Many job seekers overlook the importance of including extracurricular activities on their resumes. Those who don’t have much work experience can stand out from the competition by showing the skills they’ve gained outside of the classroom. As a result, listing extracurricular activities for a resume can impact the job acceptance rate for freshers and those simply changing their careers.
List of Good Extracurricular Activities to Put on a Resume
When determining which extracurricular activities to include in a resume, you should decide which ones are the most relevant to the position you are applying for. Below is a list of the most common extracurricular activities people put on their resumes.
Foreign Language
Foreign language is a fundamental extracurricular on a resume since businesses are looking for employees who can communicate with clients from all over the world. This skill may be crucial for creating a strong bond between business partners from different cultures and plays an essential role in helping businesses succeed.
Student Organizations and Unions
Being part of student organizations and unions is one of the best college extracurricular activities for a resume. Including these activities can show potential employers that you have leadership experience and work well with others.
Your student organization or union experience can also help you develop skills important for your future career. For example, you’ll likely learn how to budget your time and money, communicate with others, and negotiate for your rights.
Clubs and Societies
Listing a club or society membership as part of extracurricular activities on a resume is an excellent way to demonstrate your interests. These experiences help you develop leadership skills, build networks, and learn new things. In addition, it shows your commitment to an outside interest and your ability to work well with others.
In addition, being a member of a club or society typically requires regular attendance and active participation, both of which employers highly value.
Sports Team
Listing a sports team membership on your resume as one of the extracurricular activities shows your dedication and teamwork. It also indicates that you can focus and put in extra effort to succeed. Being part of a sports team also demonstrates that you can handle pressure. All these qualities reflect positively on you as an employee and help you stand out from the competition.
Multicultural Organizations
Being part of multicultural organizations is a great way to show that you’re open-minded. This is one of the extracurricular activities to put on your resume that can highlight your interpersonal and communication skills. Therefore, you should be prepared to speak about your experiences in an interview.
Employers will want to know why you got involved with the organization and what experience or skills you gained. Highlight the acquired skills and knowledge, and don’t forget to mention the organization’s name.
Study Abroad
Listing exchange programs as part of extracurriculars on your resume shows that you’re willing to take risks and step out of your comfort zone. Employers highly appreciate this kind of initiative, and it can easily set you apart from other candidates.
If you’re applying for a job that requires multicultural competence, listing your study-abroad experience can be a real asset. Living in another country gives you insight into different cultures and lifestyles, which is something that many employers find valuable.
Tutoring
Listing tutoring on your resume shows you have the patience and skills necessary to work with students. It can also demonstrate your expertise in a particular subject area. If you are applying for a job that involves working with children or teaching, remember to mention it along with all the skills and experiences you’ve gained.
Volunteering
There are a few reasons why you need to make space on your resume for extracurricular activities like volunteering:
- It can show potential employers your dedication to a cause.
- It can demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to work well with others.
- It can allow you to build up your skills in a particular area. For example, if you volunteer for a marketing organization, you can gain valuable experience creating and executing marketing plans.
Competitions
Listing participation in competitions in your resume under the extracurricular section demonstrates your strong work ethic, willingness to put in the extra effort, and ability to work under pressure. As a result, it can give you a much-needed edge in the application process.
Relevant Hobbies
Although hobbies are last on our list of extracurricular activities for a resume, they mustn’t be neglected. When adding hobbies, you should aim for those relevant to the job position you’re applying for. In addition, presenting them on your resume can show your sense of work-life balance and how well you manage time.
How To List Extracurricular Activities on Resume
A resume with extracurricular activities is a great way to show potential employers that you’re a well-rounded individual, but where should you list them? Here are a few tips:
- Activities or Extracurricular Involvement section — this is a good place to write a list of extracurricular activities in a resume.
- Experience section — mention the minor responsibilities you’ve had that are related to the industry you’re interested in.
- Education section — here, you can include extracurricular activities during which you’ve learned things related to the job position you’re applying for.
- Achievement section — list your accomplishments relevant to the job opening.
Read more: Best Free Resume Builders
Bonus Tips for Extracurricular Activities in Resume:
- List extracurricular activities in reverse chronological order, with your most recent involvements at the top.
- Include the organization’s name, your role, and the dates you were involved in each activity.
- If you have plenty of extracurricular experience, consider highlighting only your most relevant or significant involvements.
Extracurricular Activities for Resume — The Takeaway
Including extracurricular activities on your resume can be an excellent way to demonstrate your specific skills and abilities. This will set you apart from other job applicants and give the employer a better sense of who you are.
However, it’s important to carefully select the activities you want to include and to ensure that they are presented correctly. With some careful planning, they can give your resume the necessary boost and increase your chances of landing your dream job.