This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Anonymous writes: If I am 40 years old. Should I leave my high school off my resume and just keep the college and special education? Or should I keep the name of the high school and just leave the year graduated off? Thanks.
I have a former student — a college graduate — who was valedictorian of her high school. Quite an accomplishment — years ago — but no one cares about it anymore, yet she still clings to it on her resume (partly because her college career was less than stellar). Even in her case, I recommended removing the high school stuff as soon as she was a college student.
So, here’s the rule. If you made it into college, one can assume that you completed your high-school education in some fashion, so drop it off your resume. Why should you waste precious space on your resume on an accomplishment that is inconsequential to most employers. Note to non-U.S. job-seekers: The norm for curriculum vitaes in many countries outside the U.S. is to list your high school education, but if you’re applying for a job in the U.S., leave it off.
Why are you clinging to that high school degree? Take it off your resume!
But, you also raise an interesting question for all older job-seekers — we baby boomers and older job-seekers. At some point — probably in your 40s — I would remove dates from college degrees as a preemptive strike against the possibility of age discrimination. (Be careful, though, as some employers, and especially recruiters want to see all dates from college on.) While you’re a little young to be worrying about age discrimination, others might be interested in our growing section of Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Workers.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
This posting is a guest entry from the Career Doctor, Randall S. Hansen, PhD:
Anonymous writes: If I am 40 years old. Should I leave my high school off my resume and just keep the college and special education? Or should I keep the name of the high school and just leave the year graduated off? Thanks.
I have a former student — a college graduate — who was valedictorian of her high school. Quite an accomplishment — years ago — but no one cares about it anymore, yet she still clings to it on her resume (partly because her college career was less than stellar). Even in her case, I recommended removing the high school stuff as soon as she was a college student.
So, here’s the rule. If you made it into college, one can assume that you completed your high-school education in some fashion, so drop it off your resume. Why should you waste precious space on your resume on an accomplishment that is inconsequential to most employers. Note to non-U.S. job-seekers: The norm for curriculum vitaes in many countries outside the U.S. is to list your high school education, but if you’re applying for a job in the U.S., leave it off.
Why are you clinging to that high school degree? Take it off your resume!
But, you also raise an interesting question for all older job-seekers — we baby boomers and older job-seekers. At some point — probably in your 40s — I would remove dates from college degrees as a preemptive strike against the possibility of age discrimination. (Be careful, though, as some employers, and especially recruiters want to see all dates from college on.) While you’re a little young to be worrying about age discrimination, others might be interested in our growing section of Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Workers.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
Hiring decision-makers surveyed for the book,
Top Notch
Executive Resumes identified this as one of their Top 30 Executive Resume Pet Peeves:
Disproportionate space is devoted to older jobs. Decision-makers expect to see the greatest
proportion of content dedicated to your most recent and most relevant positions. They find it odd
if you’ve devoted much more attention to an older job than one that was more recent. “Unless it was
an amazing accomplishment, I’m not concerned that you grew sales by 20 percent back in 1987,” said
Brian Howell, CSAM, of The QWorks Group.
See all 30 peeves: executive resume peeves
1-10 in Part 1, executive resume peeves 11-20 in Part 2 and
executive resume peeves 21-30 in Part 3.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
If you have stated a skill in the summary portion of your resume, you need to support it through an example of your related accomplishment in the experience portion of your resume, whether you are using a functional or chronological resume format, writes Sherri Edwards in her article for Quint Careers,Ten Resume Tips.
Describing a specific incident, event, work experience, or project will show evidence or “prove” you have a specific skill. Fancy language may appear engaging, but for the discerning decision maker, it does not take the place of facts. Facts sell. Using concrete examples in your resume will also prepare you for your interview. Using vague statements may get you in the door, but at some point, you will have to come up with specifics to make it real. Better to do it now than assume you will be able to produce supporting details on cue during and interview without preparation.
Need help with your resume, cover letter, or other career-marketing document? Order today from Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters, powered by About Jobs Resume Writing Service.
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