Listing degree on resume

[defscarlett]

I have completed all coursework for my AAS in Environmental, Safety & Security Technologies from TESC, I'm just waiting until TESC can finish my evaluation before I can apply for Graduation. After all of my original evaluation is completed I will still need to wait for a few other transcripts to come in for things I have completed since I originally applied. I am just finishing up ALEKS, SL Eng I & II and CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Lit. and from what I understand it will take an additional 6-8 weeks for those to be added to my transcript.

I'm currently applying for a job; Can I list a degree if completed, but not conferred?

It's an online application and the job does require a degree and I know that if I list "No" to whether or not I have a degree that the application will immediately get trash canned.

[Moose]

I'm currently applying for a job; Can I list a degree if completed, but not conferred?

Yes, you can. If the online application does not give you the option of adding more info about the status, make sure you mention that it has not been conferred (if a recruiter contacts you).

We process and interview plenty of candidates who list "80/120 units B.S. in Statistics completed" or something like that. We just ask for clarification when we see anything like that on the app.

[mrs.b]

For graduation date, put your estimated conferral date which will be some time in the future, and should be fairly clear to recruiters that it is not yet awarded. You can also tack "(in progress)" at the end of the area of study field in the online application if there are no other fields in the online app to include a description, to make it more clear that it is being worked on but not yet conferred.

[cookderosa]

You ALWAYS list your education that is in progress along with anything already finished. Here is how you list an in-progress degree (which yours is until you've completed your last credits post) and I'm making up a grad date, I don't know when yours will be.

Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, NJ
AAS in Environmental, Safety & Security Technologies
expected completion: July 2013

ABCD High School, My Town, IL
Diploma
May 2010



You need to send a cover letter with your resume/application. Everyone does this as they near graduation. It can say something like "My name is Def Scarlett and I will be graduating from Thomas Edison State College on June X, 2013 with an Associate degree in Environmental, Safety & Security Technologies........I would like to be considered for the position of X..........blah blah blah.........I look forward to talking with you regarding my candidacy for this position."

Now, if you are applying to work at Walmart, you don't list that you have the degree. But, if you are applying for a degree in your field that wouldn't start until AFTER you have this credential, then I'd check "yes" on the online applications which require a simple yes/no check-box answer. Many applications allow you to enter your graduation date, in which case you can post-date it to your expected date. So, you'd check "yes" but then on the question asking the date of graduation, you'd mark June 2013 (or whenever it actually will be).

Good luck!! The job market can be brutal! I'd also suggest the newest What Color is Your Parachute, your library has it. Really, really, really great resource!

[sanantone]

Now, if you are applying to work at Walmart, you don't list that you have the degree.

LOL. This made me chuckle.

[LaterBloomer]

You might also want to check with the HR office. Where I work, if you're going to obtain the degree within the academic year, you may put down that you have the degree.

[bldclot2]

LOL. This made me chuckle.

It's funny, but if you list your degree while applying to lower paying jobs, you will most likely be considered over-qualified. Not joking, it happened to me this holiday season, I applied to Target to make some extra holiday money and was told at the interview that I was over-qualified for the night shift stock room. Funny stuff!

[sanantone]

It's funny, but if you list your degree while applying to lower paying jobs, you will most likely be considered over-qualified. Not joking, it happened to me this holiday season, I applied to Target to make some extra holiday money and was told at the interview that I was over-qualified for the night shift stock room. Funny stuff!

I got that too for a job that paid more than the job I used to have at the time I interviewed. Listing my masters program has only made things worse. Now, I'm overqualified for jobs that require an associates or bachelors degree. Yet, I don't have enough experience (10+ years) for anything else.

[rvm]

I was an IT manager for years. Now, I'm an p/t independent recruiter (and p/t web developer). I've seen many resumes. I'm always surprised when I interview a candidate and find out they have taken many classes and have certifications that they did not list [on their resumes] simply b/c they do not yet have their bachelors degree. I tell candidates (job seekers) they need to make their resumes look as "WOW" as possible but be truthful. List your TESC degree. But list it as "Expected Date of Graduation: <month> 2013" - basically the same thing Jennifer said. I would ask TESC to give you the best estimate of when you will be conferred and list that on your resume.

[Stitching Belle]

Now, if you are applying to work at Walmart, you don't list that you have the degree.

I'm afraid that advice is a little broad--after all, there are plenty of jobs at Walmart that require degrees!