Your Resume: community involvement

• Hobbies or volunteer work on resumes – do they belong there? These are activities that, unlike your affiliations or special skills, will not necessarily be directly related to your career or the position you’re applying for.

• How about coaching Little League or being a Scout Leader?
• What about the church choir or Neighborhood Watch?

The answer used to be simple: NO! You might look like a dilettante; it reveals your age, marital status, religious affiliation, etc.
But job-hunting has changed. I still feel that activities revealing your personal belief system can hurt your chances for getting job offers. Age is still best kept to yourself. And political action groups are way too divisive in today’s red/blue world.
Nevertheless, there are situations in which the answer is YES! Hobbies that are of interest and reflect well on you should be listed.

Activities that show physical activity are great – dancing, hiking, tennis, bike-riding or golf are effective ways to add to your resume. Just make sure you are currently active in whatever you put down.

Activities that reveal your intelligence or ability to communicate are wonderful to include. If you write book or film reviews for online or other listings, say so. Of course, you should be prepared to produce examples of your writing.

There are times to put down even the controversial political, ethnic, or religious activity if you are applying for a position in that subculture. Example: teaching in religious school while applying to work at a seminary. Singing in the choir if you are applying to a musical group. Working for a particular political campaign if you are applying to a sympathetic special interest group. These are things that establish your credentials as well as your commitment to the cause.
If you have gained experience and responsibility while pursuing an interest, then by all means say so:

• Secretary of the Regional Depression Glass Club.
• Mediator for the Better Business Bureau.
• Event Coordinator for the County Historical Society.

If you are uncertain about what to include on your resume, feel free to talk about it with a qualified career professional. You can contact one through www.anneheadley.com.
Think about what John Wanamaker once said: People who cannot find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to find time for illness.