DEFINITELY Leave High School Off Your Resume!

I have a former student — a college graduate — who was valedictorian of her high school. Quite an accomplishment — years ago — but no one cares about it anymore, yet she still clings to it on her resume (partly because her college career was less than stellar). Even in her case, I recommended removing the high school stuff as soon as she was a college student.

So, here’s the rule. If you made it into college, one can assume that you completed your high-school education in some fashion, so drop it off your resume. Why should you waste precious space on your resume on an accomplishment that is inconsequential to most employers. Note to non-U.S. job-seekers: The norm for curriculum vitaes in many countries outside the U.S. is to list your high school education, but if you’re applying for a job in the U.S., leave it off.

Why are you clinging to that high school degree? Take it off your resume!

But, you also raise an interesting question for all older job-seekers — we baby boomers and older job-seekers. At some point — probably in your 40s — I would remove dates from college degrees as a preemptive strike against the possibility of age discrimination. (Be careful, though, as some employers, and especially recruiters want to see all dates from college on.) While you’re a little young to be worrying about age discrimination, others might be interested in our growing section of Job and Career Resources for Mature and Older Workers.