Should You Remove Your College Graduation Year from Your Resume?

Deciding whether to include your college graduation year on your resume can be a nuanced choice, depending on several factors such as age discrimination, job relevance, and career stage. Let's explore the reasons for including or removing this information and best practices to ensure your resume presents you in the best light possible.

Reasons to Remove the Graduation Year

Age Discrimination

If you are concerned about age bias in the hiring process, removing your graduation year can help reduce the risk of your age being a deciding factor. Job applicants who have been out of school for a while may face age discrimination, and omitting this information can help keep your age a non-factor in the hiring process.

Focus on Skills and Experience

For experienced professionals, the focus should be on relevant skills and accomplishments. If you have substantial work experience in the field you are applying to, it is often more impactful to highlight your experience and skills rather than your graduation year. This approach can demonstrate your expertise and value to potential employers.

Career Changes

If you are transitioning to a new field, your educational background may become less relevant. Removing your graduation year can help shift the focus away from your background and emphasize your current skills and experience. Employers are more interested in what you can do for their organization than where you got your education.

Reasons to Keep the Graduation Year

There are also cases where it is beneficial to include your graduation year:

Transparency

Some employers value transparency and may prefer to see a complete picture of your educational timeline, including graduation years. For these employers, including your graduation year can provide a more comprehensive view of your background.

Relevant for Recent Graduates

If you recently graduated, including the year can demonstrate that you are up-to-date with the latest industry trends and qualifications. Recent graduates should prioritize highlighting their education along with their relevant skills and internships.

Educational Relevance

If your degree is highly relevant to the job you are applying for, including the graduation year can help establish your qualifications. In such cases, the year you graduated can be a valuable piece of information for the hiring manager to assess your fitness for the role.

Best Practices

The final decision on whether to include or remove your college graduation year should align with your personal circumstances and the job market you are navigating:

If you choose to keep the graduation year: Ensure the rest of your resume effectively highlights your skills and experiences. If you remove it: Make sure your resume still presents a strong professional narrative and does not leave a gap in the logical flow of your career path.

Overall, most job seekers should only include their college graduation year if they are a recent graduate within the past 3–5 years. For more seasoned professionals, your professional work experience is far more important than the year you graduated from college. By focusing on the right elements, you can create a resume that resonates with employers and sets you apart in the hiring process.