How to put expected graduation date on a resume?

Many university students and recent graduates face difficulty in how to put the expected graduation date on a resume. The date you expect to graduate from your degree or diploma program is important information for potential employers. It tells them how far you have come along in your studies and helps them understand the adaptability you may require in your job schedule. For example, if you are expecting to graduate in the spring, you may be able to start work full-time in the summer or fall. 

On the other hand, if you are still working on your degree or diploma, you may need to work part-time while you finish your studies. Having an expected graduation date on your resume will give potential employers a better understanding of your availability and commitments.

Where To Include Expected Graduation Date On Resume

One of the first things you’ll list in your resume is your graduation date. Typically, you’ll include this information in the education section, which needs to be at the top. If you’re still in college, mention your expected graduation date after the name of your school. For example: “Smith College, Expected Graduation May 2022.” make sure your expected graduation date is easy to find. Employers should be able to see when you’ll be available to start work quickly.

Tips On How To Write Expected Graduation Date

Here are some steps on how to write the expected graduation date on a CV

CALCULATE YOUR EXPECTED GRADUATION DATE

Suppose you are still in college and not certain about the expected graduation date. In such a case, you can include your graduation year. For example, you may write “Expected Graduation, Fall 2023”. Moreover, many universities and colleges have online expected graduation date calculators on their websites to help you find the expected graduation date. To be assured, visit the website of your institute.

NAME OF YOUR DEGREE

After identifying your anticipated graduation date, the first step is to mention the degree program you intend to graduate from. You may put “B.S. in Accounts and Finance if you’re studying accounts and finance.” You can write it as “B.E. in Biomedical Engineering. if you are studying biomedical engineering.”

NAME THE INSTITUTE

Typically, the name of your institute will come just below the degree program. Whiling naming your institute to make sure to add the state, and city where your institute is located, for example, ” Stanford University, Stanford, California

ADD YOUR EXPECTED GRADUATION DATE

Finally, Add your expected graduation date. Your expected graduation date comes just below the name of your institute. You can write the expected date, month or simply a year. However, clarify that this is a predetermined graduation date and not the final date. For example, you can write as, Anticipated graduation date, march 15, 2023 or Graduation: Fall 2023 (expected). Additionally, you can add your GPA below your expected graduation date if greater than 3.0. Otherwise, you can leave it off.

  • Maintain The Consistent Format

When you’re listing your education on your resume, list the most recent degree first. If you are having multiple degrees, list the highest education first.

Here is an example:

 Education

 2021 M.E. in BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

STANFORD University, STANFORD, CA

3.5 GPA

2019 B.E. in BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

JOHN HOPKINS University, Baltimore, Maryland 

3.8.0 GPA

  • Include Relevant CourseWork

Include relevant coursework details in your resume. For example, if you took Biomechanics and Genetics classes as part of your Biomedical Engineering degree, list those courses under your education section. This shows potential employers that you have the skills they’re looking for and makes it easy to see how your qualifications match their needs.

  • Include Relevant Project/Thesis

Employers want to know what you’ve done, not just what you’ve studied. If you have made any hardware device or performed research relevant to the work you are applying for, list them in your academic section.

  • Mention Expected Graduation Date

If you’re still in university or will be graduating soon, list your graduation date correctly on your resume and other professional documents. Don’t forget to include words like “anticipated,” “expected,” or “pending” to avoid any misinterpretation.

  • Include Relevant Certifications

Create a separate section to list down all your certifications. Certifications include short courses, workshops etc. list down your certification in reverse chronological order.

Include Relevant Certifications

Sample Resume With Expected Graduation Date

Following is an example of a resume that includes the expected graduation date listed.

Sara Peter

640 Q. Poplar Court

San Francisco, CA 94180

(456) 655-5355

[email protected]

Summary of qualifications

  • Excellent working knowledge of AutoCAD modeling and drafting
  • Proficiency in anatomy, physiology, and genetics.
  • Awareness of biomedical imaging procedures such as X-rays, MRIs, and C.T. scans
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Familiarity with Biomedical Imaging techniques, including Xray, MRI, and CT SCAN

Education

ME, BIOMEDICAL

University of California, Los Angeles. C.A.

Graduation: Fall 2023 (anticipated)

GPA 3.6

B.E., BIOMEDICAL

University of California, Los Angeles. C.A.

Graduation: Fall 2020

GPA 3.75

Work experience

Biomedical Trainee

Summer Intern

Los Angeles Community Hospital, LA, CA

May 2021 to November 2021

  • Troubleshooting different medical devices and equipment.
  • Installation of MRI, CT SCAN, and VENTILATORS.
  • Attended professional healthcare conferences.
  • Learned and performed tasks related to healthcare management and reporting.

 Conclusion

Many people don’t know how to write the expected graduation date on a cv. Including the expected graduation date in the cv helps the potential employers hire recent graduates. Mentioning your anticipated graduation date also shows that you’re proactive and have taken the initiative to plan. The best way to do it is to state the month, and year you will graduate, not the year you started school. 

This is because many candidates require more than four years of their academic degree. You started school as your expected graduation date if you start listing the year. Potential employers may think that you have been out of school for too long. 

Written by Simon W