# Recruiters, need some advice regarding graduation date on a resume

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recruiters-need-some-advice-regarding-graduation-date-on-a-resume/557013>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 13, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recruiters-need-some-advice-regarding-graduation-date-on-a-resume/557013 "2010-10-13T15:58:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recruiters-need-some-advice-regarding-graduation-date-on-a-resume/557013/1 "2010-10-13T15:58:23Z")

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It’s complicated to explain, but I’m a Masters student graduating in December but I could extend my stay until May if I want, while getting paid by the school. I’m applying to some corporate-type jobs which generally bring people on at the end of the school year (May) because they often do mass indoctrination programs to everyone who joins.

I’m unsure about how I should describe my graduation date on my resume. If I say December and the company wants to hire people for May, does it look bad that I’ll be, in their eyes, hanging around for 5 months before starting? Or is it good that I show myself as available earlier? Alternatively, should I say in my resume that I’ll be graduating in May, in order to conform with their ‘normal’ expectations?

Any thoughts?

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**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recruiters-need-some-advice-regarding-graduation-date-on-a-resume/557013/2 "2010-10-13T16:33:00Z")

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It depends on how it will show up if they check? Nothing is worse than a mismatch between your resume/application and what the check shows.

So ask yourself, what date will show up if they check? Then use that date

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**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recruiters-need-some-advice-regarding-graduation-date-on-a-resume/557013/3 "2010-10-13T16:59:21Z")

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Are you sure the companies you’re interested in won’t be doing orientation from Jan-May? I worked for a company that had a weeks-long program but they did it year round. Even if it’s geared at ‘recent grads’, that might include December grads (like you) and people who switched jobs within a year or two. Or in this economy, because the company didn’t hire anyone in May.

So JMHO but if I could start work in January then I would say that I’m available for January. If they have some rigid calendar then that’s not a reflection on the applicant. IANA recruiter.

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**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\
**Post date:** [October 14, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recruiters-need-some-advice-regarding-graduation-date-on-a-resume/557013/4 "2010-10-14T06:43:32Z")

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Put the December date, as its the earliest date you’ll be available. They won’t know or care if you are just ‘hanging around’ until May. But May is a long ways away.