How to list education on a resume: Tips with examples

It is essential to have the academic education section in the curriculum, whatever your level of studies. But do you know how to fill out this CV section to highlight your learning?

The education or training section is one of the first parts of a resume to undergo recruitment and hiring reviews. In addition, many job advertisements already clarify what type of training or minimum education level is required to apply for an open position.

So, check what information to put in the academic training section and learn to value your education in the curriculum by describing how your knowledge can contribute to your professional performance.

Academic experience or training: what to put first on the curriculum?

The main rule of thumb about the work experience and education sections is that both are essential on a resume builder. The position of each one in the document may vary according to their strengths and the expectations of those who will evaluate your CV.

Education or experience can be protagonists in different curriculum models. The important thing is to highlight what is most relevant to the job you intend to get — and this can (and should) be adapted to each application.

For example, if an ad highlights that the company is looking for a person with a degree in your field, you can place the section on your education before the section on work experience. This can draw attention to a degree you’ve earned at a prestigious university or a graduate degree you’re currently pursuing.

However, when the ad reinforces that only resumes from people with the same type of degree you have will be accepted, it’s worth starting with the professional experience section and showing that you already have experience in the area. With this, you will value the differential of your candidacy with the competitors.

Here are some cases where it’s worth starting with the academic education section of the curriculum:

• If you’ve just graduated, you’re likely to have more to excel in education than work experience at this stage.
• Whether you apply for academic positions or scholarships, education will outweigh any professional experiences outside your field of study. In that case, you can also create different sections to highlight research, publications, incentive awards, and other information relevant to the opportunity.
• If you have returned to study to obtain a new degree in the area in which you have already been working.
• If you are experienced but want to value specialization courses, postgraduate courses, and MBAs (masters in business administration) to differentiate yourself from the competitors.

There is no specific rule regarding what should come first on your CV, so it’s your decision. If you believe your level of education should be prioritized, feel free to place the Academic Background section after the Objective on the curriculum.

Next, see how to describe the information about your studies in a good way to make your professional profile more attractive.

What to put in the academic education section of the curriculum

HR and recruiting analysts to look for the same parameters in the Academic Background section on all CVs they receive — as this allows for a fair comparison between applications.

So be sure to cover the most important points in the content of this section:

• The list should prioritize your most recent and relevant education, so anyone with a college degree does not need to mention where they attended elementary school. If you have more than one training in the same degree, choose reverse chronological order.
• It is essential to clarify your level of education; that is, those who do not have higher education must mention where they completed their secondary education and so on.
• All course information must contain the name of the educational institution and year of course completion. You can also inform the duration or workload of the course, although this is not mandatory. It is possible to cite courses that have not yet been completed, as we will explain below.
• Be sure to take advantage of the space in the Academic Training section to briefly describe the focus of your learning, important projects you developed in the course, or other academic achievements.
• It is also valid to list extracurricular courses and certificates or even create a separate section to highlight this information.

But beware: avoid including additional information irrelevant to the job you are applying for.

How to put college on the curriculum (or another course) without having completed it

It is normal to feel some insecurity when preparing for the academic education section of the curriculum when you do not yet have a degree or in cases where some change in your life has resulted in the postponement of the completion of a course.

These are some possible solutions:

• If you have just entered university, it is worth mentioning the name of the course and faculty and indicating the current year in this way: “enrolled in 2021”.
• If you are still in college or high school, you can add parentheses to indicate that your studies are “in progress.”
• If you have interrupted your studies, you can indicate the year you completed them. For example, add parentheses next to the course name: “completed by the 6th semester”.

You don’t need to mention why you stopped your studies, but remember that this may be questioned in a job interview.

So, please take advantage of our tips to prepare the section on your academic training in the right way and value the full potential of your learning. With the knowledge you already have and the strategies presented here, you will further increase your chances of being called for interviews.