by Heather Huhman
Many job seekers think they need to keep their resume as concise as possible. While this is a good strategy, there are some important accomplishments you’re omitting from your resume.
When writing resumes, job seekers tend to forget to include the things they’re passionate about or experiences they’ve gained outside of the workplace. Whether you currently serve on the board of a nonprofit organization or you’ve built your own website, these are roles and skills you need to include in your resume.
As you look for ways to make your resume shine, here are seven things you might be forgetting to include:
1. Professional website or blog.
One of the first things employers look at when they research candidates is whether the individual has a professional website or blog.
If you’ve created a professional website to showcase your expertise and accomplishments, you should definitely include a link to your website in your resume. Additionally, if you’re an industry blogger, you might want to create a new section in your resume to talk about your blogging experience or outlets you contribute to.
2. Social media accounts.
Your social media presence is another important element you must include in your resume. By including links to your LinkedIn and Twitter accounts, you can illustrate to employers your influence online and how you interact in their industry.
When choosing social media accounts to include in your resume, be mindful of what you showcase. Ideally, you should only include links to accounts where you share professional content and interact with professionals online.
3. Freelance projects.
According to a new study by eLance, 53 million Americans are freelancing. If you fall into this category, use your freelance career has an opportunity to shine during your job search.
Showcase your freelance experience by creating a new bullet in your resume for this position. You can list your position as “Freelancer” and below, include bullets of your accomplishments and clients you’ve worked with.
4. Awards or special recognition.
Have you received special recognition in your industry for being an outstanding professional? Did you graduate with honors in college? You can include these accomplishments in your resume by putting them after your experience section.
5. Certifications.
Job seekers who have certification in a specific tool or skill can definitely benefit from including those items in their resume. Especially if you’ve earned an industry-specific certification, it can definitely help you stand out in your job search.
6. Side projects.
Have you published an ebook? Do you manage an online business? If you’ve had significant accomplishments in your personal life, you should definitely include them on your resume as long as they don’t conflict with the position you’re applying for.
7. Volunteer work.
Do you volunteer every Saturday at a local food bank? Do you spend time coaching a soccer team? Or perhaps you had an unpaid internship? Volunteer experiences such as these can help you make a good impression on employers. Volunteer work also shows employers you have leadership and project management skills.