In my case it took over 16 years to get my degree. I think it worked out in my favor. If there is any age bias in the initial resume scan most reviewers will guess me being 12 years younger than I am. Once you are in a position , often the extra years give you a bit more gravitas then someone in their early 20s. Either way, what really counts is how excited you are about doing the work. If you love what you do, you should have no problem.
Ask HN: Do employers care how long it took you to finish a degree?
61–70 of 94 posts
Re: Ask HN: Do employers care how long it took you to finish a degree?
#62No, just list the graduation year on your resume. Almost no one will ask or notice. If someone does ask, just give a canned answer like "I had some medical issues when I started college, and had to take some time to get healthy"–this answers the question and deflects further inquiry (asking about medical history is approximately illegal) while making the problem sound solved.
Re: Ask HN: Do employers care how long it took you to finish a degree?
#63I wont detail specifics but I took longer than normal to attain my BS and I'm not shy about it on my resume. In all my interviews it came up once as an afterthought "Oh, why'd this take so long?" and a quick story was satisfactory.
No one will make a big deal out of it like you do. As others have said, try listing only your graduation date. If you think it will come up anyway, have a one sentence blurb prepared that seems reasonable.
Unless you're doing something like investment banking or consulting where the pipelines are congested they are going to care primarily about how well you can do the job.
Re: Ask HN: Do employers care how long it took you to finish a degree?
#64They will if it's clear from your resume that you took 6+ years to graduate. It's a reasonable concern for an employer, since the cause is often different from yours (namely, lack of effort). So, as other have suggested, don't make it obvious. It's ridiculous to see the year of high school graduation on a resume anyway. Also, you don't have to list internships from your first two years. If it does come up, or if they…
Is "lack of effort" really the cause in the US? College completion rates seem to be heavily impacted by finances based on what I've heard on NPR.
In my time and place (2001-2006, Idaho) finances weren't the driver for slow graduation or delays. Frequently it related to poor scholastics and retaking things (excessive pot, excessive alcohol, excessive video games are frequent contributors). Other aspects might be: had a kid, got a job, but those usually were thing that led to dropping out.
Your typical scholastic college student in my peer group did just fine in graduating between 4 and 5 years.
N.b., a lot of the wailing over school costs is from the Ivy League and SLAC set; those prices drive up the average considerably. State universities are much, much cheaper. (Still spendy... but often an order of magnitude cheaper).
Re: Ask HN: Do employers care how long it took you to finish a degree?
#65It shouldn't even be on your resume, and in the US even asking your age is very risky for them.
I'd be far more concerned that you are so completely unaware that this info isn't even generally on anyone's resume...
Re: Ask HN: Do employers care how long it took you to finish a degree?
#66This is the best thing in C.S that no one even care about the duration of your degree. They only consider the Technical Skills and the productivity.
Re: Ask HN: Do employers care how long it took you to finish a degree?
#67It shouldn't even be on your resume, and in the US even asking your age is very risky for them. I'd be far more concerned that you are so completely unaware that this info isn't even generally on anyone's resume...
I was asked my age in an interview. What's the problem with doing that?
Re: Ask HN: Do employers care how long it took you to finish a degree?
#68It shouldn't even be on your resume, and in the US even asking your age is very risky for them. I'd be far more concerned that you are so completely unaware that this info isn't even generally on anyone's resume...
I took extra time to finish mine too. I just put the year I graduated on it and not how long it took. It's never come up and couldn't imagine it being an issue if it did.
A computer science degree is a serious challenge. There is no shame in taking longer than 4 years to finish it.
Re: Ask HN: Do employers care how long it took you to finish a degree?
#69Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is "lack of effort" really the cause in the US? College completion rates seem to be heavily impacted by finances based on what I've heard on NPR.
In my time and place (2001-2006, Idaho) finances weren't the driver for slow graduation or delays. Frequently it related to poor scholastics and retaking things (excessive pot, excessive alcohol, excessive video games are frequent contributors). Other aspects might be: had a kid, got a job, but those usually were thing that led to dropping out. Your typical scholastic college student in my peer group did just fine in…
> N.b., a lot of the wailing over school costs is from the Ivy League and SLAC set; those prices drive up the average considerably.
Not really; there's not enough schools or slots in that set to drive up the average much.
> State universities are much, much cheaper. (Still spendy... but often an order of magnitude cheaper).
Both State universities and non-elite private universities have gotten expensive much, much faster than elite private universities (and both, especially State schools, have much less school-provided need-based grants available, resulting in much more dependence on loans, and much more impact on actual affordability from the sticker price increases.)
Re: Ask HN: Do employers care how long it took you to finish a degree?
#70I wont detail specifics but I took longer than normal to attain my BS and I'm not shy about it on my resume. In all my interviews it came up once as an afterthought "Oh, why'd this take so long?" and a quick story was satisfactory. No one will make a big deal out of it like you do. As others have said, try listing only your graduation date. If you think it will come up anyway, have a one sentence blurb prepared that…
THIS.
Speaking as a hiring manager, I will absolutely notice any delays or interruptions in your education (unless ancient); in the event you don't give the years, it often becomes obvious when you list high school degree or summer jobs.
The key is to have a reasonable story about the situation. Finishing a liberal arts degree in five years after you spent the first four partying doesn't send a good message. Finishing a degree after taking a break to handle or as a consequence of a major change that helps employer? Not a significant issue....