Resume With no College Degree Example + Writing Tips

No degree? No problems. History knows plenty of highly successful college dropouts who banked on practical experience over formal education. Besides, enrolling in a university isn’t the only way to obtain a great education today. As we’ll discuss in this post, you have plenty of alternative options.

But you are still wondering: how to address your lack of a degree in a resume. Below is an example of a resume without a college degree followed by specific tips.

Resume Template With no College Degree (Word version)

Download resume example (.docx)

No College Degree Resume Example (plain text)

Craft a Compelling Resume Summary Statement (or Resume Objective)

Open your resume with a succinct and memorable resume summary statement pitching the value you can bring to the company. Think of it as a quick “punch line” that immediately grabs attention and brands you as an experienced and interesting candidate.

Here are a few tips to help you brainstorm a solid summary statement:

• Attempt to write it after the work experience section.
• Create a quick list of 3-5 top achievements in your career based on what you wrote in the experience section.
• Re-read the job posting once again to determine which ones will be the most relevant to the employer.
• Don’t pitch what you “can do”. Instead tell, what you have already accomplished.
• Avoid vague, generic statements like these will make you sound like every other candidate applying for the job.

Keep The Focus on Your Accomplishments and Experience

In the chronological resume format, the “Work Experience” section comes first. Thus, you’ll have plenty of room to make a solid impression before the HR scans to the bottom education part. Make this section the focal point of your resume. Speak to your accomplishments at every position you have held, quantifying them with relevant numbers whenever possible. Showcase that you have solid hard and soft skills, highly relevant to the announced position. Prove that you are a solid performer that can bring a tangible impact to the new organization.

Emphasize Alternative Education and Courses

Today formal education can be easily replaced with alternative training, offered by e-learning providers and MOOCs. In fact, prestigious universities like Harward, Stanford, Yale, and others offer free online courses and issue certificates of completion. Moreover, there’s plenty of niche credentials you can obtain to complement your work experience and demonstrate that you have an up-to-date, hands-on skill set.  Add these to your education section to make it more authoritative. Also, you can list all the professional training you have obtained on the job, plus add masterclasses, conferences, industry certifications and so on.

Review Your Resume Carefully

Once you are done with the initial writing, change gears for a while and then sit down to review your resume once again. Specifically, look for any gaps or vagueness that may leave the employer wondering about your expertise.

Sprinkle in additional power words and keywords (taken from the job description). Beef up your accomplishments and duties and re-check the texts for any grammar and formatting mistakes.

Final Tip: Apply Even if Your Feel Underqualified

A lot of job posts come with specific education requirements in terms of BA/MA. Don’t skip on these if you feel that you are otherwise a strong fit. A lot of employers prefer candidates with strong hands-on experience to those with a less diverse background, but a standard degree.

Thus, emphasize your skills and career progression to showcase what results you can drive for this particular company. The best way to do so is by writing a strong resume summary/career statement and placing a stronger accent on your skills.