How to Write Your Resume If You Dont Have a Degree

How to Write Your Resume If You Dont Have a Degree Resume dilemma No degreeAre your fellow job seekers leaving you in the dust, nabbing the great jobs because they have educational credentials that you lack? Follow these tips to put your best foot forward on your resume and compete with others who have mora impressive educational backgrounds.Emphasize your strongest credentialsThink about why an employer should hire you out of all the applicants for the job. What do you offer that they dont? Perhaps you have practical work experience and skills that are relevant to the job. If your experience is stronger than your education, place your work history before education on your resume, and write about your career achievements, track record of results and industry knowledge.Include a detailed listing of your accomplishments throughout your career. Prove that your work performance has been outstanding and you would be an asset to your future employers operation. By the time hiring managers read your resumes Education section, they should be so impressed by the value you offer that educational shortcomings could be overlooked.Its true that some employers will not be interested in you because you lack the job openings educational requirement, but you will find other employers that welcome your experience, skills and expertise.Highlight alternative education and trainingMaybe you lack a formal degree, but youve participated in ongoing training throughout your career. You can emphasize all of your continuing education by creating a Professional Development section within the Education section. Think about job-related training, certifications, conferences, in-service training, seminars, online learning and even self-directed study. For some professionals, this section can be quite impressive, and showing recent, up-to-date training can be more valuable than a dated degree.Show in-progress educationInclude partially completed or in-progress education.ExamplesIf you are curr ently enrolled in a programABC COLLEGE (City, ST)Enrolled in Bachelor of Arts program, major in ... , degree expected 5/11If you partially completed a program and dont intend to completeDEF COLLEGE (City, ST)Earned XX credits toward a Bachelor of Arts degree, 9/99 to 5/02Apply even if you lack the educational credentialIf you see a job opening that requires a certain level of education and feel you can do the job based on your experience or skills, send your resume anyway. The hiring manager might prefer to hire someone with the stated level of education, but your resume could stand out because of your other qualifications.Whenever possible, follow up on resumes that you submit. Many employers using electronic resume-tracking systems automatically screen out applicants who dont meet the educational requirements. You will have a much better chance of convincing an employer that you are a strong candidate if you make a personal connection with a hiring manager.Return to schoolIf you continue to hit roadblocks because of your educational background, it might be time to hit the books again. Do whatever it takes to reach your goal Enroll in night classes, take online courses or start a distance-learning program. The fact that you are pursuing further education could make you more marketable to employers, positiv you will be taking steps to ensure you have the credentials to succeed in a competitive job market.Have a resume reviewIts easier said than done, but dont let your frustration get to you. Could you use some help strengthening your resume? Get a free resume evaluation today from the experts atMonsters Resume Writing Service. Youll get detailed feedback in two business days, including a review ofyour resumes appearance and content, and a prediction of a recruiters first impression.Its a quick and easy way to be sure your skills and passion for the job shine through.