Showing Some College Experience on Resume

Dear Deb:

I did not complete my college degree.  It’s been nine years since I stopped and I have about half of the hours complete. At this point, I doubt I will complete the degree.  I notice that a lot of customer service manager positions will state, “Some college experience” in the job requirements.  How do I express that on the resume?  

Thank you!

Phoebe

Dear Phoebe:

Some experts will say that it is not necessary to show the half-completed degree because it can be seen in a negative way.  Some hiring managers may see it a time when you quit rather than staying on course.  However, if you are applying for positions in which a degree is not required and some amount of college coursework is preferred, showing the coursework will benefit you.  

It is important how you show it.  Definitely do not embellish. For example, leading the reader to believe that you have a degree by showing the information in a nebulous way is a no-no.  Secondly, do not put up a front that the degree is in progress if it is not in progress.  The best way to present it is to showcase it as an accomplishment rather than a ‘near accomplishment.’   This is an example of how I would present education on your resume:

University of Texas, Austin, TX

Highlights of Coursework:  Managerial Accounting, Principles of Marketing, Public Relations, Business Ethics, Calculus, and Spanish I/II

Choose the courses that are most relevant to your customer service manager career.  It is not necessary to list the general education classes are ones that do not support your goal. For example, if you took a foreign language, that would be a good class to show since many service positions value bilingual employees. Please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to help you more extensively.

All the best,

Deb