Educational experience is a very important asset to job seekers—especially those who are just making their first foray into the job market. However, since the education section of the resume is often brief, job seekers can sometimes forget just how important this experience is.
What Academics and Training Can Say That Job Experience Can’t
Professional experience is the heart of a resume, as it tells employers exactly what kind of developed skills and accomplishments a job seeker has made within a particular industry. While previous work experience is typically more detailed than educational experience, the latter makes a great impression as to the personality, determination and ability of the job candidate.
- Education Shows Desire to Succeed
When it comes to filling out educational information, it can be tempting for a professional to go in-depth about the projects, classes and exams they worked so hard to ace. However, education on a resume is usually no more descriptive than the name of the university, the location, the degree and any academic accolades.
For the graduate, this can seem like a major omission of years’ worth of hard work. However, for an employer, earning a degree or completing an educational program can reveal that a job seeker has what it takes to focus on a particular subject or industry and develop within it. Essentially, holding a degree or certification shows that a job seeker has a desire to advance as a professional and will likely put the same passion forth in his or her career.
- Continuing Education Can Show Direction
Many individuals who are in the middle of graduate-level education or a continuing education program will often also be looking for jobs, whether part time or full time. This circumstance begs the question whether or not one should put this current development on a resume. The short answer: yes, it is important to include.
Even if one is in the middle of an educational endeavor, it is important to show that an additional degree or certification is on its way for the job seeker. While not yet complete, listing this experience on a resume can show that the job seeker has direction in his or her career. Specifically, continuing education efforts can indicate that a job seeker will bring great value to an employer—and may even continue to develop that academic understanding and training to a higher degree in the long term.
- Education Shows a Job Seeker is Worth Investing In
Typically, getting into an undergraduate or graduate program will involve lofty application processes and reviews by the selected university. Acceptance into a college or continuing education program is a great accomplishment, as it mirrors that those in the academic community detected skills, passion and dedication that was worth admitting. For employers, this can serve as a reference to a job seeker’s reliability and professional promise.
In addition, students who have been awarded fellowships can reveal to an employer that they have been set apart from their peers by an academic authority. Simply put, if an academic institution finds an individual worth investing in, an employer will often carry the same interpretation.
How to List Education and Training on a Resume
While many job seekers may understand just how important their educational experience is on their resume, listing it correctly can be a chore. From graduate degrees to professional development courses to certifications, addressing each educational accomplishment on a resume requires specificity, clarity and brevity.
If you are looking for a job or simply want to clean up your resume without leaving any room for mistakes, it is best to contact a professional. Chic Resumes’ professional writing team has the expertise and experience to craft and polish a customized resume for all job seekers. Contact us today at (803) 831-7444
(803) 831-7444 or resumewriting@grammarchic.net to have our professionals review your accomplishments and start putting your education to work!
Amanda E. Clark founded Grammar Chic in 2008. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and holds degrees in Journalism, Political Science, and English. She launched Grammar Chic after freelancing for several years while simultaneously leading marketing and advertising initiatives for several Fortune 500 companies.
