When writing your CV, it is never easy to make all the right decisions, inclusions, and omissions. Qualifications and education are excellent examples where you might get stuck or make a mistake.
This career advice guide looks at what education and qualifications to include on your CV at different career stages. When writing your CV, it is never easy to make all the right decisions, inclusions, and omissions. Qualifications and education are excellent examples where you might get stuck or make a mistake.
This career advice guide looks at what education and qualifications to include on your CV at different career stages.
Education to include on your CV if you are a school leaver
You should include your GCSEs, A levels, and other school accomplishments if you have recently left school. Without significant work experience, your education is an excellent addition, promoting your skills, with English and Maths as a priority for many jobs.
You should list your grades for each subject and a brief synopsis of your top achievements relevant to the job you are applying for. Part-time or summer term work experience will be an invaluable addition.
Education to include on your CV if you are a university graduate
Your university degree should be the highlight of your educational achievements and receive the most focus. School and college-level achievements, such as GCSEs and A levels, should follow. To save space and create a concise CV, you might like to focus on the number of GCSEs rather than listing them separately (8 GCSEs grade A-C).
If modules within your degree are especially pertinent to the job you are applying for, mentioning these will increase your chances. You can quantify your skills, even though you have yet to prove them on the job.
What if I am still studying?
If you are still studying or taking additional qualifications, these will be most relevant to your prospective employer. It will help to include the date you will complete your study and your expected grades. Once again, if modules are particularly appropriate to the job, give them a mention.
Professional qualifications to add to your CV
If you left full or part-time education a while ago, any professional qualifications or industry achievements would demonstrate your experience and dedication to furthering your career. If you have left education recently and have earned a professional qualification, place equal emphasis on this and your most recent educational achievements.
What to include if you are working
If you have been working for a while and your last qualifications or education occurred ten years ago, these will have lesser importance to recent work experience. Your work experience, skills, and responsibilities are what will sway a recruiter or potential employer and secure a job interview.
You should still include your education, qualifications, and grades but refrain from expanding further unless crucial to the role.
CV education and qualifications summary
The time since earning an achievement and the role dictates the relevance and detail to include. It is highly beneficial to read the job description and showcase the qualifications that demonstrate your capabilities of meeting those responsibilities.
Before writing your CV, take a look at our CV templates.
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