How to Write the Resume Education Section

The education section on your resume is where you highlight your most recent education as well as any other education that is relevant to the position you’re applying for. There are several options in regard to how you list your education and what you include. For example, some people list their education at the top of their resume, while others include it as the last part of their resume. Additionally, some people have several educational experiences, so their education section on their resume will likely be longer than someone who only has a high school diploma.

Every employer is different as to what they want to see on a candidate’s education section on their resume. What employers look for will also be dependent on the requirements for the position the candidate is applying for. If it’s an entry-level position, the recruiter or hiring manager will likely want to see that you possess a high school diploma or its equivalent or a college degree. However, if the job you’re applying for is for a managerial position, the hiring manager will likely want to see that have a master’s degree or training related to management or business.

You can find the education requirements for a position on the job listing under ‘education’ or ‘requirements.’ Use this information to guide you when deciding what to include in the education section on your resume. Some positions require candidates to hold a certain degree or certification or have gone through a particular program or course, while other jobs simply state that these educational accomplishments are preferred.

More than anything, you want to be honest when writing the education section of your resume. This is especially important in the event that the hiring manager performs a background check or contacts your references and inquires about your education. If the employer discovers that your education section is dishonest, you’ll likely be disqualified from being considered for the job.

The following are the components that should be included in the education section of a resume:

• The name of the school you attended
• The state and city of the school you attended
• The diploma or degree you received
• The area of study you focused on while in school
• The year you graduated or the year you expect to graduate if still in school
• Your GPA if it is 3.4 or above
• Relevant coursework, academic recognitions, honors, and other education-related achievements that directly relate to the job you’re applying for

Your education section should be the smallest part of your resume and should be based on the specific requirements of the position you’re submitting your resume for consideration for. However, if you have very little work experience and have spent several years pursuing higher education, you may want to include more details in your education section than if you have ample work experience.

The following are ways to list your education on your resume based on your level of education and whether you’re education is completed or incomplete:

If you’ve graduated in the last five years

If you’ve been out of high school or college for five years or less, you’ll want to include your education section before or right after the work experience section on your resume. Because you likely have more experience in school than you do in the workforce, you’re education is the most important component of your experience. You should include the name of the school, the years you attended the school, the subject you majored in, and any awards or accomplishments achieved during your schooling.

If you’ve been in the workforce for five or more years

If you’ve been working longer than you were in school, your professional experience should come before the education section of your resume. Your work experience will be considered more important to employers, so you shouldn’t take away from this by placing the education section above the work experience section. You can also leave out the more specific details of your education, such as the dates attended, your GPA, and awards or accomplishments, unless they are directly related to the job you’re applying for.

If you’re education is incomplete

If you’re still in school when applying for a job, or you started a college program and decided to no longer pursue it, you can still include this in your resume. Include the name of the school, the location of the school, and the degree you pursued or are pursuing. If you are currently still in school, include the date at which you expect to graduate. If you are no longer pursuing the degree, include the credit hours you did complete.

The following are several examples of a resume education section:

The University of California, Los Angeles, CA

2009 – 2013

Bachelors of Arts in English

Edmund Carlos Writing Scholarship

The University of South Florida

2010 – 2014

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

Relevant coursework: Abnormal Psychology, Human Development, Social Psychology

Mississippi Graduate School of Business Management, Jackson, MI

2009 – 2012

Master’s of Business Administration

University of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa

Bachelor of Arts in Social Services candidate

Expected graduation: December 2019

Honors: Phi Mu Epsilon member