Fun Ways You Can Improve Your Resume and Stand Out From The Crowd

When it comes to securing the job you want, a good resume is absolutely crucial. This is an entire representation of you as a potential employee that companies will be looking at- so it needs to be right.

Of course, your resume will need to be very well written, meticulously proofread and use the correct resume objective too (advice for your resume objective here if you’re unsure). However these are ways you can bulk out and improve your resume which will help you to stand out from the crowd. Often, if it comes down to you and another candidate with similar experience, these are the kinds of things that can tip the odds in your favour.

Take up an unusual hobby

Your hobbies are a subtle way to showcase other skills you may have as well as your personality. For example, stating that you play a sport or go to the gym shows that you’re physically fit- this can be beneficial when you’re applying for jobs that require tough manual labour or a lot of standing during the shift. Talking about your interest in arts and crafts shows that you’re creative and will likely have good dexterity, useful for all kinds of jobs from dental nurses to upholsterers. However, just about everyone will put down similar hobbies on their CV, not only is this samey but it’s often made up because people can struggle to find interesting things to say about themselves. Having a very unique or interesting hobby sets you apart, a good tip is to find something that will give you general skills in the area that you want to work in. For example, extreme chess would show you’re logical and a good thinker. Unusual team sports such as ultimate frisbee or muggle quidditch show you’re playful, active and a good team player. Not only will it improve your resume, but its a chance to take up something new, have fun and maybe even meet new people.

Volunteer

Volunteering is incredibly rewarding, and if everyone that was in a position to help others did so the world would be a better place. From a selfish perspective, volunteering looks fantastic on your resume but the time and effort you spend will genuinely help people. You could volunteer in the field that you want to work in, for example if you want to work in mental health you could volunteer with a mental health charity, look into mentoring opportunities or find voluntary work in a mental health hospital. If you were looking to get into any kind of law enforcement position, volunteering with the police, courts or prisons could be the way to go. Alternatively, you could volunteer doing something unrelated. Helping out at a soup kitchen, children’s hospital, nursing home or animal shelter all show that you have a life outside of work and that you’re a good, genuine person.

Go on a training day

Training days might seem like a bit of a bore, but actually they can be a lot of fun. They’re a chance to learn, network and improve your skills. If you choose something that you’re interested in, it won’t feel like a chore. Employers will be impressed when they can see that you’ve gone out of your way and spent time and money improving yourself to get the job that you want.