Do you list your college degree?

[Prloko]

With that said I like to see a resume that's concise and pertinent. Failure to list key verbiage for the job your seeking will likely result in little traction for your job search.

I agree. The verbiage has to be there. As far as resume length, two pages is adequate for someone with say 8+ years. I think many people these days have a very short attention span and going past two pages is pushing it. But then again, it's been years since I last had to look at resumes.

[mrs.b]

Add me to the "only list relevant data" list. I think it is extremely important to list pertinent details, but that does not mean include every detail of life, education (formal or informal), and work history. If I receive resumes for an accounting position and see how much time someone spent bartending, or their second or third Assoc. degree is in basketweaving, I lose interest and am much more likely to move on. For high volume applicant positions, a rule of thumb I was taught is to keep the resume skimmable in 10-15 seconds so that the relevant qualifications are recognizable without reading it over a cup of coffee with a magnifying glass. There is a difference between filling in employment gaps and writing an autobiography. The interview is where other details, such as the know-how to weave a mighty fine holiday basket for the Secret Santa pool, can be disclosed to gain an extra edge over competition. Brief and to the point is how resumes should be drafted. That's my $0.02, anyway, and how I process resume stacks.

[cookderosa]

Ok, do you list your Masters degree, Bachelors Degree and also your Associates Degree in your resume, or do you just list the highest level of education attained? What if they are different fields of study? And what if they are in the same field of study and name?

Your resume is a MARKETING TOOL, so you can list whatever you have that puts your stack in the "to interview" pile. Keep your resume to 1 page and include everything that helps you land that job. If I were applying for a chef job today, no way I'd list my TESC BA, it would certainly get my resume into the WRONG pile ;0 If I were applying for a chef-instructor position I certainly WOULD list that degree. Point? Marketing should sell you.

On a job application or during any other part of the process they may ASK you for "all" your degrees or jobs, and that's when/where you include them all.

Average time spent reading a resume is roughly 5-15 seconds.

There are tons, and tons, and tons of very well written websites and books that can help you zero in on your best assets and put it on paper.

[Publius]

What would you guys recommend putting on a degree when all you have is an Associates and Bachelors, with extremely limited work experience? There's lots of you folks out there who have a lot of educational achievements and significant work experience and would have no trouble filling up (at least) 2 pages. What about those of us that struggle to fill up half of a page? Is that all we do, I guess?
As someone who will graduate (hopefully) early next year, with an ASBA in General Management and a BSBA in Accounting, I'd like to work for an accounting firm. However I'm young and inexperienced.

[29palms]

What would you guys recommend putting on a degree when all you have is an Associates and Bachelors, with extremely limited work experience? There's lots of you folks out there who have a lot of educational achievements and significant work experience and would have no trouble filling up (at least) 2 pages. What about those of us that struggle to fill up half of a page? Is that all we do, I guess?
As someone who will graduate (hopefully) early next year, with an ASBA in General Management and a BSBA in Accounting, I'd like to work for an accounting firm. However I'm young and inexperienced.

Apply for government jobs. They instantly recognize a Bachelors for positions all of the time. Apply with IRS, they always look for people. Accounting is huge in the government especially IRS. Also, consider military. With a 4 year degree, you may be officer material. Not a bad pay, plus gain experience like mad. (You say you are young.) How is your physical fitness? If health is another matter, go with government jobs. Your lack of experience is a minor dent. You have age advantage. Another words. I don't feel sorry for your lack of experience holding a Bachelors degree or soon to be holding one within the next couple of years. You can do it!!! Finish the degree. Believe me, alot of places would line up to snatch you without experience just to train you their way. Maybe not quite line up to snatch you but anyone with recruiting skills looks for interns as a great investment. I wouldn't expect top pay off the bat, but you can make a pretty good start with the bachelors in accounting.

[mrs.b]

Highlight the experience you do have. Did you wait tables, work as a cashier, or anything that deals with money? Emphasize how you were responsible for reconciling your drawer, or anything that might be relevant or could appear that way. That said, do not go into great volumes about it because the people reading the resume will know you are stretching, but some relevant experience - even if it is minimal - is still noteworthy. In the education-related section, under where you list your degree, note relevant coursework that applies to the position, date completed, and your grade. Have you volunteered anywhere to give yourself some work experience? Animal rescue, homeless shelter, or any non-profits are great outlets to get relevant experience in your free time where on-the-job experience may be lacking. And volunteer work on a resume is very, very shiny if you can free up a day of your weekends for the next little while. More and more employers are putting stock in their CSR reputations, and bringing someone in that already has a mindset to give of their time and skills is another feather in your cap, even if formal paying work experience is a bit lacking.

[29palms]

I beg to differ on the volunteer thing for young man. A young man needs to be earning money, not volunteering around his services. I notice that most volunteers I have seen in my life time are usually older folks that have retired, and have nothing better to do with their time or money. Yet more to offer in terms of experience. Kind of tough for someone starting out to be volunteering around. It takes money and or another source of income to eat lunch for instance, driving around to work the site of which you will volunteer, sorry, I disagree with that aspect. Most volunteers are all ready professionals that have something on the table to offer. I saw a team working for ORBIS while in in El Salvador. They did volunteer services for the mission of restoring vision around the world. I can see volunteer pilots that need to gain flying time, experience, but most of them seemed that they were retired from an airlines all ready. Volunteering is nice but I say, leave it up to the older folks, retirees, or the unemployed living at home kind of guy waiting for his parents to keel over so that they can take over the house and parents money, maybe that guy makes a good volunteer aside being a volture.

[mrs.b]

Young people do need to be earning a living, true. I was not suggesting volunteer work instead of paid work, I was suggesting it in addition. While the job market is slowly improving, it is nowhere near where it needs to be for college graduates lacking work experience to easily get a job in the field they trained without that existing work experience. It requires an edge to be one of the few that finds a job (46.4%) and is not underemployed (roughly half of that 46.4%) in lower-paying or lower-qualification jobs than what they trained. Accounting is one of the fields that has somewhat better prospects, but a bullet point on the resume that says a candidate spends a bit of free time bettering the community is more likely to hit the "to be interviewed" pile than one that lists a second job bussing tables at a diner, or lacks that additional bullet point at all. There are still a lot of unemployed and underemployed older workers with ample work experience as well as education, and when up against that, any applicable experience a younger applicant can get is a benefit to their chances of getting some face time with the selection decision-maker.

Youth does have a bit of a boon, but many people have debated here countless times how much 'formal education but no work experience' does not match or surpass 'formal education as well as applicable work history of 4+ years,' and that latter group are the ones that were laid off during the employment crisis, many of which are now edging out recent grads for positions as the job market does soften and some positions do open back up. Non-profits are often welcoming of help. They may not be willing to let a volunteer do all their detailed accounting and tax work, but it is an appropriate resume notation no matter the position (it says "I am not one of those early-20-somethings that spend their weekends getting drunk to the exclusion of all else, I am of some benefit to my community"), and a fantastic way to network. Prior to this past year, I used to volunteer somewhat regularly, and at 36, I do not think I quite fit the elderly label and can promise I am not independently wealthy and just wasting time until I inherit a fortune. Most of those I worked alongside were similar in age and situation to me, more than a few of which owned their own businesses. In-kind contributions are the bread and butter of a lot of charities, particularly these days when businesses have a hard time justifying cash donations, and businesses that are willing to do that are often just as interested in hiring candidates of similar mindsets.

[Publius]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate them. Quite insightful.

As for volunteering, I don't think it's that bad of an idea. I'd rather be gaining experience (hopefully in my field) and not being paid then just sitting and waiting.

[cookderosa]

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate them. Quite insightful.

As for volunteering, I don't think it's that bad of an idea. I'd rather be gaining experience (hopefully in my field) and not being paid then just sitting and waiting.

Ok, seriously people? (not Publius, just in general) my thoughts are that if you have time for XBox you have time to volunteer. I log about 200 hours per year minimum as a volunteer (not counting types of service like this forum where I help others because I've been helped)- but I've been in several different types of service since I was 18 - from coaching teams, to organizing fund raisers, to hourly shifts at a free clinic. Hell, I even give blood every 56 days. I'm not trying to outdo anyone, I'm just saying that people should contribute. Altruism is good. One thing I will tell you about a volunteer job if you're unsure, is the people WANT to be there, it's a totally REFRESHING and RECHARGING type of environment to be in! My clinic (2 shifts per month) has never EVER been a chore. Literally, in 2 years I've never shown up that I didn't leave in a better disposition than when I arrived. Haters should try it ;p