Education on a Resume
 

On a resume, what would you put down or would like to see when someone has an incomplete post-secondary education.

My main objective is to obtain full-time employment but also to let any potential employer that reviews my resume that I am ABLE to work full-time year round while returning to school in the fall on a part-time basis (i.e. night classes). I don’t want the education section to hinder my ability to find employment.

Option 1:

Attended ABC University
B.A. in Economics

Option 2:

ABC University
B.A. in Economics (Incomplete)

Option 3:

ABC University
B.A. in Economics (In Progress)

Option 4:

ABC University
B.A. in Economics (Part-time Studies)

Option 5:

ABC University
B.A. in Economics (Part-time Studies - Night Classes)

I'm not sure it's appropriate to but down that you have a BA, if you didn't.

it's perfectly acceptable to put down
ABC University
Majored in Economics
Majoring in Economics (if you are still attending classes)
2000 - 2003


Let the interviewer draw their own conclusions

If i saw the resume and saw that wrote down BA-- you better well have one...

Yeah, you shouldn't be writing "BA" at all, unless you actually received the degree. Put something like what Mal suggested, accompanied by perhaps your # of credits and your current GPA. Something like that.

Everything that I ever read about putting education on a resume` suggested this format if you're currently in classes:

Economics Major, ABC University, (City), (Year that you started)-Present

By putting "Present" at the end, it sorta suggests that you're still attending classes. Plus, if you're going to a university, it's understood that you're seeking a Batchelor's degree. Don't put your GPA if it's less than 3.0. Also, if you've made dean's list or anything like that, put that down too.

Your resume` is just to get the person interested in you enough to get in there and get an interview. Don't worry about the person revewing your resume` knowing your work schedule- that's what you talk about in the interview! Good luck!

I like what Sage says. But if you have completed any particular coursework that would enhance your employability, I might add that to the listing: statistics, for example. Or, if you have a place on the resume that sums up your ability, stash the coursework reference over there ("Experienced data entry operator, spreadsheet power user, university-level coursework in statistics and applied math...")

Followup on what I've posted.

My main intention for the education section is to indicate that I will be returning to school to complete the incomplete B.A. in Economics in the fall only on part-time basis (i.e. night classes).

That's fine, but you still cannot put "BA" on your resume until it's a done deal. Sage had a good suggestion for how to go about doing this...

ABC U...OH YEAH!!! KAPPA ALPHA LAMDA!!!

Just kidding.

Attended ABC University from 1998 to 2002, graduated with B.A. in Tilted Economics with a 3.83 GPA.

Attending ABC University from 2004 to present, currently have a 3.83 GPA.

(then you include a letter from a prof that likes you a lot)

As an employer of students, I'd be very impressed with a letter from a prof and a GPA.

If your CV is going to be available to a large number of employers, ie: Monster.com, then put "Currently Part-Time".

If you are going to send out resumes for specific jobs, they will understand that you don't assume to work and go to school at the same time of day.

I've gone over hundreds of resumes, and I've never tossed one because their in- progress education might appear to be a time conflict.

Would this be suitable:

ABC University, Faculty of Arts
Majoring in Economics (Currently Part-Time Evening Studies)

That sounds pretty honest and clear, though I still don't see why you must include this "part-time evening studies" bit. To me, resumes are about reducing the amount of verbiage to what is absolutely necessary. If I were you, I would do it this way:

ABC University . . . . . . . . . . . 09/2002-Present (or whenever you started)
Major: Economics . . . . . . . . . GPA: 3.83

And leave it at that. But that's my take. See what other people say... then go for it! (P.S. Use spaces instead of periods; I just did that b/c html won't let me put tabbed spaces there.)

Just FYI -- you can use the [code/ tag to keep embedded spacing..

I've included the (Currently Part-Time Evening Studies) portion because I don't want any potential employer to pass up on my resume when I am applying for a full-time job. If they can clearly see that I am attending classes only at night, they would have less concern about considering me for the position.

It has been 5 years since I last attended university and I'm restarting again the program in fall, should I just exclude any specific dates?

As for the GPA, if it is at 2.8, should I leave this out as well since it is below a 3.0?

leave off the gpa - i would also leave off that you are going to school part time -if that belongs anywhere, it's in the cover letter and gets discussed during the interview...

When you go to school, is really not the employer's concern... you are applying for a job, you make it your business to show up...

If you have college credits under your belt - -put that on your resume

ABC University
Economics Major
1999- 2001
(No degree listed assumes you didn't graduate)

If you intend to go to school but aren't registered yet... Do not put it on the resume... cover letter it goes on.

A resume is a record of your history and achievements in as a comprehensive yet concise form as possible... It shouldn't include things that you will do because you don't know what the future will hold...

There are some things that can be checked pretty easily - education dates is very easily verifiable-- you don't want to get caught in a fib...

As a manager I like to see people say what they are majoring in and their expected completion date. That tells me what the future looks like from a timing perspective.

Definitely leave off the "Currently Part-Time Evening Studies". It's unneccessary, wordy, and looks...unprofessional.

And yes, expected completion date is good to include.

I would not include GPA, no matter how high it is. Unless you are applying to schools (for schooling, not for a job), it doesn't matter. Go for the meat, not the garnish.

ABC University_____________Expected Graduation: 200X
Honors: Dean's List, etc.

Keep it simple: elaborate in your cover letter if necessary and discuss your class schedule at the interview.