The education/training section of your resume and profile are often an area people tend to leave information off.
Under this heading, you can include a multitude of things other than just your formal education. You might consider including: apprenticeships, workshops or seminars, certificates, or online courses. You can even include training received for hobbies if they are part of your work skill set – for example, you’ve taken photography workshops and will be able to use that in the field you’re applying.
If you’ve received a degree in any field, it’s important to list it – even if it doesn’t directly relate to the career path you’re are pursuing. Make sure you include if you attended some college but didn’t complete the degree.
Here’s a few more things you can consider in this section.
Is your education your strongest qualification?
If you have little or no work experience in your chosen field, a relevant degree is sometimes all you need to get your foot in the door. If your education is your greatest asset, your education section should be prominently featured on your resume—you should lead with it.
Is education a primary requirement of the job you wish to obtain?
For medical jobs, or other specialty careers, a certain education level is an absolute requirement. If education is a key requirement for the job you’re interested in, it should absolutely be listed in your resume.
Does your education open you up to age discrimination?
The potential for age discrimination is there. If you are re-entering the workforce, changing careers, or applying for entry positions where you might be competing against multiple generations for a position, it’s something you need to consider. A job candidate’s age can, even subconsciously, influence hiring managers to make a judgement about their fit with the company culture or their skill set. Baby Boomers seem to be particularly susceptible to this kind of judgment.
If hiring managers look at your resume and see that you graduated decades ago, they might discount your education as outdated or do quick math and assume you are too old for a position. Consider leaving off your graduation or completion date. I’m not encouraging you to lie about your age. Just give yourself a reasonable chance to make it to the interview. It’s about being strategic about what information you reveal when. The less a hiring manager knows about you at beginning of the hiring process, the less likely they are to use this information against you.
The best rule of thumb here is: When in doubt, delete it.
What if your degree is unrelated?
Are you applying for a job as a banker, but you hold a degree in ceramics? A situation like this could stand between you and a job. I’d suggest leaving your exact degree off your resume could keep the door open for you to make it to the next stage. Instead just list a B.S or B.A from your school and leave the details for the interview.
What if your education make you appear overqualified?
Hiring managers view someone who appears overqualified as a potential flight risk. They assume there is a good chance they will find something better matching their experience level and jump ship after the company has invested time and money into training. Employee turnover is expensive, and something companies obviously want to avoid. This results in many highly qualified professionals being overlooked in lieu of applicants who only meet the minimum requirements for a job. Don’t get discouraged. You still can impress the hiring manager during the interview and make yourself the clear choice. If you want to get to that step, that might mean cutting out unnecessary educational qualifications.
What if you took a non-traditional route with your education?
You’ll want to use a resume format that highlights skills over education, but you still need to include it Refer to your workbook on listing a GED. Don’t forget to list any online coursework or education you’ve received while on the job too .