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I’m updating my résumé and would like to convey in a condensed manner the fact that I have a Masters degree in a particular branch of the humanities (politics and society of the Middle East, but that’s not necessarily relevant).

I completed the program in 2006, though, and have gained a good bit of professional and field experience since then, so it sounds kind of wrong to refer to myself as a recent postgraduate even though that’s actually a nice, punchy formulation of the concept I’d like to convey . . . if only it was recent!

Then again, calling myself a postgraduate might not be fair because it could connote that I’m currently undertaking study, which is not the case at all.

I could call myself higher-educated, but that just sounds awkward and contrived to me. What do others think about that phrase? Can you think of any alternatives?

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  • This is a little broad - exactly how small of a space do you have? It wouldn't take too long to say that you "have a Master's degree in a particular branch of the humanities", would it?
    – Daniel
    Aug 25, 2011 at 18:03
  • I would say that you are simply a 'graduate', since as you say, 'post-graduate' suggests that you are continuing your study.
    – Karl
    Aug 25, 2011 at 18:14
  • @drɱ65 δ I'm trying to sum up myself in about 15 words, so I need to be concise. This is for the "tagline" of my resume.
    – mark
    Aug 25, 2011 at 18:34
  • @mark: Could you let me know why your résumé here doesn't fit the bill?
    – Daniel
    Aug 25, 2011 at 18:36
  • Because that's the online version and I'm creating a print-ready PDF for more traditional application processes.
    – mark
    Aug 25, 2011 at 18:42

3 Answers 3

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I personally think that "a recent postgraduate" is perfectly acceptable and accurate. It demonstrates that you have a recent accomplishment that you are proud of. It is a selling point. I think you have a few more years where recent will be an acceptable adjective.

When an interviewer reads a resume they sometimes look for things they can challenge to try and throw you off. Using terms that sound smooth and sly but are vague and subjective provides them with just the fodder they are looking for. There is no right answer to "So what exactly does Highly Educated mean?"

Alternately you could simply state that you have a graduate degee. However being out of school for five years if you have the accomplishments in the professional world to rely on them you could move past your degree. You education should be on your resume already and your prospective employers can already see your achievement. Use your tag line to express your abilities as a professional rather than as a student.

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  • Thank you Chad. I have taken your advice and others' and have nearly settled on the wording: "Multi-disciplinarian digital strategist with an active interest in using connection technologies to address today’s global challenges."
    – mark
    Aug 25, 2011 at 19:39
  • Ohh an MDDSAICTATGC good choice :)
    – Chad
    Aug 25, 2011 at 20:19
  • Yeah, not too many of those out there :P
    – mark
    Aug 25, 2011 at 20:44
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Higher-educated sounds wrong. You might be better-educated (comparative), or well-educated (declarative).

Higher is usually prefixed with education or studies. For example, you might say that you went to Scotland in for your higher education.

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A "smoother" American English term than higher-educated is "highLY educated."

That describes the fact that you have a "high" level of education, without implying "higher than you."

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  • That sounds rather pompous and presumptous and I think calls for a comparison with the reader to thier own. Resume's are already being judged by the interview, a subjective statement like this asks to be challenged. If you feel you are and can stand up to the statement being challenged in an interview that may work for you.
    – Chad
    Aug 25, 2011 at 19:02
  • @Chad good point, thank you. I'll take that into consideration. One option is to leave this part out of the summary altogether and let the reader judge for him or herself how "high" my education is.
    – mark
    Aug 25, 2011 at 19:11
  • I disagree with Tom's answer. "Highly" is relative, and you're basically assuming something about the reader. If you have a masters and you tell a group of PhDs you are "highly educated", they'll laugh. Conversely, if you have a PhD and you tell people you are "highly educated", they'll think you're being an ass. Aug 31, 2012 at 21:29
  • I said that "highLY educated" was "smoother" than the other term. I did NOT say that it was a "good" term. It's not great, but apparently it was "good enough" for the OP (as of his first comment).
    – Tom Au
    Apr 11, 2013 at 13:55

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