Presenting a 9-month BS on a resume?

[JanusthePhoenix]

What are everyone's thoughts on this? On the one hand, the employer could interpret it as "Wow! What a quick learner!" On the other hand, the obvious potential negative reaction is "What kind of crappy degree can a person possibly earn in 9 months?" It could lead to some awkward questions.

"So how long did you spend studying economics?"
"Errr...15 days?"

So has anyone successfully spun this to an employer? How did you do it? If not, how would you do it? Should the subject simply be avoided altogether?

[jaer57]

Usually you only put when you graduated on your resume; at least that is what I have always done since I graduated in spring last year. However, if it comes up in conversation, or they require transcripts and see the timeline; you should be truthful.

While it took you nine months to test and be awarded the degree, the degree is a culmination of years of non-traditional education, right? It is not like you started nine months prior to your degree with a blank brain; you were educated somewhere, whether it was formal or informal, self-taught or instructed, etc. Just practice how you would answer that question now, so when it comes up (if it comes up), you are ready with a brilliant response. You could always compare yourself to the movie Good Will Hunting with CLEP's.

Full disclosure: I was not in your position when I went job hunting. I was the other extreme and took 11 years from when I started to finish my bachelors. Good luck on your job hunt!

[P00057870]

Confirmed! Most resumes only reflect the year of completion and the type of degree.

Like the last poster said, be prepared in case they ask but don't offer if they don't.

One of the hardest things I have had to learn in life is to know when to shut up, and not keep rambling. Frankly, my thoughts are that it speaks more of us if we have actually gone back and completed this. Many people just never get around to it.

Be proud of your accomplishments.

[JanusthePhoenix]

Ha, I was really kind of hoping that someone has been able to spin it correctly as a shining bullet point. It would actually be rather accurate to say that I will have completed 4 years of naval service in addition to my bachelor's in a span of about 5 years. I did a lot of my learning prior to taking all these CLEPs, and I also have something like 20 credits from advancement exams and such.

Thanks for the responses.

[jaer57]

Ha, I was really kind of hoping that someone has been able to spin it correctly as a shining bullet point. It would actually be rather accurate to say that I will have completed 4 years of naval service in addition to my bachelor's in a span of about 5 years. I did a lot of my learning prior to taking all these CLEPs, and I also have something like 20 credits from advancement exams and such.

Thanks for the responses.

Some of your credits come from ACE-approved Navy schools, right? That technically means that your degree took you 6 years to get from start to finish...

[cookderosa]

In IC speak- I had 1 free elective class worth 2 credits from 15 years ago- then nothing. For 6 months I took CLEPs/DSSTs then enrolled at TESC for 1 year. I took a few local (online) classes plus classes at TESC. I earned 122 credits in 18 months.


Here is my spin, which is 100% truthful. Your spin may vary

I started with that 2 credit class in 1992 but didn't get serious about earning my degree until 2004. I enrolled at TESC for my last year of school, which is where I finished my degree. For about 18 months, I doubled up on classes from 2 different colleges and found classes that could be completed by testing out. By working non-stop at double speed, I finished my degree in a year and a half.

P.S. Yes, only use your graduation date.

[HawkGuy]

Most employers don't care how long you took to earn your degree. They just want to know where, when, and the subject. My spin is similar to yours. I just say I started college while in the Army, but a couple vacations to the middle east put off my graduation. Once I came home, I finished everything up and graduated.

Saying it like that allows you to inject your military service. Every time I've said that, people ask about my military time, not my degree. When people ask about my Liberal Studies major, I just tell them I'm a man of many talents and I know just enough to make me dangerous. I've never failed to get a laugh out of that