Should I put college on my resume if I dropped out?
You may or may not be able to find out much, but you should try. For those who value education but do not immediately disqualify candidates based on lack of a completed degree, you should include your education on your resume, stating the area of study and the years you spent.
When listing your unfinished college on a resume, remember: Mention your degree program, school name, and expected graduation date if you're continuing your education. If you're not going to finish your education, find an option that puts your incomplete education in the best possible light.
In Summary
To list an educational experience on your resume, you do not need to have earned a degree from the institution. As long as you're honest and not misrepresenting any information, you should still include your education to help build your credibility – even if you only took a few courses.
If you have more than 10 to 15 years of experience, put your education at the bottom of your resume without a graduation date. If you have five to seven years of experience, put your education at the bottom of the resume with your graduation date.
If you're a college student or recent graduate, your college education is typically listed at the top of your resume. When you have work experience, the education section of your resume is listed below your employment history.
Make your reason short and honest. For example, “I never went back to finish my degree and that's something I regret. I'm planning to re-enroll in a few online classes to finish it over time.” There—you've addressed it and there's not much more an employer can ask.
- Identify your strongest credentials and emphasize them. At the end of the day, most employers aren't looking for a degree. ...
- Explain gaps in resume. ...
- Show off the courses you have taken. ...
- Showcase relevant training, too. ...
- Consider going back to school.
However, based on a study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), only about 34% of employers do so. Those who do may carry out a verification of one's educational background during the hiring process or after hiring the applicant.
Keep it current. Career coaches and professional resume writers advise you focus on the past 10 to 15 years, for most industries. (Some roles, like those within the federal government or in academia, typically, require more complete career histories.)
Simply italicize a sentence underneath your bolded “Completed…” statement that says, “Offered a promotion and relocated with [insert employer's name] during senior year.” This will ensure the hiring manager knows that you not only possess the majority of undergraduate coursework most would with a degree, but also that ...
What should not be included in a resume?
- Too much information.
- A solid wall of text.
- Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
- Inaccuracies about your qualifications or experience.
- Unnecessary personal information.
- Your age.
- Negative comments about a former employer.
- Details about your hobbies and interests.
Leave off details such as height, weight, birth date, age, sex, religion, political affiliation, or place of birth. Employers shouldn't make employment decisions based on these factors, and they may resent the fact that you are tempting them to do so. Keep your resume focused on the facts.
If your unfinished degree is relevant to the job you're applying for, include details that show your hiring manager the experience and knowledge you've gained from your education. Include any relevant coursework or the number of credits completed in your education section.
If you're currently attending high school or college, or if you just graduated from school, definitely list your high school on your resume. It's also customary to include your high school information on resumes in some countries outside the United States.
Can a Resume Be 2 Pages? A resume can be two pages, but most should be one page. That's true for entry-level candidates and those with less than 5 years' experience. If the job requires Elon-Musk-level accomplishments, or you can't cram your achievements on one page, write a two page resume.
Your GPA should always be listed as a part of the education section in your resume, as it's a part of your educational achievements.
- Put Your Qualifications and Credentials at the Top of the Resume.
- Tweak Your Resume for Each Position.
- Keep the Education Details at the Bottom.
- Use Reverse-Chronological Order.
- Include Any Volunteer Work You've Done.
- Create a Digital Resume.
- State the college you're attending.
- The degree you're pursuing.
- Your area of study.
- Current GPA (if 3.0 or higher)
- Include your anticipated graduation date; this is very important if your graduation date is within the next 12 months.
