How to List a Minor on your Resume

Your resume is the best marketing tool, without which you are powerless. Most people, especially students, struggle with a resume.

Typically, college students choose both a major and a minor area of study. If you are studying in college, a minor is a set of courses you choose to enhance your major’s value.

Benefits of a Minor

Having a minor is one of the most effective ways to stand out when applying for top positions, professional or graduate school.

A minor shows your ability to take on the challenge of extra upper-division courses and manage additional workload. Today’s recruiters and workplaces need that kind of passion.

Although it may sound like a cliché, a minor looks good on a resume. In most cases, a minor can be the turning point of an interview when an interviewer can consider it as your additional strength.

Smart candidates use their minor as an opportunity to discuss their ambitions, passions, and valuable lessons they learned from the coursework.

However, if you are a student, you must have a clear concept of how a minor will complement your major.

Related: How and When to Put GED on a Resume

Never opt for extra courses just because you want to add it to your resume. Since a minor could throw off your graduation schedule, choose wisely.

Why is it Important to List a Minor on your Resume?

Listing a minor on your resume is important because it complements your major and can help you stand and impress the hiring managers.

Whether you are still a student or a recent graduate or someone with adequate work experience, your resume plays a critical role.

Every resume must feature a separate section that lists your education details. If you are applying for a job, the more relevant information you put, the more chances you will have to secure the job you want.

Recruiters pay attention to small details like your major or minor area of study that can decide whether you are a better fit for the position.

However, you must know how to do it correctly, or you will end up making the wrong impression. For instance, if you don’t place it right, you will risk losing its impact on your overall experiences and accomplishments.

How to Put a Minor on your Resume

Let’s look at how you can put a minor on your resume to make a strong impression.

Start by adding an education section to your resume. You can use the same title font for this section as for Objective, Experience, etc.

Beginning with your college’s name, state the degree you attained along with the year you graduated or relevant dates.

Add Your Major

Use bold font to write the word ‘Major’ below the degree, followed by a colon and your major. For instance, if you majored in English and you received a ‘BA in Arts,’ you write it as:

Major: English

However, you may not need to spell out your major if the degree you received was ‘BA in English.’

Add Your Minor

Now that you listed your major add a semicolon and a space to write your ‘Minor’ in a bold font.

Major: English; Minor: Communications

However, no rule says you must write a major and minor in this way.

Other Examples

Here are a few other ways to write these on your resume.

  • Put college minor on the same line as major
  • Put college minor on a separate line
  • Put college minor with relevant or additional educational information

Related: Resume Objective Examples For A Compelling Resume

Here is how you can list your college minor in the same line as your major in the Education section:

The University of Tampa, FL (2010 – 2014)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Minor: Psychology

Or

Bachelor of Science          

Major: Nursing; Minor: Psychology

Here is how to list a minor on a separate line:

The University of Tampa, FL (2010 – 2014)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Minor: Psychology

Here is how you can write a minor with relevant or additional information in the Education section:

The University of Tampa, FL (2010 – 2014)

Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Minor: Psychology

Graduated magna cum laude (GPA: 3.8/4.0)

Relevant coursework: Nursing Practice and Theory, Nutrition, Anatomy, Chemistry, Introduction to Clinical Psychology

Important Tips

The whole idea is to list a minor as your strength, making you look capable and qualified for the position. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when listing a college minor on your resume:

Read the job description carefully before you apply with your resume. The job description gives you adequate information about what you should include in your resume and application.

For instance, an employer may indicate a preference for requirements under the description’s education eligibility, such as taking relevant coursework and having a specific major or minor.

Adding relevant details like your GPA can also make you stand out in the recruiter’s eye. The key is to pay attention to the job description, so you know which information is essential.

Listing a minor is also crucial because you can list any special awards or accomplishments in your minor area of study relevant to the advertised position.

While the Education section is the most appropriate place for listing your minor, you can also add these details in your cover letter or personal summary.

Mentioning your major and minor in these documents will help the hiring managers and recruiters shortlist your resume, according to your qualifications and skills.

Final Thoughts

Writing an effective resume could be a real head-scratcher. Whether you are a recent graduate or going through a career transition, education is a crucial part of your resume.

Some people like placing their significant and minor right below their name on top. Regardless of how you choose to write your minor, it can help you stand out and qualify for a role.

Marissa Letendre, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Marissa Letendre is a senior HR leader and resume expert with over 12 years of experience. She has worked for both startups and Fortune 50 corporations and has helped thousands land jobs at top companies. Marissa has written on a wide range of topics, including employee engagement, career development, resumes, job searching, recruiting, and organizational effectiveness and has been featured on sites such as Slack and The Undercover Recruiter.

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