The 3 Best Ways to List a Minor on a Resume — Revealed!

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Writing a resume can be a daunting task for some, especially those who have recently graduated.

Resumes are typically an employers first impression of a potential employee, making them an extremely important part of the job-hunt. 

We want to present our very best selves on our resumes, and this includes our education and experiences.

Including a minor on your resume can be a good way to add to our expertise, and to show passion for certain subjects. 

 

How should a job-seeker list a minor on a resume?

Typically, the minor is listed in the education section on a resume. A minor could also be listed as a part of the experience section or listed as a skill. The best section to place it in depends on the job, the minor’s relevance to the job, and the employee’s work history. Based on these factors, it may be more appropriate to place it in one section over the other.  

 

Where should you include a minor on the resume?

These are three different places you could place a minor on your resume, but there is no “one answer fits all”.

Depending on your work experience and history, there are ways you can strategically place a minor to help you stand out among all the other applicants. 

A minor is a crucial part of the university experience, and it outlines a large part of the studies and research that took place during the four years it takes to achieve a bachelor’s degree.

Because of this, it can be a very important detail to list on a resume. This is especially true for newer graduates, or people with little working experience.

Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to do this.

 

The 3 best ways to list a minor on a resume

The first, and possibly best place to list a minor on your resume is in the education section. 

 

Listing a minor in the education section: Examples 

Often located directly under the resume heading, the education section is a worthy place for listing a minor because a minor is an educational achievement.

Minors included in this section are rarely expanded upon, and are best kept short and specific.

By listing a minor, the employee can show even more specialized experience.

When applying for a relevant job, this shows the employer that you are an even better fit for their company. The following are examples of how this can be listed:

 

EDUCATION

Vassar University Poughkeepsie, New York

Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology, Minor in Human Development, 20XX-20XX

 

Formatted on the resume, it should look like this:

 

 

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science, Major: Science – Minor: Human Development – Vassar University 

 

Formatted on the resume, it should look like this:

 

Listing a minor in the experience section: Examples

Experience is often listed beneath the education section in a resume.

If someone has little working experience, then listing a minor in the experience section is a good way to fill that section.

Having a well-rounded resume is crucial, as employers will not spend a lot of time on each resume.

If it doesn’t look complete at a glance, chances are low that they will give that person an interview. 

If the minor required any special project or internship to complete, this looks even more impressive. Let’s take a look at how this can be done:

 

Experience: 

Surveying and Data Collections – Vassar University (Jan 20xx – Dec 20xx)

• Human psychology research project relating to social psychology
• Collected data from over 500 surveys from respondents in a blind case-study
• Compiled data into easy to understand graphics and presentations
• Supported findings with peer-reviewed research and articles
• Resulted in the achievement of a Minor in Human Development

 

Experience:

Minor in Spanish – Vassar University (Jan 20xx – Dec 20xx)

• Translated various documents from English into Spanish
• Attended multi-lingual presentations, and assisted in translation
• Achieved a certificate of intermediate-high fluency in Spanish language (cert# 123456)

 

Listing a minor in the skills section: Examples

Usually located beneath the experience section, the skills (or specialist skills) section is a great place to list a minor.

The skills section can let you expand on the skills you achieved by obtaining the minor, and why that might be relevant to your employer. This can be done in the following ways:

 

Skills Summary:

• Human Development Experience – Obtained a minor in Human Development as part of a research project for a top university
• Data Collection – Experience in random sampling, blind studies, and publishing of data

 

Specialist Skills:

• Spanish – Intermediate-high fluency in Spanish (cert# 123456)

• Achieved a minor in Spanish at Vassar University

• Experience with translation, presentation, and document writing 

 

Should you always list your minor in a resume?

Usually? Yes, however, it is best kept in the education section as a very short and simple statement.

If you have enough practical working experience listed on your resume, you should probably refrain from listing your minor in the experience or skills sections.

While it can be great padding for new graduates, actual job experience will be more impressive and more relevant to employers. 

If your minor is relevant to the job, however, it is an excellent idea to make sure this is still included.

For example, if you have a Spanish minor and are applying for a job where Spanish is often used, it would be beneficial to have it listed in your resume.  

 

Could listing a minor hurt your chances?

If your minor is completely irrelevant to the job, it could be best for you to leave it out.

Minors are not always relevant, and in the worst case, could give the employer a worse impression of your experience. 

If your major is in human psychology but your minor is in dance, it may seem to an employer that you were less focused on your field of study than another candidate who only listed crucial information for that job. 

Resumes should always be tailored to the specific job you are applying to, and you should only include things which will make you seem like a more beneficial and specialized employee.

Minors such as language or technology are usually seen as assets in any field, but be cautious about trying to show an employer every single one of your achievements.

Keep your resume short, sweet, and specialized.