Have you considered adding extra sections to your resume?
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Did you know that your resume is your biggest marketing tool when you are on a job hunt? Every job seeker creates a resume with the standard five resume sections summary, contact information, work experience, skills, and education. If you want to stand out among all the other candidates, your resume should carry something extra.
1. Professional certifications
Professional certifications and licenses are valuable for any resume. In some industries, it is essential for you to mention your licenses on your resume such as healthcare, beauty, and accounting. Certain certifications like Basic Life Support, project management, and software proficiency add value to your resume no matter the industry you work for.
2. Volunteer work
Employers like it when candidates showcase their community involvement. Some employers take volunteer work on your resume as a sign that you are a good cultural fit for the company. When creating your resume, allocate some space for a dedicated volunteer work section. You can use this section to bring out job-related skills such as event planning, fundraising, budgeting, teamwork, etc. Be sure to mention the organizations you have worked with and the impact you made.
3. Entrepreneurial work
Have you taken some time off from the workforce to focus on your own business? Very few job seekers ever do that. If you have entrepreneurial experience, you must display it on your resume. Mention your experience as if you are making an entry in your career history. Mention your contribution to the business and the quantified results that you achieved.
4. Professional associations and memberships
For certain jobs, being a member of a professional association is essential. If you have joined industry organizations and associations, mention them on your resume to show your affiliation. Your leadership[ roles within the organizations and the contributions you have made should also be discussed on your resume. Actively involving in a professional community shows employers that you are committed to professional development.
5. Hobbies and interests
A hobbies and interests section is not common on resumes. However, you can use this section to bring out job-related skills. Team sports can indicate collaboration and teamwork skills. If you want to emphasize strategic thinking skills, games like chess are great additions to your resume. Robotics and aviation interests are excellent for a tech resume. If you are applying for a job in literature, reading, writing, and composing poems are good choices of interests.
6. Publications
Are you applying for a position in academia? Or are you writing a resume for a research grant? In either case, it is important for your resume to have an extensive āPublicationsā section. Even if you are not applying for a job in academia, your resume will still benefit from a publications section. You should be descriptive when mentioning your publications on your resume. Follow the APA style to include all the information an employer would need to locate your papers online.
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