Extracurriculars On a Resume

Extracurriculars On a Resume How to Write Extracurriculars into Yur ResumeFebruary 26, 2019 By Jess Chen Reviewed by Mark Slack, CPRWWere you a busy bee in school? Learn how to incorporate your extra curricular activities in your resume, so you can elevate your job application and draw the eye of hiring managers.Make a Resume in MinutesAs a student job seeker, you may be wondering whether to include extracurricular activities in your resume.The answer is yes, you should.Introducing extracurriculars in your resume gives hiring managers a glimpse into your character and interests outside of your grades and test scores. This helps elevate you from a collection of cold data to a fully-fledged menschenfreundlich being with personal passions.However, does this strategy really give you an edge over the traditional job seeker?In this guide, youll find outWhy You Should Include Extracurricular ActivitiesTop 8 Extracurricular Activities to Put On a ResumeHow to Incorporate Extracurricular A ctivities in a ResumeRunning out of time? See how extracurricular activities may appear in a resume by checking out our sample at the bottom of the page.1. Why You Should Include Extracurricular ActivitiesWhether youre a high school student applying for a summer job or a college graduate in search of the first step of your lifelong career, extracurriculars are an excellent way to showcase your appealing qualities. Like volunteer work, extracurriculars can fill out a resume scant on professional experience.Even though extracurriculars look unrelated to your target job at first glance, once you extract the soft skills you learned, they can bolster your resume and present a different side of you that makes you an even more compelling candidate. TipCurious about how volunteer work can augment your resume? Check out our How to Put Volunteer Work on Your Resume writing guide.2. Top 8 Extracurricular Activities to Put On a ResumeYou may be curious what extracurricular activities you shoul d include on your resume. Different kinds of extracurriculars will reflect differently on who you are as a person, so you should choose wisely. Its best to choose extracurriculars that will display skills valued at your target role. TipMissing some key skills? Learn where you can pick up new ones in our list of education websites.To help you with choosing the right extracurriculars, weve listed the top eight examples you should put on your resume, what skills these extracurriculars illustrate, and why you should include them below.Example 1 Student Government (SGA)Working well with others is important for the SGA.Key skillsLeadershipCollaborationCommunicationOrganizationWhy you should include itAs a member of the SGA, you have plenty of experience planning activities for the student body and addressing student needs. To accomplish all of this, youre used to exercising leadership responsibility, as well as working with the other members of the SGA to organize events and communicate the SGA agenda to the student body. Since youre such a capable person, employers are sure to find you an appealing candidateExample 2 Club Exec Board PositionKey skillsLeadershipCommunicationCollaborationOrganizationWhy you should include itSimilar to being a member of the SGA, a club exec member is someone who needs a powerful sense of leadership to get their club running and to organize club events. Since club exec hauptplatines are made up more than one person, an exec board member also needs to learn how to delegate and play well with others so that club affairs go smoothly. This ability to get your organization running is an attractive one to hiring managers, so dont leave this one outExample 3 Foreign LanguageUse your foreign language skills to nab that job.Key skillsCommunicationCritical ThinkingInterpersonalWork ethicWhy you should include itMore likely than not, your high school gave you the option to choose a foreign language as an elective. A foreign language is a strong choice to include on your resume because being proficient in an additional language often entitles you to higher pay. Foreign language ability also indicates that youll be a hardworking employee who has the communication skills to converse with customers from diverse backgrounds.Example 4 ArtsKey skillsCreativityAttention to DetailCollaborationWork ethicWhy you should include itWhether you were involved in music, visual art, dance, or theater, being a creative requires a lot of time and effort spent on honing your craft. Through your creative endeavors, youve also had to dig in and collaborate to put on successful shows or productions and achieve your artistic vision. This ability to come together and work hard to reach your mutual goals is a treasured quality in an employee, which is a strong reason to include the arts in your resume.Example 5 SportsPlaying sports shows determination.Key skillsCollaborationCreativityCommunicationWork ethicWhy you should include itEvery high school has an athletics department. When youre an athlete, youre training all the time, usually with your team. Although youre accountable for your own performance, to be truly successful, you need to be able to communicate with teammates and work together to win. All this healthy sense of competition gives the hiring manager the impression that youll be an employee driven to succeed and rise through the ranks.Example 6 Sorority / FraternityKey skillsCollaborationInterpersonalLeadershipOrganizationWhy you should include itOften a major part of the college experience, sororities and fraternities are where many find their social circle. However, outside of developing interpersonal relationships, members of Greek life also need to have leadership and organization skills to pull off the social events they hold. These skills become invaluable to hiring managers who are looking to fill positions where a friendly demeanor and the ability to work well with others is particularly desirable, making Greek life a great addition to your resume.Note The ability to survive a hazing is not something to brag about on your resume.Example 7 Resident Advisor (RA)Conflict management is key to a RA.Key skillsConflict managementCommunicationOrganizationTime managementWhy you should include itAs an RA, youre used to juggling many responsibilities and making sure that your dorm is safe and habitable. You may be called upon to oversee everything from a suspicious leak in the bathroom to a dispute between roommates. By putting your RA experience on your resume, youre signaling to the hiring manager that you have sternbezogen people and time management skills, and that these skills are what helped you balance your duties with your studies.Example 8 Work StudyKey skillsTime managementMultitaskingIndependenceProblem solvingWhy you should include itSome institutions offer the option to apply for a work study to help offset the financial burden of attending college. However, having a job alongside of your academics requires impressive time management skills and the independence necessary to take care of yourself. By incorporating your work study experience in your resume, youll impress the hiring manager with your ability to multitask and work hard. TipLooking for a skill not mentioned above? If youre struggling to pin down the skills you would like to display in your resume, check out our Skills for Resume writing guide.3. How to Incorporate Extracurricular Activities in a ResumeNow that you know what extracurriculars to include, you have a couple options for how to write your extracurricular activities in your resume. In truth, there isnt a consensus on the best way to do it. Instead, focus on choosing a way that makes your resume look clean and professional.Here are two solid strategies for ensuring your extracurriculars become valuable assets for boosting your resumeEducation sectionOne way to work your extracurricular activities into your resume is by listing them in th e education section. You should use this method if you have certifications or awards from your extracurricular activity that are relevant to the role you are applying to.Heres an example of the education section of a candidate for a teacher assistant role.DONT DO THISEDUCATIONB.A. / ENGLISHVassar College,Poughkeepsie, NY2014-2018RESIDENT ASSISTANT (RA)2015-2017DO THISEDUCATIONB.A. / ENGLISHVassar College,Poughkeepsie, NY2014-2018RESIDENT ASSISTANT (RA) WITH FIRST AID CERTIFICATIONAmerican Red Cross2015 TipLearninghow to put together a proper education section can help ensure you avoid elementary mistakes on your resume.Achievement sectionYou also have the option of including your extracurriculars in your achievement section. Similar to when describing your professional experience, quantify your accomplishments whenever possible and use action verbs. Doing so will make your achievements pop and increase their persuasiveness. TipAn achievement-oriented resume will help you land more interviews, period.Here is an example of the achievement section of a candidate for a teacher assistant role.DONT DO THISACHIEVEMENTSMEMBER, Spanish Honors Society2016-2018CAPTAIN, Walter Johnson Wildcats Football kollektiv2017-2018DO THISACHIEVEMENTSOrganized 200+ tutoring sessions, acting as the general liaison between tutors and tutees, as a member of the Spanish Honors SocietyLed the Walter Johnson Wildcats football team to win the 2017 high school football championship as captain of the team4. Extracurricular activities in resume sample TipDont have enough activities to fill an entire section? Switch to a hobbies and interests section, and discuss personal interests alongside your extracurriculars.5. Final wordsWhen youre a student looking to strengthen your resume, you might feel at a loss for what to add.If this is you, consider adding extracurricular activities.Including these is a creative way to impress hiring managers by giving them insight into other sides of you and s upplementary skills that would otherwise have been hidden. This makes you a more attractive candidate, and the hiring manager will be calling to set up an interview in no timeIf you need further resume writing help, dont forget to check out our downloadable resume templates or our easy-to-use free resume builder, or leave a comment below