Extracurricular involvement can prove that you have transferrable skills, especially if you do not have much professional experience. Employers look for employees who have a diverse skill set and your involvement in extracurriculars can prove that you are a compelling candidate for the desired position. The pandemic has put a hold on many extracurriculars, but you can still highlight any remote activities you are involved with. When you are a current college student, recent graduate, or an entry-level employee, extracurriculars are a great addition to emphasize your employability.
When to Add Extracurriculars to Your Resume
- The extracurricular showcases your leadership abilities
- The extracurricular is relevant to the job or industry you’re applying to
- You don’t have a lot of internship or paid work experience
The Types of Extracurriculars to Add
- Clubs: academic, political, multicultural organizations, volunteer groups, and student government
- Greek Life
- Sports
- Community and civic activities
- Professional programs or societies
- Study abroad experiences
- Campus RA or TA
- Tutoring
Skills Demonstrated In Extracurricular Involvement
Depending on your involvement, the following skills have probably been developed in some of your extracurriculars. It’s your job to showcase your skills through the way you describe your responsibilities and achievements.
- Teamwork + collaboration
- Leadership
- Creativity
- Time management
- Event planning
- Communication
- Foreign language skills
- Project management skills
- Marketing skills
- Adaptability
- Independence
- Cultural awareness
How to Add Extracurriculars to Your Resume
Before adding your extracurriculars, you need to evaluate the skills needed for the job you are interested in. For positions that interest you, do your research on the company or organization. What values do they have? What technical skills does the position require? Do they value creativity and teamwork? Do they want people who will take initiative? Is it a startup and you have experience in starting a campus club? Once you’ve done your research on the skills needed, you can choose your activity involvement that best aligns with the position.
Similarly to all other experience on your resume, you want to list the name of the organization, your role, and the dates you participated and list by using bullet points. When speaking about your role, you want to demonstrate gained skills, major responsibilities, accomplishments, or any awards won. The three common sections extracurriculars are added to are “Experience”, “Education”, and a new section such as “Extracurriculars” or “Leadership Experience”. See below for examples and how specific skills are highlighted.
Vice President, Young Educators at University of Virginia| Sep 2019-Present
- Facilitated a bi-weekly tutoring program with an average of 20 tutors and 80 middle school students by advertising program at three schools, booking rooms, matching students with tutors, overseeing sessions, managing conflicts, and collecting feedback on tutor performance
- Piloted an entirely virtual program during the COVID-19 pandemic, adjusting tutoring practices to remote sessions and increasing session availability to help students adjusting to remote learning
Member, University of Connecticut Band | 2017–2020
- Attended two-hour practices four times a week and played up to six shows a month on campus and across the Tri-state area
- Organized weekly rehearsals for the 20 person band and managed new material, gave feedback on individual performances, and identified any problems during group sessions