If someone needs to make a resume but failed out of college and has since been fairly successful in sales, what is the best way to include college experience in the resume? I’ve heard some college is better than none, which makes sense, but including the college information may result in some difficult questions. How can the sales experience be emphasized? Can some sort of addendum be included with a resume in such cases to offer an explanation of the past? Thanks!
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I am a professional resume developer and this is how I deal with someone with some college experience, but no degree.
Example:
EDUCATION:
Business courses, Stonehill College, Easton, MA
You simply include the general course of study and the college that you attended. Do not include the attendance time frame.
Don’t include an addendum, as it will only serve to focus on the education issue. Never answer a question that has not been asked.
If the question as to schooling arises during the interview process, you might say something like, “I found it necessary to join the workforce.” That is true, but ambiguous enough that it can indicate a lack of funds, family issues, or whatever.
Don’t indicate to a potential employer that the door to further education is closed, either. You never know when you may find your calling and decide to go back to school.
I was a 10th grade drop out but I went back to school in my 40′s and graduated summa *** laude, so you just never know.
You can emphasize your success in sales by detailing your accomplishments in that area. If you cannot afford to pay a resume developer, there are many good resume books at the public library.
Good luck. I’m sure you’ll do fine.
I have a similar background, although I didn’t fail out, I just quit college – moved to california – and through years of hard work am now experienced in project management as well as SQA and technical writing..anyway…enough about me…
I generally put this – Upon Request – under the college experience summary in the resume. Unless you are working in a foreign country where college degrees are the only way to a job, I have found that most people that have interviewed me have never bothered to ask – especially since I now have years of experience doing what I do.
If they do ask…just tell them something that they want to hear….like..”I went for 2 years but got caught up in my career – I have always planned on taking some online courses in my spare time”.