Format for writing your Education History on your CV

Sobhan Mohmand, Career Expert          24 Jan 2017

Many job seekers seem to wonder what the correct format is for writing down your education details and qualifications on your CV.

What do you write first?

• The name of the course?
• The name of the institution?
• The date?

These are the three different approaches that are commonly used when writing your Training and Education section of your CV. Which approach is the best for you is entirely dependent on your personal circumstances (and preferences):

• 1. Your age: If you’re senior in age you should never list the dates first

This may make the potential employer think…

“Gosh, he finished his secondary education before I was even born!”

Best practise: put emphasis on the course or the institution first.

• 2. The institution you have studied in: If it’s a prestigious institution, write the name of the University or College first, followed by the other details

A good example of writing a prestigious institution or University first:

• 3. Course: If it is significantly related to the job and your University was not particularly prestigious or well-known, write down your course details first.

Remember: be consistent!

Prospective employers do not have time for solving puzzles.

Choose one particular format and stick to it throughout the CV.