The Big Three- How Does One Lists Dates of Attendance Correctly on a Resume?

[Saharapost]

I actually don't list my start dates on my resume, only graduation dates. If an application requires both (many do), then you'll use your actual TESC dates of enrollment (which may only be 6 months or so).
Depending on what constitutes your resume, you may want to break it down by "Degrees" and "Other Education." I do both, which allows me to list dates of attendance for everything that didn't result in a degree- including CEUs. This is a copy/paste of the part of my resume that includes some of my transfer credit that went into my TESC degree, it's nestled in with other education chronologically.

2009 E.I.C.C.D. eTeaching Institute, Denver, CO
Developing Online Courses (Certification)

2009 Wiley Faculty Network Learning Technology, NJ
* Human Resources in Hospitality Certificate
* Food Cost and Purchasing Certificate

2008 Tulane University Center for Public Health.
Food as a Weapon of Terror (1 CEU)

2008 Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Undergraduate coursework in Science (16 credits)

2008 Harvard University, Extension, Cambridge, MA
Graduate coursework in Psychology (8 credits)


Since I'm in academics, I have a CV which can include "everything" and generally does. So, my "other education" is a full page, but it's somewhere back around page 5. My degrees, on the other hand, are front and center page 1. You'll do whatever you feel presents your skills in the best way and is still honest.

Thank you, Cookderosa for your excellent tips. The "Other Education" idea is something I'll try too.

[Tedium]

2008 Tulane University Center for Public Health.
Food as a Weapon of Terror (1 CEU)

Holy crap, that class sounds fun!

Back on topic, I would personally go with Chebasaz's suggestion. Just the graduation date. No muss, no fuss.

[burbuja0512]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE DON'T LIST DATES!!!!

I'm sorry - I will have to respectfully disagree with everyone on the thread. Do not list ANY dates.. PLEASE. I cannot stand when I am reviewing resumes and there are dates. There is never a good reason to list dates. Who cares when you graduated???

Just list the college, degree attended and any other pertinent info. Here is why.. What does your graduation date say about you to the wrong person? Here are some things I have heard:

1) Graduated date from a long time ago: Too old. Maybe they aren't very tech savvy
2) Graduated recently with minimal experience: Too young - even if it's for an entry level job, kids these days think they know it all.
3) Graduated recently but with a lengthy resume: Why didn't they graduate when they were young? Were they a rebellious drop-out from college or just poor?

I am serious people.. granted I work in sales and have had to put up with nastiness like this for years (except at my new job where the people are AMAZING) my whole point here is that you can't win. There is NO good way to put a date on a resume. The only truly relevant reason to do it is if you have absolutely no work experience and you want to include college internships or volunteer work in lieu of real world experience. Other than that, please do not put it on. I would never, EVER discriminate as a hiring manager, but I have talked to people who do. Not that you would ever want to work for one of these jerks, but what if the jerk isn't the hiring manager, but someone reviewing resumes. The decision-maker usually brings in at least two or three other people for an important position.. your future boss may be the coolest person ever, but if some jerk from another department is called in and he or she cuts out your resume before you got an interview because of a preconceived notion about age + degree, you'll be in trouble.


Sorry for the negative post. I wish I hadn't seen this sort of thing in action