How to explain an education gap on my resume
A little background:
After graduating with my degree in Economics & Finance, I was offered a position as a grad assistant at my college, and I did a semester of the M.S. in Economics program. Towards the end of that semester, I was given a great offer at my current company, and I decided that it made much more sense for me to get a few years experience and get my MBA rather than getting my masters' at my current college (non-target).
I've been with my company for about a year and a half, and right now I'm applying for jobs again (trying to move into M&A). I want to put my work as a grad assistant on my resume, but I'm not quite sure how to go about that without immediately raising eyebrows about the fact that I only did one semester of the masters' program. Anybody have any advice or any similar experiences?
Drop the grad assistant. If you had a good job (good enough to drop a masters for) the grad assistant role is low impact.
As for me it’s a very big problem. When i was choosing a speciality to study for i relied on those one where credits were provided. I realized that diplomas and what there is written mean nothing for employers. So I've chosen philologist and get a scholarship. But now i've faced with the problem of where to go to work and how to make my resume effective, i solved this problem with some guys. I hope i will find the best job for me.
I'd probably include it since it was a productive time that highlights your smarts even if you didn't decide to stay in the program. Plus, you'll probably end up talking about it either way in an interview so might as well include it. To the extent that anyone notices, the gap would probably raise more eyebrows than a brief stint as a grad assistant.
Perhaps put it in the work experience section of your resume rather than in the education section. You can just say you were a graduate assistant in the xyz Economics Department and provide a few bullets. That'll help bridge the gap without emphasizing that you left the program.
Since your weren't kicked out of the program, I'm sure you can come up with a perfectly reasonable explanation of why you took the offer
I never understood why companies care so much about gaps in a resume, especially when someone was able to get a great job after said gap. As if there's something wrong with wanting to take a few months off and going to travel the world or learn something new.
It's as if companies think "this guy was able to live without a paycheck for a few months which means he won't be a slave to us/his paycheck"
Looks like this thread's back alive after two years lol. For anybody who's still wondering about this, I kept the grad assistantship on my resume, got an interview and told the interviewers exactly my reasoning behind it. They totally understood, and it wasn't even an issue. Been working with them ever since!
Totally agree with you xfactor: it really is a shame that taking some time off to do something unique is frowned upon by a lot of companies. God forbid we hire somebody interesting!
Gap Year on Resume (Originally Posted: 12/23/2017)
Hello everyone,
I did my undergraduate in a non-target french school and I got my degree last summer. I decided to take a gap-year to gain experience and to be sure I really want to work in this industry. I am currently in the half of my first internship and starting to look for a second internship in Europe before to start a master in finance next year. I don't know how to build my resume since I still don't know where I am going to be at school next year for my MIF.
Should I write on my resume or/and my email that I am going to start my MIF in September 2018 ? (but I have not apply yet)
Some friends also suggested me to just let my ''non-target'' school on my resume and write I am going to do my master at the same university otherwise it looks very confused.
Thank you guys
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