How to Write About Your Extracurricular Involvement on Resume

Fresh grads and those with limited work experience - your extracurricular experience can give your resume a much-needed boost. Here's how to do it.

By Kimberly Chang on 2023-11-27 at 7:11 AM

Updated on 2024-04-19 at 9:44 AM

Writing About Extracurricular Involvement in Malaysia on Your Resume

In the dynamic job market of Malaysia, standing out as a candidate often requires more than just showcasing your academic achievements and work experience. Extracurricular involvement has become an increasingly crucial component of a well-rounded resume, especially for fresh graduates and students entering the workforce.

Featuring extracurricular activities you’ve taken part in can be a great way to showcase your passions and interests outside of studies or work.

Not only can they help your resume stand out, but they also show off how well-rounded you are. Do it right and you can give yourself an edge over other candidates.

Including Extracurricular Activities on Resume

Extracurricular activities reflect a range of skills and qualities, from leadership and teamwork to time management and initiative. For fresh graduates lacking extensive work experience, these extracurricular activities can significantly bolster your resume by demonstrating your proactive engagement and well-rounded character.

First, you will need to identify relevant experiences. Think about events and organizations you’ve been involved in at university. This can include social clubs, sports teams, volunteer work, and even hobbies. 

Then, make sure the extracurricular activities are relevant to your career goals. Let’s say you’re applying for a role in marketing. Highlighting your experience in marketing your college’s event would hold more weight than your participation in the school’s chess club.

To highlight your extracurricular experiences, it’s best to list them separately from your other experiences (eg. education, work). This is especially true if you don’t have any existing work experience. This helps you flesh out your strengths and lets hiring managers learn more about you.

When listing your extracurricular involvement, you should include…

  1. The name and a brief description of the organization
  2. Your role in the organization
  3. The dates of your involvement

Examples of extracurricular activities on resumes

  • President of the English Debate Club (2016 – 2018) – Led a team of 20 students into the state championship.
  • Volunteer at the Local Animal Shelter (2016 – 2017) – Assisted with the care of animals and managed the shelter’s social media accounts.

While it's important to showcase your involvement, be mindful of your resume's overall length. The key is ensuring your resume is tailored to the job you are applying for so that a hiring manager can immediately understand how you could fit in the company.

How to Feature Extracurricular Activities on Resume

1. Create a dedicated section

Title it “Extracurricular Activities”, “Leadership and Involvement”, or something similar. This section should ideally follow your education and work experience sections.

2. Be selective

Only include activities that demonstrate skills or achievements relevant to the job. Highlighting extracurricular involvement means focusing on quality, not quantity.

3. Describe your role and accomplishments

For each activity, briefly describe your role and any notable achievements. Use action verbs to convey your contributions and impact.

4. Mention leadership roles

Leadership roles on resumes stand out to employers as they suggest initiative, management skills, and the ability to work well with others. Be sure to emphasize any leadership positions you've held.

For fresh graduates and students in Malaysia, extracurricular activities on a resume are not just filler content; they are a testament to your character, capabilities, and potential as a future employee. By thoughtfully writing a resume as a fresh graduate and strategically highlighting extracurricular involvement, you can create a compelling narrative that goes beyond academics and work experience, setting you apart in the job market.

Check out the article below to see examples of other experiences you can include in your resume:

Related: How To Ace A Job Interview With No Work Experience (With Sample Answers!)

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By Kimberly Chang on 2023-11-27 at 7:11 AM