STEP SIX: Education and
Training
Education:
Data
provided in this section should be prioritized (and included) according to:
- Your current career level (entry-level as
opposed to professional)
- The
purpose of your resume
- The
country in which your resume will be distributed
Your current career level:
If
you’re an entry-level candidate with little or no professional experience,
your education should be presented immediately after the Qualifications
Summary and/or skills
area. The reasoning for
this is that education is currently your most marketable asset.
Here, you would include:
- GPA (if 3.5 or above)
- Awards/scholarships
- Dean’s list
- Coursework relevant to job search
If
you’re a professional with five or more years of experience, Education
should be listed
last on your resume. GPAs,
awards or scholarships, and mention of dean’s lists are not generally provided
in a professional or executive resume, except for those used for entrance
into graduate school programs.
The
purpose of your resume:
Resumes
sent to admissions directors for graduate school can list Education before
Professional Experience or after, depending upon these factors:
- If the applicant has just recently completed
his bachelor’s degree, it should be listed
before Professional Experience.
- If the applicant has real-world experience
related to the graduate degree she is seeking, the Professional Experience
should be listed first.
The country in which your resume will be
distributed:
If you are distributing your resume within the US, high school education is not included. The only exception to this
rule would be if you’re applying for a job with the federal government. In that case, you would
include high school data.
When distributing a resume outside the US, then high school education is included.
Training:
Include all specialized training that is
transferable to your new job target. If you have not attended college,
include all specialized training in your target field. Hiring managers generally prefer to
see some post-secondary education.