 7, 2022

How to Write a Résumé's Education Section (with Examples)

Not sure what to put where in the education section of your résumé? We've covered everything, from the best writing tips, format and best practices.

Chris Leitch

Editor-in-Chief & Résumé Expert

Reviewed by Hayley Ramsey

For most people, writing about their education on their résumé is a pretty straightforward endeavour. After all, it’s just listing the qualifications you earned, the schools you attended, and your dates of attendance. But it’s not always that simple.

What about grades? Should you include them?

Should you include your graduation date if you’re an older student?

Which qualification should you list first? Your most recent or your oldest?

And where do you put all this information, anyway?

All these questions — and more — are answered in this handy guide to help you write a great résumé  and get you one step closer to job search success.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What employers look for

Where to place your education section

• What to include
• Formatting tips
• Writing tips

Résumé examples

What employers look for in your education section.

Each component of your résumé tells a more complete story about you, and your education section in particular helps the hiring managers determine whether you’re qualified to do the job you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a position as a doctor, they want to make sure you have a medical degree and the appropriate training. Likewise, if they’re seeking a business manager, for example, they might be looking for an MBA .

Some recruiters, meanwhile, don’t just look at your credentials. They also look at the schools you attended — especially if their company only hires Ivy League graduates or, if in the UK, Russell Group graduates.

Where the education section goes in your résumé depends on where you are on your career journey.

If you’ve got at least three years of professional experience, for example, then it goes at the end of the document, right before the skills section and any other sections besides the essentials. If you’re an entry-level candidate and have limited work experience, though, your education should be placed towards the top of the document, immediately after the profile section.

These two situations apply to the chronological résumé format .

Now, if your résumé follows the skills-based format , then your education goes after your skills and before your work history. If, however, you’re using the combination format , then you’ll place this section after both your skills and work history (this is much like the chronological format, though placement of the skills and work history sections would be reversed).

What to include in your education section

At the very least, each entry of your education section should include:

• The type of qualification you earned or you are working towards
• The full name of your school
• The location of your school
• Your graduation date (if applicable)

If you’re a current student or a recent graduate , you can also include a short description for each entry to make up for your limited work experience. This description can include details about:

• Your coursework
• Your grades
• Any awards you won
• Any activities you took part in and clubs you were a member of

How to format education section entries

Here, we’ll show you how individual entries in your education section should be formatted.

Type of qualification

On the very first line of the entry, you should put the type of qualification you earned or are currently working towards, whether it’s a high school diploma or an academic degree . For example:

            BSc in Computer Science

This should be formatted in bold or otherwise stand out from the rest of the information you will add later.

School name

Next up is the name of the school you attended, which should be added on a separate line, like so:

            King’s College London

Always write out the school’s official name in full. Don’t use abbreviations, acronyms or, worse, nicknames.

School location

On the same line you’ve written the name of your school, write its location. For example:

            London, UK

It’s a good idea to separate the school location from the name with a symbol, like a dash or a vertical line.

Graduation date

The graduation date goes on the same line as your school’s name and location. Just add the year, not the full date. For example:

            2020

You can use a dash or vertical line again to separate the date from everything else on this line or, better yet, use a tab stop to align it to the right end of the line.

If you’re still in school or university, meanwhile, simply write your expected graduation date here.

Description

Adding a description of your coursework, grades, awards, activities and club memberships is generally only recommended for entry-level professionals with little to no work experience. Use a bulleted list to organise this information into easily digestible pieces, like so:

• Coursework: Computer systems, Software engineering, App development, Data science, Computer networks
• Grade: A (1st Class)
• Awards: President’s Education Award
• Activities: Peer tutoring, Member of Video Gaming and eSports Society

Keep the description as concise as possible, typically limiting bullet points to two lines at most.

Meanwhile, only list grades if they’re above average. For A-levels in the UK, for example, this would be grade C and above; for GPA grades in the US, this would be 3.5 and above.

Here’s what bringing all this together looks like:

Tips for writing your education section

When writing about your educational background on your résumé, there are some important things to keep in mind. Here are our top tips:

1. List your highest education first

When recording your educational experiences on your résumé, always do so in reverse-chronological order — that is to say: start with your most recent experience first and then go backwards through time from there.

2. Use keywords

Every section of your résumé should be tailored to the position you’re applying for, and your education section is no exception.

You can do this by naturally incorporating relevant keywords and phrases from the job ad, such as specific degree programmes and subjects. This will, ultimately, help you get your résumé past the robots (aka applicant tracking systems ) and into the hands of a human reader.

3. Don’t embellish or falsify things

Though you might be tempted to embellish or downright lie about your educational background (or anything else) on your résumé, particularly if you feel it will boost your chances of getting an interview, you really shouldn’t.

The truth always has a funny way of coming out in the end, and being caught in a lie will only tarnish your professional image — dishonesty, after all, is not a quality that employers look for in candidates . It’s also a fireable offense (if the truth comes out after you’re hired), and you could get into trouble with the law.

4. Be strategic with dates

For the most part, you should always include your graduation date.

There is, however, one exception: if you completed your education 15 or more years ago and you’re an older jobseeker. In this case, it’s a good idea to remove your graduation date altogether. This encourages the hiring manager to focus on your experience and achievements rather than how long ago you graduated and, consequently, your age.

5. Add the right education

Be selective about what education you include in your résumé.

For example, if you’ve finished university, you should only list qualifications from your bachelor’s degree onwards. You shouldn’t list your high school education. (The only time you should include details about your high school experience is if you’re still in high school or you’ve just started your postsecondary education.)

Meanwhile, your preschool and primary education really have no place on your résumé.

Want to see the education section in action? Check out the following résumé examples for some inspiration when writing about your educational background.

When you’ve completed your education

Here’s an example of what a résumé should like if you’ve finished university, based on one of our templates.

Get a professional template

When your education is incomplete or in progress

This example is a geometric themed template and illustrates how to best format your education section when your education is ongoing or incomplete.

Key takeaways

Let’s wrap up everything we learned in this article:

• The education section generally goes towards the end of your résumé, unless you have fewer than three years’ work experience.
• Each entry should include the type of qualification you earned, along with the school’s name and location, and your graduation date.
• You can also, optionally, add information about coursework, grades, awards, activities and memberships, particularly if you have limited work experience.
• Only include grades if they’re above average.
• List your educational experiences in reverse-chronological order.
• Omit graduation dates if you graduated over 15 years ago and you’re an older jobseeker.
• Be honest about your education.

Got a question? Not sure if you should place your education before or after your work history, or how to provide details about your degree when space is limited? We’re here to help — just drop us a comment below!

This article is an update of an earlier version published on 12 June 2018.

Courses and Qualifications

Résumé Sections

How to list education on your resume (with examples)

Employers pay close attention to your resume's education section. It informs them about your background and if you are suitable for the role. Relevant details and necessary credentials can improve your chances of getting the job. 

Let's discuss how to organise the education section on your  resume and where to place it. We'll also go through some examples of different education scenarios. 

Here's what we'll cover:  

Information to include in your resume education section  

• How to list completed education (with examples)  

How to list incomplete or in-progress education on a resume (with examples)  

• How to list education in resume if you don't have a degree (with examples)  

Tips for your resume education section  

Conclusion  .

When listing formal education on your resume, hiring managers look for these details: 

• school or institute name 
• school location 
• the degree, diploma, or certification you obtained (if applicable) 
• your field of study 
• your graduation date or year (if relevant) 
• your GPA if it's in the range of 4 to 5 
• any relevant honours or academic recognition, activities, coursework, or other achievements you attained 

Keep the education section concise, ideally around 15 to 30 words. Format your  resume to match the requirements of the job you are applying for.  

Add your educational details in reverse chronological order, starting from your highest degree. If you have recently graduated, provide more details, like courses relevant to the role. You can also include completed projects and relevant certifications in your coursework. Ensure your education section features academic accomplishments since they're your primary experience.  

If you have prior work experience, keep the education details brief while listing education. Highlight your job history and your roles and responsibilities to show professional development. This helps hiring managers know more about your professional experience. You can also add a relevant advanced degree . 

How to list completed education on resume (with examples)  

Here are some tips to add an education section to your resume with examples: 

For recent graduates (1–2 years) 

If you've recently graduated,  you may not have work experience to include on your resume. In such cases add your educational qualifications. List details like institution name, degree or course, dates of enrollment, and GPA. Include your GPA in the education section if it's between 4.0 and 5.0. You can also include academic honours or accomplishments, if any.  

Here's an example of a resume education section: 

• Nanyang Technological University  

Singapore, 2013–2017  

Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering  

GPA: 4.81/5.00 (Highest Distinction)  

For experienced professionals (over two years) 

Focus on your work experience if you have two or more years of experience. This helps the employer review your work history. They can understand your past roles and responsibilities better. It also helps them decide if the role matches your work experience and qualifications. 

Leave out details such as the dates you attended college or your GPA. But list your highest education and prioritise it over your undergraduate degree. 

Include your graduate-level education or advanced degrees, if any. For instance, if you have a doctoral degree, list your PhD before your master's degree and bachelor's degree. 

Here's an example to illustrate your educational qualifications: 

Singapore, 2020–2023  

PhD in Computer Science and Engineering  

Singapore, 2018–2020  

Master of Engineering in Artificial Intelligence  

For graduates with multiple degrees 

If you hold multiple degrees or a double major, it is important to organise the education section well. This helps employers understand your academic achievements better. Put the highest or most relevant college degree first, depending on the job. 

Let's say you have a bachelor's degree in computer engineering and a master's degree in business administration. You are applying for a lead position. Then, add your Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree before your bachelor's.  

List each degree separately. Include details such as degree title, field of study, university name, and graduation year. 

Here's an example of how to list education for graduates with more than one degree: 

• NUS Business School  

Singapore, 2017–2019  

Master of Business Administration in Finance  

GPA: 4.81/5.00   

Following these guidelines helps employers see your education. It also helps them understand how your college degrees relate to the job you're applying for. This could give you an edge over other  jobseekers . 

You could still be attending college. In that case, include your recent projects and expected graduation date. This allows potential employers to see your studies, relevant coursework, and notable achievements. It helps them decide if you have the necessary qualifications for the position.  

If you're a student, include this section below your contact details and professional summary statement . Include the name of the institute and the degree of the ongoing education. Add your cumulative grade point average (CGPA), academic honours, and extracurricular activities.  

Secondary and tertiary education examples  

Here are some examples of in-progress education:  

High school education example  

• Raffles Institution  

Singapore, 2023 (Expected graduation date)  

Integrated Programme Student  

CCA: Member of the chess club  

Awards: Gold medalist in the National Mathematics Olympiad 2022  

Tertiary education example 

Singapore, 2018–2022 (Expected)  

Prominent Coursework: Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Management, System Design  

CGPA: 4.7/5  

Volunteer in the community engagement programme  

Incomplete education example  

If you've unfinished education, you can still list relevant coursework you completed. Including certifications can also enhance your resume education section. Likewise, you can include your CGPA up to the point of the semester you completed if it's between 4.0 and 5.0. 

This information can be valuable to employers if it relates to the job requirements. Be honest and accurate when presenting your educational background in this scenario. 

Below is an example:  

• National University of Singapore  

Singapore, 2019–2021  

Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering (incomplete)  

Prominent Coursework: Advanced Programming, Computer Systems Engineering, Data Structures and Algorithms  

GPA: 4/5 (up to the point of the last completed semester)  

Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals, Microsoft Azure, 2020   

How to list education on a resume if you don't have a degree (with examples)  

If your highest education is a high school diploma, focus on showcasing your skills and achievements . You may include honours, awards, or extracurricular activities. Align your resume writing to the job description. 

Add activities that include the keyword skills listed in the job description. You can add coursework descriptions. Also, consider adding classes relevant to the position you're applying for. 

For example, you are applying for a customer service job with high school education. Then, here's how you can include your education on your resume:  

• Raffles Institution, Singapore  

Graduated in 2021  

Completed GCE O-Level examinations with distinctions in Mathematics, English, and Science  

CCA: Captain of the school badminton team  

Completed a short course in Basic Customer Interaction Skills, MySkillsFuture Singapore, 2021  

But what if you didn't graduate high school? Here's an example of how to structure your education section: 

• Hougang Secondary School, Singapore  

Attended school from 2019 to 2021  

Captain of the school football team  

Completed Service Excellence SkillsFuture WSQ Course, MySkillsFuture Singapore, 2021  

Here are some simple tips for your resume education section: 

• Provide clear and accurate information.  Double-check all details like school or university names, dates attended, and degrees earned. Mistakes can compromise your resume's credibility. 
• Prioritise the most relevant degree.  If you hold multiple degrees, highlight the one that aligns best with the position you are applying for. This directs the hiring manager's attention to your most relevant qualifications. 
• Select the information you want to include.  Keep the section concise and avoid adding extra information unless necessary. Only include pre-tertiary education details if you are a recent graduate with no work experience.  

The resume education section is crucial for displaying your qualifications to potential employers. It gives insight into your academic background, skills, and accomplishments. To make this section impressive, provide accurate details. Emphasise the most relevant college or university degree and use action verbs in descriptions. 

Now is a great time to review and update your resume's education section. Add any new courses or certifications you've completed to reflect your accomplishments accurately. A well-crafted education section can enhance your prospects in the job market. 

Here are answers to several frequently asked questions on the topic of education on your resume: 

• Should you list all your subjects under the education section or mention the degree title?   ⁠It is usually enough to mention the degree title in the education section of your resume. Listing all subjects may be unnecessary and could clutter the layout. Employers often prioritise the bachelor's or graduate degree over individual coursework.  ⁠ ⁠However, there are exceptions, especially for specialized technical or professional roles. In such cases, you can mention relevant courses as bullet points under a separate section titled 'Relevant Coursework.' Always tailor your resume to highlight the most pertinent information based on the job requirements. 
• Should I add education first on my resume?   ⁠You can choose to prioritise the education section by placing it at the top of your resume. This helps if you are a recent graduate or if your education closely aligns with the job you are applying for. By highlighting your education first, you draw attention to your qualifications for the hiring manager to review.  ⁠ ⁠On the other hand, if you have extensive and relevant professional experience, consider prioritising the work experience section instead. In this scenario, position your education section below your work experience. Employers may be more interested in learning about your roles and accomplishments in previous workplaces. 
• Should I include my primary and secondary education details on my resume?   ⁠If you have already graduated or have significant work experience, it is best to avoid listing your primary and secondary education. However, if you've graduated recently or have limited relevant experience, you may choose to include it in your resume. 
• Should I list my GPA on my resume?   ⁠Including your GPA on your resume is neither standard nor necessary. Your resume highlights your skills, academic experience, and qualifications. Yet, there are circumstances where including your GPA could be beneficial:  ⁠ ⁠ Academic positions:  For a job in academia or research where your GPA is relevant to the role, you may include it.  ⁠ Fresh graduates:  If you're a recent graduate with a limited work history, you can include a high GPA, usually 4.0 to 5.0. This can help you highlight your academic achievements.  ⁠ Competitive programs/scholarships:  A high GPA can help you with study abroad programs. It can also help you with many scholarships.  ⁠
• Should I include online courses or certificates in my resume education section?   ⁠Yes, you can add online courses or certificates. It adds more value if they align with the job you are applying for. These achievements highlight your ongoing learning, skill development, and commitment to professional growth.   ⁠ ⁠Here are some tips to make a positive impression when including online courses or certifications:  ⁠ ⁠ Title and provider:  Mention the course or certification name and the institution.  ⁠ Relevance:  Prioritise courses related to your target job or industry.  ⁠ Certification date:  Include the completion date to show the recency of your achievement.  ⁠ ⁠You can include online courses in a separate "Education and Certifications" section. But ensure that you include only credible and recognised courses to boost the value of your resumé. If you have completed several courses, consider listing only the most relevant ones. 
• Should I list National Service (NS) in the educational background section?    ⁠Avoid including NS in the resume unless you have limited work experience. But you can add it if you are applying for a job where your NS experience may be relevant. For instance, you may include your NS experience if you are applying for a leadership role. It indicates that the NS experience helped you develop leadership and management skills. 
• Should I include 'A' level results on my resume?   ⁠Many students in Singapore choose to apply for internships or jobs after completing their 'A' level examinations. They do this to get some work experience before continuing their education. If you are a student too, you can include your 'A' level examination scores provided they are high.   ⁠ ⁠But, if you already have more advanced degrees or significant work experience, avoid including it in your resume. 

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Dive Into Expert Guides to Enhance your Resume

The Education Section on the Resume

How to list your studies and where to include them.

The  education section on a resume  can sometimes be the  shortest part  but is still a vital addition and  required by nearly all employers .

Although it may sometimes seem that the  education section on a resume  is the simplest part, it still needs proper care and attention. Each jobseeker is different and needs to adapt their whole resume, including the education section, to their personal profile as well as remembering to  tailor their resume to the position available .

Failure to adapt your education segment to the position can be costly.  In 18% of cases , employers will just throw out your file without any further thought  if it doesn’t match their needs .

To learn  how to write a good education section on a resume , you must first consider what level of professional work experience and academia the candidate has in order to decide  how and where to include the education section .

It is additionally important to bear in mind the  resume format  the candidate has chosen to use in case it uses a certain structure as standard.

Just like other  resume sections,  such as the  work experience section  or core competencies, the  education section is one of the key parts  a potential employer will look for, simply to get an understanding of the expertise and background of the candidate.

Also, if this part  includes other courses or training sessions  in which the candidate has participated, the hiring manager will see more of  what interests the jobseeker  in his or her professional career.

The following  guide will help you complete the education section on your resume  with the relevant information so a potential employer can see your academic interests and areas of knowledge.

Experience or Education: What to put first

Which section should go first on a resume – work experience or education?  Read on for advice on how to organize your resume sections.

Depending on your personal situation you may want to  list first your education section or the work experience part on your resume . It could also depend on the position you’re interested in or the skills you have gained from different roles in your professional and academic career.

• If you have  recently graduated or are still studying,  it is highly likely that you will have a short professional work history in your desired field or that most of your achievements have come from your academic experience and therefore will benefit more from a resume with the  education section before the work experience section .
• On the other hand, if you have been  working for several years , even if you are deciding to change careers, you would most likely  benefit from a resume with emphasis on the work experience section  as this is where your recent expertise will have developed including any transferable skills.

For those jobseekers who are  unsure of which section should be highlighted  and therefore come first, it is possible that using an online resume creator or  resume template  could help them to  build a suitable resume for their ideal job .

Also, it is possible that  choosing a resume format  will help you decide on  which section should have more precedence  in your resume.

List your education on your resume

When it comes to  writing the education section for your resume  it’s important that you maintain a certain structure in order for it to be easily found by hiring managers.

Similarly to the work experience section, you should always write your academic achievements, diplomas and degrees in  reverse chronological order , beginning with the most recent and going backwards, i.e. naming a Masters degree before the Bachelors.

If you attended college and obtained a BA or BSc, it is  not advisable to include your previous education  or high school degree information. The  ACCU claims  95% of hiring managers will giving hiring preference to your college degree. Therefore it’s best to focus just on this headline academic achievement.

In the case that you attended college and did not finish a degree program, you can  indicate the amount of credits  that you finished.

Within the  resume education section , you should always list the course name, institution where you completed the degree program or training and the type such as:

BA English Literature, College of William and Mary, VA

It is not obligatory to include the graduation date or your grade.

Tips for writing your education in your resume

The following  expert tips are very practical for jobseekers learning how to write an education section  for a resume. Read them carefully and get the most out of them.

• For each entry in the education section of your resume, it is  only advisable to include your GPA if it is superior to 3.0 .
• You can  include the modules studied, projects and coursework completed  and any thesis topics you produced throughout each course,  describing any relevant and important factors .
• It is especially important to  mention any awards, honors or scholarships  you may have been granted.
• If you are writing an  student resume  you may also find it beneficial to  include societies or clubs  of which you were a member, especially if you held a  position of responsibility  in any association where you learnt skills which can be transferred to the workplace. This can also apply to  entry-level resume  candidates and for  recent graduate resumes .
• As a general rule the  education section on a resume can be longer for jobseekers with little to no professional experience  whereas it will only include the basic information for candidates with  professional resumes  for example, as they will be more focused on other areas.
• Amplifying your  education section on your resume can have a positive effect  by providing evidence that the candidate is achievement or goal-oriented.
• Remember to  include any educational or extracurricular activities  that could  prove you are equipped to deal with the pressures of a working environment .

If your career has taken a different path from your degree subject, organize your education section by relevance of courses and training.

Remember that you must always  tailor your resume for your audience ,  employing keywords  taken from the job description which can be included in either your degree program or training courses or in individual project descriptions.

If you’re still unsure of  how to write the education section for a resume  or you need a little more help putting it together or inspiration for  what to include in a resume education section , you can try using an  online resume maker  which will offer practical tips and examples for completing your resume.

ResumeCoach  is a resume builder that provides online  guidance for jobseekers to create their resume  with advice from career experts and real-life practical examples.

Struggling with Resume Writing?

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27 Education Resume Examples and Templates for Your Successful 2024’s Job Search

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• • Prepared and executed lesson plans that increased student engagement by 20%, resulting in higher overall academic performance.
• • Implemented classroom management strategies, decreasing instances of disruptive behavior by 30%, ensuring a focused learning environment.
• • Utilized technology, including smart boards and educational software, to enhance interactive learning, leading to a 15% improvement in student participation.
• • Led a collaborative project with 3 other teachers to create a multicultural week event, positively impacting school community engagement.
• • Assessed and tracked student progress through personalized feedback, helping students improve their grades by up to 25%.
• • Developed extracurricular activities that supported curriculum goals, increasing after-school program participation by 10%.
• • Assisted lead teacher in creating lesson plans and managing classroom activities, contributing to a 15% increase in student time-on-task.
• • Supervised small group activities and provided one-on-one support, improving individual student performance by 10%.
• • Organized classroom materials and resources, ensuring a 25% reduction in lesson preparation time.
• • Conducted regular student assessments and provided constructive feedback, leading to better comprehension and subject mastery.
• • Facilitated communication between students, parents, and teachers, fostering a supportive and collaborative educational environment.

Education professionals are the heartbeat of our society, shaping the minds of future generations. They inspire curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and foster a love for lifelong learning. Your dedication molds the leaders, innovators, and visionaries of tomorrow.

To be successful, you need a blend of passion, empathy, and adaptability. When applying for a job, your ability to engage students and adapt to diverse learning needs will be highly valued. Make sure your Education resume reflects these dynamic skills and highlights your impact on student growth.

Education Resource Coordinator Resume Example

As an Education Resource Coordinator, you're in charge of developing and managing educational programs within a company. Your resume should highlight responsibilities like creating training materials, coordinating workshops, and assessing employee progress. Don't forget to mention any hard skills such as proficiency in learning management systems and data analysis tools. Be sure to also include soft skills like effective communication and the ability to work well with diverse teams. Remember to tailor your resume to showcase relevant experiences and accomplishments that speak to your strengths in education and coordination.

Education Advisor Resume Example

Education Advisors in a company guide training and development programs, aiming to elevate employee skills and performance. Your resume should list responsibilities like managing educational programs, collaborating with senior leadership, assessing training needs, and delivering engaging workshops. Highlight strong proficiencies in e-learning tools, data analysis for educational outcomes, and software like LMS platforms. Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities are key soft skills to feature. Remember, your resume isn't just a list—it should tell a compelling story of your contributions and impacts.

Education Assistant Resume Example

Education Assistants in companies help manage and implement training programs, providing support to employees and ensuring effective learning experiences. To land a role, your resume should feature responsibilities like coordinating training schedules, preparing materials, and assisting in creating educational content. Highlight your technical skills such as proficiency in e-learning platforms, LMS software, and data analysis tools. Don’t forget to showcase your people skills such as communication, adaptability, and teamwork for effective collaboration. Remember, align your resume with the specific needs of the role, showing how your skills fit the company's requirements.

Education Coordinator Resume Example

Education Coordinators in a company play a pivotal role in developing and managing training programs for employees. Your resume should highlight experience in curriculum development, employee training, and project management, as well as collaboration with department heads. Make sure to emphasize hard skills like learning management systems, instructional design software, and data analysis tools. You should also demonstrate excellent communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage and motivate your team. Remember, your Education resume should be clear and focused on your ability to improve workplace learning outcomes.

Education Officer Resume Example

Education Officers within a company are tasked with overseeing training programs and ensuring employees receive the necessary education to perform their roles efficiently. Your resume should reflect duties such as developing training materials, facilitating workshops, and analyzing training effectiveness, along with responsibilities like managing learning management systems and training budgets. Highlight your skill in various technologies, like e-learning platforms and data analysis tools, which are crucial in today's training environments. Make sure to include people skills such as communication, leadership, and the ability to motivate and engage learners effectively. One key thing to remember is that your resume should clearly demonstrate how your contributions have positively impacted the company's goals and objectives through education and training.

Education Director Resume Example

As the Education Director at your company, you’re in charge of shaping and overseeing all training programs and educational initiatives for employees. Your resume should mention your experience designing curricula, managing teams, collaborating across departments, and evaluating program effectiveness. Highlighting proficiency with learning management systems (LMS), instructional design software, and data analytics tools will make your skills stand out. You should also accentuate your excellent communication skills, ability to motivate staff, and knack for problem-solving. Remember to tailor your resume specifics to the job you're applying for, showcasing relevant achievements and capabilities.

Education Analyst Resume Example

Education Analysts in companies focus on evaluating and improving training programs to enhance employee performance. Your resume should list responsibilities like data analysis, curriculum development, and performance tracking. Highlight your proficiency in using software tools like SQL, Python, and LMS platforms. Don't forget to emphasize your communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and capacity to collaborate effectively with various teams. Above all, remember that demonstrating a clear impact on educational outcomes can make your resume stand out.

Education Research Assistant Resume Example

Education Research Assistants are the backbone of many academic projects, handling data collection, literature reviews, and contributing to writing research reports. On your resume, you should list responsibilities like conducting surveys, analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, and assisting with grant writing. Highlight your proficiency with statistical software such as SPSS, R, and tools like Microsoft Office Suite. Don't forget to add soft skills like teamwork, effective communication, and the ability to manage multiple tasks. Keep in mind that an education resume should showcase your dedication to learning and your passion for helping others succeed academically.

Education Services Director Resume Example

As an Education Services Director, you're responsible for planning and managing educational programs within a company. Your resume should include experiences such as developing training modules, overseeing instructional design, and managing education budgets. Make sure to highlight any experience with e-learning platforms, project management software, and data analysis tools. People skills like effective communication, leadership, and empathy are also necessary to connect with teams and stakeholders. One big thing to remember: tailor your resume to showcase both your educational accomplishments and your ability to adapt to different learning environments.

Physical Education Instructor Resume Example

Your role as a Physical Education Instructor in a company will center on improving employee wellness and physical fitness through organized activities and training programs. The resume you submit should clearly showcase your expertise in designing exercise regimes, conducting group fitness classes, and providing personalized training sessions while also highlighting any relevant certifications or educational qualifications. Be sure to emphasize your proficiency with fitness technology, such as heart rate monitors, fitness trackers, and various exercise software platforms. Furthermore, you should highlight soft skills like empathy, communication, and the ability to motivate individuals towards healthier lifestyles. Always remember that your resume should reflect your unique array of skills and experiences, setting you apart from other candidates.

Education Quality Assurance Manager Resume Example

An Education Quality Assurance Manager in your company oversees the standards and procedures to ensure educational programs meet regulatory and company criteria. When crafting your resume, ensure it lists key responsibilities such as curriculum evaluation, compliance audits, and staff training coordination. Highlight hard skills including data analysis, knowledge of accreditation processes, and proficiency in software like LMS (Learning Management Systems). Don’t forget to include soft skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and effective communication, as these are vital for leading diverse educational initiatives. Remember, an impactful education resume should clearly demonstrate your ability to enhance educational standards and drive continuous improvement.

Education Program Manager Resume Example

Education Program Managers in a company are trusted with creating and managing educational initiatives to develop skills and enhance knowledge across teams. Your resume should list your experience in drafting educational materials, conducting training sessions, and assessing program success. Make sure to highlight any familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS), content creation software, and data analytics tools. Adding strong communication skills, adaptability, and the ability to inspire others will make your resume stand out. Always remember that your resume should clearly demonstrate your impact on education in previous roles.

Education Systems Analyst Resume Example

Education Systems Analysts in a company are responsible for designing and maintaining educational technologies and programs that support learning and development. Their resumes should feature roles like analyzing training needs, developing software solutions, and enhancing curriculum through technology integration. You should highlight your skills in data analytics, programming languages like Python, and familiarity with Learning Management Systems (LMS). Equally important, include strong communication skills, teamwork, and the ability to provide clear instructions. Always remember: an Education resume needs to clearly demonstrate your impact on student outcomes and learning efficiency.

Education Training Manager Resume Example

An Education Training Manager is responsible for developing and implementing training programs that help employees improve their skills and achieve organizational goals. On your resume, make sure to include responsibilities like designing instructional materials, coordinating workshops, and analyzing training needs. Highlight your proficiency with hard skills such as Learning Management Systems (LMS), e-learning platforms, and data analysis software. Don’t forget to show your ability in soft skills like communication, leadership, and the knack for motivating teams. Remember, an effective education resume should clearly reflect your impact and improvements in employee performance metrics.

Health Education Specialist Resume Example

Health Education Specialists play a critical role in your company by designing and implementing programs that promote health and wellness among employees. On your resume, make sure you list responsibilities such as developing educational materials, coordinating health fairs, and conducting workplace health assessments. You should highlight hard skills like data analysis, public speaking, and utilization of software such as Microsoft Office Suite and specialized health education platforms. Don't forget to add soft skills like empathy, communication, and cultural competence, as well as your ability to collaborate with diverse teams. Always remember that your resume should clearly demonstrate your impact through specific accomplishments and quantifiable results.

Education Policy Analyst Resume Example

An Education Policy Analyst in a company is responsible for assessing and shaping educational programs and policies to ensure they align with the firm's objectives and standards. Your resume should list responsibilities including data analysis, policy development, program evaluation, and often stakeholder engagement. Highlight technical skills like proficiency in data analysis software, familiarity with statistical methods, and knowledge of education-related regulations. Be sure to add soft skills like strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities, as they are crucial for this role. Remember, the key to a strong education-focused resume is to clearly demonstrate how your skills and experiences bring real value to the company's educational goals.

Education Specialist Resume Example

In a company, Education Specialists are responsible for creating, implementing, and maintaining effective training programs for employees. When crafting your resume, emphasize your experience in developing curriculum, conducting workshops, and analyzing training effectiveness. You should highlight your proficiency with e-learning platforms, instructional design software, and learning management systems like Moodle or Blackboard. Soft skills to highlight include strong communication abilities, team collaboration, and problem-solving acumen. Remember to showcase measurable outcomes and success stories to demonstrate your impactful contributions.

Education Outreach Coordinator Resume Example

Handling community engagement and forging educational partnerships are some of the key tasks for someone in an education outreach coordinator role. On your resume, it's important to list duties like organizing events, developing curriculum, and overseeing educational programs. Make sure to highlight hard skills like proficiency in educational software, data analysis, and project management technologies. People and communication skills such as teamwork, empathy, and public speaking should not be overlooked. Always remember your resume should convey your passion for education and your ability to connect with diverse audiences effectively.

Special Education Teacher Resume Example

Special education teachers in a company are essential for developing and implementing programs that support employees with diverse learning needs. When crafting your resume, make sure to highlight your experience in designing individualized education plans, your ability to conduct assessments, and your skill in collaborating with a multidisciplinary team. Your technical expertise should include proficiency with educational software, adaptive technologies, and data analysis tools. On the softer side, your interpersonal skills like empathy, patience, and strong communication should stand out. Above all, remember that an education resume should clearly demonstrate how your unique skills and experiences will benefit the organization.

Education Support Specialist Resume Example

Education Support Specialists in your company are responsible for facilitating effective learning environments and assisting with the implementation of educational programs. Make sure your resume lists responsibilities like providing administrative support, coordinating with educational departments, and offering technical assistance to both staff and students. Highlight hard skills such as proficiency in educational software, data analysis tools, and familiarity with learning management systems. Don’t forget to showcase your communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and your knack for teamwork, as these are equally important. Remember, your resume should clearly reflect your ability to enhance the educational experience for everyone involved.

Education Administrator Resume Example

Education Administrators in a company are tasked with overseeing staff training programs, curriculum development, and compliance with educational standards. When crafting your resume, include responsibilities like staff coordination, program development, policy formulation, and budget management. Highlight hard skills such as proficiency in Learning Management Systems (LMS), data analysis tools, and familiarity with educational software. It's equally important to showcase soft skills such as leadership, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Always remember, your resume should clearly reflect your unique experiences and achievements in the field of education.

Education Consultant Resume Example

As an Education Consultant in a company, you'll be tackling tasks that involve creating training programs, assessing educational needs, and implementing learning strategies. Your resume should showcase responsibilities like curriculum development, employee training, and performance analysis among many other roles. Highlighting hard skills is important, so be sure to mention your proficiency in Learning Management Systems, instructional design software, and data analysis tools. Don’t forget to emphasize your soft skills too; communication, empathy, and problem-solving abilities are crucial when working with diverse teams. Always keep in mind that education resumes need to demonstrate both the breadth and depth of your expertise to set you apart.

Adult Education Instructor Resume Example

Adult Education Instructors in a company guide employees through training programs to enhance their skills and knowledge. Your resume should highlight responsibilities like curriculum development, workshop facilitation, and performance assessments. Make sure to showcase your expertise in teaching technologies such as Learning Management Systems (LMS) and proficiency in software like Microsoft Office or Adobe Suite. Additionally, display strong interpersonal skills, such as communication and empathy, which help in engaging and understanding students' needs. Always remember to keep your education section clear and well-organized, aligning with your career objectives.

Continuing Education Coordinator Resume Example

Continuing Education Coordinators manage professional development and training programs for employees in a company. In your resume, list responsibilities such as planning educational events, overseeing certifications, and coordinating with external training providers. Highlight key technical skills like proficiency in Learning Management Systems (LMS) and instructional design software. Soft skills to showcase include strong communication, the ability to motivate others, and adeptness at problem-solving. Remember, the most spellbinding resumes always reflect your passion for helping others grow through learning.

Higher Education Administrator Resume Example

Higher Education Administrators in a company oversee academic programs, admissions, and faculty matters, ensuring the institution runs smoothly and effectively. Your resume should include key responsibilities like strategic planning, budget management, and staff supervision among others. Highlight specific hard skills and technologies such as data analysis, CRM software, and learning management systems that you can efficiently utilize. Additionally, soft skills like leadership, communication, and the ability to work in a team should be prominently showcased. Always remember that your Education resume should clearly demonstrate your accomplishments and the direct impact you’ve had in previous roles.

Early Childhood Education Director Resume Example

As an Early Childhood Education Director in your company, you would be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the early learning programs, including curriculum development, staff management, and ensuring compliance with state regulations. Your resume should highlight responsibilities such as managing budgets, hiring and training staff, and implementing educational programs. You need to spotlight hard skills like proficiency in curriculum software, data analysis tools, and classroom technology. Don't forget to include soft skills such as excellent communication, leadership abilities, and team collaboration. Remember to keep your education resume focused and concise, highlighting the most relevant experience and achievements.

Looking for more specific tips? Check all related jobs’ resume guides here:

• Education Administrator resume
• Education Coordinator resume
• Education Consultant resume
• Special Education Teacher resume
• Education Program Manager resume
• Education Specialist resume
• Education Director resume
• Education Officer resume
• Education Assistant resume
• Education Advisor resume
• Education Analyst resume
• Education Resource Coordinator resume
• Education Support Specialist resume
• Education Training Manager resume
• Education Policy Analyst resume
• Early Childhood Education Director resume
• Physical Education Instructor resume
• Education Research Assistant resume
• Education Systems Analyst resume
• Continuing Education Coordinator resume
• Education Outreach Coordinator resume
• Education Services Director resume
• Education Quality Assurance Manager resume
• Higher Education Administrator resume
• Health Education Specialist resume
• Adult Education Instructor resume

The most important tips for Education resumes:

Creating a standout education resume requires more than just listing your teaching experiences. Recruiters look for specific qualities that demonstrate your capability and passion for the field.

highlight quantifiable achievements: Rather than simply listing your past roles, provide concrete examples of your successes. Mention the improvement in student test scores, the number of students you mentored, or any awards your class received. These numbers catch the eye and showcase your effectiveness.

cater your resume to the job: Tailor each resume to the specific position you're applying for by emphasizing experiences and skills that directly relate to the job. If you're applying for a high school position, highlight your experience with that age group or subject matter. Using keywords from the job listing can also help your resume pass through applicant tracking systems.

showcase professional development: Include any additional training, certifications, or workshops you've attended. This will show recruiters that you are committed to ongoing development in your field. Highlighting these can also set you apart from other candidates who may not have gone the extra mile.

detail your classroom management strategies: Employers want to know that you can maintain a productive learning environment. Describe specific techniques or policies you’ve implemented that resulted in improved classroom behavior or increased engagement. This details your proactive approach to creating a positive educational setting.

emphasize technology integration: Mention how you use technology to enhance learning in your classroom. Describe any innovative tools or software you’ve implemented to make lessons more interactive. This is crucial as tech-savvy educators are in high demand.

use a clean and professional format: Format your resume in a clear, organized way for easy readability. Use bullet points, consistent fonts, and headers to structure your information. Keep it concise and no longer than two pages to maintain the recruiter's attention.

Must-Have Sections on a Education Resume:

If you're putting together a resume for a career in education, pinpointing the vital sections is crucial to crafting a compelling narrative.

• Contact information: List your name, phone number, email, and physical address at the top of your resume. This section ensures that potential employers have quick access to your contact details. Clear and easy-to-spot contact information is fundamental.
• Objective statement: Craft a brief one to two sentence statement that underscores your career goals. This section helps show hiring managers your focus and what you aim to contribute. It sets the tone for the rest of your resume.
• Education: Detail your educational background starting from the most recent degree. Be sure to include the name of the institution, the degree earned, and graduation dates. This section validates your qualifications and showcases your academic journey.
• Experience: Clearly outline your teaching experience, mentioning your roles, schools, and responsibilities. Use bullet points to list key achievements and contributions. Demonstrating your hands-on experience in real-world settings underlines your competency.
• Skills: Highlight specific skills relevant to education like curriculum development, classroom management, or technology proficiency. This showcases your ability to handle various requirements of a teaching role. Your skills give employers insight into your capabilities beyond basic job functions.

Alongside the primary sections, additional sections can add depth and context to your resume.

• Certifications: List any professional certifications you have that are relevant to your teaching career. Include details like the name of the certification and the institution that awarded it. Certifications demonstrate your commitment and specialization in specific educational areas.
• Professional affiliations: Mention your memberships in educational organizations or clubs. This section shows your engagement with the professional community and your commitment to staying updated in your field. Affiliations can often lead to networking opportunities and further career development.
• Volunteer experience: Include any unpaid work you've done that relates to teaching or education. Describe your role and the impact of your work. Volunteer experience can highlight your dedication and passion for education beyond your paid positions.

How to Write Your Education Resume Experience Section

Writing about your job experience on an education resume can be straightforward but impactful. It's important to highlight specific responsibilities and achievements that showcase your skills. By focusing on quantifiable results and tailoring each section to the job description, you can stand out to hiring managers. Let's explore practical steps for illustrating your job experience effectively.

• Highlight relevant experience first by listing the most recent jobs and responsibilities that align closely with the position you are applying for.
• Use action verbs to describe your responsibilities and achievements. Words like "implemented," "coordinated," and "developed" can make your duties sound more dynamic.
• Provide quantifiable results for your accomplishments, such as "increased student engagement by 20% through innovative teaching methods."
• Include specific projects or programs you have developed or improved, which can demonstrate your ability to initiate and lead educational initiatives.
• Showcase any training or mentoring experience by describing how you have supported the professional growth of colleagues or students.
• Detail your involvement in curriculum development or educational planning, highlighting how your contributions have positively impacted the learning environment.
• Mention any technology you have integrated into your teaching, which can signal your adaptability and readiness for modern educational requirements.
• Emphasize your collaborative efforts with other educators and staff by providing examples of successful teamwork and interdisciplinary projects.
• Discuss any extra-curricular activities you have facilitated, such as clubs, sports, or arts programs, to show your well-rounded contribution to the school community.
• Highlight any awards or recognitions you have received, which can help validate your skills and dedication to the field of education.

Next, we'll illustrate how to quantify your experience, identify key responsibilities HR managers look for, and align your resume with job descriptions. If you’re aiming for an entry-level or internship position, we’ll guide you on how to compensate for limited experience in your resume effectively.

Examples of How To Quantify Your Experience

• Implemented a new reading program that increased student literacy rates by 20% over the course of a school year.
• Developed a differentiated instruction plan that improved student engagement and reduced behavior incidents by 30%.
• Coordinated with local businesses to facilitate internships, resulting in a 25% increase in post-graduation employment rates.
• Led a school initiative that integrated technology into the classroom, raising student test scores by 15% in one academic year.
• Designed instructional materials that led to a 10% improvement in standardized math test scores among middle school students.
• Trained and mentored 50+ teachers on effective classroom management techniques, reducing disciplinary referrals by 40%.
• Organized after-school tutoring sessions, which resulted in a 12% improvement in homework completion rates.
• Facilitated professional development workshops for 75 educators, enhancing teaching skills and boosting overall student performance by 18%.
• Oversaw the implementation of a new curriculum that saw a 22% increase in student comprehension and retention rates.
• Conducted data analysis on student performance, leading to targeted interventions that reduced the achievement gap by 15%.
• Secured $100,000 in grant funding for STEM programs, benefiting over 300 students and enhancing their learning experiences.
• Implemented peer mentoring programs that resulted in a 10% decrease in dropout rates among high school students.
• Introduced interactive educational software, culminating in a 17% improvement in student engagement and participation.
• Developed and assessed individualized education plans (IEPs) for 100 special education students, achieving a 95% parent satisfaction rate.
• Led a cross-curricular project that involved 200 students, enhancing skills in both science and language arts and leading to a 12% improvement in interdisciplinary understanding.

Job Description Bullet Points on Education Resumes:

• Developing and implementing curriculum plans that align with educational standards and incorporate diverse learning strategies to meet the needs of all students.
• Creating a positive and inclusive classroom environment that promotes student engagement, respect, and a sense of community.
• Designing and conducting assessments and evaluations to measure student progress and adjust instructional methods as needed.
• Collaborating with other educators, parents, and support staff to identify and address individual student needs, including those with special education requirements.
• Utilizing a variety of teaching techniques and instructional materials to enhance learning experiences and foster critical thinking skills.
• Maintaining accurate records of student attendance, grades, and other essential information in compliance with school policies and regulations.
• Participating in professional development opportunities to stay current with educational trends, technologies, and best practices.
• Leading extracurricular activities, such as clubs, sports, or special interest groups, to support student development outside the classroom.
• Communicating effectively with parents and guardians through regular updates, conferences, and other forms of correspondence to discuss student progress and address concerns.
• Implementing classroom management techniques to create a safe and orderly learning environment that minimizes disruptions and maximizes instructional time.
• Incorporating technology into lesson plans to enhance learning experiences and prepare students for digital literacy.
• Mentoring and supporting student teachers or new instructors by providing guidance, feedback, and professional development resources.
• Organizing and participating in school events, such as open houses, school plays, or field trips, to build strong relationships within the school community.
• Preparing and submitting reports, summaries, and documentation as required by school administration and educational authorities.
• Adapting teaching styles and methods to accommodate diverse cultural backgrounds and learning abilities, ensuring all students have equitable opportunities to succeed.

How to Tailor Your Education Resume To the Job Description:

• Highlight specific teaching or educational skills that match the keywords in the job description to catch the hiring manager's eye. Use the same wording you find in the job posting to make your resume stand out. Describe how you've applied these skills in your previous roles with tangible outcomes.
• Showcase relevant experiences that align with the duties mentioned in the job description, indicating your hands-on experience. Prioritize tasks and accomplishments that directly relate to the job you're applying for. It builds a case for your competence and suitability for the role.
• Include any specific educational programs or certifications mentioned in the job ad within your experience section. Highlight how these qualifications have been applied practically in your previous roles. This helps in demonstrating that you meet the required standards.
• Describe your teaching style or methodologies if they match those sought by the employer, which can be found in the job description. Share anecdotes or examples of how these methods have been effective. This conveys your direct alignment with their needs.
• Mention any collaborative projects or teamwork scenarios that reflect the collaborative skills required by the role. Elaborate on how working with others has led to successful outcomes in the past. Teamwork experiences are often highly valued in educational environments.
• Outline your successes with metrics or specific results that match the success indicators mentioned by the employer. Share stories that show measurable achievements like improving student performance or curriculum development. Quantifiable accomplishments catch attention and show proof of capability.

How to Write Your Resume Summary/Objective Section

The summary section in a resume is a concise piece that highlights your expertise, achievements, and what you bring to a role. It’s especially valuable for seasoned professionals who want to convey their value quickly. Summaries allow you to showcase years of experience and specialized skills. In a field like Education, a summary can highlight your teaching philosophies, certifications, and previous roles.

On the other hand, an objective is more suitable for those just starting out or shifting career paths. It's a statement of your professional goals and how they align with the position you're applying for. For professionals in Education, if you’re newer to the field, you should use an objective to outline your aspirations and relevant qualifications. If you have years of experience, go for a summary to highlight your specific skills and accomplishments.

• Start with a clear and concise statement that describes your career goals and aligns with the role you're applying for. Ensure it reflects your passion for education and your desire to contribute to the educational institution.
• Include any relevant certifications or training programs that you have completed. These can set you apart from other candidates and demonstrate your commitment to professional development in education.
• Mention any prior experience working with students or in educational settings, even if it was informal or volunteer work. This helps in showing your proactive involvement in the field.
• Emphasize your educational background, including degrees and any honors or distinctions. Highlight coursework or research that is particularly relevant to the job you’re seeking.
• Write about your soft skills, like communication, patience, and empathy, which are crucial for educators. Provide a brief example or mention how these skills have benefited your previous roles or experiences.
• Specify what you bring to the table in terms of innovation or unique approaches to teaching. This can be anything from new teaching methods to integrating technology into your classroom.

Now let's look at some examples of how to craft an effective summary or objective for an education resume.

Resume’s personal statement examples:

• Completed a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a 3.8 GPA from University XYZ, focusing on critical analysis, creative writing, and literary theory. Actively participated in literary clubs and contributed to various literary journals.
• Recent graduate with a Master’s degree in Education, specializing in Curriculum Development. Conducted a research project on the efficacy of blended learning models, and presented findings at the National Education Conference.
• Earned a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from University ABC. Skills in field research, data analysis, and environmental policy. Volunteered with local sustainability programs and contributed to conservation projects.
• Graduated cum laude with a degree in Business Administration, emphasizing Marketing. Completed multiple internships, including a semester-long stint at Marketing Solutions Inc., where I managed social media campaigns and performed market analysis.
• Obtained a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a strong foundation in software development, algorithms, and systems design. Completed capstone project on machine learning for predictive analytics, receiving departmental honors.
• Finished an Associate's degree in Graphic Design with hands-on experience in Adobe Creative Suite, UX design, and branding. Completed an internship at Creative Designs LLC, assisting with client projects and marketing materials.

Top Resume Skills for Education

In education, developing a diverse set of skills is pivotal for fostering effective learning environments. Exceptional communication capabilities are crucial for engaging with students, parents, and colleagues. Expertise in lesson planning and curriculum development will significantly enhance your teaching methodologies. Additionally, being adaptable and continuing your professional development can lead to better student outcomes and personal growth.

Practical tips for your resume’s skills section

• Highlight your ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders without any ambiguity. Include specific examples where you facilitated open communication or resolved misunderstandings. This would demonstrate your competence in maintaining a positive educational environment.
• Specify your proficiency in curriculum design, showcasing how you’ve tailored lessons to meet diverse student needs. Adding any innovative strategies you implemented to enrich the learning experience can make your resume stand out. Remember to quantify results when possible to add more credibility.
• Emphasize your technical skills, particularly in using educational technology and online learning platforms. Mention any software or tools you are adept at and how they have enhanced your teaching practice. Detailing certifications or specialized training reinforces your commitment to integrating technology.
• Mention your classroom management skills, particularly how you maintain a conducive learning atmosphere. Describe techniques you've used to handle disruptions or motivate students. Real-life examples provide solid evidence of your expertise in this area.
• Detail your ability to conduct assessments and use data to guide instruction. Illustrate how you analyze performance data to identify areas needing improvement. Sharing specific outcomes, such as increased test scores, shows the practical impact of your skills.
• Showcase your collaborative skills by describing experiences working with colleagues for team-teaching or project coordination. Highlight your role in collaborative efforts that led to significant educational projects or programs. This demonstrates your ability to work well within a team setting.

In the next sections, we will provide a comprehensive list of skills tailored for education professionals. These skills will give you an idea of what to include in your resume to make it shine.

Top Hard Skills for Education Resumes

• Curriculum Development
• Instructional Design
• Classroom Management
• Lesson Planning
• Assessment Strategies
• Instructional Technology
• Data Analysis
• Educational Software
• Multimedia Production
• Standardized Testing
• Literacy Programs
• E-learning Platforms
• Subject Matter Expertise
• Special Education
• Distance Learning

Top Soft Skills for Education Resumes

• Communication
• Collaboration
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Organization
• Conflict Resolution
• Time Management
• Critical Thinking
• Flexibility
• Positive Attitude

Include a Education Cover Letter for a Stand-Out Application

Cover Letter Writing Tips for Education Applicants

Writing an exceptional cover letter can significantly boost your chances of securing an educational position. It's more than a document; it's your first impression and a way to showcase how well you fit the role. This piece of writing helps to highlight your qualifications and dedication to shaping young minds, making your application stand out. Education employers often look at the cover letter as a reflection of your passion and teaching philosophy.

• Start with a strong opening statement that grabs attention right away and makes the reader want to keep reading. Mention the specific job you are applying for, showing that you have a genuine interest in it. Use emotionally compelling language to convey your enthusiasm.
• Highlight your teaching philosophy early in the letter because it gives the employer a peek into your teaching approach. Explain how your values align with the school or institution's mission. This connection can create a strong positive impact.
• Provide examples of your past teaching experiences that correlate directly with the responsibilities listed in the job posting. This demonstrates that you have hands-on experience handling the type of tasks expected in the new role. Use metrics if possible to show tangible results.
• Showcase your adaptability by discussing different teaching methods you have successfully implemented. This could be traditional classroom settings, online courses, or experiential learning. Mention any specific tools or technologies you are proficient in using.
• Make sure to include your relevant qualifications, such as degrees and certifications. Specify any additional training that makes you particularly well-suited for the role. The more relevant details you provide, the stronger your application will appear.
• Discuss your soft skills, such as communication and teamwork, as these are vital in an educational setting. Provide real-life examples of how you've used these skills effectively. Mention instances where you have collaborated with other teachers or parents.
• Personalize the letter by mentioning something specific about the institution, like recent achievements or programs you admire. This shows that you have done your homework and are sincerely interested in joining their team. Such details can make your application memorable.
• Keep your writing professional but let your personality shine through. The tone should reflect warmth and approachability, qualities that are important in education. Avoid jargon and overly complex sentences to maintain clarity.
• Include a section where you talk about your continuous commitment to professional development. Mention any workshops, seminars, or courses you have attended to improve your teaching skills. This shows that you are committed to lifelong learning.
• End with a strong closing statement, expressing your excitement about the possibility of joining their team. Offer to discuss your application further in an interview. Always thank them for considering your application, leaving a positive final impression.

Now, let's explore how to make sure your cover letter compliments your resume perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should my education resume be one page or longer.

Your Education resume is best kept to one page if you have less than 10 years of experience or are just starting out in your career. This approach lets you succinctly present your qualifications without overwhelming the reader. For those with extensive experience, a two-page resume is acceptable, allowing you to include more detailed descriptions of your career history, contributions, and achievements. Focus on clarity and relevance, ensuring every sentence adds value to your application.

What is the best format for an Education resume?

The reverse-chronological format is often the most effective for an Education resume. This layout emphasizes your most recent experience first, showcasing a coherent career progression that can be easily followed by hiring managers. Especially for roles such as a teacher or academic advisor, this format allows employers to quickly see your most recent role and understand how your experiences build on one another. It also helps highlight continuous growth and increasing responsibilities in the education field.

What should I highlight on my Education resume to stand out?

Focus on your achievements and the impact you've made in previous roles rather than just listing your duties. Highlight specific accomplishments such as improved student test scores, successful curriculum development, or initiatives you led that enhanced the learning environment. Additionally, showcase any specialized training or certifications that are relevant to the job you're applying for. Emphasizing your ability to engage with students, collaborate with colleagues, and adapt to different educational settings will make your resume more compelling.

What are some action verbs I should use on my Education resume?

Using strong action verbs can bring your resume to life and clearly communicate your contributions. Verbs such as 'developed,' 'implemented,' 'coordinated,' and 'facilitated' can illustrate your active role in educational settings. Words like 'designed,' 'evaluated,' 'mentored,' and 'led' help demonstrate your leadership and problem-solving skills. These action verbs ensure that your resume describes your responsibilities and achievements in a dynamic and impactful way, helping you stand out to potential employers.

For more inspiration, why not check out our free resource of job-focused resume examples?

Loan Processor

Loan Processors are the lifeline of the financial industry, ensuring that dreams of home ownership and business expansions come true. They are the guardians of financial accuracy, making sure that every application is complete and every number is correct. Your attention to detail and accuracy determine the success of those who are seeking loans. You must possess strong analytical skills, unparalleled organizational abilities, and excellent communication to thrive in this role. Employers will value you for your ability to manage multiple applications simultaneously and maintain thorough documentation. Your Loan Processor resume should highlight these skills and your dedication to precision.

Computer Engineer

When it comes to creating a resume for a computer engineer position in 2024, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, the length of your resume should ideally be kept to one or two pages. Recruiters and hiring managers typically spend only a few seconds scanning each resume, so it's crucial to present your information concisely. Additionally, a clean and professional design is essential. Steer clear of flashy graphics or excessive colors that can distract from the content. Stick to a simple and organized format that is easy to read and navigate. Another important aspect of formatting your computer engineer resume is the use of HTML tags and formatting options. Utilize headings and subheadings to clearly divide and categorize your information. This will help the reader quickly identify relevant sections and find the information they are looking for. Use ordered bullet points for listing your skills and experiences in a structured manner. Additionally, use unordered bullet points to highlight key achievements or notable projects. Key points: Keep your resume to one or two pages Use a clean and professional design Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points for clarity When crafting your computer engineer resume, there are several sections that are considered essential by employers. These include: Objective: Start your resume with a concise statement that highlights your career goals and sets the tone for the rest of your document. Education: Include your educational background, including degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework. Experience: Detail your work experience in reverse chronological order, highlighting your most recent roles first. Use the Context-Action-Result (CAR) framework to effectively showcase your accomplishments and impact in each role. Skills: List your technical skills, programming languages, software proficiency, and any other relevant abilities. Projects: If you have worked on notable projects or have personal coding projects, include them in a separate section to demonstrate your practical skills and experience. Awards and Honors: If you have received any accolades or recognition for your work, mention them to further emphasize your expertise and dedication. While the above sections are essential, there are optional sections that can also enhance your resume. These include certifications, professional affiliations, publications, and volunteer experience. Ensure that you prioritize the sections most relevant to the specific computer engineer role you are applying for. One of the most effective ways to showcase your experience on a computer engineer resume is by using the Context-Action-Result (CAR) framework. This framework allows you to succinctly describe the situation, the actions you took, and the results you achieved in each of your previous roles or projects. Here are a few examples of bullet points using the CAR framework for a computer engineer: Context: Developed a new algorithm to optimize system performance. Action: Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to analyze requirements and design the algorithm. Result: Reduced system response time by 30% and improved overall efficiency. Context: Implemented a security protocol to enhance data protection. Action: Conducted vulnerability assessments and identified potential loopholes. Result: Strengthened data security measures, resulting in zero security breaches within a year. Context: Led a team in developing a scalable network infrastructure. Action: Designed and implemented network architecture to support growing demands. Result: Increased network capacity by 50% and improved system reliability. When creating a computer engineer resume in 2024, remember the following key takeaways: Maintain a concise and professional resume format, ideally keeping it to one or two pages. Utilize HTML tags and formatting options to organize your information effectively. Include essential sections such as objective, education, experience, skills, and projects. Focus on the CAR framework when describing your experience, highlighting the context, actions, and results of your work. Consider including optional sections that can enhance your resume, such as certifications, affiliations, publications, and volunteer experience. By following these guidelines, you'll be able to create a compelling computer engineer resume that stands out to hiring managers and increases your chances of landing your dream job in 2024.

HR Coordinator

When it comes to creating a resume for an HR Coordinator position in 2024, there are a few important factors to keep in mind. In this article, we will discuss how to format your resume, what sections to include, and the best way to showcase your experience using the Context-Action-Result framework. Let's dive in! How to Format Your Resume Formatting your resume properly is crucial to make a good impression on recruiters. Here are a few things to be aware of: Length: Keep your HR Coordinator resume concise and to the point. Aim for a one-page resume, unless you have extensive experience or are applying for a senior-level position. Design: Choose a clean and professional design that is easy to read. Avoid using excessive colors or fonts that could distract the reader. Format: Use a chronological format to highlight your work experience, starting with your most recent role. Include clear headings and bullet points to make your resume visually appealing and easy to navigate. Sections to Include in Your Resume While there are some essential sections for an HR Coordinator resume, there are also optional sections that can enhance your chances of landing an interview. Here's what you should consider including: Contact Information: Include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile URL. Make sure to use a professional email address and update your LinkedIn profile to align with your resume. Summary/Objective Statement: A brief summary or objective statement can provide an overview of your skills and goals as an HR Coordinator. Tailor this section to the specific job you're applying for. Work Experience: This section should showcase your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order. Use the Context-Action-Result framework to describe your accomplishments and responsibilities (more on this later). Skills: Highlight your HR-related skills such as recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, and HRIS systems. Include both hard and soft skills to provide a well-rounded picture of your capabilities. Education: List your educational background, including degrees, certifications, and any relevant coursework. Optional Sections: Depending on your experience, you may want to include sections such as Professional Development, Awards, or Volunteer Experience to further demonstrate your qualifications. Writing Experience Using the Context-Action-Result Framework The Context-Action-Result (CAR) framework is an effective way to showcase your experience in a concise yet impactful manner. Here are a few bullet point examples of how to use this framework for an HR Coordinator resume: Context: Developed a new employee onboarding program to improve the integration process. Action: Created a comprehensive onboarding manual, conducted training sessions, and implemented an online platform for easy access to resources. Result: Reduced employee onboarding time by 30% and improved new employee satisfaction and retention rates. Context: Streamlined the recruitment process by implementing an applicant tracking system. Action: Collaborated with the IT department to select and implement a suitable applicant tracking system, trained hiring managers on system usage, and established standardized recruitment workflows. Result: Decreased time-to-fill positions by 20% and improved overall recruitment efficiency and candidate experience. Key Takeaways As you craft your HR Coordinator resume, keep these key takeaways in mind: Keep your resume concise and easy to read. Choose a clean and professional design. Include essential sections such as contact information, summary/objective statement, work experience, skills, and education. Consider optional sections to further showcase your qualifications. Utilize the Context-Action-Result framework to highlight your achievements and responsibilities. With these guidelines and examples in hand, you're now ready to create a standout HR Coordinator resume that will catch the attention of hiring managers. Good luck!

How to Write First Class Honours on CV: A Guide

If you’ve achieved a first class honours CV, you’ll want to showcase it on your CV. Gaining the highest possible grade for your undergraduate degree is no mean feat, and in a competitive job market it can help set you apart from the average candidate. In this article, we discuss how to write first class honours on your CV, with tips and examples to highlight your educational achievements for maximum impact.

Writing First Class Honours on Your CV

The best way to write your degree on your CV depends on the stage of your career and how important qualifications are to the roles you’re applying for. For junior, entry-level and graduate positions, the outcome of your degree will carry more weight than roles later in your career, after you’ve established a body of relevant work experience. As such, if you have a first class honours degree, you’ll really want to draw attention to it early in your career.

Formatting Your Degree Entry

The key to listing your first class honours degree on your CV is clarity and formatting. Follow a clear, organised structure to the education on your CV so the reader can quickly and easily understand your degree, specialisms and performance. Take a look at the CV examples below for guidance on how to structure your degree listing:

[Degree type], [Degree name], (Degree class), [Institution name], [Graduation date or dates of study]

• [Bullet points highlighting specialist areas of study, awards or societies you were a member of]

BSc (Hons) Business and Management (First Class Honours), University of Kent, Canterbury, September 2019 – July 2022

• Specialised in business accounting and data analysis
• Awarded Linda Davidson Prize for Best Dissertation for my study ‘Harnessing Big Data Analytics for Strategic Decision-Making in Business Management’ 

Using Correct Degree Abbreviations

When writing your degree in your education section, first specify the type of degree using standardised abbreviations. Some of the most common degree abbreviations are: 

• BA for Bachelor of Arts
• BSc for Bachelor of Science
• MA for Master of Arts
• MSc for Master of Science
• MBA for Master of Business Administration
• PhD for Doctor of Philosophy

If your degree was an Honours degree, remember also to include this by adding ‘(Hons)’ beside your degree abbreviation. Honours degrees are typically a higher level of qualification than standard degrees, so it definitely adds value to your applications.

Using the Correct Format for ‘First Class Honours’

For clarity, and to avoid confusion, reference your degree grade in full as ‘First Class Honours’. This makes it stand out to employers reading your CV. If preferred, you could use a hyphen and list your degree as ‘First-Class Honours’.

Other ways to write your degree level include ‘First’ or ‘1st’. You might choose to use these if you’re short on space in your CV, but it’s usually better to write your grade out in full so it grabs the attention of the reader.

Another consideration is whether to include your overall degree score in your CV. Degrees are scored out of 100, with scores of 70 and above earning a first class degree. However, if you scored closer to 100 than 70, you might wish to mention this as it can help to set you apart even further from other strong candidates.

Including Academic Achievements on Your CV

Listing your academic achievements on your CV are one of the best ways you can prove you’re a suitable candidate for the job. Combined with your work experience, skills and career achievements, academic achievements can help showcase the necessary credentials to get you through to the interview stage.

The significance of academic achievements on your CV will depend on various factors. One of these is your career stage. If you’re a recent graduate or you’re applying for a first major role, academic achievements tend to take on more significance. This is because you’ll have limited work experience to prove yourself to employers. Equally, if you’re writing an academic CV for postgraduate studies or a role within a university, your degree is likely to take centre stage.

Another variable in the significance of academic achievements on your CV is the type of role you’re applying for. Some jobs might have a degree grade threshold, such as upper second class honours (2:1) or first class honours (1st). In these circumstances, it’s essential to add your degree grade to your application.

In addition, there are plenty of professions that require a specific type of degree or professional qualification to be eligible for the role. In these cases, your CV education section takes on greater importance. Whether the requirement is for a degree in a certain subject, or a professional qualification such as a Legal Practice Course or, for accountancy, the ACA, make sure you draw attention to these on your CV.

Using Academic Achievements to Your Advantage

Whether your academic achievements include a first class honours degree, an award or some other indicator of high achievement, such as a scholarship or fellowship, it can be powerful to include them on your CV. First class degrees indicate a level of dedication, intelligence and mastery of your subject area, as well as showing employers that you have a strong work ethic.

You can use other types of academic achievement to create a point of difference between yourself and other candidates. This could be particularly strong grades in certain subjects or modules of your degree, or winning awards for dissertations or other projects. Whether you received a first class degree or excelled in some other area of your studies, it’s important to make the most of it in your CV.

Other Places to Reference Your Degree on Your CV

While the most common and obvious place to mention your first class degree on your CV is the education section, this needn’t be the only place you mention it. If your degree is of particular importance to the job you’re applying for, you may reference it in your CV summary. You could even reference your degree in your cover letter . Just choose a cover letter template that gives you the chance to add details about your degree and other achievements.

Special Cases for Listing Your Degree on Your CV

There are certain special cases where you might need to treat the listing of your degree differently on your CV. If you’re still studying and you’re applying for jobs, your university student CV will either need to include a provisional grade, or simply state that your degree is ‘ongoing’. Nevertheless, it’s still worth mentioning the degree you’re studying towards. If you’re a student applying for further studies, your college student cover letter and personal statement are the ideal place to mention your degree, in addition to your CV.

Another special case for listing your first class degree is if the role requires foreign language skills , and your degree is in the required foreign language. In this case, you could mention your languages degree as early as your CV header, among your personal information. Alternatively, you could mention it in the additional information section, under languages.

If you studied towards a degree but never completed it, you may still wish to mention the studies you undertook, if they’re particularly relevant to the job. Mentioning an incomplete degree can help you avoid gaps in your CV. In this case, list your degree in the same way as you would a complete course, but instead of listing your grade, add ‘(incomplete)’. In the bullet points underneath this entry, or in your cover letter, you could reference your reasons for not completing the course, along with any relevant modules you completed.

Expert Tip:

Mentioning your first class honours degree can help you to gain an advantage with your applications. As well as listing your grades, include modules and specialist subjects that you excelled in during your studies, so employers can gain a strong understanding of your academic skills and achievements.

Common Mistakes To Avoid with Adding Your Degree to Your CV

Avoid making these common mistakes to ensure your degree makes the best possible impact on your CV:

• Over-emphasising your degree: a first class honours degree is a major achievement, but on its own it probably won’t be enough to get you the job. Make sure you dedicate enough attention to other valuable experience and skills.
• Using overly complex degree abbreviations: if your degree has an unusual abbreviation, it might be best to leave it out to avoid confusing the reader.
• Using inconsistent formatting: make sure the presentation and formatting of your education section is consistent. Capitalise ‘First Class Honours’ and other degree grades and use bullet points to add detail about your studies.

"Combined with your work experience, skills and career achievements, academic achievements can help showcase the necessary credentials to get you through to the interview stage."

Key Takeaways for Adding First Class Honours to Your CV

Understanding how to list your first class honours degree on your CV can help you to effectively communicate your academic achievement to employers. This can make the difference for various jobs, especially when the field of applicants is particularly competitive. Jobseeker offers CV templates that showcase your skills, experience and qualifications with clean, professional designs. Sign up today to access a wealth of tools and CV articles . You can also find cover letter articles to help you draft this important part of your applications.

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Creating a professional curriculum vitae (CV) can be a challenging task, as you need to understand the basics of CV writing format to highlight your skills and experiences. Whether you are applying for a new job , seeking academic or placement opportunities, or looking to switch careers and explore new job options , learning how to create a curriculum vitae is extremely important to find the job you dream of.

A good CV brings more value and strengths to your profile. Therefore, in this blog, we will look at understanding what a CV is, what should you include in your CV, different types of CV formats, and some tips for writing an effective CV for your next job application.

Let’s get started!

When creating a CV, it’s essential to include specific sections to provide a well-rounded picture of your qualifications. Here’s what you should include:

Contact Information: Include your full name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile.

Professional Summary: A brief introduction highlighting your key skills, experience, and career goals. Tailor this section to the job or field you’re targeting.

Education: List your education history starting with the most recent. Include the name of the institution, the degree you earned, and when you graduated.

Work Experience: Detail your work history, starting with the most recent position. Include job titles, company names, locations, and dates of employment. Describe your responsibilities, tasks, day-to-day activities, and achievements in previous roles. If possible, also include data or numbers to quantify the impact you made.

Skills: Focus on the skills that relate to the job you want. This can include technical skills, interpersonal skills, or knowledge specific to the industry.

Certifications and Training: Include any additional certifications, licenses, or training courses that strengthen your qualifications.

References: Optional but recommended. You can include references or state that they are available upon request.

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Choosing the best CV template depends on your career stage and the job you’re applying for. Here are three common types:

Chronological CV: 

A chronological CV format is a type of CV template that shows your work experience starting with the most recent job first. This is the most commonly used CV format for job applications and is widely accepted. This format is ideal for those with a solid work history and experience, as it highlights your job history and how you’ve advanced in your career.

Functional CV: 

The functional CV format focuses on your skills and achievements instead of your work history. This style is ideal for freshers, professionals looking to switch careers, or those with employment gaps, or someone wanting to showcase specific skills.

Combination CV: 

As the name suggests, this is a professional curriculum vitae that combines both chronological and functional CV formats. It begins with a summary of skills and achievements and then presents a timeline of work experience. This CV layout is good for highlighting skills while also providing a clear insight into your career timeline. This template could be great for freshers as well as experienced professionals.

Read More: How to Negotiate Salary With HR Confidently With Sample Answers

Tailor Your CV:  Customizing your CV according to the job requirements can make it more effective. Look at the job description and highlight skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role. Remember to include keywords, as this maximizes the ATS score of your CV and helps impress your recruiters.

Keep It Clear and Concise:  Use bullet points and clear headings to make your CV easy to read. Avoid long paragraphs and ensure the CV layout is clean and professional.

Use Action Verbs: Begin bullet points with powerful action verbs such as “achieved,” “developed,” or “managed” to clearly show your abilities.

Quantify Achievements: Whenever describing your tasks or day-to-day activities from previous experiences, consider including statistics or data to quantify the impact of your achievements. For example, “Increased sales by 20% in six months” provides concrete evidence of your impact.

Proofread Carefully: A perfect CV is free of grammatical or spelling errors; therefore, proofread your CV carefully before sending it to your recruiters.

Include Relevant Keywords:  It’s important to make your CV keyword-focused, as it boosts your ATS score and optimizes your CV to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems.

Keep Your CV Updated: Regularly update your CV with new skills, experiences, and achievements to keep it relevant and up to date.

Creating a well-designed CV that is clear and attractive is important for leaving a lasting impression on your potential employers. By knowing what to include, choosing the best CV format, and using these tips, you can build a professional CV layout that highlights your skills and helps you shine in a tough job market.

Remember, your CV is a reflection of your career journey, so make sure to invest the time to make your CV the best it can be!

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How to Write a Resume Job Description (Examples Included!)

Hiring managers receive anywhere from dozens to even thousands of resumes and job applications daily. That's why a well-crafted resume is crucial to helping you stand out from the competition. And your experience section in particular—where your resume job descriptions live—really needs to shine.

This section highlights your previous experiences—whether in a formal job, internship , volunteer work , or other roles—demonstrating your achievements and capabilities.

To make an impact, you need to strategically tailor your experiences and skills to align with the job you’re applying for, showing recruiters that you’re a perfect fit for the role.

Below, you'll find key tips on how to write job descriptions for resumes and examples to guide you through it.

Get that resume out there! Browse open jobs on The Muse and find your dream job »

Job descriptions for resumes: Why does it matter?

When you apply for jobs , you'll see a description of the role and what the company is looking for. To really stand out, your resume should match those requirements as closely as possible. That’s where the job description section comes in handy. It’s your chance to highlight past experiences and make sure they align with the job you’re aiming for.

Your resume job description should include:

• Company name
• Date of employment
• Responsibilities and achievements

Of course, this section alone won't land you a job—your whole resume should be written to impress the recruiters. However, when you're an experienced professional, even if you're not a senior in your position yet, well-written job descriptions can at least guarantee you some interviews .

How to write a resume job description in 4 steps

The following tips will give you some insights into what this section of your resume should look like—and what hiring managers are looking for in candidates' resumes.

1. Start with a clear heading

If you're not new to resume building, you probably know that each section of the file should have a heading . It should be clear and concise, telling the recruiter exactly what they're going to read next.

Here are some examples:

Work Experience

• Professional Experience

2. Lay out basic info about your role

Next step is filling out the experience section —or whatever you decide to name it—with your professional background. You'll always start with basic information from each job (or internship, volunteer work, and such), like your title, the company name, location, and date of employment.

For example:

Sales associate

Orlando, FL

July 2022-August 2024

You can change the order as you see fit—for instance, putting the company name first and your title second. However, it's important to keep the same formatting throughout the resume, so be sure your choice works well for every experience.

There's no set amount of experiences you should include in your resume. But keep in mind that, ideally, it should only have relevant and recent experience, listed in reverse chronological order (from the most recent to the least recent). Additionally, most recruiters prefer a one- to two-page resume , max.

3. List achievements instead of tasks

Now, it's time to write the actual job descriptions. It's typically ideal to use bullet points and one to two sentences for each. As a standard, most resume templates have three to four bullet points for each experience, but you can use more (or less) as long as the information is relevant and you're not simply trying to fill out the page.

In describing your role, avoid falling into the trap of only listing job responsibilities. Muse career coach Andrea Gerson says that candidates should expand task-focused language into action-driven, accomplishment-oriented information.

For example, instead of writing “Performed X, Y, and Z,” try “Performed X, Y, and Z, which led to [achievements].” “This information showcases your capabilities—which is exactly what employers want to see,” Gerson says.

A commonly used formula to describe accomplishments within your roles is the context-scope-outcome strategy. You start with action verbs , show how you fulfilled each responsibility, and finish with an achievement that resulted from those actions. If possible, present your achievement with a quantifier , meaning metrics or numerical data that illustrates the impact of your work.

If you have a hard time identifying your impactful actions and accomplishments within your job responsibilities, Gerson suggests asking yourself these contextual questions:

• What was the setting I was working in?
• Was it a fast-paced pizzeria? If so, how many customers were served on a daily/weekly basis?
• If it's a smaller company that's not very well-known, what products or services did they provide?
• What was their scope of operations? Local, regional, global?
• Who was their target customer base?

4. Describe the company in the first bullet point

Your resume job description could also benefit from including some relevant context about the companies you previously worked for, such industry, size, or differentiating factors. You can add this info within the first bullet of a position—which is called an introductory bullet.

“These introductory bullets should highlight your most impressive or transferable responsibilities in the context of the company that you were working for,” Gerson says. The following job responsibilities templates show examples of introductory bullets you can adjust for your resume:

• “Contributed to [ achievement, outcome ] on behalf of [ company ]”
• “Managed key aspects of [ project responsibilities ] for [ company ]”
• “Assisted in [ a project ] on for [ company ]”

Here are examples of how these templates would look like filled out:

• “Billed 50 clients on behalf of the company's national and international enterprise clients ”
• “Managed key aspects of product development and management on for the national launching a hair care brand ”
• “Assisted in the development of the rebranding and repositioning of a dating app with 5+ million users for a international tech company ”

Bonus tip: Use keywords from the open job description

These days, most hiring managers use application tracking systems (ATSs) to segment and quickly scan resumes to select the best based on their similarity to the open job description. This similarity is determined by keywords .

Keywords are specific phrases or terms within a job description precisely used to describe or explain responsibilities, skills, abilities, and knowledge the employer is looking for. These terms usually repeat throughout the job listing, signaling their importance for that specific role.

For this reason, you should do your best to incorporate keywords from the open job description on your resume, wherever it accurately reflects your prior work experience. “It not only makes your resume stronger but encourages you to think deeply about what the position is asking for and how your skills match,” says Muse career coach Lauren Wethers .

Review the job description you want to apply for and segment phrases that explain the specific duties or skills required for the role, which could be technical skills or transferable skills. For example:

If the company's job description for an account manager says:

The employee responsibilities are:

• Creating a market specific sales plan that meets set sales goals
• Educate the community on the company's values
• Meeting regularly with sales market's customers to understand their needs
• Identifying local marketing needs to enhance presence and grow sales

You could write your job description like this:

• Created a market specific sales plan to meet company's set sales goals for a skincare brand
• Educated the community on the company's value by meeting regularly with customers to understand their needs
• Enhanced presence and sales by 20% by identifying local marketing needs and implementing a new sales strategy

Be sure to use the exact same language as is used in the open job description, because the ATS machine might not understand synonyms. “The computer doesn't know the difference between ‘coached’ and ‘advised’ on your resume—it's looking for one over the other,” Wethers says.

Resume job description: Examples

Here are some examples of job descriptions for resumes for different roles you can adapt for yourself:

Example #1: Cashier job description for resume

Head Cashier

Star Market

Oct 2021 - Jan 2024

• Streamlined checkout and return transactions on behalf of a multinational chain with 10+ locations in Florida working simultaneously
• Supervised and trained front-end cashiers for two consecutive years, enhancing 15% crew performance in PoS transactions and reducing shrink
• Provided excellent customer service and assistance to customers, processing 155+ transactions per shift while identifying selling opportunities for cross and up-sells
• Balanced cash drawers with a 98% monthly accuracy, handling $119,000 of annual revenue

Example #2: Server job description for resume

Restaurant Server & Crew Member

Blu Trattoria

Jan 2022 - February 2023

• Performed table management on behalf of a family-owned, award-winning Italian restaurant from downtown Denver
• Picked up and delivered patrons' orders from the bar and kitchen, satisfying +75 patrons per shift
• Collaborated with Head Chef to streamline order communication processes, inventory shortages, and event assistance, reducing 25% of overall waiting time
• Provided excellent customer service with a 96% NPS while calculating multiple patron’s accounts & payments through cash, PoS, and e-wallets

Example #3: Customer service job description for resume

Customer service representative

May 2017 - July 2022

• Responded to thousands of calls each month on behalf of one of the fastest-growing CMS companies worldwide, generating 15% in revenue or serving 5.000 customers each year
• Worked closely with the IT division to address and resolve a high volume of customer issues pertaining to software functionality and technical issues, achieving a 97% NPS score
• Contributed to the development and implementation of upselling and cross-selling strategies which led to over $35,000 in new annual revenue
• Leveraged CRM tools to improve response times by nearly 25%, impacting nearly 1.000 customers/accounts

Example #4: Sales associate job description for resume

Sales Associate

Blake Auto Co.

Portland, OR

Jun 2018 - April 2024

• Managed sales initiatives on behalf of Fortune 500 manufacturing companies generating over $12M in annual revenue, specializing in car sales
• Achieved 35% increase in lead conversion rates, working to qualify over 500 customers each month
• Negotiated contracts valued at up to $1 million, interfacing with 35+ major accounts

Example #5: Caregiver job description for resume

Senior Caregiver

Rainfall Care Nursing Center

Oct 2015 - March 2019

• Worked with over 50 adults on behalf of a specialized health center, focusing on cardiac patients
• Worked closely with patients and family members to ensure high quality of life, providing weekly reports on the patient's health status
• Contributed to 45% reduction in emergency room visits during tenure, closely monitoring patient conditions throughout short-term and long-term stays

Example #6: Housekeeping job description for resume

Apartment Housekeeper

Fresh Clean Agency

Raleigh, NC

Feb 2013 - Sep 2016

• Provided monthly housekeeping services on behalf of a specialized cleaning agency for apartments and small houses
• Cleaned over 150 apartments and houses resulting in a satisfaction rate of 97%
• Achieved a 95% rate of returning clients by performing cleaning and maintenance tasks, along with preferred requests solicited by clients
• Assured high-standard quality cleaning process on each property, decreasing by 15% the agency’s average apartment turnaround time

Bottom line

Writing resume job descriptions can seem difficult at first, but the key is going beyond responsibilities to list accomplishments , starting with a strong action verb (e.g. “implemented,” “created,” “managed”) and following up with quantifiable results. Remember to only include experiences that are relevant for the position you're applying for, use keywords from the job listing, and use a simple and clean formatting to make your resume ATS-friendly. That’s all there is to it—now go out there and get that dream job !