20 Extracurricular Activities You Can Include in Your Resume

Extracurricular activities, whether working on your school newspaper or joining an intramural sports team, are great ways to get involved on campus and enhance your resume. Often seen as signs of dedication and passion in the workplace, extracurricular activities can help you stand out from other candidates when looking for jobs or internships after college.

Whether you’re just starting to think about your post-graduation plans or are in the middle of your senior year, here are 20 extracurricular activities you should include on your resume.

Should I Include Extracurricular Activities On My Resume?

If you’re looking for a job, you want to ensure that your resume stands out from the rest. While extracurricular activities are undoubtedly important, you don’t want to include them on every single one of your resumes. You don’t have time! Instead, focus on the things that are unique to you and include those in your statements and other pieces of information.

Extracurricular Activities For Your Resume

f you’re considering what activities to include on your resume, consider the following:

 1. Sport

If you’re passionate about sports, consider including your favorite pastime on your resume. If you’re an avid basketball fan, for example, write down that you used to play for your school’s team and competed against colleges in tournaments across the state.

If you’re a student-athlete, who has played club or intramural sports in high school or college, mention it on your resume. You don’t need to include every sport you’ve played, but include at least one.

If you have experience working with kids and teens in any capacity, such as volunteer work or coaching, mention it on your resume.

2. Modeling, acting, or performing roles in plays or movies

You might be surprised that your resume doesn’t list any extracurricular activities. But if you’ve been involved in a community theater, performed in a school play or musical, or even modeled for school fundraisers, this is an opportunity to show off your talents and accomplishments.

If you’re in high school, consider listing your specific roles. If you were an understudy in a play, use the role description to describe your talent and leadership skills. If you were a part of a school musical group that performed during lunchtime at lunch, list that experience as well.

3. Creative stuff

It’s a great idea to include some creative stuff on your resume, especially if you have artistic or creative skills. You can make comic books, short stories, and other writing pieces. You could also create some music or video games if you have any talent in that area.

You should also include any projects you’ve done at school or work that show off your abilities and interests. If you like sports or have a talent for math, bring it up on your resume by listing down the teams you’ve been on and the grades you got in math class.

4. Charity work

Charity work is an excellent way to show that you are a caring, compassionate person. It can also help you develop your writing, speaking, and interpersonal skills. If you have time, volunteer for an organization that works with children or the elderly.

If not, consider volunteering at a local animal shelter or helping with a community project like painting graffiti walls or cleaning up parks. You could even start your nonprofit organization if you know how to manage it well.

5. Professional development or training

You can use this section to discuss any additional training you have been involved in or would like to be involved in. These may include conferences, workshops, seminars, or other events you have attended. You may also include courses on topics such as leadership, presentation, and computer skills that you have taken.

You can also mention any certifications or licenses that you have completed. This could include certifications for IT professionals such as Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and licenses for specific industries such as insurance sales or real estate agents.

6. Competition

Consider competition if you’re looking for something to add to your resume. Whether it’s a school contest or a local spelling bee, it’s always good to have something on your record that shows initiative and dedication.

Competitions can be fun, and they can also help you stand out from the crowd. They’re also great for getting involved in extracurricular activities without committing to a full-time course load.

7. Travel/Study abroad

Traveling and studying abroad is a great way to enhance your skills, build professional networks and make new friends. The United States has many opportunities for students to study abroad through programs like Fulbright, Cultural Presentations, and the like.

You may be able to find another job while you are away. Still, it’s more likely that your employer will expect you to return with some experience in your field. If you are lucky enough to have an internship abroad, this can be an excellent opportunity for the building experience.

8. Language-related activities

You may want to consider adding language-related activities to your resume. Language-related activities include speaking, writing, and reading. They can be used to showcase your competence in languages other than English.

If you have experience working as a translator or interpreter, this is an excellent opportunity to highlight your language skills. If you’re bilingual (speaking two or more languages) or trilingual (speaking three languages), you can also highlight your ability to communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds.

9. Life skills/money management stuff

Money management is a critical skill that employers look for in candidates. You can show them by having a budget, taking care of your bills and expenses, and planning how to save for the future. You could also talk about how you handled unexpected costs and how you kept money before.

If you’re good at managing your time, it’s another great thing to put on your resume. You can talk about how you prioritize your tasks and work efficiently. If you’re not good at this yet, it’s still an excellent idea to include it in your resume because it shows that you are willing to learn new things and improve yourself.

10. Awards or accomplishments

Talk about how you’ve won awards or accomplished something significant in the community. This is particularly important if you’re applying for scholarships or internships that require a specific type of work experience. For example, say so on your resume if you’ve won an award for being involved with a community service project.

11. Political, Religious, and Community Organizations

Suppose you are interested in politics, community affairs, or religious organizations. In that case, adding some diversity to your resume can be a great way. You might not be able to get into the inner workings of these groups, but you can still discuss some of your past experiences within them.

For example, suppose you worked at a local church as a volunteer or even served on the board of directors. In that case, this could be important information that could help set you apart from other candidates.

12. Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to get hands-on experience. It’s also a great way to meet people, especially if you’re looking for work in the future.

Volunteering can be one of the most fulfilling experiences you’ll ever have, but it takes time and dedication. You’ll likely need to give up some of your free time, but it’s worth it in the end.

Volunteering can help you build connections with others who share your interests and hobbies. It also opens up other opportunities like internships and job interviews.

13. Art

Art is a great way to showcase your creative side. It can be used as an artistic background on a resume or in the art section of a portfolio. Suppose you have any drawing, painting, sculpture, or photography training. In that case, this is an excellent way to highlight your skills and accomplishments.

It also allows you to demonstrate that you can work independently. If you’re applying for a job where you will be operating independently, being able to create something on your own time can show that you know how to get things done by yourself.

14. Work Experience

Work experience is an integral part of a resume. Your work experience shows the type of work you’ve done and how much responsibility you’ve taken on.

If you have a job that doesn’t require a college degree, include it in your resume. Even if you don’t have a degree but have worked at companies for years, it’s still important to highlight this on your resume because most companies want to see that you have worked hard and are dedicated to the company.

15. Music or Theater

Music and theater are two of the most popular extracurricular activities. If you’re interested in music, try playing an instrument such as piano, guitar, drums, violin, or cello. You can also join a band or choir or offer your services as a voice actor for video games and films. If you want to get into acting, try taking drama classes in high school and college, or sign up for acting classes during the summer months before college.

If you’re interested in theater, take acting classes during the summer months before college.

16. Leadership skills

Leadership skills are a must for any resume. Whether you’re a manager or not, you have leadership skills. You can demonstrate your leadership skills by leading work and school activities.

Leadership is about taking charge and setting an example for others to follow. It’s about being able to make decisions and take action in a way that benefits everyone involved. Leadership is about taking responsibility for others as well as yourself.

You may not be the boss, but you do have the power to influence others. You can show that you are someone who has taken the initiative and made an impact on others’ lives through your leadership skills.

Extracurricular activities or volunteer work are excellent ways to show off your leadership skills. Volunteer organizations often look for people with good communication and organizational skills, so volunteering will also help build those into your resume!

17. Working a part-time job

If you want a job, you need a resume tailored to the job you’re applying for. A good summary will also show that you have experience and are qualified for the position.

Many companies hire part-time employees. If you’re looking for part-time work, consider working a few hours a week instead of full-time hours. This can help your resume stand out from other candidates’ resumes because it shows that you are flexible and willing to take on additional responsibilities.

18. Internship

You can’t just discuss your accomplishments in a resume — you have to show that you’ve done something. So what’s the best way to demonstrate those achievements?

One option is an internship. It can be a real opportunity for you to put your skills on display, and it can also be an excellent way to get a foot in the door at a company where you want to work. If you’re interested in interning at Google or Microsoft, consider partnering with one of their student programs; they’ll often be able to help connect you with an opportunity.

19. Self-employment and freelance experience

If you’ve built your own business or are self-employed, it can be helpful to include that on your resume. Just be sure to note that you’re not an employee of the company but an independent contractor doing freelance work for them.

If you’re an entrepreneur and run a small business, consider adding a section on how much revenue you bring in each year and how much profit you made. You may also want to include any awards or recognitions related to your business.

20. Blogging, writing, or editing a magazine or newspaper column

Blogging, writing, or editing a magazine or newspaper column are great ways to build your resume. To do this, you don’t need to be a professional writer or journalist. Just start writing regularly and let the world see your work.

You might have to start small, but don’t let that stop you from taking the first step. One of the best things about blogging is that it can be done virtually anywhere at any time of day or night as long as you have access to a computer and an Internet connection.

Where To Put Extracurricular Activities On Resume?

If you have extracurricular activities on your resume, where should you put them?

It’s a tricky question; the answer depends on your experience. Suppose you’re applying for a job that requires education or another degree. In that case, it’s probably best to list your activities chronologically.

This will make it easier for the reader to see how your interests and skills have developed. Suppose you’re looking for something more specific, like volunteering at the local animal shelter or tutoring kids in math. In that case, breaking down the experience into smaller chunks can make sense.

For example: “Volunteered at a local animal shelter since [age].” Or “Tutored students in math at [location].” These are two ways to show off your skills and experiences—and they work well if you have extracurricular activities on your resume!

Is Extracurricular Activities Important For Resume?

Extracurricular activities are essential for your resume. They will help you get noticed by recruiters and potential employers, who may not be looking at resumes that mention these activities.

You should include them in your resume because they are essential to your brand, making you stand out from other candidates.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our article about extracurricular activities. There are so many opportunities for students today, and we hope you can find something that interests you.

We know it can be challenging to find the time to be involved in extracurricular activities.

So if you have any questions or suggestions, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you.