How to list education, projects and certifications

Education and projects can be the strongest evidence in an early-career application. Treat them as specific work with a context, rather than filling space with every subject or course you have encountered.

State the qualification accurately

Include the qualification, institution and completion date or clearly labelled expected date. If study is incomplete, describe it as study toward a qualification; do not imply graduation. Use the original qualification name and add a short explanation when a reader may not recognise it.

Choose relevant modules and marks

A small selection of modules can explain relevant knowledge when you have little work experience. Only include grades when useful or requested, and retain the original scale. Do not invent a GPA conversion for another education system. You can omit marks when the application does not require them.

Give each project a purpose and contribution

State what you built or investigated, your role and the tools or methods used. For group work, distinguish your own work from the group outcome. Include a public repository or portfolio link when it is appropriate to share and the link works without special access.

Distinguish attendance from certification

Use the exact course or certificate title and issuing organisation. A completion certificate does not necessarily mean professional licensure or a proctored credential. Include expiry or renewal information when it matters, and avoid publishing private credential identifiers unnecessarily.

Choose the order by relevance

In the section organiser, move Education or Projects above Experience when they better support the application. The Graduate template starts with education in mind. For internships, read the student resume guide.

Sources and context

This guide combines original examples with instructions for the implemented Nepocore editor. For general career-writing principles, consult Harvard’s career-services resume resource. Requirements differ by recipient; follow the actual application instructions.

Examples are fictional. Guidance is general and is not a recruiter review or a guarantee of employment, parsing compatibility or application acceptance. Report an unclear instruction or a correction.