You just graduated and you are starting to search for your first job.
At first, it sounds scary, we know.
You had a Major and probably also a Minor in your college. You had all this theory in a specific field, and if you were lucky, you also had some practice.
You are not sure how they are going to help you get that first job and gain some experience and you are probably wondering whether it’s a good idea to include your degrees at all.
It’s okay, we got you covered.
Here are a couple of tips on how to use major and minor degrees in your resume to your advantage (with some examples).
And if you want to gain more knowledge on how to make a perfect resume, you can look through our Resume Examples and then use that tips and tricks in our Resume Builder.
Are you ready?
Should you include a minor on your resume?
Obtaining knowledge in a secondary discipline (a minor) makes you more attractive for the Recruiters. Your knowledge has become more diverse or more specified and this could make you a perfect job candidate.
So this means that minors could open many additional doors.
The best thing to do is to determine if your minor is relevant enough to be included.
Generally, you want to try keeping your resume as clean and simple as possible and it’s better to write information that adds value.
If your minor is relevant, include it for sure. It will catch the Recruiter’s eye and could ensure you get that interview.
When is it okay to stop putting Major/Minor on my resume?
That will vary depending on what you’re applying for, how related it is to the position, and how impressive your Major/Minor degree is. There is a time when your degree stops adding value to your application.
You should however determine the specific timing for taking it off your application for yourself
If you don’t know when, answer these questions, and it will be easier for you to figure it out:
- Does the point show success or highlight a skill?
- Are those skills or attributes valued?
- Are those skills or attributes already communicated someplace else?
- Do you have experience in the sector?
How to List Degrees and Minors on Resume
Add Information on Your Degree
When listing your Degree and Minors you should includе the name and location (city) of the college you attended, and the date you got that degree. Write the type of degree you earned and your major and minor area of study.
Start with the major one.
Be sure to include all that information in the section called Education, so it would be easily seen.
When you have little or no experience, it’s better to add this section before the Experience one.
You could show what you have done in your college, what are your strong skills and abilities and include any additional work that would be relevant to your application.
Examples for relevant additional information are GPA, relevant coursework and activities, awards, and etc.
We will go through them later in the article.
List Your Major First
- Major on a Resume—Examples
EDUCATION
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering
Graduation year: June 2019
- Examples for listing a double major on a resume – list your primary major first and then your secondary major in the same line
EDUCATION
Columbia University – New York City, New York
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology: Major in Health Sciences, Major in Nutrition
Graduation year: June 2020
GPA 3.5 / 3.9,
Follow Your Major With a Minor – Examples
EDUCATION
University of California, Berkeley — California, MD
Bachelor of Arts: Major in Sociology, Minor in Psychology
Graduation year: June 2016
EDUCATION
Loyola University Maryland — Baltimore, MD
Bachelor of Arts: Major in Psychology, Minor in History
Graduation year: June 2020
GPA 3.6 / 3.8, Dean’s List for 7 semesters
Consider Adding Extra Information
If you don’t have a lot of experience, you should try including relevant information for the position, such as your GPA, coursework, or extracurricular activities.
However, when it comes to including GPA, do it only if your grade is more than 3, if it’s less, better leave it off.
When writing extracurricular activities you’re involved in, describe what you did, rather than what it was. For example, I planted 400 trees as part of the environmental club.
Include more information about your activities when you have the chance.
Simply listing that you’re a member of many clubs/organizations doesn’t mean much.
Another good way to demonstrate your expertise is by including your relevant coursework if you are still freshly graduated.
If you’re applying for a job that emphasizes the importance of academic experience, like an internship or other education-focused position, it would be best to include a relevant coursework section on your resume.
If you have enough space, you could include them in a bullet list. This way it would be easier for the Recruiter to read.
Another way to write it is a separate section if you want to include more than just the names of the classes. A perfect way to tell the Recruiter what you have learned through your studies when they are related to the job you are applying to.
See more information on how to perfect the Education section on your resume, here.
Key Takeaways: Listing Major & Minor on Resume
Now you know how to list a Major and a Minor in your resume.
Here are the key tips you could use to make your resume preferable, even when you have little to no experience:
- Include the education section to your resume and place it before the experience section to be easily seen.
- Include the name of the college and location, degrees earned (major and minor), and graduation date.
- Include information on your major. If you hold a double major make sure you list your primary major first.
- Add information on your minor just like you did for the major.
- You could add extra information to your education section to make it more powerful, such as GPA, relevant coursework and activities, awards, and etc.
***
What are your thoughts? Did you list your Major and Minor degree on your resume? Give us a shout-out in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
Make one that's truly you.
