Including the right information on your resume is what will grab the attention of a recruiter or potential employer. Your education section is the part of your resume that rounds out your skills and years of experience while providing definitive proof that you are uniquely qualified for the position.
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Whether your field of study has anything to do with your current industry isn't very important, but completion of formal education tells employers at a glance about your training. Depending on the resume format you choose, your education section may be longer or shorter or appear on different parts of the page. This guide will teach you how to write a resume education section that will help you stand out from the competition.
What is an education section, and why is it important?
Employers want to make sure you have the base knowledge required for the role, so it is essential to provide them with an easy-to-read record of the experience and training you have. Education sections will vary by industry and circumstance but remain one of the five core components of a resume, so it's essential to know how to craft a section that will impress employers.
Adding certifications and special training to a resume
Formal education isn't everything but if you have it, flaunt it. From a college degree to a professional certification or industry training program, you'll want to list anything relevant to the job at hand. The work you've done outside of the classroom can be just as important. Be sure to include specialized programs, company courses, relevant workshops, and certified online or offline experience here.
Prepare to write an education section
Preparing your education section before you start writing is important because you want to meet or exceed the minimum requirements for the job posting without including irrelevant information. Take the time to think about the kinds of education you have, not just sitting in the classroom.
Here are some important things to do before you write:
- Carefully read the job description
- List accredited education (high school and advanced degrees)
- List Certifications and Training
- List your Awards and Honors
With this reference material and resume example review completed, you are now ready to sit down and write.
5 Tips for writing your education section
- Provide industry specifics (especially if you are in a prestigious program).
- If you are in a current program, include your anticipated completion date.
- No graduation dates past ten years.
- Don't add your GPA unless you are a very recent college graduate (and your GPA is very impressive).
- Don't lie! Employers perform background checks regularly. Lies on your resume will be exposed.
How to list your education
There are a variety of ways to list educational experiences on your resume:
If high school is your only experience:
- High School Diploma | George F Baker High School | Tuxedo Park, NY
If you graduated high school and have an associates degree:
List only the associates unless you are currently attending college:
- Associate of Science: Nursing Administration - Expected in May 2025 | Fox University | Newberg, OR
- High School Diploma | Habersham Central High School | Mount Airy, GA
Associate and Bachelors:
- Bachelor of Arts: English - May 2020 |University of California - Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA
- Associate of Arts: Communication Studies - May 2017 | Foothill College | Los Altos, CA
Bachelors only:
- Bachelor of Arts: American And English Literature | Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA
Bachelors and Masters:
- Master of Science: Library And Information Science - May 2018 | Texas A&M University | College Station, TX
- Bachelor of Science: Library Sciences | University Of Texas At Austin | Austin, TX
Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D.:
- Ph.D.: Literature - May 2021 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA
- Master of Arts: English Language And Literature - May 2015 | University of California - Santa Cruz| Santa Cruz, CA
- Bachelor of Arts: English | University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill| Chapel Hill, NC
Certifications & Training section
After creating your format education section, list out relevant academic programs and recognitions separately.
High School completion & an internship or apprenticeship:
- Welding Technology certification
- EMT Paramedic certification
- Business Administration and Management training program
- FAA Certificate
High School completion and an Associates degree:
- Registered Nursing Certification
- Single Subject Credential
- Marketing Management certificate
Bachelors only:
- Human Resources Training
- HRIS technologies certification
- UX customer certification
Bachelors and Masters:
- CCSP Network Security
- Novell Certified Linux Professional 10 (NCLP10)
- Certified Information System Security Professional
Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D.:
- EKG-ECG Certificate
- HIPAA Compliance
- Secondary Education Credential
Awards & Honors section
List any scholarships, academic awards, or program recognitions here. Some examples include:
- AP Scholar with Honors
- DoDEA AP Scholar
- International Scholarship Award
- National AP Scholar
- National Student Volunteer Award
- President's Award for Educational Achievement
- President's Award for Educational Excellence
- President's National Service Award
Education section by resume format
Whether you have limited work experience, just graduated, hold an advanced degree or want to highlight academic success, the placement of your Education, Certifications & Training, Awards & Honors sections varies. To put your best foot forward, here is where to best showcase your educational experience in each of the three resume formats.
Chronological
Who should use this resume format:
Mid-career, Executive level (seasoned professional)
How education should appear on this resume format:
Your education section should be included towards the end of your resume as the purpose of this format is to focus on work accomplishments and a history of industry experience. It's also important to remember not to include your graduation date if high school is your most recent experience or if you received your degree more than ten years ago.
Combination
Who should use this resume format:
Entry-level, Mid-career, Executive level (seasoned professional), Career Changer
How education should appear on this resume format:
This section can be more towards the middle of your document. Your educational background and certifications can work in tandem with the skills you've chosen to highlight and the job history present in your work experience.
Functional
Who should use this format:
No Experience and Career Change
How educations should appear on this resume format:
If you are a recent graduate, new to an industry, or have a gap in your experience, this is the resume for you. Education should be at the forefront and include any extracurricular programs, all degree types, and certifications or training you might have received outside of your work experience. This is a skills-based resume, so showcasing a range of knowledge is important.
A professional resume builder can help you write a stand-out education section
The structure of your resume is important. Having an easy-to-read education section helps employers see you're a good fit. Take the guesswork out of formatting concerns but using a Resume Builder.
Highlighted features include:
- Proper degree formatting
- Ability to add minors and academic recognitions
- Auto-populate names and location
- Spelling and grammar check
FAQ
Below are three frequently asked questions about the education section of a resume.
Should education be at the top or bottom of a resume?
Your education section's location depends on both the industries you are applying to and your experience level. Someone using the standard chronological format would have their education section near the bottom of their document. In contrast, a recent graduate or someone in the academic field would have their education section more towards the center of their resume.
Should I put unfinished education on my resume?
Having some educational experience is always better than not including any. If you are currently in an education program, it's fine to include your expected graduation date. If you started a program but did not complete it and it is relevant to your industry — format the section as normal but include the phrase "some college" or "to be completed in (year)."
Do you put current education on your resume?
Yes. Including current education is encouraged on a resume. You can format your section with your institution's location and name, along with the expected date of your graduation. Remember, current education and dates can be shown, but anything irrelevant or ten years or more out of date should not be included.
