One of the most common questions is whether to place your education or your experience section first. The answer is not universal; it changes based on your professional background, the industry you’re targeting, and your immediate career goals. Structuring your resume correctly is about presenting your most compelling qualifications upfront to make a strong first impression.
When to Put Experience First
For the majority of job seekers, the professional experience section should be the primary focus, positioned directly after your contact information and summary. Recruiters and hiring managers are most interested in what you have accomplished in a real-world setting, as past performance is often seen as a predictor of future contributions. Your work history tells a story of your skills in action.
This approach allows you to immediately showcase a track record of responsibilities and achievements. When a hiring manager spends just a few seconds on an initial resume scan, seeing a list of relevant job titles and accomplishments can be more impactful than a degree earned years ago. If your work history is more directly related to the job you are applying for than your academic background, it should lead.
The definitive rule is to assess which section better sells you for the specific role. If you have been in the workforce for more than a year or two in a relevant capacity, your professional history is almost always the more impressive qualification. This demonstrates to a potential employer that you have already successfully applied your knowledge in a professional context, which is a powerful endorsement of your capabilities.
When to Put Education First
Placing your education section before your work experience is a strategic choice for specific circumstances where your academic background is your strongest qualification. This approach is most beneficial when your degree or recent training is more relevant to the target job than your previous employment. It signals to employers that your academic credentials are the primary foundation for the value you can bring to the role.
Recent graduates with limited or no professional history should always list their education first. In this scenario, your degree, coursework, and academic projects are your main selling points. It highlights that you have the most current knowledge and training in your field, which can be a significant advantage for entry-level positions.
This strategy also applies to individuals making a significant career change. If you have recently earned a degree or certification to facilitate a move into a new industry, that credential is more pertinent than your past work experience. For example, a former marketing professional who has just completed a data science bootcamp should highlight that new qualification. Similarly, in academic, scientific, or research fields where a specific advanced degree like a Ph.D. or Master’s is a fundamental requirement, education should be featured prominently at the top of the resume.
Handling Special Circumstances
For current students
If you are still completing your degree, your education section should be listed first. Include the name of your institution, your degree program, and your anticipated graduation date. This provides recruiters with a clear timeline and shows you are actively working toward a relevant qualification.
When a specific degree is required
Even for seasoned professionals, if a job advertisement explicitly states that a particular degree is a non-negotiable requirement, it is wise to ensure your education section is highly visible. While you may not need to move it before your experience, you could use a resume summary to mention your degree at the very top, confirming you meet the baseline criteria.
Formatting Best Practices for Each Section
For your experience section, the standard format is to list your job title, the company’s name, its location, and the dates of employment. Underneath, use three to five bullet points that start with strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments, not just your duties.
For the education section, clearly state your degree, major, university, and its location, followed by your graduation date. It is standard practice to omit your high school information if you have attended college. You should also typically leave out your GPA unless you are a recent graduate and it is 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
The Final Check
Remember that your resume is not a static document; it should be adapted for each job application. Tailor your resume by re-evaluating the order of your sections based on the specific requirements listed in the job description. Finally, always proofread your resume multiple times to catch any errors.