| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
MizLiz
Phoenix
Joined: Nov 08, 2008
Age: 24
Posts: 671
Location: USA
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:22 am Post subject: I dropped out of college. How do I say that on a resume? |
 |
|
Without it looking bad? Every sample resume I've found assumes you're either still in college or graduated, so I'm stuck. I can't just say "Dropped out."
Also, when they inevitably ask in the interview (assuming I get that far... I usually don't) why I left, any good dodges for that question?
Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
FaithHopeCheese
Snowy Owl
Joined: Oct 18, 2009
Age: 28
Posts: 134
Location: Dallas, TX
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 2:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
Why did you quit? Maybe you should continue..... What kind of jobs are you applying for?
_________________
Let them eat Yellowcake. |
|
| Back to top |
|
FaithHopeCheese
Snowy Owl
Joined: Oct 18, 2009
Age: 28
Posts: 134
Location: Dallas, TX
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 2:21 am Post subject: |
|
|
I didn't finish college either, and if I am applying for a job, I'm usually painfully honest. I think it depends on the type of job, though, whether it matters or not. Someone should have a proper answer for you, though. 
_________________
Let them eat Yellowcake.
Last edited by FaithHopeCheese on Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
psych
OTTer
Joined: Nov 23, 2005
Age: 31
Posts: 2206
Location: w london
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 2:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
be assertive: you didnt 'drop out', you stopped going. 'dropping out' is something a loser would do, a winner like yourself would have a 'change of direction'.
you could say you took a hiatus to pursue whatever else, but decided not to return because whatever else you were doing instead required your dedication/commitment*
*you get the idea, work in some buzzwords in that paint you sound dynamic, rather than neing the type of person who cant stick at something.
ive never been in a competitive interview, but i think thats vaguely the right sort of approach 
_________________
"Just look at us. Everything is backwards.. ..Doctors destroy health, lawyers destroy justice, universities destroy knowledge, governments destroy freedom, the major media destroy information and religion destroys spirituality" - Michael Ellner |
|
| Back to top |
|
MudandStars
Blue Jay
Joined: Oct 17, 2009
Posts: 98
Location: Australia
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 4:10 am Post subject: |
|
|
You could say you completed however many semesters you were at college for and put the focus on the fact you did some instead of on the fact you didn't finish.
_________________
“Two men looked through prison bars; one saw mud and the other stars.” Frederick Langbridge |
|
| Back to top |
|
Jaydog1212
Snowy Owl
Joined: Jan 09, 2009
Posts: 134
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Somehow give yourself credit for the classes that you did take. I applied for a job that required a CS degree. I didn't have a CS degree, so under my school I put "relevant coursework" and listed the 5 CS courses I did take. They called me for the interview and when they asked I just told them I was changing to another school because my school dropped their CS program (which was true). You could say that you decided to study online because it provides you the flexibility of working full-time. Somehow, put a positive spin on whatever you decide to say. |
|
| Back to top |
|
visagrunt
Deinonychus
Joined: Oct 17, 2009
Age: 42
Posts: 353
Location: Vancouver, BC
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
Assuming that you finished at least one term, I would list the college, the dates of attendance and the courses completed. If you didn't complete at term I wouldn't list it at all.
Save the explanation of why you didn't finish your course for the interview. Lot's of people don't finish, for lots of reasons (e.g. financial), so don't let that faze you.
_________________
--James |
|
| Back to top |
|
david_42
Sea Gull
Joined: Oct 19, 2009
Posts: 211
Location: PNW, USA
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 11:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
One line is plenty:
School, dates, "no degree" |
|
| Back to top |
|
MizLiz
Phoenix
Joined: Nov 08, 2008
Age: 24
Posts: 671
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I dropped out as a junior but did that many credits worth in something like a year and a half so if I listed the years it would look like I dropped out as a freshman. How do I word it? I need some kind of template to see what it looks like.
I quit because the bullshit wasn't worth my money. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Boston_MA
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Mar 22, 2009
Age: 22
Posts: 70
Location: Boston, MA USA
|
| Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I don't blame you for quitting. Better quit earlier than later if the college does not live up to the promise. Having some college is a plus! Honestly. My company hired only hired people who had a degree or some college. And you need someone to coach you on what to say and what not to say during the interview. I am sorry, but you may need an NT to help with what to say during the interview. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Jaydog1212
Snowy Owl
Joined: Jan 09, 2009
Posts: 134
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| MizLiz wrote: | I dropped out as a junior but did that many credits worth in something like a year and a half so if I listed the years it would look like I dropped out as a freshman. How do I word it? I need some kind of template to see what it looks like.
I quit because the bullshit wasn't worth my money. |
From the web:
If you didn't finish college, start with a phrase describing the field you studied, followed by the school and the dates (the fact that there was no degree may be missed).
Example:
Education:....Portland State University............................................Portland, OR
...........................................................................................................2000-2003
...........................-Relevant Coursework included Data Structures and Software Engineering.
Of course remove the "......" (just used to reflect spacing)
Here are some templates: MS Resume Templates |
|
| Back to top |
|
zer0netgain
Phoenix
Joined: Mar 03, 2009
Posts: 1344
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| psych wrote: | | be assertive: you didnt 'drop out', you stopped going. 'dropping out' is something a loser would do, a winner like yourself would have a 'change of direction'. |
+1
For what it is worth, an employer will think whatever they want to. I chose not to practice law. I'd love to know what most interviewers think when they see someone with a law degree who says he doesn't want to practice for "personal reasons." I'm sure they think I'm being lazy, but you can't do much about their perceptions. You can only put the best spin on it that you can.
You could say that you felt the academic environment wasn't benefiting you enough to justify what it was costing you to attend.
You could say finances were tight and you couldn't justify taking on massive amounts of debt not knowing if you'd make enough to repay the loans later (a real issue for today's students).
You could say that you found more rewarding pursuits you wanted to follow now rather than risk losing them by staying in college that offered no similar opportunity at the time.
You get the idea.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
MizLiz
Phoenix
Joined: Nov 08, 2008
Age: 24
Posts: 671
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Jaydog1212 wrote: | | MizLiz wrote: | I dropped out as a junior but did that many credits worth in something like a year and a half so if I listed the years it would look like I dropped out as a freshman. How do I word it? I need some kind of template to see what it looks like.
I quit because the bullshit wasn't worth my money. |
From the web:
If you didn't finish college, start with a phrase describing the field you studied, followed by the school and the dates (the fact that there was no degree may be missed).
Example:
Education:....Portland State University............................................Portland, OR
...........................................................................................................2000-2003
...........................-Relevant Coursework included Data Structures and Software Engineering.
Of course remove the "......" (just used to reflect spacing)
Here are some templates: MS Resume Templates |
Damn it. That's going to make it look like I only did one year when I busted my ass. Is there an elegant way to lie?
Thanks for the template though. That's been really snagging me on my resume. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Jaydog1212
Snowy Owl
Joined: Jan 09, 2009
Posts: 134
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| MizLiz wrote: |
Damn it. That's going to make it look like I only did one year when I busted my ass. Is there an elegant way to lie?
Thanks for the template though. That's been really snagging me on my resume. |
Example:
Education:....Portland State University............................................Portland, OR
...........................................................................................................2000-In Progress
...........................-Relevant Coursework included Data Structures and Software Engineering.
Of course remove the "......" (just used to reflect spacing) |
|
| Back to top |
|
arielhawksquill
Deinonychus
Joined: Jun 29, 2008
Posts: 330
Location: Illinois
|
| Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I didn't finish grad school, so my resume says "Completed 32 credit hours, Graduate School of the University of _______" as the last line of the "Education" subsection, and I get still get jobs. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
