How To Put a GED on Your Resume With Examples, Tips, and Guide

More than 12.5 million people have taken and passed the General Educational Development Certificate (GED) test since it was first available in 1942, and 95% of companies treat the GED as equivalent to a high school diploma. In general, you don’t need to list your GED if you completed a college degree. But if it is your highest level of education, include it on your resume. Find out why listing a GED is important and see GED resume examples in this guide.

Why Listing a GED on Your Resume Is Important

Demonstrating your educational qualifications

Potential employers want to know you have the skills necessary for the position, and that includes education. Putting your GED on your resume shows that you met the academic standards required at the high school level. It also displays a level of tenacity and perseverance in completing your education via a nontraditional path.

Enhancing your professional profile

When you’re applying for an entry-level position, the number of candidates you’re competing against is likely to be high. Having a GED on your resume can make you a more competitive applicant vs. those who didn’t graduate high school or complete the GED or those who simply didn’t list it on their resume.

Including a GED on your resume enhances your professional profile by demonstrating your ability to learn and retain information, commit to and complete a program, and perform basic math, writing, and reading skills.

Meeting job requirements

Listing a GED on your resume is critical if the position requires a high school diploma or equivalent. If you don’t include it, your application is likely to be automatically rejected, even if you’re otherwise qualified. Most jobs that require a high school diploma will accept a GED instead.

Where to place a GED on your resume

Creating an education section

How to show a GED on a resume depends on any additional education you have completed and the amount of job experience you have. Experienced professionals could leave off the GED entirely if they have a great deal of work history or advanced education.

Entry-level applicants and recent graduates should list their GED under the education section of the resume. It should include the full name of the certificate, the year you earned it, and the location if applicable.

Positioning for recent graduates

If you don’t have a lot of work experience, the education section of your resume can help show the skills you’ve acquired. For example, you can list subjects that you covered during the course of your GED program.

Positioning for experienced professionals

If you have several years of work experience, the education section of your resume is less relevant unless you have a specific degree required for the position. Either way, the education section should be at the bottom of your resume with simple bullet points.

The Best Way To List a GED on Your Resume

If you’re wondering how to format a GED on your resume, here’s a simple template you can use:

Those with a particularly high score or who completed the GED with honors can add additional details.

If you earned the GED in combination with other certificates or have completed college classes or vocational training, use more bullets to include everything.

Examples of How To Write a GED on Your Resume

Basic Example

Example with honors

Example with additional education/training:

Tips for Highlighting a GED on Your Resume

• Use the right terminology: While most employers will be familiar with the GED, it’s a good idea to include both the formal name written out and the abbreviation. A GED is a certificate and not a diploma, so avoid using that phase.
• Highlight skills and experience: Your education is only part of your professional background, and your resume should focus on your relevant capabilities and experience. Use technical and professional skills sections to list out other competencies and complement what you learned while earning your GED.
• Tailor your resume to the job description: Always customize your resume to the specific job description. Go through the posting and note keywords or qualifications. Work these into your resume in the various sections. If something is listed as a must-have, consider calling it out specifically in the profile section as well.
• Proofread for accuracy: One of the best GED resume tips is to triple-check your document for typos and other errors. Even just one mistake can undermine your professionalism and cause your application to be rejected. If you’re not confident in your proofreading skills, enlist a friend or consider career services that might be available at the local library or community college.
• Seek feedback: Asking for feedback on your resume before you submit it can help you identify weak sections and areas that could be improved. Mentors or career advisors are great choices, but even a peer or colleague can offer another perspective. Have them note any parts that are unclear or suggest anything you could include to strengthen your resume.
• Keep your resume updated: A resume is a living document, which means it needs to be reviewed and updated regularly. This ensures that it reflects the continued growth of your skills and experience as well as any additional education you complete. Review your resume every month if you’re actively job searching or every three months otherwise to ensure it’s up to date.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Listing a GED

Omitting your GED altogether

While it’s tempting to leave off a GED, don’t undermine your qualifications. If a high school diploma or equivalent is required for the job, not including it can negatively impact your chances of getting the job. A GED is an accomplishment to be proud of and list on your resume.

Listing your GED incorrectly

The resume is often the first professional impression a hiring manager has of you, so it needs to be accurate and free of grammar and spelling errors. Make sure to capitalize all three letters in GED and that the year earned is accurate.

Overloading the education section

While education is important, your job experience and skills should be the main focus of your resume. Ensure the education section doesn’t overshadow this by keeping it to a simple bulleted list toward the end of your resume. Unless there is something directly relevant to the job posting that would make you a better candidate, avoid listing extra information, such as the subjects you studied or how many times you took the test.

Andrew Stoner

Executive Resume Writer and Career Coach

Andrew Stoner is an executive career coach and resume writer with 17 years of experience as a hiring manager and operations leader at two Fortune 500 Financial Services companies, and as the career services director at two major university business schools.