How to Write a Resume: Sections of a Resume
Higher Education: List, in reverse chronological order, all college, university, and professional degrees that you hold. You do not need to list your high school graduation date unless that is your highest level of education and you graduated less than five years ago. Information you might include:
- Degree awarded
- Name of school, city and state
- Major and minor area of concentration
- Graduation date (month and year)
- Awards and scholarships
- If you are a recent graduate, include your cumulative or major GPA only if it is 3.5 or higher for non-scientific majors, and 3.2 or higher for technical and scientific majors. Always indicate the grading scale, e.g., 3.9/4.0.
- If you're over 50 years of age you may delete the year you graduated from university (and some older work history) to fight back against age discrimination
Optional Resume Sections: The following is a list of optional sections one can use to flesh out a resume. Include those sections that best feature your abilities and will help you win the job interview. Examples:
- Licenses/Certifications
- Publications/Presentations
- Papers and Research
- Speaking Engagements
- Extracurricular Activities
- Foreign Languages
- College Courses and Projects
- Special Accomplishments
- Miscellaneous Skills
- Volunteer Experience
- Continuing Education Courses
- Seminars and Workshops
- Memberships and Associations
- Community Involvement