Education Section
The section of your resume listing your academic credentials — degrees, institutions, graduation dates, and relevant coursework or honors. Placement and detail level change significantly based on where you are in your career.
The education section lists your academic history. For most working professionals, it's a short, low-maintenance section. For new graduates, it deserves more attention. **What to include:** - Degree type (B.S., M.B.A., Ph.D.) - Field of study (Computer Science, Accounting, etc.) - Institution name - Graduation year (or expected graduation year) - GPA: include only if 3.5 or above, and only for recent graduates (within ~3 years of graduation) - Relevant coursework: only if genuinely relevant to the role and you have limited work experience - Honors: Dean's List, cum laude — include if recent and impressive **Placement:** - New grad with limited experience: Education first, before work experience - 2+ years of relevant work experience: Education after work experience - 10+ years of experience: Very brief listing, potentially just school + degree **What to omit:** High school (unless that's your only credential and it's your first job). Coursework from 15 years ago. GPA below 3.5. Graduation year if you're concerned about age discrimination. **Continuing education:** Online certificates (Coursera, edX), bootcamps, and professional development programs can be listed here or in a separate 'Certifications' section.
Why it matters
Many ATS systems and job requirements filter by degree type or institution. If a role requires a BS in Computer Science, your education section is where that requirement gets verified.
Candidate tip
If you graduated more than 3 years ago, move your education section below your work experience — recruiters want to see what you've done recently, not where you went to school first.
Put this into practice with the candidate.so Resume Builder.
Learn more →Related terms
Certifications
Resume & CVCredentials awarded by professional bodies, technology vendors, or educational institutions that verify a specific set of skills or knowledge. Certifications are high-value resume signals in technical, financial, healthcare, and project management fields.
Skills Section
Resume & CVA section of your resume that lists your professional skills, typically grouped into hard skills (technical tools, software, languages) and soft skills. It's a key ATS keyword target and a fast-scan section for recruiters.
Resume Format
Resume & CVThe structural layout of your resume — chronological, functional, or combination. Format determines how your experience is organized and how easily an ATS can parse your information. Chronological is the default for most candidates.
Resume Length
Resume & CVHow long your resume should be — typically one page for candidates with under 10 years of experience, two pages for senior professionals. More pages signal poor editing, not more value. Academic CVs follow different rules.