Having a double major on your resume can show the hiring managers your commitment to learning, and your motivation for professional growth.
Not only that, but it can put you at least one step ahead of all other candidates, and increase your chances of getting the job.
But just having a double major won’t do the trick, you need to know how to present it in the best possible way.
In this article, we are going to help you out, exploring the following questions:
- What is a double major
- Why include double major on your resume?
- How to include double major on resume?
And we are going to leave you off with some great tips and tricks, and a template for you to use in your education section.
If you are unsure about your overall resume performance, check out our Resume builder, and create a unique design in no time.
But if you are ready to learn how to list double major on your resume, stick around.
What is a double major?"?
Upload & Check Your Resume
Drop your resume here or choose a file. PDF & DOCX only. Max 2MB file size.
A double major is also referred to as a dual major. It is the process of a student pursuing two different degrees at once, and managing to finish both.
However, in most cases these two degrees are not given individually, but rather as one degree, with two (double) majors.
Typically, students would be required to spend some additional time in school, as many double majors have extra coursework with them.
Furthermore, your two majors don’t have to be in the same field of work, they can be whatever you want.
In any case, having a double major on your resume can set you apart from other candidates and improve your chances of getting the job you want.
Why include a double major on your resume?
We have already mentioned that a double major would set you apart from other candidates, but you need to understand what is the reason behind that.
There are two main reasons for that:
- A double major shows your potential employer that you are a dedicated learner and that you are coachable, which is a highly desirable trait;
- If your double major relates to the field you are trying to start a career in, you might be considered a better fit for the job than more candidates, as you already have extensive training and the qualifications needed for the job.
How to include double major on resume?
Now you know all the perks of listing your double major on your resume, but as we mentioned in the beginning, you need to know how to list it right.
Format your education section
The first step you need to take is format your education section correctly.
To get this right, you need to:
- Use reverse chronological order, meaning that your most recent education should come first
- List all the necessary information for each entry – Name of the institution, dates of attendance, dates of completion, the degree you earned, majors and minors, as well as any academic accomplishments, certification, and awards
List the more relevant major first
Your majors should be listed side by side under your degree, but that does not mean that order does not matter.
You should consider which of your majors is more relevant to the job position you are applying for and list that one first.
That would ensure that the hiring manager would see it, and understand that you have the skills and qualifications needed for the job.
Highlight relevant minors
Another great addition to your education section and your majors are any minors you have as well.
Listing a minor shows some additional skills and qualifications, and shows your potential employer that you are a determined learner.
However, if your minor is not relevant to the job position you are applying for, and you are running out of space, you can leave it out, and focus on the relevant.
Include additional coursework, certifications, or awards
If you have the necessary space, and you want to add up to your majors, you can always list any relevant coursework, certifications, or awards.
That would show your potential employer that you are highly motivated and committed to your career development.
However, if you have some professional experience behind you already, you might want to leave out these additional details, so that you would have more space for your career achievements.
Include your GPA if it's high
Another piece of detail you can use to spice up your double major is your GPA.
You can usually leave it out, but if it is high enough, you should consider listing it.
Along with that, you can also list any Latin honors you have, such as magna cum laude.
Tips and tricks
Now, as promised, we have two quick tips for you, so that you get the best results.
List each degree only once
You might want to list the name of your degree each time you mention a specific major, but that may come across as confusing.
You might give out the wrong impression of having multiple degrees, while trying to emphasize on just one.
To avoid this, try to format each degree program you completed as a separate entry on your resume with each major that corresponds to that degree.
Use a template for your resume
Using a template can really help you emphasize all the right sections, depending on the experience you have.
Take some time and browse through all the proven templates we have, and pick the right one for yourself.
Template for double major on resume
To get the best out of your double major on your resume, make sure you use the following template in your education section:
[Name of the college or university], [month and year of graduation]
[Degree]
[Primary major], [secondary major]
[Minor]
[GPA]
[Coursework]
[Certifications]
[Awards]
Keep in mind that you don’t need to list all of these, but only those which will serve in your favor.
Takeaways
We are all done, now you know how to list double major on your resume.
Let’s get through all the steps you need to get the best results:
- Format your education section correctly, using reverse chronological order and including all the necessary information for each entry
- Figure out which of your two majors is more relevant to the job position you are applying for and list that one first
- If you have any relevant minors, you should list them as well, but keep in mind that you should stick to a one-page resume
- Include any additional coursework, certification and awards, as long as they are relevant to the position you are applying for, and you have space for that on your resume
- Consider listing your GPA, if it above 3.5, as well as any Latin honors
Now you are ready to nail listing your double major on your resume, and get the job you want.
Make one that's truly you.