Tips for Including Your Expected Graduation Date on a Resume

No. Not only is it unnecessary to put a starting date for your education but it can even be harmful if it’s taken you longer than it would take a typical college student to go through the program. For example, if you weren’t able to pass classes in some of your semesters, this could raise a flag for the recruiter. You only need to put the year you’re expecting to graduate, not the year that you started your education.

If you’re applying to work at a job while you’re still in high school, you may want to list your expected graduation date when you’ll leave high school. This is typically helpful because many states have laws regarding how much a high school student can work, which might not apply when you graduate, even if you’re under 18. Including your expected graduation date can help a potential employer know when you can move to a full-time schedule.

While not necessary in every situation, including an expected graduation date is a good way to let a recruiter know when you’ll be done with an important part of your career journey. This is especially beneficial if you’re trying to line up a job right after you graduate. For entry-level jobs that don’t require a college degree, this may not be hugely important. But the more information you can add to a professional resume, the better off you’ll be when trying to find your first job.