How can you write your expected graduation date on your resume?

If you’re about to graduate from college, congratulations! Getting a degree is a big accomplishment. But, once the celebrations are done, it’s time to look forward to your next step—finding a job. You’re probably familiar with how to format a resume (and if you need help, check out Career.io’s Resume Examples tool for expert-tested templates and resume builder). However, for how to include your graduation date if you haven’t graduated yet, we can assist so that you’re providing complete transparency to a potential employer.

In this article, we'll discuss:

• How to write the expected graduation date on your resume 

• 3 examples of how to format your expected graduation date on your resume

• How long before your expected graduation date should you start applying for jobs?

• How do you indicate you graduated on your resume?

How do you write the expected graduation date on your resume? 

List your graduation date next to the degree you’ll be receiving in the education section of your resume (no need to include the date you started). For a new graduate with minimal work experience, this section will be placed toward the top of your resume.

Before completing the education section, do some research to figure out what you want to include, besides the expected graduation date:

• When exactly will you graduate? While you may think you know when you’ll be done, it’s always worth double checking with your advisor or registrar’s office to ensure you’re on track. 

• What’s your GPA? Include your GPA if it’s higher than 3.5. If it’s not, it might be worth identifying your major GPA (only including the courses in your subject major). You can always include them both! 

• What are your most relevant courses?  Take a look at the coursework you’ve completed so far. Which classes are directly relevant to your career goals? 

• Similarly, what awards have you won or clubs have you participated in? If your extracurricular activities are directly related to your career goals, include those as well! 

3 Examples of how to format your expected graduation date on your resume

While the formats for listing your education are very similar, there will be some variations based on your personal circumstances.  Here are three examples of how to list your graduation date on your resume. 

First, if you’ve won any awards relevant to your career goals, include them.

Worked hard to get that excellent GPA? You can add that too. 

Finally, including a list of courses can show hiring managers what you’ve studied and help incorporate vital keywords to help your resume pass that initial ATS scan. 

How long before your expected graduation date should you start applying for jobs?

Even if you’re technically still in school, it’s a good idea to get a head start and apply for jobs before you actually graduate. It will take some stress out of the process so you don’t have to take the first job that comes along. While there’s no hard-and-fast-rule, you should apply for jobs approximately one to two months before your graduation date. But that’s the minimum; you could be preparing for your job search as early as the fall for a spring graduation.

It also depends on your desired field. Finance companies, for example, often start the recruiting process in the fall semester. Other industries, such as human resources, may hire year-round. Smaller companies and fields, like advertising, social media, and publishing, tend to hire much later in the year.

How do you indicate that you’ve graduated on your resume?

Basically, if you’ve graduated within the last 10 years, your graduation date can indicate you've graduated since you won't be including the word "expected." After gaining some work experience, you can leave off the graduation year; listing your educational background with no qualifiers will imply that you have graduated. 

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Key takeaways

1. For your resume, if you’re on track to graduate and know the date, add essential information like  college name and major, then write “Expected” and the anticipated graduation month and year.

2. Include other information related to your degree as well, such as coursework, GPA, and awards—as long as they’re relevant to your career goals. 

3. You can start searching for a job as early as the fall of your anticipated graduation year, but at least one to two months before graduation is essential.