This section can be set up much like the job experience section – it all really depends on what format you are choosing for your resume. This section is an important one for most students, and it is a required element of the resume. In this section, you should include:
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- The name and location of your college or university
- Your degree and graduation date
- Your major(s) and minor(s)
- Grade point average (your cumulative GPA and your major GPA are optional)
Use placement of information, bold type or underlining to highlight the features you want to emphasize. It is sometimes necessary to pinpoint a feature or features that make you standout among other students.
For example, students bold their university or college if they feel like that is a distinctive feature. Others may decide to bold their type of degree.
New graduates without a lot of work experience should list their educational information first. Alumni can list it after the work experience section.
Be sure the following is included in the education section of your resume:
- Your most recent educational information is listed first.
- Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.)
- Your major, institution attended, and your minor/concentration.
- Add your grade point average (GPA) if it is higher than 3.0.
- Mention academic honors.
Here are two examples of education sections, with different information emphasized.
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
Bachelor of Science, May 1999
Major: Supervision; GPA 5.5/6.0Bachelor of Science in Accounting, May 1999
Minor in Finance, GPA: 5.5/6.0 Major, 5.2/6.0 Overall
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
In your education section, you may want to include a couple of sub-groups – especially if you are a recent graduate looking for your first position. The first sub-group is “Related Course Work”.
This is an optional part of your Education section, which can be quite impressive and informative for potential employers. Students seeking internships may want to list all completed major-related courses.
Graduates might list job-related courses different than those required to receive the degree (employers will already be aware of those). Include high-level courses in optional concentrations, foreign languages, computer applications or communications classes. You may choose more meaningful headings such as “Computer Applications” if you wish to emphasize particular areas.
Remember – employers and recruiters are familiar with the basic courses required in your major. Limit these sections to special courses or skills you have to offer.
Another optional sub-group in the education section is “Special Projects”. This optional section may be added to point out special features of your education that are particularly interesting to employers or that may make you more qualified than others for the job you are seeking.
Students often include research, writing, or computer projects. Limit your description to the most important facts. You may expand your discussion in your application letter.
If you like, you can include any awards you received or special achievements in this section, but most resumes will have a separate section for this to cover not only academic awards but also business awards.
Our next section has to do with your special abilities as they apply to the position you are trying to land.
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