Education, Credentials, and Licenses
These sections are self-explanatory. If you have trade school or college training, say so—that is, most of the time. The exceptions to this rule pertain to a degree that was “almost” completed, the “wrong” degree, or a degree in progress. I reveal my strategy for dealing with these sticky wickets. If you have only a high school diploma, do not list it or the name of the high school. The exception is if you are a recent high school graduate looking for work. You should include credentials, certificates, and licenses that required course work, internships, or a testing process, provided that the credential or license is still relevant to your field.
Recent grads can go heavy on Blockbuster Résumé. In other words, if education is your biggest selling point, don’t be afraid to let it take up “prime shelf space”—that visual center of the page. In the following example, Stephen leveraged his lack of paid experience by positioning an impressive Education category at the center of the page. He then stretched it to more than three inches of vertical space by using a variety of subheadings (Dual Major, Coursework Highlights, and so on).
Consider any of the following alternative headings for your Education section. You can combine several words if you have degrees and licenses that don’t warrant two separate category headings:
