If you are a mid-career professional, you will likely get to the end of your resume with a feeling that there is so much more about your career story you want to say. While the resume sections of work experience, skills, and education will cover much of your success, there are other things you still wish to share with a hiring manager.
You may wish to set aside a few lines at the end of a (two-page) resume for additional resume information. This used to be frowned upon, but traditions change. These days, hiring managers are very much interested in the nuances of a candidate’s personality. These traits can often only be demonstrated with additional resume information.
But what is acceptable to share on a resume, over and above the normal sections? In this blog, we will look at the options (with some examples):
- What is additional resume information?
- Volunteer or charity work
- Certifications
- Training and development
- Industry or company awards
- Publications
- Hobbies
- Languages
- Where should you include additional info?
It is important to remember that you will not be hired because of this additional resume information. It is there to add depth to your application. Your experience and skills will still form the basis of the hiring decision. Dedicate enough space to what matters, but don’t omit the additional info section if it adds value to your application.
Why might you include additional info on a resume?
Including additional information on a resume, beyond the standard sections of work experience, education, and skills, can significantly enhance your appeal to potential employers by providing a more comprehensive view of who you are as a person and a professional. This extra content can include certifications, professional affiliations, publications, or even volunteering.
Certifications or training courses highlight ongoing professional development, showing that you are committed to staying current in your field and keeping up on rapid technological advancements.
Professional affiliations and memberships often indicate a deeper level of involvement and networking within your industry, suggesting that you have both a commitment to your profession and access to collaborative opportunities and industry-specific knowledge that might benefit the employer.
Including publications, speaking engagements, or significant projects can demonstrate thought leadership and subject matter expertise.
Volunteering or extracurricular activities can showcase personal values and soft skills, such as teamwork, leadership, and community involvement.
Types of additional resume information to include
While it is likely that you will have plenty of additions to make to your resume, make sure that each of them plays a part in your job application. If you can relate the extra activity to why you would do a great job, it is something that will stick in the memory of a hiring manager after an interview.
Don’t just list one type of activity. If you are going to include an additional information section, share two or three things that will show a broad range of interests.
Quantify any additional information, if possible. Adding a number or growth percentage to an activity helps the hiring manager to understand the magnitude of your involvement. Also, somehow numbers tend to draw the reader’s eye. We want the hiring manager dwelling on your resume for those few extra seconds.
Volunteer or charity work
Highlighting your involvement in volunteer and charity work showcases your commitment to community and personal growth. Types of relevant activities might include volunteering at local shelters, participating in fundraising events for non-profits, and contributing to environmental clean-ups.
Serving on the boards of charitable organizations or taking part in community-building projects like constructing homes for the underprivileged can also be impactful. Additionally, mentoring youth, leading health awareness campaigns, or providing pro bono professional services demonstrates leadership and a dedication to societal improvement.
- Spearheaded Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns, enhancing donations through targeted social media strategies.
- Managed volunteer staffing for Feeding America food banks, improving operations and engagement.
Certifications
Professional certifications can significantly enhance a resume by showcasing specialized expertise. Each certification demonstrates a commitment to professional development and expertise in a specific field.
- For IT professionals, certifications like Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) are valuable.
- Financial experts might include Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
- Engineers often list Professional Engineer (PE) or LEED Accredited Professional certifications.
- In healthcare, nurses and doctors might display Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Board Certification in their specialties.
- Project managers typically become Project Management Professionals (PMP).
- Certified in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Training and development
Professionals often include training and personal development milestones to demonstrate their commitment to continuous improvement and career growth. These may encompass leadership development programs, advanced technical training, or industry-specific workshops.
For instance, a marketing professional might list courses in digital marketing or data analytics. Engineers may highlight advanced software training or participation in technical seminars. Professionals in management could mention executive training courses from esteemed institutions or in-house leadership programs.
Additionally, participation in soft skills workshops, such as effective communication or conflict resolution, reflects well-rounded personal development, enhancing a candidate’s appeal to potential employers.
- Advanced cybersecurity training, enhancing network security skills.
- Participated in a Six Sigma certification course.
- Salesforce certification course, optimized CRM strategies.
Industry or company awards
Including industry or company awards in a resume highlights a professional's exceptional achievements and recognition by peers or organizations. Such awards can vary widely depending on the field.
Sales professionals might list achievements like “Top Salesperson of the Year” or “President’s Club”. In the tech industry, awards could include “Innovator of the Year” or recognition for software development contributions. Academics and researchers often showcase awards for published papers or contributions to their field.
Company-specific accolades, such as “Employee of the Month” or excellence in customer service, demonstrate commitment and success within a particular corporate culture. Only mention this sort of award if you have received significantly more recognition than the average employee. You need to make your application stand out.
- Received 'Best Digital Campaign Award' at the National Marketing Conference.
- Awarded 'Best Workplace Initiative' for innovative employee retention programs.
- Achieved 'Advisor of the Year' for outstanding client service and satisfaction.
Publications
Professionals often include publications on their resumes to highlight their expertise and contributions to their field.
This can range from articles in peer-reviewed journals for academics and researchers, showcasing their research findings and theoretical advancements, to industry-specific magazines where professionals like engineers, marketers, or finance experts share insights or case studies.
Online publications also play a crucial role, with professionals contributing to blogs, online journals, or platforms like LinkedIn, where they can discuss industry trends, innovations, and professional experiences. Including such publications demonstrates thought leadership, subject matter expertise, and an active engagement with the broader professional community.
- Published an article titled "Emerging Trends in Fintech" in the Journal of Financial Innovation.
- Contributed to an online platform, MarketingProfs, with an article "The Future of Social Media Advertising".
Hobbies
Including hobbies in a resume can offer a glimpse into a candidate's personality and additional skills that may be relevant to the job.
For example, a software developer might list coding personal projects or participating in hackathons, showcasing their passion and continuous learning attitude. A marketing professional could mention blogging about industry trends or social media engagement, indicating their expertise and commitment to staying current.
Additionally, hobbies like photography could suggest creativity and an eye for detail, useful for design and content creation roles. Active pursuits like marathon running or team sports demonstrate teamwork, perseverance, and a focus on health and wellness. These interests help differentiate candidates, making them memorable to potential employers.
- Active member of a community garden project, applying sustainable design.
- Volunteers for local marathons as a first aid responder.
- Organizes and leads workplace wellness programs, promoting healthy lifestyles.
Languages
Professionals often include language skills on their resumes to demonstrate their ability to communicate in diverse environments and across cultures, which is increasingly valuable in globalized markets. Make sure that you mention how your languages have proven useful in your career this far.
For example, a business executive fluent in Mandarin or Spanish can effectively navigate international partnerships. A customer service manager proficient in French or German might better serve clients in European markets. Software developers with language skills can collaborate on international projects or support localization of software products. Including proficiency levels, such as basic, intermediate, or fluent, provides clarity.
Additionally, mentioning certifications like the DELE for Spanish or the JLPT for Japanese underscores recognized language proficiency.
- Proficient in Spanish, led successful product launches in Latin America.
- Advanced German, drove expansion efforts in European markets.
- Fluent in Arabic, enhances recruitment from Middle Eastern regions.
Where should you include the additional resume info?
Additional resume info should be added in a contained section at the end of the resume. It may be more space efficient to title it “additional information” rather than include titles for each individual type of information. This way, you can include bullet points for certifications, award, hobbies, and languages in one concise section. Space is at a premium, so hiring managers won’t mind sifting through a short list to find something impressive.
The additional resume section should not be in a different font or size to the normal resume content. It is not something that you want to stand out in any way, but nor is it something that you should seek to minimize (by writing it in a smaller font).
Key takeaways
Crafting a resume that includes additional information beyond the traditional categories of work experience, education, and skills can elevate your candidacy by providing a more holistic view of your professional and personal landscape. This practice not only enriches the narrative of your career path but also aligns with the evolving expectations of hiring managers who appreciate insights into a candidate's broader competencies and potential cultural fit.
The key to effectively integrating this information lies in its relevance and the ability to tie it back to the demands and values of the company and role you are targeting. While these details are supplemental, they can differentiate you from similarly qualified candidates by showcasing your initiative, versatility, and engagement in diverse aspects of life and work.
