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When do you stop putting A-levels on your CV?

By this I mean when do you stop putting full details of the subjects and grades and instead just state eg. 3 A-levels.
Sorry if this question is in the wrong place...I could not find a CV section.

Reply 1

wilkinson42

2

I think it is always worthwhile putting the grades on the CV from what I have heard. Apparently, the A levels are a respected qualification and will help distinguish between applicants who both have a degree - according to my history teacher at sixth form. Obviously only to a certain extent, but still, it will be beneficial to have grades on. Why not?

Reply 2

hobnob

14

Unless your A-level grades were absolutely abysmal or hugely impressive, though, employers probably won't take much notice of them once some time has passed and you've got other qualifications (i.e. a university degree and/or relevant work experience). However, leaving the grades off your CV altogether might look a bit odd, so I'd say you may as well continue to put them on your CV. Most likely it won't make much of a difference, but at least no-one will be able to suspect you of trying to hide anything... :dontknow:

Reply 3

Alan Smithee

If they're excellent = Leave them on

If they're abysmal = Remove them as soon as you can i.e. when you have a degree.

Simple, really.

Employers generally don't care so leave them off work CVs *unless* you're going for an academic job in which case it might be worth leaving them on.

Also leave them on if: you have no work history or they're amazing (but even then don't put in the subjects just say "75 A levels at grade A") or you're applying to a sector which is notoriously picky about grades (like accountancy)

Reply 5

username36063

11

When I applied for my PhD I had my a Levels on which really helped, even though I had a degree and Masters.

My now supervisor said in interview, that I was the first applicant who had A-level maths WRITTEN on their CV and seeing that it was a theoretical project that was highly important. You never know what will make you stand out against other applicants.

PS whats the thought on GCSE, sadly I still (sadly) have a basic section Secondary education 5 A-levels (Grades and subjects) 10 GCSE inc maths, english Science. Pathetic I know. I really want to scrub that off, but many job outlines requirements include GCSE maths/eng/sci. surely with a phd its a given, no?

Reply 6

ChemistBoy

16

My A-levels have moved off now that I've got my PhD, before that they were on my CV. But my CV is an academic one so it is more concentrated on demonstrating my scientific skills and publications record (hence I feel I use the space more productively in explaining a little more about my PhD).

Suffice it to say that If you have the wherewithall to complete a PhD and publish, then I think you can respectfully suggest to people that your A-levels are not really indicative of your current academic achievement.

Reply 7

the_alba

12

I don't have the usual set of A-levels so I don't include them on my CV, and I never did GCSEs so obviously can't include those (not that I would anyway). It hasn't really stopped me getting really good jobs / interviews, although I have terrible luck getting 'bad' jobs - maybe with more ordinary jobs, lower qualifications have more significance for the employer, who isn't used to dealing with higher degrees.

For postgrad study, I've never been asked to include A-levels as part of my application. My CV consists of degrees, scholarships and prizes, publications, conferences, and a cheeky bit about how I quite like cats, chess and music (I use this with discretion though :wink:

).

Reply 8

cutandpasteandtwisty

11

the_alba

and a cheeky bit about how I quite like cats

ROFFLE

Reply 9

Eubacterium

13

You don't if the grades are good.

Reply 10

Angelil

19

Mine are still on there for now. I might remove the specifics of them once I come to work in France (I'm moving here in 2008/9) as few people will understand what's meant by all the different grades and stuff anyway, even in fairly cosmopolitan cities. If I was staying in the UK I probably would keep them on.

Reply 11

rottcodd

3

I intend to keep mine on there because my a-levels are all science and maths related, whereas my undergraduate and masters have/will be all within the arts, so it shows a bit of balance. I guess you choose to have them on your CV or not according to the job that you are applying for. There's no such thing as a 'general' CV really.

Reply 12

The Boosh

17

This sounds more like an issue for those that have less to talk about, in which case this thread may act as an implicit prompt to go and do something which you can put on your CV!!!

Reply 13

hobnob

14

The Boosh

This sounds more like an issue for those that have less to talk about, in which case this thread may act as an implicit prompt to go and do something which you can put on your CV!!!

Good point. :biggrin:

Reply 14

lucho22

13

I was just browsing the CVs of some of the Prize Fellows at All Souls College, Oxford - and there were a fair few of them that still included their GCSEs and A-levels on their CV which I thought was rather hilarious...

Reply 15

ChemistBoy

16

lucho22

I was just browsing the CVs of some of the Prize Fellows at All Souls College, Oxford - and there were a fair few of them that still included their GCSEs and A-levels on their CV which I thought was rather hilarious...

Why? I suppose when you have no limit to the size of your CV then it doesn't matter so much, however it isn't neccessary at all.

Reply 16

lucho22

13

Well because they're doing research at possibly the most prestigious research institution in the country, and yet they still feel the need to include their A-levels which is a bit weird - surely the fact that they graduated with one of the best degrees in their year at Oxford and were subsequently called up to All Souls should speak for itself...

Reply 17

the_alba

12

lucho22

Well because they're doing research at possibly the most prestigious research institution in the country, and yet they still feel the need to include their A-levels which is a bit weird - surely the fact that they graduated with one of the best degrees in their year at Oxford and were subsequently called up to All Souls should speak for itself...

It is strange, I agree. Can I ask where you had the opportunity to spy on these peoples' CVs? I want a peep! :wink:

Reply 18

hobnob

14

the_alba

It is strange, I agree. Can I ask where you had the opportunity to spy on these peoples' CVs? I want a peep! :wink:

Through here, presumably.

Reply 19

ChemistBoy

16

lucho22

Well because they're doing research at possibly the most prestigious research institution in the country, and yet they still feel the need to include their A-levels which is a bit weird - surely the fact that they graduated with one of the best degrees in their year at Oxford and were subsequently called up to All Souls should speak for itself...

But they've most probably never left the dreaming spires, so who expects them to be normal?

:biggrin:

Edit: I've looked at hobnob's link, some fellows do have this info on their CVs but as many, if not more don't even include A-levels at all.

When do you stop putting A-levels on your CV?

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