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5 Forgotten Gems for a Well-Rounded Resume

Long gone are the days when resumes needed to be under one page. Unless you’re just starting out in the professional world, your resume can and should span two pages, even three at the executive level, so breathe and give yourself some extra space. In an effort to be concise, many job-seekers get tunnel vision and focus only on their daily 9–5 and their college degree. They forget about all the amazing experience and achievements they earned outside the office walls!

As you look for ways to reinvent your resume this year, think about these five things you might have forgotten to list:

  1. Awards and recognition. This resume section is all about highlighting the fruits of your labor (and doing a little horn-tooting in the process, but isn’t that what a resume is all about?). Did you receive a special award or recognition in your industry? Were you employee of the month or year? Did a news article recognize your professional efforts? If you’ve received special accolades for your work, include them in your resume. It never hurts to shine a little brighter!
  2. Certifications and licenses. Too often, a job-seeker’s Education section focuses only on the college degree, when there are many types of education out there. Perhaps you’ve earned a certification in a tool or skill that boosts your industry knowledge. This can be anything from a forklift operator certification to a copy editor certification, or an Adobe Certified Associate certification to a Six Sigma certification. Maybe you have a current First Aid, CPR, and AED certification. And don’t forget professional licenses that may be useful in your industry. All of these relevant qualifications can help you stand out in the crowd.
  3. Freelance work. Maybe you’re self-taught or have always considered your freelance work more of a hobby. That doesn’t mean it’s not skilled work! Your achievements don’t have to be attached to a big corporation to be meaningful. And just because you would do (or have done) work for free doesn’t mean it can’t join your list of accomplishments. So showcase your ongoing freelance or entrepreneurial work on your resume as its own unique position.
  4. Volunteer work. See above, where we said work doesn’t have to be paid to be noteworthy? Well in the case of volunteerism, the work is often noteworthy because it’s unpaid. Volunteer work can speak not only to your skills and initiative, but to your sense of self and community. So whether you coach Little League, volunteer at the local hospital, or serve on the PTA board, your volunteer work can make a positive impression on employers. Add it to your resume.
  5. Website, blog, and social media. Why not give yourself another way to “speak” to prospective employers? A website or online portfolio can be a great way to showcase your talents, especially in creative fields or at high levels of an organization. A website can speak for you in ways paper can’t, and can offer an engaging, visual journey for prospective employers—so be sure to include the link on your resume. If you have your own industry-related blog, you’ll want to note that, too. While you’re at it, you might as well include links to your professional social media profiles, such as LinkedIn, to highlight your interactions and connections in the industry.

The next time you revamp your resume, think about all the hats you’ve worn in your lifetime, not just the one you wear during your morning commute. You may find that this handful of details you had otherwise forgotten works to round out your resume and boost your magnetism!

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