Graduates!!

Graduates - here is the most important of all categories in YOUR resume ... the EDUCATION CATEGORY.

KEEP IN MIND the placement of this category is all important for a recent graduate or someone who is about to graduate. Place this category before the PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE category. Place your EDUCATIONAL CATEGORY immediately after your first category which may be your OBJECTIVE CATEGORY.

In today's business world, most of the time, education is a factor, so you might as well put your EDUCATION category right up front:

• DEGREES should be listed first and in CAPITAL letters, followed by your major: , minor: , or concentration. Year of graduation and institution come next, underlined or CAPITALIZED. The city and state of your Alma mater should follow the name of your college.
• If you graduated from a famous, influential, scholastically outstanding school, put the school name first, in CAPITAL letters, followed by the city and state. Then list the degree and underline it.
• Begin with your most recent Degree and work back, chronologically. If you are in the midst of obtaining another Degree, put this FIRST and begin this statement with either "Candidate for", or "Pursuing" a degree in...
• Candidate is used when you have completed more than half of the credits needed and "Pursuing" is used when you have not yet completed half of the required degree credits.
• Under each college experience you will want to list: internships; practicums, or student teaching experience, and relevant courses.
• Also, list activities and honors or awards - if they are noteworthy.
• If you have a 3.0 Grade Point Average (GPA) or higher, add this to your Education category.
• If you personally financed 50% or more of your college education (yes, scholarships count), say so. BUT a better place to put this is in your cover letter.

Following is an example of an EDUCATION category:

MBA, concentration in International Finance, 2009, TOWSON STATE UNIVERSITY, Towson, Maryland

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE in Communication, 2006, WILBERFORCE UNIVERSITY, Wilberforce, Ohio. Professional Coursework included: Interpersonal Communications; Consumer Behavior; Group Dynamics; Public Relations and Principles of Advertising.

Activities: Captain Varsity Football Team 2005, 2006. President Junior Class.

Honors: Dean's List - Junior and Senior years. GPA 3.45

PERSONALLY FINANCED 75% of my college education.

College activities should show involvement appropriate to the career field you have chosen. Remember these 4 golden rules when preparing your resume.

• Make it attractive.
• Make it professional.
• Make it error-free.
• Make it MEMORABLE (and honest)!

If you want help - go to http://www.tjswriteplace.vpweb.com

BON VOYAGE!