When to include an education section when you don't have a degree

Dear Sam: Most of the jobs I apply to require a college degree which I do not have. I did complete over three years towards a BS degree immediately after high school in the early 80's but don't know whether I should include this or not. Please advise! – Penelope in Blacklick

DearPenelope: As a college degree is a requirement for most of the positions you are applying for I would absolutely include your time in college on your résumé despite not having graduated. Be sure to focus however on the experiences, skills, and any training you have completed that position you to excel within the role, not mentioning that you lack a four-year degree. Simply list your college education at the end of your résumé as such:

College Name, City, State
Completed # credits towards a Bachelor of Science

In your situation as your time in college is quite dated I would omit the years you attended so not to unnecessarily age you as a candidate. If you pursued a degree program that is related to what you now want to do I would also list your major. As a side note, when you are applying to positions that do not require a four-year degree, you may want to completely eliminate the education section from your résumé. Doing so maintains focus on your qualifications that enhance your candidacy for the opportunity.