Where to include additional information on a resume? Your resume should emphasize your strengths and, most likely, from the experiences you acquired from your former employment. However, the additional information section in your resume is optional, but still, it is an essential part of the resume.
Besides your educational qualification and professional achievements, you can use this section to exhibit some interesting aspects about yourself. It may add value to your resume and increase your chances of getting hired.
Most people may not be sure what to include in this section. This article will answer your question, ‘what should I put for additional information on a resume?’
Although it is a great way to create an impression of your competence before the employer, you should avoid including irrelevant information. Now, you might have another question, what information would be considered relevant/ irrelevant?
A great example of relevant information could be:
- A winning employee of the year
- A professional skill you acquired from your former job’s influence
- It could be a new language you learned.
Here are a few ideas you could include in the additional information on a resume.
- Additional information about yourself and the skills you possess
- Hobbies
- Achievements
- Additional skills and knowledge
- Review of your performance at your former workplace
- Language proficiency
- References
Additional information about yourself and the skills you possess
The additional information section in your resume allows you to portray your personality by highlighting the skills relevant to your target job/designation. However, recruiters have to check several job applications, and you need to ensure that you are not wasting their time by including irrelevant stuff.
Instead, it would help if you tried to convince them to be a valuable addition to the company. For example, you can include the following things to build a link between the job and yourself depending on your efficiencies and achievements.
This additional information could be something different from your education and work history, such as:
Hobbies
Some applicants may secure a job position because of the personal hobbies they took an interest in.
For example:
If you apply for a language teacher’s job, you can add hobbies like singing and dancing, especially if you will instruct children.
Similarly, if your hobby does not relate to your target job or organization’s benefit, then make sure to exclude it from your resume.
For example:
If your hobby is singing and dancing and applying for an accountant’s job, it will be considered relevant additional information.
Achievements
You can include information about projects you have worked on as a volunteer or a community project you have participated in. You can also include volunteering works you have done, awards you have received, and places you have been recognized, whether national or international, in your resume’s additional information.
Additional skills and knowledge
Some job positions specifically require technical knowledge, and the applicant must possess such skills before applying for the job. Therefore, if the job advert asks you to include your literacy in computer and technology, and if you know about it, then it will be a great idea to include it.
For example,
You could include your knowledge of programming, graphic design, or any other skill you have. This will give you an edge over other applicants who only have the basic required skills.
If you have done any course to update your skills and possess some creative skills that will benefit the organization or job, you can include it.
For example:
If you are applying for a writer’s job and have knowledge about making PowerPoint presentations/ videos, you can include it. If the recruiter is looking for a creative designer, they may consider you for that particular job.
Moreover, your leadership traits, cultural skill, qualities, or character that are beneficial and relevant to your career can also be included.
Review of your performance at your former workplace
Performance reviews of the previous job, the praises, and compliments from your superiors in your resume are also important. It portrays the applicant as a committed and dedicated worker and, in a way, commends an applicant to the employer.
This can be included under a broad heading such as; Job Performance Feedback.
For Example:
An award of excellence for the best staff of the year, stating the attributes exhibited by you to be qualified for the award such as; Showed great intellectual and analytical skill which helped the company come out of a recessing period.
Language proficiency
Many positions dealing with international clients require speaking one or two different languages, along with your native language. In addition, when you have to deal with international clients or customers who speak other languages, it is necessary to engage with them in their language.
This requirement also applies to local jobs, especially in countries where multiple languages are spoken in various states. However, it would help if you were honest while describing the level of your fluency.
References
Another additional information that you can include in a resume is References. Even though it is not compulsory to include it in a resume, some recruiters may request it if you are considered for employment.
While choosing who to use as your reference, there are certain qualities you have to look out for. For example, the person must be outspoken to be able to say something appealing about you.
What should you not include in the additional information section on a resume?
- Always void irrelevant information such as too personal stories, political stuff that shows any form of biasedness.
- Additional information section in a resume is not meant for merely stuffing words. Instead, it is an opportunity to showcase your creative side along with your qualification for the job.
- Avoid unnecessary exaggeration when you talk about your skills, hobbies, or achievement, and ensure that you are not praising yourself too much to impress the recruiters.
- You need to be honest, and if you feel that you don’t possess any additional skills, knowledge, and educational and professional experience is enough to win the job, you can skip it.
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