To enjoy the greatest success when searching for a job, you must take the time to develop an amazing resume. A resume is often the first thing that prospective employers will see from you, and in most cases, the resume will inspire the potential employer either to call you in their office for an interview or to immediately discard you from the running. An effective resume is clear and concise. With today’s tight labour market, employers may receive dozens or even hundreds of resumes from candidates for a single job opening. One of the aspects of the resume that challenges many job seekers is how much detail to include on their resume about their education.

The Highest Level of Classroom Education

In most cases, you do not need to list every school that you have ever attended or even every university that you have attended. Instead, you may only need to list the highest degrees that you have earned, the academic focus of the degrees and the educational institution where the degrees were earned. You should list the most significant degree first, and the significance of your degree may be based on the academic focus of that degree or the level of degree that was earned. For example, any MBA courses you have attended should be listed first over an Associate’s degree in most cases.

Special Training or Certifications

It is important to list any relevant special training or certifications that you have earned. Some training and certifications may be interesting to you or may have been earned to promote a hobby or side interest that you have, but they may not be relevant to your position. For example, if you are applying for a position in the information technology field, a CPR certification may be left off or listed at the end of your resume with your hobbies and interests. However, if you are applying for a position in the medical industry, in childcare or education services or another relevant position, CPR training is relevant and should be listed under the education section of your resume.

In the Works

Many job applicants are currently working to further their education in some way. Some may be working toward a degree in a different field with the hopes of eventually transitioning to a different industry. Others may be trying to improve their skills or knowledge base within their own field. For education efforts currently under way that relate to the job, you may list these under your education section. Depending upon how far along you are and how relevant the training is to the position, you may consider placing it above your most advanced degree earned. If the education or training will detract from your ability to get the job, however, it may be best to leave it off. For example, if you are training to become a yoga instructor but are applying for a position as an accountant, a potential employer may see that you do not want to be with the company for the long-term and may disqualify you from the running.

When determining which educational details you want to list on your resume, always consider how relevant they are to the job you are applying for. Not every training seminar or course that you have taken needs to be listed on your resume, but the most relevant and advanced educational achievements should be listed.

Written by Shelley D.
Shelley teaches financial planning courses in an institute in Sydney. She has worked for several top recruitment agencies previously. Being a MBA graduate herself, Shelley knows very well on how professional learning and MBA degrees can add great value to anyone’s career.