how to write clubs in resume

How to Add Extracurricular Activities to Your Resume—So They Actually Help Your Job Search

When you’re writing a resume, your education and past jobs are far from the only things that matter. The truth is, the past experiences and skills that employers care about can come from a number of places. And particularly when you’re a current student or an entry-level candidate , extracurricular activities can be a great addition to your resume.

Extracurriculars are any structured, ongoing activity you took part in during school, but not as an academic requirement. They are often (but not always) affiliated with or run by the school you attended. And your participation in these activities (especially in a leadership role) can set you up to succeed in your future jobs.

When You Should List Extracurriculars on a Resume

According to Muse career coach and founder of Flourish Careers Jennifer Smith , who has recruited, coached, and hired early-career candidates across a number of industries and jobs, there are two main situations when you should include extracurriculars on your resume:

• When you’re a current student or recent graduate and the extracurricular (or your role in the organization) showcases leadership or is specifically relevant to the job or industry you’re applying to
• When you’re a current student or recent graduate and you don’t have a lot of internship or paid work experience

Once you’re more than five years past graduation, your extracurriculars probably don’t belong on your resume anymore—unless they’re especially relevant to the industry or role you’re applying to and you don’t have more recent, relevant experience, Smith says. This would most likely come up if you’re looking to make a career change or pivot.

Why You Should List Extracurriculars on a Resume

Early in your career, particularly when you don’t have much or any professional experience, employers want to see that you have transferable skills . These are abilities and knowledge that can be applied in multiple contexts—for instance, both an extracurricular activity and an office environment. In other words, extracurriculars can prove you’re a great candidate for a job even if you haven’t already held a similar—or any!—job.

If you held a leadership position within an extracurricular—whether you were the president of a student group, programming chair for your sorority chapter, or treasurer for your intramural sports club—that experience is especially valuable on an early-career resume. Smith, who used to lead a team that hired university students for internships and entry-level jobs, has often seen companies seek out students who had led clubs and societies, knowing they would bring valuable traits and transferable skills to the workplace.

For example, if you ran large club meetings, you likely have some communication and presentation skills. Or maybe you were responsible for advertising or outreach and you gained some marketing skills. These roles also show that you’ve taken on responsibilities—a core requirement for any job.

If you didn’t hold an official position in an activity, but you were in charge of an event, campaign, or some other aspect of the organization’s management, that can also go on your resume as relevant experience. Maybe you designed the club’s website and want to get a design role, or you put together a charity event and want to go into fundraising.

Even without a formal or informal leadership role within your extracurricular, you still likely picked up some transferable skills, such as teamwork and collaboration, organizational skills, time management, communication, and project management, Smith says. If you were a highly active member, especially over a longer period of time, this shows dedication and work ethic as well.

Your extracurricular activity might also show that you are passionate about the industry you’re trying to join and may be more knowledgeable and prepared than your peers. “For example, a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) who is applying for an entry-level engineering role” should include that membership on their resume, Smith says, as evidence that you’ve put time into preparing for this career path, possibly attending industry conferences or taking part in other career development activities.

What Types of Extracurriculars Can Go on a Resume (Examples)

Not sure what type of extracurriculars might go on your resume? Here are some examples to get you started:

• Academic clubs or societies related to a specific discipline (for example, the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA))
• Arts organizations (such as a drama club, marching band, or a cappella group)
• Community and civic activities (for example, Students for Environmental Action)
• Greek life (as long as your sorority or fraternity hasn’t been in trouble for inappropriate behavior)
• Media or publications (such as the student newspaper or campus radio station)
• Multicultural organizations (such as a Black student association, Muslim student group, or Pride group)
• Political groups (but use your discretion here—if it’s especially controversial or you know the company you’re applying to holds opposing views, these activities might be best left off)
• Sports teams
• Student government
• Volunteer activities or organizations (such as Habitat for Humanity)
• Other clubs (even if you joined a group “just for fun” you might’ve still picked up skills doing it!)

Which Extracurriculars Belong on Your Resume

Before deciding to add extracurriculars to your resume, identify the skills you need for the job you want, Smith says. You can do this by reviewing the job description or setting up an informational interview with someone who works in a role or industry you want to work in—or even at the specific company you have your eye on. For each application, take into account the company you’re applying to, as well. What values do they have? Are they all about teamwork? Do they value creativity? Do they want people who will take initiative to solve any problems they spot?

Then think about what you’ve done in your extracurriculars and what skills and qualities you developed or demonstrated. “Pinpoint the skills [you gained] that will serve you best in your new path,” Smith says. These skills, the circumstances in which you used them, and extracurriculars attached are what belong on your resume.

Let’s say you want to go into sales. The juggling skills you gained from three years of Circus Club might not be very helpful in landing your first full-time job, but the time you sold 50 tickets to the “Circus Skills Expo”—more than anyone else—might catch a recruiter’s eye.

Similarly, if you played a sport, the number of goals you scored probably matters less to a prospective employer than how well you work with a team, the time management skills you gained balancing your practice schedule with classes and studying, or your work ethic—unless you’re going into a sports-related role.

Doing some research on the specific companies you’re applying to can help you highlight the right aspects of your extracurricular experiences. For instance, Smith says, “I often saw big-name companies specifically seek out student athletes because they know the competitive spirit will be a good fit with their company.”

Where to List Your Extracurriculars on a Resume

Where your extracurriculars go on your resume depends on what your role and scope of responsibility was in the organization, how relevant it is to the job you want, and whether you have other work experience to include on your resume, Smith says.

These are three common options:

• Your experience section: An extracurricular belongs in your experience section when you either had responsibilities and a time commitment similar to that of a part- or full-time job, or when your achievements showcase skills and experience that are directly relevant to the role you’re applying to. A stage manager for a drama ensemble play might spend 20+ hours a week coordinating multiple teams and making sure everything needed is ready by opening night. Or perhaps a video editor for a film club edited multiple student films using the same or similar software and technical skills to the ones that the content creation role they’re applying for uses.
• Your education section: Smith suggests including an extracurricular within your education section when you had minor responsibilities but it’s related to the industry you want to work in. For example, maybe you were a member of a business honor society and want to work in finance.
• A dedicated section: If you have multiple extracurriculars that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, you might consider including an “Extracurricular Activities” section to highlight them a bit more than your education section might. Or a “Leadership Experience” section might be appropriate for someone who held leadership positions in multiple organizations, Smith says.

How to List Your Extracurriculars on a Resume

Regardless of where you choose to list your extracurriculars, you should generally include the name of the organization, your role within it (“member” or any positions held), and the dates you participated. Particularly when you want to use your extracurriculars to demonstrate your skills and experiences, you should also include major responsibilities, accomplishments, or any awards won in the form of bullet points .

How would this look in practice? In your experience section or within a dedicated section, an extracurricular activity entry can be listed just like a job or internship. In this example, the person wants to demonstrate leadership and management skills as well as their ability to adapt to changing circumstances:

Vice President , Young Educators of America at Duke University | Fall 2019–Spring 2020 Chapter Secretary, Fall 2018–Spring 2019 Member, Fall 2016–Spring 2018

• Ran twice-weekly tutoring program with an average of 30 tutors and 80 local high school students, advertising program at three area schools, booking rooms, matching students with tutors for appropriate subjects ahead of time, overseeing sessions, managing conflicts, and collecting feedback on tutor performance
• Pivoted program to operate entirely online during COVID-19 pandemic, adjusting tutoring practices for remote sessions and increasing session availability to help students struggling with remote learning

Even without a leadership position, you still want to show what you did as a member with strong, quantified bullet points that highlight the skills you want an employer to see. A college musician who wants to highlight their time-management and teamwork skills might say something like:

Member , Lehigh University Jazz Ensemble | 2017–2020

• Attended two-hour practices four times weekly and played up to eight shows a month on campus and across the state
• Organized weekly rehearsals for 10-person trumpet section to help one another with new pieces, give feedback on individual performances, and identify any problems with our group’s playing

Within your education section, an extracurricular could be a single bullet point that might look like this:

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics | University of Connecticut | 2015–2019 Major Track: Applied Mathematics

• Member of Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society | 2017–2019 : Participated in weekly meetings, listened to monthly talks by researchers, and attended national conferences to learn more about new mathematical theories and speak with applied mathematics professionals

Top Extracurricular Activities to Add to Your Resume (Samples)

Customers Interviewed by:

When you’re a new grad entering the workforce, extracurricular activities on your resume can help you stand out to hiring managers. But what types of activities should you include?

In this article, you’ll learn:

• The best types of extracurricular activities to include in your resume writing . 
• How activities can add value to your resume.
• Where to add your extracurricular activities on your resume for maximum impact. 

The best extracurricular activities for a resume

Extracurriculars are any activities that aren’t required for your college credit. Depending on the jobs you’re applying for, certain activities will look more appealing to hiring managers.

Some of the most popular activities to add to your resume include:

• Student council
• Clubs or societies
• Volunteering
• Study abroad programs
• Additional languages
• Sororities or fraternities

Your role in extracurriculars can help you build transferable skills . These are skills you take with you from job to job. Transferable skills on your resume can make you a stronger candidate in your job search. 

Use Jobscan’s resume scanner to ensure your resume includes the transferable skills you need to secure the interview. Below is a screenshot of the match report generated by our tool. It illustrates exactly which keywords from the job description you need to integrate to be competitive.

Resume activities: student council or union

Members of a student council or students’ union are often elected by their peers. They collaborate on student-led initiatives, address school issues affecting students, and organize school activities or events. 

If you take part in student council, you develop some essential soft skills, including:

• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Organization
• Decision making
• Time management

Participation in student council builds practical skills you can relate to your post grad job hunt. 

Resume activities: team sports

Playing team sports isn’t just a fun hobby. Sports can help you grow valuable skills you need in any workplace, including:

• Strategic thinking
• Problem solving

Even if you don’t play on a competitive team, recreational sports helps you establish key transferable skills to add to your resume.

Resume activities: clubs or societies

There’s a club for almost any interest. And if they help you cultivate transferable skills, they can enhance your resume. 

Examples of popular clubs include:

• School newspaper
• Choir or chorus
• Orchestra, jazz band, or concert band
• Girl or boy scouts
• Debate club
• Mock trial club
• Literature club
• Photography club

Clubs are a great place to build a network and hone skills like:

• Relationship building
• Creative thinking
• Adaptability

Resume activities: volunteering

Volunteering positions are like unpaid jobs. You gain practical experience you can add to your resume with desirable skills to back it up.

Helping out your community has the added benefit of boosting your resume. You can volunteer your time to organizations that match your interests and are relevant to your dream job.

Skills you show by volunteering include:

• Customer service

Don’t add every activity you’ve participated in. Instead, be strategic and choose the activities that can help in the role you’re applying for. 

Resume activities: tutoring

Helping a peer or younger student learn tough concepts can help you build desirable skills for your resume. Some skills include:

• Flexibility
• Active listening

A proven ability to mentor others is a valuable skill and can stand out to hiring managers. This is especially true if you’re looking for a teaching or management role. 

Resume activities: study abroad experience

If you have the opportunity to study abroad, it can be life changing. You make friends, see new places, and experience unique cultures. 

It also lets you develop unique skills that attract potential employers, including:

• Cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Independence
• Foreign languages
• Interpersonal skills

Resume activities: additional languages

Bilingualism or multilingualism is becoming more common. But even if you’re not fluent, speaking a second language can improve your starting salary in some industries.

Some of the most common and valuable languages to learn include:

Even less common languages, like American Sign Language, shows skills like:

• Cultural awareness
• interpersonal skills

Resume activities: sorority or fraternity

Sororities and fraternities are social organizations that can broaden your network. Experiences in a sorority or fraternity vary, but members often participate in:

• Regular meetings
• Philanthropic activities
• Special events

These organizations help you develop skills like:

• Project management

Why should you add extracurricular activities to your resume?

Extracurricular activities on your resume, when added correctly, can make your resume stronger. The key is to use your activities to highlight important resume skills relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Skills are either hard or soft. Hard skills are specific skills you need to do a particular job. Soft skills are transferable skills that you can develop and use in any job. 

Extracurricular skills for your ATS resume

All job descriptions are full of skills that hiring managers want in a candidate. Those skills determine whether your resume will reach the hiring manager at all.

When you apply for a job, your resume goes into the applicant tracking system , or ATS. It acts as an internal search engine for the hiring manager.

They can search for specific keywords and the ATS will parse resumes for those terms. It then pulls out the strongest resumes for the hiring manager. It’s crucial to include the right keywords to get your resume in front of the hiring team.

Here’s a sample job description with keywords and soft skills underlined. These are among some of the critical skills you should add to your resume when applying for this job. Extracurriculars can help you hone them.

Never forget to include keywords again with Jobscan’s resume scanner to support you. The match report will give you a resume score to measure the strength of your resume and show you which keywords are missing. It’ll also catch any formatting issues that will affect your resume’s readability by the ATS.

Take it further and make your resume optimization easier with Jobscan’s premium Power Edit . It will show you which skills you’re missing and also provide suggestions on how to integrate them into your resume.

Below is an image of the match report generated for transferable skills or soft skills . The highlighted skills need to be added to the resume to increase your chances of the hiring manager finding your resume.

Extracurricular activities can be a great way to integrate skills and keywords into your resume.

How to put extracurricular activities on resume

You can incorporate your extracurricular activities in your resume in a few different ways.

• In your work experience section.
• In your volunteer section.
• In your education section.
• In an achievements or awards section.
• In your interests or extracurriculars section.

How to add activities to your work experience

For new grads, work experience can be a short section. But you can add volunteer positions in your work experience section if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for. Highlight the skills you used in your volunteer role to draw connections to the proficiencies the hiring manager will be searching for. 

Sample resume extracurricular activities: work experience section

Below is an example of how to add volunteer extracurricular activities to your resume. Achievements are quantified and skills are integrated into the summary.

How to add activities to your volunteer section

Your volunteer section can show off your skills while keeping it separate from paid work experience. Format the dates and position descriptions in the same layout and emphasize the skills that helped you excel in your position. 

Sample resume extracurricular activities: volunteer section

This volunteer experience section highlights the soft skills gained in the role, from collaboration to creative thinking.

How to add activities to your education section

When your extracurricular activities are related to school, adding them to your education section makes sense. Add details to include clubs and organizations, and the skills you developed while there. 

Sample resume extracurricular activities: education section

Below is an example of extracurricular activities in the resume under the education section. The sorority is affiliated with the school, so keeping it with your education maintains organization. The summary demonstrates transferable skills like organization and planning.

Another example of extracurriculars in the education section includes a student-run news organization on campus. Including the role and the skills developed can help illustrate experience when work history is limited.

How to add activities to your achievements and awards

If your extracurricular activities earned you recognition, an achievements section can highlight it. When you excel at your activities, you’re demonstrating to the hiring manager that your skill set is exceptional. 

Sample resume extracurricular activities: achievements or awards section

Below is an example of adding an extracurricular to an awards section of your resume. Not only does this example have the achievement listed, but it includes a summary of the skills they used to win the award.

How to add activities to their own section

Another option is to include your extracurriculars in their own section of interests and activities. This can be the place to include activities that don’t quite fit into other resume sections. A a separate heading can organize the resume layout . 

Sample resume extracurricular activities: interests or activities section

In this example, the extracurricular activity has its own resume subheading. While it’s not affiliated to education, volunteering, or awards, it can still demonstrate valuable soft skills employers seek, like teamwork.

Tips for including activities on your resume

Here are some quick tips to including activities on your resume.

The activities on your resume should be relevant to the job

You may have varied interests and pastimes you enjoy, but they don’t all have a place on your resume. Keep the activities hyper relevant to the job description you’re applying for. Otherwise, the overflow of information can distract from the valuable information you include. 

Include details about the activity in your resume for credibility

Try to be as specific as possible about your volunteer roles, participation in official organizations, and achievements. Details can provide credibility to your experience and skills.

Take advantage of soft skills gained from activities

Soft skills are not less valuable than hard skills. Many hiring managers see the value of soft skills. They’re increasingly seeking candidates who prove those skills.

Wherever you’re putting your soft skills in your resume, leverage the ones that align with the job description. 

To ensure your resume is as strong as possible, use Jobscan’s resume scanner tool to generate a match report. This report can tell you what key skills you’re missing from your resume and your overall resume match score. It will also detect any parts of your resume that aren’t ATS-friendly.

Make your resume stand out and get noticed

Upload your resume to see what’s missing and get a free match rate.

View full results and optimize your resume

When your extracurricular activities highlight relevant skills to the job, hiring managers take notice. If you include irrelevant activities, your resume can look overcrowded and take attention away from critical skills.

Extracurriculars can help develop skills you need to make your resume stand out to recruiters and hiring managers. If you lack practical work experience or your activities developed critical skills you’d need for your new role, adding resume activities can benefit your job application.

Activities for your resume come in a range of types to suit every interest and ability. Some of the most common include: • Student council • Sports • Clubs or societies • Volunteering • Tutoring • Study abroad programs • Additional languages • Sororities or fraternities

Hobbies can count as extracurricular activities as long as you can demonstrate valuable skills relevant to your the job description you’re applying for.

You won’t be punished for not including extracurricular activities on your resume. It’s an extra way to incorporate skills and keywords to your resume, but it’s not essential. You can also develop skills from other jobs, your education, and certifications.

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Kelsey is a Content Writer with a background in content creation, bouncing between industries to educate readers everywhere.

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How To List Extracurricular Activites on Your Resume

Everything you ever wanted to know about how to include extracurricular activities on your resume — and whether it’s a good idea in the first place.

2 years ago   •   10 min read

Getting a job isn’t like getting into college — Hiring managers generally don’t care about your extracurricular activities. So why even bother including them on your resume?

Extracurricular activities can be a good way of showcasing your abilities when you don’t have a lot of work experience — in particular, if you’re still a student or have only just graduated. In that case, recruiters can look to your extracurriculars for evidence of transferable skills like leadership , teamwork , communication , and work ethic . This doesn’t mean that extracurricular activities are a substitute for relevant experience, but they’re a great place to start.

In this article, we’ll discuss how to determine if extracurricular activities are a good addition to your resume, which ones to include to show competitive transferable skills, and how to tailor your extracurricular activities to your particular industry and career level.

Should you put extracurricular activities on your resume?

Before we delve into how to showcase extracurricular activities, let’s decide if they’re the right fit for your resume.You should list extracurricular activities on your resume if:

• You’re a current student or recent graduate seeking an entry-level position.
• You don’t have a lot of paid work experience .
• It was through a prestigious or recognizable organization, like a law review or official charity.
• They demonstrate relevant transferable skills or noteworthy accomplishments that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

You should not list extracurricular activities on your resume if:

• You have enough paid work experience to showcase the same skills.
• The activity is more than 5+ years old.
• You’re applying for a senior position (with exceptions).
• It was a one-time activity rather than a regular, ongoing thing.

You can consider listing extracurricular activities on your resume if:

• You’re changing careers and want to include skills that are relevant to your new field.
• Your extracurricular activities are highly relevant or especially noteworthy.
• Your extracurricular activity includes a board membership or a similar position of leadership.

In these cases, you should still prioritize relevant paid work experience but can include extracurricular activities if there’s space on your resume. If you’re not sure if extracurricular activities are helping or harming your resume, upload it for free to Score My Resume , an online resume checker that will provide instant and detailed feedback on how to improve your resume.

How to list extracurricular activities on your resume

There are three ways to best showcase extracurricular activities on your resume: In a separate ‘Activities’ section, in your ‘Education’ section, and in an ‘Additional’ section at the end of your resume.

Generally, in any of these sections, you should list your activities in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. However, if older activities are more relevant to the job you're applying for, it's ok to list them first. For instance, a leadership role you had in college might be more relevant to a managerial position than more recent but less relevant activities.

In an activities section

If you were heavily involved in extracurricular activities and want to showcase that, it’s okay to have a whole section of your resume dedicated to it. Title it ‘Activities’ and include the name of the organization, the dates you were involved, your role or title, and 1-2 of your most relevant accomplishments. When deciding what to put under ‘Activities’ on your resume, consider activities that showcase your skills, interests, and professional experise.

For example:

In your education section

If your extracurricular activities were school clubs, they can go in the education section of your resume. For current students, your education section might be the most detailed section of your resume and can go at the top. You can also include other information like your major and relevant minor(s) , awards, relevant coursework, study abroad, and GPA.

If you’re a mid-level hire who graduated less than 10 years ago, you can still include extracurricular activities on your resume if they’re relevant and particularly noteworthy. In that case, you should keep it brief by listing extracurriculars on a single line in a short education section at the end of your resume, as shown in the example below.

If you don’t have a lot of work experience, you should aim to show transferable and soft skills that hiring managers and recruiters look for in your extracurricular activities. To find out if your bullet points are strong enough and have no mistakes, upload your resume to the tool below — it'll perform a quick scan and let you know if your extracurricular experiences can be improved.

In a volunteering section

If your extracurricular activities doubled as volunteer work, you can create a separate ‘Volunteering’ section on your resume. List each project or activity separately, including the dates you worked on it, and include 1-2 bullet points outlining your main accomplishments.For example:

In an additional section

If you want to include extracurricular activities on your resume without taking up a lot of space, consider including them in an additional section at the end of your resume. Include a subheading like ‘Activities’ and keep it to a single line, as shown in this resume example:

Optional resume section titles for extracurricular activities

Using appropriate section titles helps improve the readability of your resume and makes it easier for a recruiter to pick out the most useful information. Here are some additional resume section titles you can use when listing extracurricular activities:

• Extracurricular: Use this title if you have a broad range of activities outside of your academic or professional work that are relevant to your application.
• Activities: Use this title if your extracurriculars demonstrate a wide range of skills, including clubs, sports, or other group activities.
• Leadership : Choose this title when you want to emphasize leadership roles, such as president of a club or captain of a sports team. This is particularly effective if you’re applying for roles where leadership is a priority.
• Other: This title can be used to gather various parts of your resume that don’t fit into standard categories, such as extracurriculars, certificates, affiliations, etc.

Sample resume showing extracurricular experience

Here’s a good example of a resume for a student or recent graduate that showcases extracurricular activities, providing you with activities examples that easily fit into a high-performing resume:

How to highlight transferable skills through extracurricular activities

When considering what extracurricular activities to include on your resume, focus on those that demonstrate transferable skills, leadership, teamwork, or community involvement. Good activities to put on a resume can range from sports teams and clubs to volunteer work and personal projects.

Identify key transferable skills

Extracurricular activities are a great way to showcase both hard and soft skills in a professional setting. Consider the activity you took part in and identify if you can showcase any of the soft skills listed below:

• Leadership: Showcasing roles where you led a team or project.
• Teamwork: Demonstrating collaboration and collective problem-solving.
• Digital literacy: Showcasing your competence with digital tools and technology.
• Communication: Highlighting roles that required effective verbal or written communication.
• Organization: Managing events or projects efficiently.
• Problem-solving: Demonstrating your ability to identify challenges and come up with productive solutions.
• Innovation: Showing your ability to think outside the box.
• Time management: Highlighting your ability to juggle multiple responsibilities.
• Adaptability: Showing your ability to thrive in changing environments and adjust to new challenges.
• Conflict resolution: Demonstrating your skill in resolving disagreements and conflicts.
• Project management: Showcasing your ability to plan, execute, and oversee projects from start to finish.
• Analytical thinking: Showing your ability to analyze information, identify trends, and make informed decisions.

If you want to find relevant skills for the job you’re applying for, use our hard skills and keywords tool below to search for the job, and it’ll give you a list of skills relevant to the position.

Quantify your achievements

Once you have chosen an activity that showcases your desired skill, quantify your achievements with numbers and metrics . This gives a recruiter tangible proof of your skills while also explaining why your experience is relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you were involved in fundraising, specify the amount raised, or if you led a team, specify the size of the team.

Organized a charity event that raised $5,000 for environmental conservation.

Led a 15-member team to organize a college debate, attracting over 300 participants.

Use action verbs to create power phrases

Start your resume bullet points with a strong action verb , followed by a quantified metric, and end each phrase showing the positive result of your work. This formula creates eye-catching power phrases that succinctly demonstrate your skills.

Coordinated a team of 10 volunteers, leading to a 20% increase in fundraiser efficiency.

Designed and implemented a new marketing strategy for a college event, resulting in a 30% higher attendance than in previous years.

Tailor your examples to the job description

To make your extracurricular activities relevant to each application, tailor the examples you use to align with the job description. Identify key skills or responsibilities mentioned in the job description and choose extracurricular examples that best demonstrate these skills or qualities.

For instance, if the job requires strong leadership skills , highlight a time you led a team or project in your extracurricular activities.

Led a team of 20 volunteers in organizing the annual campus charity event, raising over $10,000.

Organized and directed a student-run theater production, coordinating a cast and crew of 30 people.

Align your examples with employer cultural and ethical values

When selecting which extracurriculars to highlight on your resume, consider the cultural and ethical values of the organizations you're applying to. Research each company’s history and their involvement in community and global initiatives. This will help you choose activities that resonate with their company structure and values as a whole.

For example, if a company prioritizes sustainability, describe your involvement in environmental clubs or eco-friendly initiatives. If a company values innovation and creativity, highlight your participation in tech projects or creative competitions.

What extracurricular activities to include on your resume based on your experience level

Not sure if your extracurricular activities belong on your resume? Here are some extracurricular activities that add value to your resume at every experience level.

Current students and recent graduates

For high school students and recent graduates, extracurricular activities are a major asset. On a high school activities resume, include sports, leadership roles, and any volunteer activities you’ve been involved in, such as:

• Foreign language activities — particularly study abroad
• Sports teams
• Performing arts
• Student government
• Fundraising
• Official clubs

Determining where to put clubs on a resume depends on how relevant they are to the job you’re applying for. If they are highly relevant, they can be included in the main 'Experience' section. Otherwise, they can be listed under an 'Activities' or 'Extracurricular' section.

For mid-career professionals, extracurricular activities should demonstrate continued personal growth. Include activities that highlight your leadership skills, industry involvement, or community engagement, such as:

• Volunteer work
• Publications
• Business venture and other projects — if these are significant enough, you might even want to consider including them in your regular work experience section.

Senior level

For senior-level professionals, the focus should be on activities that showcase strategic leadership and industry influence. Highlight roles that reflect your expertise and contributions at a higher level, including:

• Board memberships
• Consultancy
• Speaking engagements
• Business ventures
• High level of leadership

Tailoring extracurricular activities to your particular industry

Tailoring your extracurricular activities to the specific industry you're applying to is an important part of ensuring your resume stays relevant and impactful for each application. Below are examples of extracurricular activities that align well with different industry sectors:

Technology and IT:

• Coding clubs that demonstrate technical skills and proficiency with specific tools.
• Tech-focused volunteer work that showcases skills such as AI, machine learning, and web development.
• Personal tech projects, such as creating your own apps, websites, or software projects.

Led a team in a university hackathon, developing a mobile app that won second place for innovative use of AI in healthcare.

Finance and business:

• Leadership roles in investment clubs or business associations.
• Organizing fundraising events or managing budgets for student organizations.

As President of the campus Investment Club, grew membership by 40% and consistently outperformed market benchmarks in mock portfolios.

Education and academia:

• Tutoring or mentoring roles, showcasing teaching and coaching abilities.
• Involvement in educational clubs or academic competitions.

Tutored 30+ high school students in math and science, achieving an average student improvement rate of 25% in test scores.

Creative arts and design:

• Participation in arts clubs, creative writing courses, or performing arts groups.
• Contributions to campus publications, blogs, or design contests.
• Personal creative projects, such as films, photography, portfolio design, and art exhibitions.

Organized a campus art exhibit featuring 30+ student works, attracting over 300 attendees and promoting local artists.

Marketing and communications:

• Leading or participating in marketing or advertising clubs.
• Managing social media or publicity for student organizations or events.

Directed social media campaigns for the Campus Music Festival, increasing online engagement by 50% over previous years.

• Involvement in mock trial competitions or law student associations.
• Volunteering for legal aid societies or related community service.

Active member of the University Mock Trial team, reaching national finals and winning first place in our category.

Hospitality and tourism:

• Leadership roles in event planning or hospitality-related student organizations.
• Volunteering at local tourism events or cultural festivals.

Coordinated a local food festival, managing over 20 vendors and logistics, drawing an attendance of 5,000+ people.

Using extracurricular activities to help a career change

Extracurricular activities can be especially helpful when changing careers. When you’re moving to a new industry or field, your direct work experience may not align perfectly with your new career path. This is where extracurricular activities come into play, helping bridge the gap in your professional experience by showcasing relevant skills and interests in your new field.

• Focus on activities that demonstrate relevant skills to your new field. For example, leadership roles in community organizations can translate well into managerial positions in various sectors.
• If you're moving into a field that requires new technical skills, extracurricular activities like attending workshops, online courses, or certifications can demonstrate your commitment to learning and adapting.
• Demonstrate commitment to your new sector by showing involvement in industry-related groups. For example, someone transitioning to a career in environmental science might highlight their active role in conservation projects or environmental clubs.

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Listing Extracurricular Activities in a Resume

• Jul 29, 2024
• 1,369 views

When you're at the early stages of your career or still pursuing your education, incorporating extracurricular activities into your student resume can significantly enhance your prospects .

“When I was a teenager, I began to settle into school because I'd discovered the extracurricular activities that interested me: music and theater.” Morgan Freeman

These extracurricular pursuits offer a valuable opportunity to showcase your skills and qualifications beyond what's typically found in your academic record. They serve as tangible proof of your diverse capabilities, providing a refreshing contrast to the more conventional academic achievements listed in your educational background.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll take a deep dive into the art of integrating extracurricular activities into your resume.

Together, we'll explore:

• What extracurricular activities are;
• What types of involvement can be beneficial to include in a resume;
• How to present this information effectively;
• Which activities to prioritize depending on the situation;
• When it's most appropriate to have them on the resume.

Our aim is to help you understand the significance of these activities in the professional realm. This article will shed light on the real-world value they bring to your candidacy.

What are extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities are things you do outside of regular school or work . They're not the required classes or job duties. Instead, these are involvements that can help you learn practical skills that are useful in your life.

When you get involved in extracurriculars, you can learn and grow in different ways. You can join clubs, volunteer, or do community service, which helps you develop yourself.

• Clubs let you meet people who like the same things as you, and you can work together on projects.
• Volunteering is about helping others and improving how you communicate, understand other people, and handle different situations.
• Community service makes you feel like you're making a difference in the world and shows how powerful it can be when people work together for a common goal.

The top 5 college organizations that will make your resume stand out are social justice clubs, student government, debate teams, academic major associations, and honor societies. (The College Post)

In simple words, extracurricular activities are like a bag full of opportunities . They're not just about school or work. They're about becoming a better, more skilled person in different parts of your life. They help you learn and improve, now and in the future.

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How to list extracurricular activities on a resume

Including extracurricular activities in your resume requires a strategic approach . Here are five essential steps to effectively integrate these activities into your resume.

1. Reflect on your involvement

Begin by creating a list of all the extracurriculars you are engaged in or have actively contributed to during your academic journey. Consider how each activity benefited you and the skills you acquired .

For instance, if you are part of a foreign language club, highlight your language skills, which can be valuable to potential employers. Focus on listing clubs or organizations where you were actively involved and developed transferable skills .

Moreover, consider mentioning activities where you held leadership roles , as these demonstrate your ability to take on responsibilities and make significant contributions. These can be being a part of student government or holding an executive role in an organization.

2. Prioritize relevant experiences

If you have participated in diverse extracurricular activities, prioritize those most relevant to your desired industry or position. Specify your level of involvement and interest in each activity.

List your clubs and organizations on your resume in the same way how you organize work experience. Include a job title, a brief description of your responsibilities, and the start and end dates of the position. (Ripple Match)

Tailor your list to align with the industry or role you are pursuing. Highlight the skills and experiences that will resonate with potential employers more easily. For example, if you are applying for a banking position , emphasize your membership in a student finance association over unrelated affiliations like knitting clubs.

3. Evaluate your qualifications

If you choose extracurricular activities for your resume , assess how your participation has enhanced your qualifications. For example, if you were on the student council, you likely developed excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Consider the following skills that extracurricular activities can help you acquire and emphasize on your resume:

Technical expertise. Academic and extracurricular activities can nurture specific technical skills relevant to your industry. Initiative. Involvement in extracurricular pursuits demonstrates ambition and the willingness to take initiative. Work ethic and dedication. Consistent effort and commitment in extracurricular activities highlight your dedication. Collaboration and communication. Working within clubs or organizations improves your soft skills , which are essential in various professions. Organization. Managing academics and extracurriculars showcases strong organizational skills. Leadership. Many activities allow you to lead and organize events, a trait highly regarded by employers. Problem-solving. Extracurriculars often involve real-world challenges, fostering critical thinking and creativity skills.

4. Organize your activities

The space you allocate to listing extracurricular activities should depend on your overall experience. If you had several internships or have substantial work experience, you may prioritize those experiences and include only your most noteworthy extracurricular activities.

However, if you lack work or internship experience, emphasize how your extracurriculars have equipped you for the position you seek. Start with your most recent or current activities and conclude with earlier involvements.

5. Use bullet points for detail

Under the name of each extracurricular activity, provide the dates of your involvement and your position or role. Follow this with a concise list of bullet points that elucidate the skills you gained and highlight your accomplishments. This format is similar to the work experience section of your resume .

It's essential to provide a comprehensive picture of your involvement. To do this effectively, you should include specific details under each activity.

Here's how to expand on the process of using bullet points for greater clarity:

• Dates of involvement. Begin by noting the period you were actively engaged in each of the extracurriculars. This shows recruiters the duration of your commitment and your ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
• Position or role. Next, specify your role or position within each activity. Make it clear whether you were the club president, team captain, treasurer, or another significant role. This highlights your level of responsibility and leadership within the group.
• Skills gained. Under each activity, elaborate on the skills you developed or enhanced. For example, if you were part of a debate club, you might mention that you improved your public speaking, critical thinking, and research skills. Be specific about how these skills were cultivated during your involvement.
• Highlight accomplishments. Use bullet points to showcase your accomplishments within each activity. Did you organize an event, win a competition, or lead a successful project? Mention these achievements. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For instance, if you raised funds for a charity event, specify the amount you gained.
• Awards and certifications. If you received any awards or certifications that are relevant to the job you're applying for, be sure to include them. Awards like "Club Member of the Year" or certifications in first aid can demonstrate your commitment and skills.
• Action verbs. To make your accomplishments more impactful, use power words when describing your role and achievements. For example, words like "led," "initiated," "organized," and "achieved" convey a sense of proactivity and accomplishment.

By providing these additional details for each extracurricular activity, you create a more precise and comprehensive picture of your experiences and skills. This helps potential employers understand the depth of your involvement and the value you can bring to their organization.

Examples of effective extracurricular activities

Sharing your involvement can be beneficial even if you are unsure which particular skills you acquired there. Recruiters will spot the activity that they know helped develop skills that are beneficial to the candidate picked for the role. (UpKey)

To offer a clearer picture, here are some examples of extracurricular activities that can be particularly impactful on your resume:

You'll create a more compelling narrative on your resume by delving deeper into these extracurricular activities. Specific experiences and achievements within each category will allow potential employers to get a better understanding of your persona.

When to include extracurriculars on a resume

In case you lack professional experience or you are still in college, adding extracurricular activities can strengthen your resume . They help showcase to potential employers that you do have the needed skills and qualifications. (Indeed)

Knowing when to incorporate your extracurricular activities in your resume is essential to presenting yourself effectively to potential employers. Here's a more detailed breakdown of when and why to include them:

In essence, the decision to include or remove extracurricular activities from your resume hinges on their relevance to your current career stage and goals . While there are general guidelines, remember that each person's journey is unique. It's essential to tailor your resume to showcase the experiences that best reflect your qualifications and aspirations.

While extracurricular activities can often enhance a resume by showcasing skills, interests, and personality traits beyond academic or professional achievements, there are certain situations when it might be appropriate not to include them .

Avoid mentioning extracurriculars:

• If they are not relevant to the job or industry you're applying for.
• If you have limited space on your resume and need to prioritize other sections.
• If you participated in extracurricular activities that could be perceived as controversial or sensitive (e.g., political activism, religious organizations).
• If you have extensive professional experience that demonstrates the skills and qualifications required for the job.
• If your extracurricular activities section is sparse or includes activities that are incomplete or unimpressive .

Examples of extracurricular activities for resume

Teacher resume.

Teachers often have a broad range of extracurricular activities they can include on their resume. Examples of activities outside the classroom that may be listed in a teacher's resume :

• Mentoring. Teachers can mentor students, either through organized programs or independently. This shows a dedication to aiding students reach their full potential.
• Coaching. Coaching sports teams is a great avenue for teachers to showcase their leadership and organizational abilities. It also shows an ability to motivate and inspire students.
• Tutoring. Tutoring students in-person or online is another way for teachers to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a particular subject area.
• Community involvement. Participating in community events or working with local nonprofits can showcase a teacher's commitment to the community while displaying leadership and communication skills.
• Professional development. Taking classes and participating in workshops show an ongoing commitment to learning and self-improvement, which is always impressive to potential employers.
• Public speaking. Giving presentations at conferences or other events can demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, which is an important skill for any teacher.

Engaging in these activities can emphasize the various capabilities that teachers possess outside of the classroom, enhancing their eligibility for job openings.

Here's an example of how a teacher resume can look with the "Professional Development" section:

Accountant resume

Accountants have a wide range of skills that are beneficial to employers. However, including extracurriculars on your resume can help you gain a competitive edge over other applicants.

Here are some examples of activities that demonstrate professional traits relevant to the accounting field:

• Professional societies. Participating in professional organizations, such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), shows dedication to your profession.
• Volunteering. If you volunteer with a charity or non-profit organization, it demonstrates commitment and compassion.
• Networking. Networking events are a great way to meet new contacts and build relationships within the industry.
• Conferences. Attending finance-related conferences enables you to remain abreast of the most recent developments and cultivate your abilities.
• Continuing education. Taking courses related to accounting can show that you are eager to learn and stay current in the field.

Mentioning your out-of-class activities in your resume will help employers recognize you as someone devoted to their profession and eager to exceed what's expected.

News reporter resume

News reporters need to be well-rounded individuals. In addition to their journalism degree, they should have experience and knowledge in other areas.

These are a few examples of extracurricular activities and experiences that could help any news reporter make a stand-out resume:

• Volunteering. If you helped at local media outlets, this shows initiative and a willingness to learn. It also gives reporters valuable connections in the industry.
• Public speaking. Having experience with public speaking adds an important skill to any journalist's toolkit.
• Writing or blogging. This allows a reporter to hone their writing skills and gain visibility in the industry.
• Working with nonprofits or charities. This demonstrates a commitment to helping others, something that news organizations value highly.
• Professional development. Participating in career advancement opportunities, such as seminars or workshops is a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in journalism and network with peers in the field.
• Conferences. Attending conferences and conventions related to journalism and media topics. This helps keep reporters informed about new advances in the industry, as well as providing valuable networking opportunities with fellow professionals.

By having a broad selection of non-academic activities and experiences on their resume, news reporters can indicate to those considering them for employment that they are well-rounded individuals who are committed to staying up-to-date and interested in the domain of journalism.

Here's an example of how you can mention your blog in a real resume:

Logistician resume

Logisticians are often required to have various skills to perform their job duties. Besides having a good understanding of the logistics process, they should also possess strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.

To enhance a logistician's resume , consider the following extracurricular activities:

• Toastmasters International. Toastmasters is an organization that helps individuals improve their public speaking skills. Through this demonstration, employers can notice that the individual is ready to take initiative and improve their communication abilities .
• Volunteering at a local food bank. Volunteering at a food bank shows employers that the person possesses strong organizational and problem-solving capabilities.
• Professional associations. Professional associations offer members networking opportunities and access to industry news. Participating in one can help to demonstrate the individual's dedication to the logistics sector.
• Online course. Online courses provide an opportunity for individuals to learn new skills or brush up on existing ones. This activity can demonstrate to employers that the individual has a desire to keep apprised of industry trends.

By participating in extracurricular resume activities such as these, logisticians can demonstrate their commitment and dedication to the field of logistics. These endeavors can assist them to stand out from other applicants and get hired for positions they are qualified for.

Police officer's resume

Police officers are expected to possess extensive knowledge, a diverse set of abilities, and a wide array of skills. When crafting a resume, extracurricular activities can show potential employers that you have the experience and qualities necessary to be successful in law enforcement.

Examples of valuable extracurriculars to include on a law enforcement professional's resume are:

• Sports teams. Participating in physical activities such as running, weightlifting, and martial arts is a terrific demonstration of your dedication to health and fitness.
• First Aid/CPR Training. Being certified in first aid and CPR shows that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to respond quickly and appropriately in emergency situations.
• Self-defense classes. Taking self-defense classes can help you develop the skills needed to protect yourself and others in dangerous situations.
• Community service. Participating in community service can show employers that you are dedicated to serving your community.
• Volunteer work. Volunteering at local shelters or other organizations can illustrate your resolve to assist others.
• Leadership roles. Serving as a leader in a club or organization shows that you have strong communication and organizational skills.

These are just a few examples of extracurricular activities that can help make your resume stand out as a police officer. Highlighting to employers the experience and capabilities you have for the job could be a major factor in being employed.

Below is an example of using the "Volunteer work" and "Self-defense classes" sections in a police officer resume:

Sharing extracurricular activities in your resume can significantly boost your employability , especially when starting your career or transitioning from academics to the professional world. These activities provide evidence of your skills, dedication, and interests outside the classroom.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you will be able to build your resume that highlights your extracurricular experiences effectively. You will surely impress potential employers and increase your chances of securing your desired job.

Amanda Baker

Certified Professional Resume Writer

Amanda Baker is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career coach with over a decade of experience crafting compelling resumes and career marketing tools. As a black resume writer, Amanda brings a distinctive perspective to her work, guided by her commitment to nurturing the next generation of job seekers. Her ultimate goal is to equip young professionals with the skills and knowledge to confidently navigate the competitive job market.

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When & How to Add Extracurricular Activities to Your Resume

We've all been there—staring at a blank screen, trying to piece together the jigsaw puzzle that is your resume. And if you don’t have a ton of experience under your belt, it can be even more stressful figuring out what resume sections you need to include. 

When you’re new to the job market or returning from a long pause, you don’t want to overlook an important aspect of your resume: extracurricular activities . 

Extracurricular activities offer a unique glimpse into your character, skills, and passions; they tell a story about you that extends beyond your professional capacity and into who you are.

That’s why, in today’s post, you're going to master the art of presenting your extracurricular activities in a way that makes potential employers sit up and take notice.

Understanding extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities are things you do outside of your regular academic curriculum or professional work. In other words, these are activities you willingly participate in during your free time. 

This could range from volunteering at a local shelter, participating in a football league, organizing cultural events, or leading a book club. But that doesn’t quite answer the big question: why (and when) should you put extracurricular activities on a resume?

While extracurricular activities might be good in some scenarios, they aren’t always needed. 

Do you need extracurricular activities on a resume?

While there's no one-size-fits-all answer, Teal recommends including these resume activities in two specific scenarios:

1. When you have no relevant work history

If you're a recent graduate or trying to break into a new industry with no relevant work experience , including extracurricular activities on your resume can be beneficial. These activities are proxies for professional accomplishments, highlighting your transferable skills and demonstrating your potential to succeed. 

In this case, having a resume section dedicated to extracurriculars can be a good move. This is especially true for students who need to create their first resume with no professional history to draw from. 

2. When the activity aligns closely with the job

In some cases, you might have a lot of work experience; still, an extracurricular activity aligns so closely with a prospective job that it becomes a powerful addition to your resume. This can be particularly true if the activity demonstrates skills or knowledge directly applicable to the position. 

In these scenarios, incorporating extracurricular activities can add depth to your resume and make you a more compelling candidate. It's not always necessary, but it can provide the extra push your resume needs to stand out in the right context.

But be judicious in your selections. 

Only include those activities that add substantial value and refrain from adding activities to fill space. Resumes are short by nature, so make every word count. 

Do you already have professional experience at the entry, mid, or senior level? If so, you might be better off with a traditional resume focusing on your achievements rather than your extracurriculars. 

For that, you should consider getting started with Teal’s AI Resume Builder . It comes with built-in tools to help you create a personalized resume for each job application you send, regardless of your experience level.

Teal’s Keyword Checker, for example, highlights hard and soft skills mentioned in the job posting: 

This allows you to craft a resume that gives you an advantage with Application Tracking Software (ATS) , as you can use that language when describing professional accomplishments. 

Even if you don’t have a lot of experience and need to add resume extracurricular activities, this feature can really help you identify the best way of describing your experiences. 

Plus, when you use Teal’s generative AI to flesh out your resume sections, many of these words will be automatically injected into your text. 

You can do the same with any section to help complete better, more impactful resumes in less time. Finally, simply use Teal to generate a cover letter that matches your resume and is perfectly tailored to the job you’re applying for. 

But why not see it in action for yourself? Sign up for Teal’s AI Resume Builder and give it a shot.

9 examples of extracurricular activities on a resume (no job experience)

The following are examples of extracurricular activities that would work well on a resume if you don’t have lots of job experience. We’ve also added a list of transferable skills that these activities may convey. 

1. Professional and industry-specific clubs

If you're a member or leader of a club or organization related to your target job or industry, this is an excellent addition to your resume. 

The transferable skills from these activities might include:

• Industry knowledge: By participating in a professional club, you likely had access to industry-specific knowledge and resources that would be a good addition to your resume. 
• Leadership: If you take on a leadership role within the club, such as becoming a board member or organizing events, you demonstrate your ability to lead a team, project manage, and coordinate with diverse individuals. 
• Networking: Networking skills can be essential in business roles (like sales), where building and maintaining professional relationships is critical.
• Communication: Whether you're presenting at a meeting, writing for a club newsletter, or simply discussing topics with fellow members, you're honing your verbal and written communication skills. 

Of all the extracurricular activities on the list, participating in professional-related clubs should be a top priority for professional resumes. 

2. Freelance projects

If you’ve undertaken freelance work or projects , especially ones relevant to your target role, these showcase initiative and practical application of skills. Taking on freelance projects can showcase your skills in many ways:

• Proof of specific skills: Freelance projects, especially those relevant to your target role, demonstrate the practical application of your skills. For instance, creating a website or mobile app shows your technical skills if you're an IT professional.
• Problem-solving: As a freelancer, you need to identify and solve problems independently, indicating strong problem-solving abilities.
• Self-management: Freelance work requires self-management, time management, and the ability to meet deadlines.

Like professional or industry-related clubs, this should be highlighted for any professional resume if you don’t have many professional accomplishments for your resume . 

3. Volunteer Work

Volunteer work demonstrates a commitment to your community and, depending on the specific role, collaboration. But it also gives you a ton of transferable skills that could appeal to various roles:

• Commitment: Regular volunteer work shows a commitment to helping others and giving back to your community. It reflects positively on your character and shows you are responsible and reliable.
• Leadership and collaboration: If your volunteer work involves leading a team or project, it showcases your leadership abilities. Even if it didn't, simply working as part of a volunteer team shows your ability to collaborate with others.
• Project management: Coordinating a large fundraising event or similar initiative requires planning and execution, both of which are key project management skills.

Listing volunteer work on your resume can be particularly appealing to companies that do charity or non-profit work. Use Teal's AI Resume Builder to create an exhaustive list of your volunteer work, and pick and choose relevant work as it relates to the job you're applying for.

4. Sports teams or athletics

Being part of a sports team can show you're a team player, dedicated, and in some cases, have leadership skills.

Participation in sports teams provides several transferable skills:

• Teamwork: Sports inherently involve working as part of a team, demonstrating your ability to cooperate and collaborate with others.
• Dedication: Regular participation in a sport shows your dedication and commitment, indicating you are someone who can be counted on.
• Leadership: If you were a captain or took on any leadership role, it showcases your ability to motivate others and lead a team to achieve a common goal.

You don’t have to be the star quarterback of your football team to add this to your resume. Any team you were a part of can give you transferable skills that any hiring manager would find desirable. 

5. Event Organization

If you've been involved in organizing events in college or in your community, it could demonstrate organizational and communication skills. These are especially relevant for roles in event planning but also for roles that require project management skills.

Organizing events can provide you with several applicable skills:

• Organizational skills: Planning an event requires coordinating many moving parts and demonstrating strong organizational and planning abilities.
• Communication: Events involve coordinating with stakeholders, showcasing your strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Project management: Managing an event from start to finish is a form of project management emphasizes your ability to oversee a project and ensure its successful completion.

Events are a great example of a project that shows you can transform an idea into something tangible. 

6. Language clubs or cultural organizations

Whether it’s for your career or a personal interest that you want to highlight , involvement in language clubs or cultural organizations can demonstrate:

• Appreciation for diversity: Participation in these groups signifies your interest and respect for different cultures and perspectives, a highly valued attribute in today's globalized workplace.
• Communication skills: By interacting with people from different backgrounds, you enhance your ability to communicate effectively with diverse individuals.
• Language proficiency: If the club or organization is focused on a particular language, it can demonstrate your proficiency or fluency in that language, which is an in-demand skill in many multinational companies.

So many positions would benefit from a bilingual or multilingual worker. If you’ve participated in language clubs and you’re missing concrete professional experience, you should consider adding this extracurricular. 

7. Certification courses or workshops

Earning additional certificates or attending relevant workshops is a strong way to show you're proactive about learning and staying up-to-date in your industry.

Completing additional certifications or attending industry-related workshops demonstrates:

• Proactive learning: Certificates and workshops show you’re committed to continuous learning and keeping your skills current in a fast-paced industry.
• Industry knowledge: It can also highlight your deep understanding of specific aspects of your industry.
• Initiative: It's a clear sign that you take the initiative to go beyond what's required and continually advance your professional development.

Managers like “go-getters,” and nothing says that you get after it, like taking the time to push your industry knowledge deeper. 

8. Public speaking or debate clubs

If you're part of a debate team or Toastmasters, it displays your communication and critical thinking skills. These skills can be particularly relevant for sales, law, or any role requiring presentations or negotiations.

Participation in public speaking or debate clubs highlights:

• Communication skills: This kind of involvement proves your ability to articulate your thoughts and engage effectively with diverse audiences.
• Persuasion skills: Debating equips you with the ability to persuade others effectively, a key skill for roles in sales, marketing, and law.
• Critical thinking: Structuring arguments and rebuttals in debates also demonstrates your critical thinking and analytical abilities.

Public speaking is a rare skill and one that many hiring managers would find appealing. 

9. Mentorship programs

Mentoring programs, especially those related to your professional field, can demonstrate a host of valuable and transferable skills:

• Leadership: Mentoring involves guiding and influencing others, which shows your ability to lead and inspire.
• Expertise: If you're mentoring in your field of study or work, it reinforces your proficiency and knowledge in that area.
• Patience and persistence: These are often necessary when helping mentees learn and grow, demonstrating your resilience and patience.

These skills are highly applicable across many industries and job roles, making mentoring a strong extracurricular activity to feature on your resume.

How to list extracurricular activities on a resume (no job experience)

The trick to including extracurricular activities on your resume when you have no job experience is less about what you include and more about how you present them . 

Here's a step-by-step guide to getting it right.

Step 1: Identify the right activities for your resume 

Choose activities that demonstrate the skills relevant to the job you're applying for. 

• Did your role as the captain of a sports team showcase your leadership skills? 
• Did organizing a charity event exhibit your project management abilities? 
• Did volunteering at the local radio station teach you about teamwork and collaboration? 

Think about the key skills needed for the prospective role, and match them with the activities that best demonstrate them.

Again, for this, there’s no better solution than Teal’s Keyword Checker:

Even if you don’t have much work experience, you can still give yourself an advantage by using the right verbiage and keywords to express your extracurriculars. 

But rather than guess what these skills are and how you should convey them, Teal pulls out all that information for you. Then, you can use that information to build a resume that lands your next interview much faster. 

Check it out by getting started with Teal’s AI Resume Builder today. 

Step 2: Create an “Extracurricular Activities” section  

Once you've identified the activities, create a separate section on your resume, typically near the end. 

Important note: Again, only add this section if you don’t have any professional experience relative to the job description or if your extracurricular activities are so well aligned with the role that it makes sense to do so. 

Step 3: Format and describe each activity  

List each activity in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. 

For each activity, provide a brief description highlighting your role, achievements, and the skills you used or developed. Remember, your description should be concise and compelling, aiming to make potential employers excited to learn more about you.

Final thoughts

Extracurricular activities on your resume are not just 'nice-to-haves.' They're valuable elements that provide a more well-rounded picture of who you are, showcasing the diverse skills and experiences that make you a compelling candidate.

But remember, it's all about choosing the right activities and presenting them in a way that aligns with your career aspirations and the job you're eyeing.

And, of course, Teal's AI Resume Builder is here to guide you every step, ensuring your resume and you stand out from the crowd.

Jumpstart your resume with Teal's AI Resume Builder today and showcase your extracurricular activities like a pro.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i choose which extracurricular activities to include on my resume, where on my resume should i list extracurricular activities, can extracurricular activities make up for a lack of work experience.

Nathan Thompson

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The Power of Extracurricular Activities on Your Resume

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

Though this quote has its roots in proverbs written centuries ago, it is still relevant to the recruiters of today who want to see a resume with extracurricular activities .

Why? Participation in extracurricular activities can go a long way toward showing companies that a candidate possesses skills in leadership, teamwork , loyalty, communication, and collaboration.

Captain of your college softball team? President of a student club? Volunteering at your local food bank? These are activities that reflect the development and application of job-related skills that could directly relate to the position you are pursuing if you include them when writing your resume.

In this post, we will outline what activities you might consider listing , why you should list them, how you should format them , and what to leave off.

Remember, if you use our resume builder , putting your sections together in the right order with the right information is that bit easier too!

Why Add Extracurricular Activities to Your Resume

While adding a list of extracurricular activities is sometimes best suited for a student or graduate resume , where job experience may be and often is lacking, it is also helpful for those with an adequate work history. 

What’s more, adding different types of extracurricular activities to your resume demonstrates that you have built new skills in addition to those developed on the job . This presents you as a well-rounded individual, the kind that many companies will be interested in hiring.

In 2021, CoursesOnline General Manager Sarah-Jane McQueen told Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a global leader in higher education networking, “Certain skills and ways of operating can be learned but various traits can only be forged through life experiences, so don’t be afraid of fully embracing who you are. Remember, employers want to hire real people, not interchangeable drones .”

In other words, a recruiter sees a good list of extracurriculars and envisions a potential employee who brings an enthusiasm to learn new things , a healthy interest in diverse subjects , and the ability to multitask.

Finally, having extracurricular activities to discuss is beneficial for job interviews as well. Your experience in extracurriculars provides you with a well of details you can draw on to answer interview questions such as “Describe a time when you worked successfully in a team”, “What is your greatest accomplishment ?” or “What is the professional achievement you are most proud of?”

Take any opportunity to volunteer, join an academic club, or become a member of a professional association, and add that detail to your resume especially if you lack work experience. According to a 2018 study published by the Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, participating in one or more extracurricular activity can increase employability.

What Types of Extracurriculars Can Go on a Resume?

Basically, almost any activity outside of work that has helped to build skills in various areas, such as leadership or communication , you can and should add to a resume.

To illustrate what we mean, here are some examples of extracurricular activities you might want to add to your resume:

• Student council/clubs
• Sports involvement
• Student newspapers
• Volunteering
• Civic activities
• Philanthropic activities
• Club memberships
• Foreign language studies
• Fundraising activities
• Freelance projects
• Work-study program
• Study abroad program
• Student government involvement

In any case, you don’t necessarily need to have assumed a leadership role in any of these activities. Simply fitting these activities into your schedule displays organizational, time management , collaboration, teamwork , and interpersonal skills.

What Skills C an You Demonstrate Through Extracurricular Activities

Employers might see involvement in extracurricular activities as having been a way to develop soft skills needed for the position they are offering. Some particular extracurriculars that employers might look for and the skills these activities build include:

• Student associations: organizational and teamwork skills
• Study abroad: communication skills; learning a foreign language
• Volunteering: collaboration and leadership skills
• Freelance project development: decision-making and creative skills

What A ctivities Do Not Count As Extracurricular?

On the other hand, any task directly related to your college studies , such as writing a research paper or heading a specific student project, would not be extracurricular.

However, if your research paper was published or you led a team to complete an assigned project, you might list those in the Education section following your degree earned and school attended.

There is no need to add details such as leading a school project assignment if you have an extensive work history that demonstrates leadership.

How and Where To Put Extracurricular Activities on Resume

Now that you know what to include when it comes to a resume with extracurricular activities, exactly how do you list them? 

By and large, you can add your extracurriculars under a heading titled Extracurricular Activities following your Work History section.

Let’s see some examples. First, here is an example that lacks some details.

• Member, National Honor Society
• Vice-President, Student Council
• Third baseman, Thomas Edison High School Varsity team

The best format when listing your extracurricular activities on your resume is to:

• Firstly, name the organization
• Secondly, list your position
• Then, add the dates you served in this organization
• Lastly, add the location of the organization

Let’s see it done right.

• Student Council, Vice-President, University of Wisconsin, 10/2021 – 12/2022
• National Honor Society, President, Walter Grove High School, 2020 – 2021
• Member,  Walter Grove High School Varsity Baseball team, third baseman, co-captain 2019 – 2020

Finally, you could also use a bullet list for each entry that details your responsibilities and gives examples of which skills you developed and how you used them.

To sum up our advice with a visual example, here are extracurricular activities for a resume that provide details in each entry:

President/Member

Student Council, University of Wisconsin, 10/2021 – 12/2022

• Served as President, January 2022 – June 2022
• Ran weekly general assembly meetings
• Created and implemented council budget
• Coordinated fundraising events, exceeded fundraising goals by 30%

National Honor Society, Walter Grove High School, October 2018 – May 2021

• Elected President February 2020
• Oversaw team to promote activities and schedule events
• Conducted monthly meetings
• Maintained 4.0 GPA for all three years to remain eligible for membership

Varsity Baseball Player

Walter Grove High School, 2019 – 2021

• Played primarily third base, relief pitcher
• Elected co-captain, 2020
• Assisted in leading team to state semifinals, 20120
• Voted Most Improved Player, 2019

Check out which skills an employer looks for in the particular position you are persuing by researching the company , then, when possible, highlight those extracurricular activities.

Your Resume Format Might Affect Where You List Your Extracurricular Activities

Remember, not all resumes look the same. These days some candidates and recruiters prefer skills-based resumes, while others stick to the tried and tested reverse-chronological format which focuses more on work history.

• If you are creating a functional resume that focuses more on skills than experience, put the extracurricular activities section before your work history. 
• In a reverse chronological resume format , put the list of extracurriculars after your work history.

Whenever you’re unsure about how to put together your resume or how to format your document, you can always try out our free online resume builder . 

Our resume examples are also a great way to guide you through the resume writing process for different industries and work sectors.

When Not To List Extracurriculars on Your Resume

Some suggest that extracurriculars can be left off of a resume if there is ample job experience listed. While this may be true, the exception would be if an extracurricular activity or two directly relates to your profession. 

In that case, it could demonstrate your passion for the type of work or industry, show that you have built additional skills pertinent to the position, and let potential employers know that you are highly prepared for the responsibilities associated with the job they are offering.

Don’t Make a Hobby of Adding Hobbies As Extracurricular Activities

It’s important to remember that hobbies are not necessarily the same thing as extracurricular activities. For resume or college application purposes, the reason for listing these activities is to show that you have developed a skill set beyond your past work positions or academic studies.

A hobby doesn’t necessarily help you build usable skills. For example, if you enjoy fishing, there is nothing wrong with that, but standing on a riverbank or pier with a fishing rod does little to develop communication, leadership, or other desirable skills that you can apply in your academic or professional life.

Nevertheless, hobbies and interests can sometimes become extracurricular activities . You might love exercising so much that you’ve become a fitness instructor and manage an exercise program for a fitness club, or you enjoy painting and have become an art instructor at a local community college or community center .

These would certainly be details you could include in an extracurricular activities section of your resume.

No Extracurricular Activities? No Worries!

As you can see, listing extracurricular activities on your resume has several positive effects, but does this mean that having no extracurriculars dooms your resume and hurts any chance of landing the job you are seeking?

Of course not.  

There are other sections you can add to your resume to help you stand out if you lack extracurricular activities. Professional certifications , memberships in professional associations , publications , awards , and projects you’ve worked on are details you can add.

Key Points To Remember

To summarize the above, when you are a student or graduate looking for your first role within a professional work environment, listing extracurricular activities on your resume can boost your application. In short, you can demonstrate the skills you have not yet had the chance to prove in a job. 

Remember these important tips when adding these activities to your resume:

• Include activities that demonstrate your abilities in teamwork, communication, leadership, problem-solving , and handling responsibility.
• Don’t add your academic work or hobbies in this section , these belong in the education or hobbies and interests section of your resume.
• List the organization , your position , dates , and the location for each entry.
• Expand these entries with more detail in bullet points to prove your skills if there is space on your resume.
• Remember that where these activities are placed might be different for different resume formats.

If you are unsure about how to structure your resume, check out one of our many examples. These include many student examples and modern templates . If you follow our tips and use our samples for inspiration , you should be lining up the job interviews in no time!

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How To List a Club or Honor Society on Your Resume

Resumes are a critical part of the application process and whether you’re creating one from scratch or updating an old resume, you likely have many questions. The largest of which is how to list a club or honor society on your resume. 

Before we dive in, we’ll discuss a few best practices first. No matter the role you’re applying to, whether it’s a job, internship , or another opportunity, your resume needs to shine.

Your resume is often the first thing employers see when considering candidates — making it an excellent opportunity to stand out and land an interview. Here are some resume writing tips for you to follow:

Highlight Key Accomplishments and Experience

Think of your resume as an outline. You’ll want to make any relevant professional or personal experience easy to find. You can include things like:

• Jobs and Internships
• Volunteer work
• Clubs and organizations, such as a leadership honor society  
• Awards and Certifications
• Relevant skills 

Once you’ve identified the key experiences you want to list, describe your responsibilities and any important things you’ve learned. 

For example, being a part of a sports team may have taught you the value of teamwork, collaboration, and accountability.  Being a member of a leadership honor society could have helped you develop your work ethic, critical thinking skills, or other soft skills important in the modern workplace .

Keep It Short and Skimmable

Hiring managers read numerous resumes so you want to make it as easy as possible for them to find critical information. Use the white space on your resume to break up each point and allow your most remarkable experiences to stand out. 

Keep the descriptions under each of your experiences short, to the point, and with just enough important information. Keeping descriptions brief allows you to elaborate on your experience further during the interview process.

Tailor It to Your Audience

Hiring managers look for a specific set of skills. Review the job description closely to find out precisely what skills they’re after. Identify any keywords they use and incorporate applicable ones on your resume. This process takes time but first impressions are critical, and you want to make sure you’re making a good one.

Listing an Honor Society on Your Resume

Now that we’ve discussed some general resume best practices, let’s dive a little deeper. 

You can follow many different resume formats, but what’s the most effective way to list your honor society membership, responsibilities, and awards?

Typically, you’ll want to list your professional experience first, followed by any honor societies, clubs, and programs. You’ll want to create a separate section for your experience in the leadership honor society, and be sure to leave enough room to list your responsibilities and skills. 

If you have an awards section on your resume, you can include any recognition you’ve received from your honor society there. If your leadership honor society sends out digital badges , use them to highlight your accomplishments.

How the NSLS Can Boost Your Resume

As a leadership honor society that focuses on professional and personal growth, our programs help students like you hone their leadership skills through hands-on experience and life-changing learning opportunities. We also offer coaching and mentorships, where you can get guidance on your resume, interviewing, and skill-building. 

We are the only accredited honor society in the nation. Because of this prestige, membership to the NSLS can be a huge differentiator between you and other applicants. In fact, some employers actively seek to hire members of the NSLS. 

Are you looking to build your resume and get real-world, professional experience? We offer paid internships , where you can get hands-on experience that truly develops your leadership skills. Apply for an internship with us today to start a chapter at your school.

Resume Tips for College Students

Are you thinking of getting an internship while finishing your degree? Or maybe you’re getting ready to graduate and starting to look for that perfect career launch. Either way, a stunning resume is required to start you off on the right foot.

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How To List Your Extracurricular Activities on Your Resume

By Eric Eng

Are you a job seeker trying to make your resume stand out from the crowd? Well, you’re in luck! Listing extracurricular activities on your resume can be a game-changer and give you that competitive edge. In this article, we will explore why it’s essential to include these activities, what activities you should include, how to effectively list them, and creative ways to showcase your skills through your extracurriculars.

Why Should You List Extracurricular Activities on Your Resume?

Nowadays, employers are looking for more than just academic achievements. They want to see well-rounded candidates who possess not only the required skills but also qualities like leadership, teamwork, and time management. Extracurricular activities provide the perfect platform to showcase these traits. By including these activities on your resume, you demonstrate your ability to balance multiple responsibilities and your passion for personal growth.

Not only do extracurricular activities highlight your soft skills , but they also give potential employers a glimpse into your personality. It’s a way to show them that you are more than just a collection of qualifications on paper. So, be sure to make room for your extracurricular pursuits on your resume and let your personality shine through.

When it comes to listing extracurricular activities on your resume, it’s important to choose those that are relevant to the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a leadership role, highlighting your experience as the president of a student organization or captain of a sports team would be beneficial. These positions demonstrate your ability to take charge, make decisions, and motivate others.

Additionally, extracurricular activities can also provide valuable networking opportunities. Through participating in clubs , organizations, or community service projects, you have the chance to connect with individuals who share similar interests and goals. These connections can lead to mentorship opportunities, internships, or even job offers in the future.

Furthermore, participating in extracurricular activities shows that you are proactive and have a genuine interest in personal development. It demonstrates that you are willing to go above and beyond what is expected of you and that you are constantly seeking new challenges and experiences. Employers value individuals who are self-motivated and have a drive to continuously improve themselves.

Moreover, extracurricular activities can help you develop transferable skills that apply to various aspects of your life, including your professional career. For instance, being a part of a debate team can enhance your critical thinking and public speaking abilities, which are highly sought after in many industries. Similarly, participating in a community service project can improve your empathy, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

Lastly, listing your extracurricular activities on your resume can also serve as a conversation starter during an interview. It gives you the opportunity to discuss your experiences, challenges, and accomplishments in a more personal and engaging manner. This can help you stand out from other candidates and leave a lasting impression on the interviewer.

What Extracurricular Activities to Include on Your Resume

When it comes to deciding which extracurricular activities to include, it’s important to select those that align with the job you are applying for. Think about activities that demonstrate skills relevant to the position or showcase your personal interests.

For example, if you are applying for a management role, including activities like being a team captain or organizing events will demonstrate your leadership and organizational abilities. These activities can showcase your ability to coordinate and motivate a team towards a common goal, as well as your knack for planning and executing successful events.

Furthermore, if the role requires creativity, showing involvement in art clubs or community theater groups can help you stand out. Being a member of an art club can demonstrate your passion for artistic expression and your ability to think outside the box. Involvement in community theater groups can showcase your ability to collaborate with others, adapt to different roles, and perform under pressure.

Moreover, it’s important to consider the impact and significance of the activities you choose to include on your resume. Employers are not only interested in the activities themselves but also in how these activities have contributed to your personal development and growth. Therefore, focus on activities that have had a significant impact on your personal development or can be linked to the skills required for the job.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning any leadership positions or responsibilities you held within these extracurricular activities. Whether you were a club president, a team captain, or a committee chairperson, highlighting your leadership experience can demonstrate your ability to take charge, make decisions, and guide others toward success.

Lastly, don’t forget to include any awards, honors, or achievements you have received as a result of your involvement in these activities. These accolades can further validate your skills and dedication, making you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.

How to Effectively List Extracurriculars on Your Resume

When it comes to listing your extracurricular activities, the format and placement are crucial. It’s recommended to create a separate section titled “Extracurricular Activities” or “Additional Involvements” to draw attention to these experiences. This ensures that they won’t get lost in your work experience or education details.

For each activity, provide a concise description of your role or involvement. Highlight any accomplishments or responsibilities you held. Use action verbs to emphasize your contributions and quantify your achievements whenever possible. This will help employers understand the impact you had in each activity and how it relates to the skills they are seeking.

Remember to tailor your descriptions to align with the job requirements. If the position emphasizes teamwork, focus on how your involvement in a sports team or club helped you develop collaborative skills. By highlighting the relevance of your extracurricular activities, you can make a strong case for why you are the ideal candidate.

Furthermore, it’s important to showcase a diverse range of extracurricular activities. While it’s great to have a specific focus, such as being a member of the debate team or participating in community service, employers also value well-rounded individuals. Including a variety of activities can demonstrate your ability to manage your time effectively and your willingness to explore different interests.

Additionally, consider including any leadership roles you held within your extracurricular activities. Employers are often impressed by candidates who have taken on leadership positions, as it shows initiative and the ability to take charge. Whether you were the captain of a sports team, the president of a club, or the coordinator of a volunteer project, be sure to highlight these leadership experiences and the skills you developed as a result.

Moreover, don’t forget to mention any awards or recognition you received for your extracurricular involvement. Whether it’s a scholarship, a certificate of achievement, or being selected as the most valuable player, these accolades can further demonstrate your dedication and excellence in your chosen activities.

Lastly, consider including any relevant extracurricular activities that may not be directly related to your field of interest but still showcase valuable skills. For example, if you were involved in a theater production, you can highlight your ability to work in a team, your creativity, and your public speaking skills. These transferable skills can be attractive to employers, as they show your versatility and adaptability.

In conclusion, when listing your extracurricular activities on your resume, remember to create a separate section, provide concise descriptions, tailor your descriptions to align with the job requirements, showcase a diverse range of activities, highlight any leadership roles, mention any awards or recognition, and include relevant activities that demonstrate transferable skills. By following these tips, you can effectively showcase your extracurricular involvement and increase your chances of landing your desired job.

Ways to Showcase Your Skills Through Extracurriculars

While listing your extracurricular activities is valuable, taking it a step further to showcase your skills can make an even more significant impact. Here are a few creative ways to accomplish just that:

• Highlight Leadership Roles: If you held leadership positions in any of your extracurriculars, emphasize the number of members you managed or the successful outcomes of projects you led. For example, if you were the president of your school’s debate club, you can mention how you successfully organized and led weekly meetings, managed a team of passionate debaters, and orchestrated several successful debate competitions. This demonstrates your ability to take charge, motivate others, and achieve positive results.
• Show Impact through Numbers: Whenever possible, quantify your achievements. For example, if you were part of a fundraising event, mention how much money you helped raise or how many attendees you attracted. If you were involved in a charity run, you can specify that you helped raise $10,000 for a local nonprofit organization, which directly contributed to funding educational programs for underprivileged children. By highlighting these numbers, you showcase your ability to make a tangible impact and achieve measurable results.
• Include Relevant Projects: If you were involved in projects that are directly related to the job you are applying for, make sure to highlight them. This demonstrates your ability to apply your skills in real-life situations. For instance, if you are applying for a marketing position, you can mention your involvement in a student-led marketing campaign where you developed and executed a comprehensive social media strategy that resulted in a 30% increase in brand awareness and a 20% boost in website traffic. This showcases your practical experience and your ability to apply marketing principles effectively.
• Provide Testimonials: If you received recognition or praise for your involvement, consider adding testimonials or quotes from mentors, coaches, or colleagues who can vouch for your skills and character. Include a testimonial from your music teacher, praising your dedication and talent as a violinist, or a quote from your soccer coach, commending your leadership skills and teamwork. These testimonials add credibility to your accomplishments and demonstrate that your skills have been recognized and appreciated by others.

By incorporating these strategies, you not only provide evidence of your skills but also make your resume more engaging and memorable. Remember, your extracurricular activities can be an excellent asset when it comes to differentiating yourself from other candidates and capturing the attention of potential employers.

So, don’t overlook the importance of listing your extracurricular activities on your resume. They can make a significant difference in how employers perceive your qualifications and fit for the job. Showcasing your well-roundedness, passion, and transferable skills through these activities could be the key to landing your dream job.

Furthermore, participating in extracurricular activities can also provide you with valuable life lessons and personal growth opportunities. For example, being part of a sports team teaches you the importance of discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Volunteering for a community service organization helps you develop empathy, compassion, and a sense of social responsibility.

Extracurricular activities also allow you to explore your interests and passions outside of the academic realm. Whether it’s joining a debate club, starting a photography club, or participating in a theater production, these activities provide a platform for self-expression, creativity, and personal fulfillment.

Moreover, engaging in extracurricular activities can expand your social network and help you build meaningful relationships with like-minded individuals. Whether it’s bonding with teammates during intense practice sessions or collaborating with fellow club members on a community project, these experiences foster camaraderie, friendship, and a sense of belonging.

Lastly, participating in extracurricular activities can enhance your college application and increase your chances of being accepted into your desired university. Admissions officers value well-rounded applicants who demonstrate a genuine passion for their interests and a commitment to making a positive impact in their communities.

While it’s important to showcase your skills through extracurricular activities for professional reasons, it’s equally important to recognize the personal growth, fulfillment, and social connections that these activities can bring into your life. Embrace the opportunities that extracurricular activities offer, and let them shape you into a well-rounded individual with a diverse skill set and a passion for lifelong learning.

Having all the necessary information is important before choosing any course of action. AdmissionSight is always here to assist you with any questions or concerns. We have more than ten years of expertise assisting students in successfully navigating the challenging admissions process.

Consult with AdmissionSight and find out what we can do to help you get into the school of your choice by ensuring that you are sufficiently aware and well-prepared for the application process.

Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!

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Extracurricular Activities for Resume | The Ultimate Guide

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.

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.

FAQs on Extracurricular Activities for Resume

It depends on whether or not the activity is related to the job you’re applying for. Relevant activities can be a great way to demonstrate your experience, while unrelated ones take up space and often leave a bad impression.

The best way to list clubs is in chronological order, with the most recent one at the top. Then, include the club’s name, the dates you were a member, and your role.

You can mention sports activities as part of extracurricular activities for your resume. Remember to list sports relevant to the job you’re applying for and include any skills, training, and achievements you gained from that experience.

12 extracurricular activities to boost your CV

If you don’t have a lot of work experience, you can still create a compelling CV by adding your extracurricular activities.

In this article, we’re going to show you the 12 best extracurricular activities you can use to boost your CV.

And we’re going to explain exactly how and where you should add them, if you want to make a big impression on employers, and land job interviews.

The best extracurricular activities for your CV will be those where you developed credible, transferable skills for the workplace. This includes both group activities, as well as any solo initiatives.

CV templates 

Sports teams

Being a member of a sports team is a great way to show an employer that you function well in a team. Being in a sports team is all about cohesion, coordination, and working together to achieve a common goal – just like working within a business.

Teamwork is vital in the workplace, so being able to prove your ability to contribute to a team will add value to your CV . Make sure to highlight the key skills you developed in team sports, including the following:

Top 5 skills

• Coordination
• Collaboration
• Communication

Clubs and societies

If you’re a member of any club, society or organisation outside your studies, it can be helpful to include these on your CV. Relevant organisations can include chess clubs, reading groups and debating clubs. Never include any political or religious organisations on your CV, as this can lead to unwanted discrimination.

The best clubs and societies to include on your CV will naturally be those directly related to the job you’re applying for, such as a finance society if you were applying for a junior role in a bank. However, being part of a club and society – no matter the genre – demonstrates some key skills that can come in handy on your CV:

• Critical thinking
• Organisation

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Personal projects (writing, websites etc)

Having a personal side project  (or several) is a great way to demonstrate your skills and interest within a particular line of work. Whether you’re making videos on YouTube, writing a book or if you created your own website, it’s great to add to your CV.

You don’t have to worry about your personal projects being highly successful, either. What a potential employer will see is initiative and a keen enthusiasm both for work and the subject at hand.

Including personal projects on your CV can demonstrate the following skills:

• Subject matter expertise
• Independent working
• Research skills

Creative hobbies (art, photography etc.)

Creative hobbies, such as painting, acting or photography are great to include on your CV, as they demonstrate to an employer a number of important workplace skills. Being creative requires a certain attention to detail and patience, which translates well to any office or team environment.

Creative hobbies also demonstrate that you use your time productively and wisely, which is attractive to any potential employer. Creative hobbies can demonstrate the following:

• Attention to detail
• Observation
• Idea generation

Volunteering

Having volunteer work on your CV is a great way to show off a keen work ethic and valuable workplace skills at the same time. Volunteer work, despite being mostly unpaid, is no different to normal work – you’re still engaging with the public or a team, completing tasks, and following instructions.

Volunteer work doesn’t have to exclusively mean working for established charities, either. If you put in a few shifts at your university library or coached your school sports team, you can include this as volunteer work on your CV.

• Customer service
• Keen work ethic
• Accountability

Music & theatre

While you might not think to include music and theatre activities on your CV, participation in these types of extracurricular activities can actually be a major bonus on your CV. Theatre is one of the most fast-paced industries in the world, so you’ll develop a wealth of skills and learn how to work under pressure.

Similarly, learning a musical instrument takes self-discipline and endless practice. This demonstrates to any employer that you’re hard working, dedicated and committed to achieving your goals.

• Time management
• Ability to work under pressure
• Public speaking

School or University clubs

When attending secondary school and university, you’ll have the opportunity to join various extracurricular clubs and societies alongside your studies.

It’s always a good idea to join at least one or two school or university societies, as this shows an employer that you’re a self-starter and spend your time productively.

If you join clubs or societies that reflect an interest in your chosen career path, that’s a bonus. But you can still include other clubs and societies on your CV, as your participation alone can demonstrate some key soft skills:

• Presentation skills
• Co-operation
• Brainstorming
• Active listening

School positions of responsibility (prefect etc.)

It’s a great sign to any employer if you’ve already been given positions of responsibility during your studies, whether it be class representative or school prefect.

Employers love being able to depend on their employees for help when it comes to decision-making and problem solving, so including these roles is a great way to boost your CV and demonstrate that you’d be a dependable and valuable employee.

• Responsibility
• Conflict resolution
• Decision making
• Dependability

Travel & overseas study

Broadening your horizons with international travel is an enriching experience on a personal level, and it can even help boost your CV too. Travelling abroad shows an employer that you’re adaptable and can thrive in new and unfamiliar environments.

Solo travel is also a plus, as it demonstrates both your ability to be self-sufficient and your ability to communicate effectively. You should include studies abroad and education travel on your CV, but leave out any recreational holidays.

• Adaptability
• Self-management
• Interpersonal skills
• Cultural awareness

Second or third languages are perhaps the most underrated – yet highly valuable – skills to  include on your CV, no matter the job you’re applying for. Being multilingual – or even having a substantial level (B1-C2) – in a second language can tell employers a lot about you.

Not only are language skills highly valued in a globalised corporate world, but they also demonstrate soft skills that highlight your work ethic, discipline, and ability to retain information. Make sure to highlight your language level on your CV if you’re not yet fluent. (B1, B2, C1, C2, etc.)

• Verbal skills
• Information skills
• Multitasking
• Self-motivation

Practical hobbies (Building things, fixing computers etc.)

Having practical hobbies can be a great way to highlight your self-management skills and information skills, as well as your passion both for work and problem solving. You can include hobbies such as building things, fixing computers, and restoring vintage technological devices on your CV.

While you might consider it a niche hobby, practical hobbies show a potential employer that you’re equipped with several soft skills, many of which are highly desirable in the day-to-day running of a business or office.

• Questioning
• Critical thinking skills
• Experimenting

Should I include extracurricular activities in my CV?

If you have little to no work experience, adding extracurricular activities to your CV is a great way to show employers that you have transferable skills for the workplace.

Whether it be from a debating team or volunteer work, participation in extracurricular activities can show motivation, organisational skills and leadership skills – all of which are valued by employers.

But, do be selective about the extracurricular activities you include. Leisurely passive activities (such as watching TV or eating out) are not particularly interesting for an employer. Pick activities that demonstrate credible workplace skills for best results.

How to include extracurricular activities in your CV

You should include your extracurricular activities in the “additional info” section at the bottom of your CV. You should write them in a way that demonstrates the key skills learned and developed, as demonstrated below.

Where to include extracurricular activities in your CV

The best place to include any extracurricular activities on your CV is under the “additional info” section at the bottom of your CV.

This is because while they’re certainly helpful, extracurricular activities can’t be the main focus of your CV. You have limited space when writing your CV, so it’s best to have any work experience and your education as the main focus. Extracurricular activities come in handy when displaying soft skills such as teamwork, innovation, adaptability and flexibility.

Also, don’t add every single extracurricular activity that you’ve ever participated in. You want to highlight the key activities that add value to your skillset, as these will be the most interesting to your employer.

How to write extracurricular activities in your CV

It’s important to know how to format your extracurricular activities on your CV if you want to grab the attention of the recruiter. You should highlight your key skills relating to the extracurricular activity, rather than rambling too much about unimportant details.

In fact, it’s best to keep extracurricular activities as short and to-the-point as possible. The best way to format your extracurricular activities is in a list structure , with the most important and impressive activities listed first. For example:

This guide should help you understand how to add extracurricular activities to your CV in a coherent and effective way.

The important thing to remember is to include information that your employer will find useful and interesting – leave out the fluff and focus on your key skills.

How to List Academic Clubs on a Resume

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The clubs you joined in high school and college tell employers a lot about you. Your membership in specific clubs demonstrates your work ethic, ability to get along with others and your willingness to serve your community. Make your club memberships prominent when your experiences match the job requirements of the position you seek.

Community Service Clubs

Remember the gumball machines that used to be everywhere you went that said Kiwanis International on them? If you are old enough, you know that the gumballs used to cost a penny. Kiwanis International used those machines to raise money for charity. One of those charities, Key Club, is the oldest U.S. high school academic club. Key Club was founded in California in 1925 to teach students leadership and engage them in community service. The name stands for Kiwanis Empowering Youth. If your career goals include municipal or state government service or a leadership role in a nonprofit organization, put your Key Club membership in your cover letter or list it as unpaid work experience.

Other community service clubs include Interact, Exchange, Lions International, Red Cross and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, which used to be known as Future Homemakers of America and New Homemakers of America.

Fundraising Clubs

In addition to teaching leadership and community service, clubs such as Kiwanis Key, Lions Club Leos, Red Cross and UNICEF High School clubs engage in fundraising. Lions Club provides glasses to underprivileged children and adults in the United States and around the globe. The high school version of Lions Club is called Leo. Baseball coach Jim Graver and fellow Lion, William Ernst founded the first high school Leo club December 5, 1957, in Pennsylvania. Leos help raise money for children's diabetes camps, eyeglasses, hunger relief, pediatric cancer services and environmental concerns. If you seek a career in medicine or nursing services, highlight your Leo fundraising efforts.

Kiwanis Key Club funds clean water projects in Swaziland through a 30-day fundraising challenge called Thirsty 30. Your participation makes you valuable to nonprofits and startup companies. UNICEF and Red Cross fundraising makes you a valuable asset to any company with global reach.

Career Interest Clubs

You learned many industry-specific skills when you participated in clubs such as Vex Robotics, 4-H, National FFA Organization, Future Business Leaders of America, Junior State of America, Model United Nations or Health Occupation Students of America.

Any tech-oriented employer will leap at the chance to hire you when you feature Vex Robotics on your resume. Your time in 4-H, Junior State of America or Model United Nations makes you a great organizer, executive or diplomat. If you have any interest in food safety inspections, world health or global hunger relief, your Health Occupation Students of America, FFA and 4-H experiences prepare you to make tough decisions.

Interpersonal Dynamics Clubs

Foreign language clubs, heritage groups, hobbies and athletic clubs all teach interpersonal dynamics such as team spirit, inclusivity, leisure skills and life balance. If activism excites you, your membership in your high school or college Black Student Union, Gay-Straight Alliance, MECHa or Commuter and Off-Campus Student Organization tells your employer that you dedicate yourself to a cause and pursue it until you instigate positive change.

Key Club: As a Key Club member for the four years that I spent at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, I helped raise over $3,500 to build wells in Swaziland. Managing the four-year fundraising campaign required persuasion, endurance and persistence. Three of the five wells that we funded are still in use 10-years later. Seventy-nine families have clean water. All 232 children attend school every day instead of spending half-a-day traveling 3 miles each way to carry polluted water for their families.

Black Student Union: My membership in the Black Student Union gave me hope that I could graduate with honors and begin working to heal my community. Too many deaths in our community make it easy to see life as too short for long-term goals. I entered college with a ready-made support system and now I want to return the favor by becoming a teacher here at Walter C. Crenshaw Junior High School.

Vex Robotics: We spent a year working on a prototype for a robot arm for returning soldiers who had lost theirs. We finally created one that adapts to three different soldiers. I believe this experience makes me an excellent candidate for your research and development team here at Algorithm Technical Solutions.

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• Lions Club International Membership Center" About LEOS

Jane Smith parlayed her B. S. Ed. degree into working on everything from job and housing services to selling water treatment systems. Wading into an underperforming position as a program manager, Smith recruited staff and inspected and approved enough provider homes to reduce wait times from two years to two months and increase service utilization by 30 percent per quarter. She helped her team sell over $350,000 in water treatment systems and security equipment in 2017, and currently partners with her daughter as an independent Avon Representative at Avon Beauty by Laura.

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How to Showcase the Skills You’ve Gained from Campus Clubs

College students spend countless hours each week devoting their energy to extracurricular activities. These organizations can provide students with valuable skills they will use in the workplace for years to come – and shouldn’t you be recognized for all your hard, out-of-class work? By listing these groups on your resume or LinkedIn profile, you will show employers that you are a dedicated individual with different interests who can bring relevant skills and experiences to the position.

Even if your club or organization isn’t directly related to your major, you can still include it on your resume or LinkedIn profile. Showing that you can take on responsibility in many aspects of your college career proves that you can do it in the workplace, too. Some common college clubs to consider listing on your resume include: Greek life, professional societies, student government, sports, drama clubs, speech or debate clubs, and campus media, such as college newspapers, radio stations, or TV stations.

If you are a part of multiple on-campus organizations, then it’s a good idea to list them in their own separate section of your resume. A good title to use is Activities, which applies no matter what kind of groups you’re involved in. If you are a part of one or two clubs and you think they provided experience that is relevant to your major, you can list them in your Experience section instead. On your LinkedIn page, you can list a few relevant positions in “Work Experience,” or you can add them to your “Accomplishments” section if you don’t quite consider it work experience. Once you have an idea of what you want to include, follow these tips to talk about your experiences effectively:

Be Specific

Clubs and organizations should be listed on your resume or LinkedIn the same way any other type of experience is: Include a job title, a brief description of your responsibilities, and the start date and end date of the position.

Be as specific as possible. Employers are particularly attracted to numbers because they make it easier to quantify exactly how much work you did.

• How much money did your fundraiser raise?
• How many new people followed your club’s Instagram page after you took over their social media?
• How many people came to the event you organized? (This can include a panel, a lecture, a networking event, or other similar programs.)
• How many articles a week did you write for the newspaper?
• Did your radio or TV program air weekly or daily?

Including these tiny details can make a big difference.

In addition, make sure you’re selling yourself and your talents in the best way possible by using the right vocabulary for your industry. For example, saying that you “made a website” for an organization is not nearly as descriptive as saying that you “built a website using Wordpress.” Use better adjectives and verbs to get your point across clearly and concisely.

All Experience is Good Experience

A common myth is that you can only list an organization on your resume or LinkedIn if you held a leadership position in it. Even if you weren’t the president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer of your organization, your experience is still valuable! Instead, write that you were a “member” of the club and then list your responsibilities the same way you would for any other position. Your responsibilities can include fundraisers, service projects, or any other large group efforts you were a part of. These show an ability to work in a team and cooperate with others – both very valuable skills in the workplace.

Show Progression

Progression signals to employers that you’re a dedicated individual who can put in the time and the work necessary to rise within the ranks of an organization. If you went from being a general member to being an Assistant Director to being the president of the drama club, then tell them that! Showing progression is an easy way to impress an employer who’s looking for someone who will stay with the company for years to come.

To get full recognition for your efforts, make sure to list each change in position as its own separate entry. Treat each new position as an entirely new job: List your official title, change the start and end dates accordingly, and upgrade your responsibilities to accurately reflect the new role you’ve taken on within the organization.

Remember Your References

On-campus activities can also provide you with great references! Did your faculty advisor witness your leadership skills first hand? Maybe your recently-graduated editor-in-chief would be willing to defend your superior writing skills firsthand? Whatever the case, don’t forget that many people you meet through your clubs can become valuable references later. Don’t be afraid to contact them when you need them, and also remember to reach out to alumni whenever possible.

Whether you’re president of your campus’ Society of Women Engineers chapter, or a general member of a fraternity or sorority, your experience is valuable to employers in all fields. Adding these organizations to your resume and LinkedIn profile is an easy way to give yourself a boost during the hiring process that other students might not take advantage of. So get involved and get hired!

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• • Led a team of 50+ staff, fostering a collaborative environment that promoted personal growth and high job satisfaction among team members.
• • Implemented strategic initiatives to enhance customer membership experience, achieving a 30% increase in customer retention within the first year.
• • Pioneered local community engagement strategies that heightened brand awareness and generated a 15% revenue increase.
• • Managed operational budget effectively, reducing costs by 10% while maintaining high-quality amenities and services.
• • Directed the complete facility maintenance plan, ensuring all equipment functioned optimally, contributing to a 20% reduction in member complaints.
• • Formulated a dynamic sales strategy that led to surpassing quarterly sales targets by an average of 25%.
• • Supervised and optimized club operations resulting in a 10% decrease in overheads while boosting staff performance metrics.
• • Enhanced customer experience by initiating a staff training program focused on service excellence, achieving a significant improvement in customer feedback scores.
• • Expanded the membership base by 40% through targeted marketing campaigns in partnership with local businesses.
• • Facilitated community events that doubled as promotional opportunities, increasing monthly sign-ups by 200 individuals on average.
• • Negotiated with vendors to improve supply chain efficiency, securing more competitive rates and products for the club.
• • Developed a team of trainers and fitness staff to provide top-tier services, driving a 35% improvement in service ratings from gym members.
• • Spearheaded a wellness program that attracted a 50% increase in participation from the previous quarter.
• • Optimized scheduling to ensure a 100% class availability rate, maximizing member engagement and satisfaction.
• • Collaborated on a budget reduction strategy for fitness programming that saved the club 15% in unnecessary expenses.

5 Club Manager Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

As a club manager, your resume must showcase your leadership skills. Demonstrate your ability to guide a team towards excellence. Your resume should highlight your experience in managing financial budgets. Make sure to include any successful events you have orchestrated.

All resume examples in this guide

Traditional

Resume Guide

Resume Format Tips

Resume Experience

Skills on Resume

Education & Certifications

Resume Summary Tips

Additional Resume Sections

Key Takeaways

As a club manager, one resume challenge you might face is highlighting your diverse skill set in a compelling and organized manner that appeals to potential employers. Our guide offers strategies and examples on how to distill your varied experience into a coherent narrative, showcasing your leadership and management skills effectively.

• [Job title] resume samples that got people hired at top companies.
• How to perfect the look-and-feel of your resume layout.
• How to showcase your achievements and skills through various resume sections.
• How you could hint to recruiters why your resume is the ideal profile for the job.

If the club manager resume isn't the right one for you, take a look at other related guides we have:

• Assistant Business Manager Resume Example
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Best practices for the look and feel of your club manager resume

Before you even start writing your club manager resume, first you need to consider its layout and format .

What's important to keep in mind is:

• The reverse-chronological resume is the most widely used format to present your experience, starting with your latest job.
• Your club manager resume header needs to include your correct, professional contact details. If you happen to have a professional portfolio or an updated LinkedIn profile, include a link to it.
• Ensure your resume is no longer than two pages - you don't have to include irelevant experience on your resume just to make it look longer.
• Unless specified otherwise, submit your resume in the most popular format, the PDF one, as this will ensure your club manager resume isn't altered.

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If the certificate you've obtained is especially vital for the industry or company, include it as part of your name within the resume headline.

The six in-demand sections for your club manager resume:

• Top one-third should be filled with a header, listing your contact details, and with a summary or objective, briefly highlighting your professional accolades
• Experience section, detailing how particular jobs have helped your professional growth
• Notable achievements that tie in your hard or soft skills with tangible outcomes
• Popular industry certificates to further highlight your technical knowledge or people capabilities
• Education to showcase your academic background in the field

What recruiters want to see on your resume:

• Proven experience with event planning, promotion, and club management operations
• Strong financial management skills, including budget preparation and revenue generation strategies
• Excellent leadership and team management abilities to oversee staff and create a positive work environment
• Deep understanding of marketing techniques and customer engagement tactics to drive patronage and loyalty
• Knowledge of relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including health and safety standards, licensing, and age verification protocols

Quick guide to your club manager resume experience section

After deciding on the format of your resume, it's time to organize your experience within the dedicated section.

It's common for club manager professionals to be confused in this part of the process, as they may have too much or little expertise.

Follow the general rules of thumb to be successful when writing this part of your resume:

• The perfect number of bullets you should have under each experience item is no more than six;
• Select not merely your responsibilities, but the most noteworthy achievements for each role that match the job requirements;
• List any certificates or technical expertise you've gained on the job and how they've helped you progress as a professional;
• Carefully select the power verbs to go along with each bullet to avoid generic ones like "managed" and instead substitute those with the actuality of your particular responsibility;
• Integrate valuable keywords from the job advert in the form of achievements under each role you list.

If you're on the search for further advice on how to write your club manager experience section, get some ideas from real-world professional resumes:

• Implemented innovative marketing strategies to increase club membership by 40%, surpassing the annual target within the first year.
• Managed a team of 30 staff members, facilitating professional development that resulted in a 25% increase in employee retention.
• Oversaw the renovation of the club facilities, improving customer satisfaction scores by 30% due to enhanced amenities and services.
• Directed the application of a comprehensive digital transformation resulting in a 35% increase in online booking and engagement.
• Launched a new VIP membership program which attracted 200+ high-value clients, substantially boosting the club's profitability.
• Negotiated and secured exclusive contracts with premium suppliers, ensuring a unique range of amenities while controlling operating costs.
• Initiated a member feedback system to tailor services to client needs, improving member satisfaction rates by over 50%.
• Coordinated large scale events and promotions that increased club revenue streams by 20% during off-peak seasons.
• Implemented a rigorous cost-control program that cut unnecessary expenses by 15%, maintaining quality of service.
• Managed the opening of a new club location, recruiting a full staff and establishing operational procedures that mirrored the brand's high standards.
• Developed a partnership with local businesses and vendors to enhance club's offerings, resulting in a 25% increase in cross-promotion sales.
• Leveraged social media platforms to heighten club's online presence, achieving a surge of 50% more followers within a six-month period.
• Spearheaded the implementation of a state-of-the-art fitness tracking system to personalize client workout programs, leading to a 45% rise in client success stories.
• Orchestrated the club's first international wellness retreat, generating excess revenue and positioning the club as a leader in global fitness experiences.
• Launched a sustainable initiative within the club, significantly decreasing carbon footprint by 60% through the adoption of green technologies and practices.
• Redesigned the customer service protocol to prioritize client experience, resulting in a 95% satisfaction rating across all club services.
• Executed a strategic shift to include holistic health services, which accounted for 30% of the club's total revenue growth.
• Collaborated with IT staff to upgrade club management software, streamlining operations efficiency by 40%.
• Revitalized the club's branding and event planning, launching signature experiences that quadrupled event bookings year over year.
• Championed a diversity and inclusion program, enriching the club's culture and increasing member base diversity by 35%.
• Established a data-driven decision-making culture, using member usage patterns to optimize club hours and staffing, reducing operational costs by 20%.
• Masterminded a strategic alliance with a leading sportswear brand, enhancing the club's market position and member exclusives.
• Organized and led a complete club rebranding, successfully repositioning the club in the market and attracting a younger demographic by at least 30%.
• Invested in cutting-edge gym equipment and training programs that yielded a member attendance increase of 20% during traditionally slow hours.

Quantifying impact on your resume

• Document the percentage increase in club memberships under your management, indicating your effectiveness in marketing and member retention strategies.
• Record the amount of revenue generated from events and promotions you organized, showcasing your ability to drive sales and profitability.
• List the number of events hosted annually at your club to highlight your capabilities in event management and coordination.
• Report the reduction in operational costs due to efficiency improvements you implemented, demonstrating your cost-management skills.
• Include the employee turnover rate during your tenure to show your impact on staff retention and morale.
• Mention the specific number of VIP relationships you have established and maintained, proving your networking and relationship-building skills.
• Quantify the increase in social media followers and engagement to illustrate your digital marketing success and ability to grow the club's online presence.
• Note the net promoter score (NPS) or customer satisfaction ratings achieved to reflect on how you have positively influenced customer experience.

Action verbs for your club manager resume

Making the most of your little to none professional experience

If you're hesitant to apply for your dream job due to limited professional experience , remember that recruiters also value the unique contributions you can offer.

Next time you doubt applying, consider this step-by-step approach for your resume's experience section:

• Rather than the standard reverse chronological order, opt for a functional-based format. This shifts the focus from your work history to your achievements and strengths;
• Include relevant internships, volunteer work, or other non-standard experiences in your club manager resume's experience section;
• Utilize your education, qualifications, and certifications to bridge gaps in your club manager resume experience;
• Emphasize your interpersonal skills and transferable skills from various industries. Often, recruiters seek a personality match, giving you an advantage over other candidates.

Recommended reads:

• When Should You Include Your High School on Your Resume?
• How To List Certifications On A Resume (Examples Included)

Bold the names of educational institutions and certifying bodies for emphasis.

Featuring your hard skills and soft skills on your club manager resume

The skills section of your club manager resume needs to your various capabilities that align with the job requirements. List hard skills (or technical skills) to showcase to potential employers that you're perfectly apt at dealing with technological innovations and niche software. Meanwhile, your soft skills need to detail how you'd thrive within your new, potential environment with personal skills (e.g. resilience, negotiation, organization, etc.) Your club manager resume skills section needs to include both types of skills to promote how you're both technical and cultural fit. Here's how to create your bespoke club manager skills section to help you stand out:

• Focus on skill requirements that are listed toward the top of the job advert.
• Include niche skills that you've worked hard to obtain.
• Select specific soft skills that match the company (or the department) culture.
• Cover some of the basic job requirements by including important skills for the club manager role - ones you haven't been able to list through the rest of your resume.

Get inspired with our club manager sample skill list to list some of the most prominent hard and soft skills across the field.

Top skills for your club manager resume:

Financial Management

Business Operations

Marketing and Promotion

Hospitality Management

Regulatory Compliance

Inventory Control

Event Planning and Coordination

Customer Service Expertise

Employee Training and Development

Point of Sale (POS) Systems Proficiency

Communication

Problem-Solving

Interpersonal Skills

Adaptability

Time Management

Attention to Detail

Conflict Resolution

Stress Management

Showcase any ongoing or recent educational efforts to stay updated in your field.

Club Manager-specific certifications and education for your resume

Place emphasis on your resume education section . It can suggest a plethora of skills and experiences that are apt for the role.

• Feature only higher-level qualifications, with details about the institution and tenure.
• If your degree is in progress, state your projected graduation date.
• Think about excluding degrees that don't fit the job's context.
• Elaborate on your education if it accentuates your accomplishments in a research-driven setting.

On the other hand, showcasing your unique and applicable industry know-how can be a literal walk in the park, even if you don't have a lot of work experience.

Include your accreditation in the certification and education sections as so:

• Important industry certificates should be listed towards the top of your resume in a separate section
• If your accreditation is really noteworthy, you could include it in the top one-third of your resume following your name or in the header, summary, or objective
• Potentially include details about your certificates or degrees (within the description) to show further alignment to the role with the skills you've attained
• The more recent your professional certificate is, the more prominence it should have within your certification sections. This shows recruiters you have recent knowledge and expertise

At the end of the day, both the education and certification sections hint at the initial and continuous progress you've made in the field.

And, honestly - that's important for any company.

Below, discover some of the most recent and popular Club Manager certificates to make your resume even more prominent in the applicant pool:

The top 5 certifications for your club manager resume:

• Certified Club Manager (CCM) - Club Managers Association of America (CMAA)
• Certified Hospitality Supervisor (CHS) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
• Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE) - American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
• Foodservice Management Professional (FMP) - National Restaurant Association (NRA)
• Professional in Human Resources (PHR) - HR Certification Institute (HRCI)

Always remember that your club manager certifications can be quantified across different resume sections, like your experience, summary, or objective. For example, you could include concise details within the expertise bullets of how the specific certificate has improved your on-the-job performance.

• How to List a Major & Minor on Your Resume (with Examples)
• Should I Put In An Incomplete Degree On A Resume?

Professional summary or objective for your club manager resume

club manager candidates sometimes get confused between the difference of a resume summary and a resume objective.

Which one should you be using?

Remember that the:

• Resume objective has more to do with your dreams and goals for your career. Within it, you have the opportunity to showcase to recruiters why your application is an important one and, at the same time, help them imagine what your impact on the role, team, and company would be.
• Resume summary should recount key achievements, tailored for the role, through your career. Allowing recruiters to quickly scan and understand the breadth of your club manager expertise.

The resume objectives are always an excellent choice for candidates starting off their career, while the resume summary is more fitting for experienced candidates.

No matter if you chose a summary or objective, get some extra inspiration from real-world professional club manager resumes:

Resume summaries for a club manager job

• Accomplished club manager with over 10 years of experience leading vibrant nightspots in New York, adept in strategic planning, team leadership, and optimizing operational efficiency. Recognized for driving a 20% revenue increase at Club Metropolis through innovative promotions and exceptional customer service.
• Former luxury hotel General Manager transitioning into club management, bringing 8 years of high-profile hospitality leadership, superior staff training programs, and a knack for creating unforgettable guest experiences. Spearheaded the turnaround of The Regent Hotel, achieving a 30% rise in customer satisfaction ratings.
• Seasoned manager with 15 years at the helm of top-tier sports clubs, known for delivering record membership growth and retention. Has a keen eye for marketing strategy and a commitment to delivering excellence in fitness and leisure facilities, culminating in winning the National Club of the Year Award twice.
• Professional events coordinator making a strategic move into club management, equipped with 5 years of experience in orchestrating high-profile events, fostering robust vendor relationships, and unparalleled organizational skills that ensured a 40% increase in event bookings for the prestigious Grand Ballroom estate.
• Dynamic individual seeking a foundational club management position, with a focus on employing exceptional communication skills, keen attention to detail, and a strong eagerness to develop expertise in club operations to ultimately elevate customer satisfaction and help establish a top-tier entertainment destination.
• Eager recent business graduate aiming to apply a fresh perspective in club management, leveraging a strong academic background in hospitality management, a passion for the nightlife industry, and a customer-centric approach learned during a successful internship at a prominent downtown entertainment complex.

Other relevant sections for your club manager resume

Apart from the standard club manager resume sections listed in this guide, you have the opportunity to get creative with building your profile. Select additional resume sections that you deem align with the role, department, or company culture. Good choices for your club manager resume include:

• Language skills - always ensure that you have qualified each language you speak according to relevant frameworks;
• Hobbies - you could share more about your favorite books, how you spend your time, etc. ;
• Volunteering - to highlight the causes you care about;
• Awards - for your most prominent club manager professional accolades and achievements.

Make sure that these sections don't take too much away from your experience, but instead build up your club manager professional profile.

Key takeaways

• The logic of your resume presentation should follow your career highlights and alignment with the role;
• Curate information within different sections (e.g. summary, experience, etc.) that helps highlight your strengths;
• Exclude from your resume irrelevant experience items - that way you'd ensure it stays no longer than two pages and is easy to read;
• Dedicate space within the summary, experience, and/or achievements to highlight precisely why you're the best candidate for the role via your previous success;
• Both your technical and people capabilities should also play a crucial role in building up your club manager application. Prove your skill set in various resume sections.

Looking to build your own Club Manager resume?

• Resume Examples

How To Include P&L Responsibility on Your Resume

Are cover letters necessary in 2023, spot the red flags: how to know if a job is a scam, 500 irish created a resume for saint patrick. here it is, what is the purpose of a resume, how to sell yourself in a cover letter.

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How To Write a Resume Profile in Five Steps

Profiles vs. Objective Statements

The five steps to a profile, tying it all together, frequently asked questions about writing a resume profile.

The resume profile (or summary) describes your main credentials for your target job. Appearing at the top of the resume, it’s the first section hiring managers read and strongly influences whether they call you for an interview .

You may feel lost when developing your profile, especially if you’re just starting your resume. But it’s best to work on the profile after you’ve already drafted your professional experience, education, training, and other relevant areas. Then, you can develop your profile with a broader understanding of your career so far.

For a long time, the standard resume intro was an objective statement that would appear above or in place of the profile. Rather than describing an applicant’s key qualifications, the objective would state their end goal for their job search. An example is “Seeking a sales role where I can work on building win-win relationships with clients.” In recent years, the objective has fallen out of favor since it speaks to the job seeker’s needs rather than the hiring manager’s. So avoid using an objective and instead begin your resume with a profile summary of what you offer.

When you’re ready to start your profile, follow these steps:

Step 1. Write a simple statement of your job title and years of experience

For example, say you’re a sales manager who has risen through the ranks over 10 years. Start your profile with a line like:

Resourceful sales manager with over 10 years of advancement and experience.

But if you’re changing careers, use a more general intro statement that still relates to your goals and reflects your background. For instance, say you’d like to stay in sales but no longer in a leadership capacity. Use a broader line like “Resourceful sales professional with over 10 years of experience” to position yourself for the switch back to direct sales.

Step 2. Pinpoint and develop a common theme

Look over all your other resume sections and select three to five details that strike you as especially impressive or relevant. Then, review them all together. Does a common work theme or strength emerge? Write one or two profile sentences on that theme. For instance, if your highlights point to your expertise in engaging and collaborating with clients, that’s a great area to write about further.

Step 3. Avoid clichés by way of action verbs

At this stage, you may run into the problem of profile clichés. For instance (continuing the above example), you might describe your collaborative streak as “Excellent communication and collaboration skills.” But terms like this are overused and won’t add much value to your profile.

To avoid clichés and liven up your profile language, use complete sentences with action verbs. Think about what you actually do at work – the actions (or verbs) you take to generate results. This approach can turn a static word like “collaboration” into a specific, verb-powered phrase like “Collaborate with clients to find win-win product solutions.”

Step 4. Cite a specific achievement

If one or more of your highlights is a quantified achievement from your work history, you can repeat it in your profile to make the description more compelling and specific to you. Say one of your highlights is “Surpassed quota by 10% in 2013, 18% in 2014, 20% in 2015, and 22% in 2016 and 2017.” Consider adapting it to your profile with a phrase like “Achievements include surpassing quota by over 18% on average for five consecutive years.”

Putting together the steps so far, we have the basis for a strong profile:

Resourceful sales professional with over 10 years of experience. Collaborate with clients to find win-win product solutions, driving consistent revenue and profit growth. Achievements include surpassing quota by over 18% on average for five consecutive years.

Step 5. Plug in other key credentials

You can then round out your profile with one or two more statements on your other top qualifications. If one of your other highlights is an advanced degree or certification, that can give your summary a strong outro. Also, note that foreign language ability is often viewed as a key asset by employers, so if you have it, feature it in your profile.

After following these five steps, you should have a viable resume profile of your own, something on par with this finished example:

Resourceful sales professional with over 10 years of experience. Collaborate with clients to find win-win product solutions, driving consistent revenue and profit growth. Achievements include surpassing quota by over 18% on average for five consecutive years. Offer well-rounded business acumen and expertise, drawing on a recently finished MBA degree. Bilingual: fluent in English and French.

But then consider: Are you missing anything important? Have you left out a work highlight or skill area that’s key to your next job? If yes, add a sentence or two on those missing areas and take heart that you’re gaining an ear for the type of information a winning profile calls for.

Do I need a profile summary on my resume? -

Yes. Virtually any job seeker can improve their resume by adding a profile. A strong profile section catches a hiring manager’s attention by giving the key reasons you’ll thrive at their organization. In seconds, it assures the reader that you’re a strong candidate whose application is worth a closer look.

How long should my profile be? -

Many resume experts give strict parameters for profile length; three or four lines of text is the standard order. But profiles are more flexible than that. Don’t worry if your own profile comes in shorter or longer, given you’ve followed this process. And never add fancy language to your summary for its own sake.

What experience areas should I cite in my profile? -

Any, as long as they help present you as a strong candidate for your target job. Most job seekers will derive at least some profile content from their work experience. But you could also use details from your education, volunteer experience, or any other section of your resume.

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Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• Resume Profile Explained...

Resume Profile Explained (with Examples)

13 min read · Updated on January 17, 2024

Make an impact with a knock-out profile

When it comes to job search success, nothing is more important than ensuring that your resume captures an employer's attention. After all, even the best resumes are useless if no one reads them. Of course, that raises an important question: is there anything you can do to make your resume get the attention it deserves?

In this post, we'll explain how a great resume profile can help you to solve that challenge. We'll explain how a resume profile works, when you should use it in your resume, and how to create a profile that immediately commands interest. Finally, we'll provide several resume profile examples that you can customize and use in your own resume.

What is a resume profile?

If you're already familiar with the resume objective statement or resume summary, then the concept of a resume profile should be easy to understand. Put simply, the resume profile is an introductory paragraph that quickly summarizes your skills and experiences in a way that motivates hiring managers to continue reading your resume.

As you'll discover in our resume profile examples later in the post, a great profile focuses attention on your best skills, experience, and achievements. You can think of it as an elevator pitch for your resume - a quick snapshot that provides just enough information to make the reader want to learn more about you.

Related: Make the Perfect First Impression With Your Resume

What types of resume profiles can you use?

To better understand the resume profile, it may help to look at some of the different types of resume profiles that job seekers can use. There are three different types of common profiles, including the objective statement, summary, and summary of qualifications.

Objective statement

The resume objective statement is often considered obsolete, since it tends to focus more on your career goals than the employer's needs. It's often used by entry level workers with little experience or career-changers who need to explain why their skill set makes them a good candidate for the job. To use it effectively, job candidates need to ensure that they include some language that explains how they can benefit the employer if they're hired. For example:

“Creative social media professional with 3 years of experience and proven results. Skilled in cross-platform engagement enhancement and brand development. Looking for an opportunity to work with a company that prioritizes customer experience and brand loyalty. Experience includes increasing customer engagement by 130% over a six-month period.”

Related : Resume Objective Examples: A Career Objective Guide

Summary paragraph

The resume summary has replaced the objective statement in most modern resumes - and for good reason. This brief paragraph may also mention one or two key skills, but its primary focus is on detailing your important work experience and measurable achievements. As a result, the summary is a preferred option for job seekers with significant experience, since it's designed to demonstrate your value as an employee. Below, is an example of this type of profile statement:

“Accomplished Project Manager with more than ten years of successful team building and project execution expertise. Skilled in process development, workflow management, and collaboration with stakeholders. Received Agile Leader award in 2018. While at ABC Corporation, developed personnel resource allocation program that increased project efficiency by 48% in the first year of use.”

Summary of qualifications

The third option is the summary of qualifications. The main difference between this type of summary and the summary paragraph involves the format choice. Instead of being one block of text, it combines a brief paragraph with several bullet point examples of notable achievements. For example:

Dynamic Team Leader with 7 years of experience in customer management, problem-solving, and team building. Proven to increase team productivity, enhance the customer service experience, and provide real value to an employer.

• Led 30-person team of technical professionals, with 95% customer satisfaction
• Reorganized project workflow for ABC Corporation, increasing efficiency by 45%
• Developed training program that reduced employee onboarding costs by 17%

What elements should you include in your resume profile?

Before you create a resume profile, it's important to think about the types of information you want to include for your reader. What types of qualification is the employer evaluating as part of its hiring decision? Does the job description focus primarily on core skills ? Do you have achievements that are likely to make a positive impression on the hiring manager?

There are many different profile elements that you can include, so you'll need to prioritize based on the employers' needs. The fact is that you won't have room in your profile to cover all these different types of information, so choose wisely:

Skills that are relevant to the position you're seeking

Your length of experience

Notable achievements, preferably ones that you can quantify with real numbers

Core personal characteristics that make you a good fit for the role

Your career aspirations - preferably noted in a way that shows how they align with the company's vision

Related : Top 15 Professional Goals and How to Achieve Them

Again, make sure that you focus attention on the job posting, taking note of every key skill and experience that the employer cites as required qualifications. You'll want to tailor your profile - and the rest of your resume - to align with those stated employer needs.

Pro tip: Make special note of those job requirements, since you will want to use the same language in your resume. Those keywords are essential for ensuring that your resume can satisfy any applicant tracking system screening the employer might be using.

You should also do some research to learn more about the company's culture. That will enable you to further tailor your resume profile to include personal traits that highlight how well you'll fit into that environment. Sometimes, those little details can make the difference between you and another similarly qualified candidate.

How to write your own resume profile: tips

When you're ready to create your resume profile, it's important to know how to do it the right way. Since it's the first thing employers will see after they're done reading your contact details, you need to make sure that it's as compelling as possible. The following tips can help.

Write this part of your resume last

Even though your profile section will be near the top of your resume, you should still create this important section last. Why? Well, it's simple: since the resume profile serves as a summary of your qualifications, it's helpful to get the rest of the resume done before you start on that summary.

Make it brief

Be as concise as you can. Again, think of this profile section as a salesperson's elevator pitch. It doesn't need to tell your entire employment story, but should instead serve as a brief highlight of your greatest hits. As a rule, try to restrict this paragraph to no more than four sentences. If you use a summary of qualifications, include just one or two brief sentences and three or four bullet points.

Choose the best profile type for your job search needs

Which type of profile should you create? If you're an entry-level employee, you may want to focus on a modified objective statement - one that focuses on your career goals, while highlighting the ways in which your skills can benefit the employer. If you have more experience, you may want to rely on the summary paragraph. Just be sure to include at least one measurable achievement to highlight your value.

If you're switching careers and need to focus attention on transferable skills, you may even want to rely on a summary of qualifications. Those bullet points can be a great way to emphasize specific skills and highlight the value that you've provided for previous employers.

Tailor the profile to your desired position

Make sure that your profile aligns with the job you're seeking. You can do this by including some core keywords from the job posting, detailing your qualifications. However, make sure that your profile ultimately aligns with who you are as an employee. If you take the tailoring to extremes, you may end up with a profile that fails to accurately represent your personality and character.

Don't be afraid to add personality

Speaking of personality, this is the place to add that personal touch. Your skills, work experience, and education sections are not appropriate for adding personality, but a few well-chosen words in your profile can help the employer to better understand you as a person.

Of course, make sure that your personal flourishes fit with the type of job you're seeking. For example, a few words about your fun work style will be appreciated if you're applying for a customer service or similar position. That same language may not be as useful if you're seeking a role in a law firm. Use your best judgment as you determine how much personality to put into any profile.

Use measurable achievements

We've already mentioned measurable achievements several times, but it's important to highlight them once again. Your resume profile should include at least one quantifiable accomplishment, backed by real numbers that demonstrate the value you've provided. For example:

• Implemented new networking system that reduced downtime by 33%, improving both efficiency and productivity and providing 12% cost savings for the company
• Led sales team effort that increased new customer acquisition by 13% while generating $12 million in new revenues in the first six months of the fiscal year
• Created an online customer engagement program that increased website visits by 45%, enhanced new sales activities by 13%, and boosted revenues by 10% within one quarter of implementation

Resume profile examples you can use

As you might expect, your approach to creating a resume profile can also differ based on the type of job you're seeking. That's because different job roles require different skill sets, experiences, and personal qualities.

To get you started, we've compiled resume profile examples covering a wide variety of professions. You can use these professional profile examples as templates for your profile, or simply refer to them for guidance as you create your own unique resume opening.

Resume profile examples for students

Recent Information Technology graduate focused on operating and security software management. Seeking employment with a dynamic software firm in need of advanced networking and troubleshooting expertise. Experience includes a one-year internship with DynacorpX, providing testing and problem-resolution that helped increase company productivity by 14%.

Resume profile example for entry-level applicants

Friendly, detail-oriented, and organized customer service professional looking to be part of an energetic, mission-focused team.

• Skilled at developing organizational processes, managing records, and engaging customers
• Successfully resolved customer complaints, with 90% satisfaction rate while volunteering with FreshStart
• Broad computer systems expertise, including database and presentation platforms

Resume profile example for career-changers

Personnel-focused Sales Team Leader with 10+ years of experience in team building, training, and sales program development. Looking to transition to a project management role to better use organizational and project implementation skills. While at ABC Corporation, successfully created and executed a sales process reorganization that cut waste by 45%, saving the company more than $40,000 per year.

Related : 21 Project Management Skills Every Project Manager Needs to Succeed

Resume profile example for a Graphic Designer

Dynamic and innovative Graphic Designer with 4 years of experience in the gaming and entertainment industry. Skilled in developing storyboards, character animation, typography, and general layouts. Creative successes include development work on more than 200 unique graphic design projects that helped to generate more than $300 million in revenue.

Resume profile example for a Marketing Manager

Creative Marketing Manager focused on data-driven solutions. More than 8 years of experience in building collaborative teams capable of overcoming any challenge. While at XYZ Inc., led a 10-person team responsible for broadening target audience by 200%, increasing company revenues by 120% over a three-year period. Expertise includes digital marketing campaigns focused on driving new customer acquisition and target audience engagement.

Resume profile example for an Accountant

Detail-oriented finance professional with 7 years of accounting expertise. Proficient in accounting best practices, including creation and management of financial reports, regulatory compliance, tax issues, and budget management and forecasting. Reorganized DEF Corporation's accounting department, reducing inefficiencies by 28%, cutting costs by 19%, and improving productivity by 33%.

Resume profile example for an Administrative Assistant

Reliable Administrative Assistant with 8 years of experience in office management and personal assistance. Comprehensive expertise in presentation development, scheduling management, reporting, and confidentiality. Reorganized filing and reporting systems at Beagle Law, improving client response times by 40%, reducing redundancies, and cutting labor costs by 12%.

Resume profile example for a Data Scientist

Fact-driven Data Scientist with 8 years of experience in data analysis, predictive modeling, and data mining. Proficient with SQL, Python, Tableau, and other common data visualization systems. While at DataCore, took the lead on development of new processes that increased decision-making efficiency by improving the company's ability to use data to gain useful insights. Project resulted in an 18% increase in overall departmental productivity.

Resume profile example for an HR Manager

Personnel-focused HR Manager with 7 years of experience managing human resources functions. Expertise in recruitment, onboarding processes, employee training and relations, and performance reviews. Designed AmAm's new HR policies to align with new firm policies, emphasizing progressive discipline and promotion of a positive work environment. Effort resulted in a 33% reduction in turnover and 43% increase in employee satisfaction.

Resume profile example for a Teacher

Results-oriented educator with 6 years of experience as a middle school Teacher. Expertise in crafting challenging but engaging lesson plans designed to encourage critical thinking and classroom participation in an inclusive way. Dedicated to professional development to stay abreast of current educational best practices and focused on enhancing each student's ability to achieve success. Specific competencies include English, US History, and Basic Civics.

Resume profile example for a Construction Manager

Task-oriented construction professional with more than 10 years of experience in both commercial and residential project management. Led teams responsible for completing more than 60 construction projects valued at more than $40 million dollars, with a 99% on-time and under-budget record of success. Bilingual (English and Spanish) manager with expertise in budget allocation, resource management, project estimates and implementation.

Craft the best possible intro for your resume!

No matter what type of resume profile you decide to use to introduce yourself to prospective employers, your goal should always be the same: to create a powerful and compelling message that inspires employers to read the rest of your resume. The tips and resume profile examples we've provided should ensure that you have everything you need to craft your own profile narrative.

Still not sure if your resume profile has what it takes to capture your reader's interest? Get a free resume review from our team of top experts today!

Recommended reading:

47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

The Best Resume Format to Get Hired

How to Advance Your Career (plus 10 Insightful Tips)

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

Why You Lose When You Lie on Your Resume: Learning From Mina Chang

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Where on my resume should I include a membership in a club that is related to my profession?

• Member of Dreamland Computer science society.

Should I write the above line under Hobbies section in my resume or under the Awards and Honors section?

• 3 Google can't find a "Dreamland Computer science society", so it's probably not that important => Hobby, if at all. –  deviantfan Commented Jul 27, 2016 at 4:34
• 5 To rephrase: If it's nomething nobody heard of, it's not a honor. For that, it needs to be something well-known, with an very good reputation, not open to everyone, (etc.) ... "Nobel prize" yes, "price for being the best in elementary school math in somewhereXY" no. You get the idea. –  deviantfan Commented Jul 27, 2016 at 4:43
• 2 If they spend only 6 seconds on the initial screening, they will say "never heard of it, and 'member' is a weak qualification at best" and it won't help you. If you get past that stage, someone is likely to look it up and it may hurt you if they think you're making something up. Hobby at most, quite possibly better not to mention at all. –  keshlam Commented Jul 27, 2016 at 5:29
• 1 @deviantfan hope you are making a joke. ofc azam used a fictional organization. –  Mindwin Remember Monica Commented Jul 27, 2016 at 19:58
• 1 @Mindwin Since OP replied to ask whether HR would figure that out instead of mentioning that he made it up for this question I'm not so sure he doesn't intend to use a fictional organization in his actual resume... –  Lilienthal ♦ Commented Jul 28, 2016 at 6:03

4 Answers 4

Everything on a resume should be geared towards why you deserve the job you are applying for.

The Hobbies section on a resume is something they get kids leaving school to write in because most wouldn't have much else beyond projected/actual grades. It is not something I'd expect on the resume of anyone who isn't leaving school - to most hiring managers a hobby is something like model-making.

On the other hand - if there is some aspect of being a member of a society or non-professional organisation that can help with exemplifying your skills, then include it under the a section title Other interests . If you were the president or committee member for a society, what did you do to help the society.

For example, I was a Scout Commissioner for a time in my twenties - I've included that in Other interests as I was able to provide examples of leadership (I was responsible for running a programme for multiple units/troops and assisting/training the adult leaders in each troop), organisation (organising expeditions, setting up air rifle range with instructor and Scout training programmes for the region, etc).

What I don't include is being a member of the University Mountaineering Club, because I just turned up and hiked.

So, if you're organising events with this computer society, or managing membership, then include it. If you're just turning up to play LAN games with a few other gamers, then I wouldn't bother.

If this was something that contributed to your professional skills I would include it under a heading of "PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS". However this post is the only thing that comes up when you search for "Dreamland Computer science society" so I am guessing that it will not add anything useful to your resume.

The only time I advise bothering with memberships are if they are prestigious and exclusive or if they are licensing related.

For prestigious and exclusive think of things like government advisory boards or military veterans associations.

Including membership in your local association of professional engineers or your local association of realtors would definitely add value if you are looking for jobs in these fields.

"Member" counts for very little. What did you actually do that demonstrates leadership, teaching skills, or anything else that might be useful to an employer?

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Clubs on Resumes

Everywhere I see I am recommend to join clubs but I want to know how good it is just to be a member. Especially as an underclassmen it would be difficult to be any part of the leadership.

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