

I’m glad you got here if you thought “additional information on a resume” means it’s optional. See how it translates to “mandatory under threat of not landing a job.”
Are you a fan of the Shadow and Bone series?
I really hope so, because it’s time you began to see the light.
Additional doesn’t mean optional. Additional means supplementary.
So when you look at your resume and see employment, education, and skills there thinking you’re ready, you’re wrong.
Find out what additional information to put on your resume and why it puts you in front of your competition.
This guide will show you:
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Grab a list of our other articles about how to write various sections on the resume:
Get quicker to the sections of the guide with this list of contents:
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
This you can put as additional information on your resume:
So you earned a license or certificate to follow a profession, and you’re thinking about whether it’s a good idea to include it on your resume?
Stop thinking, start including!
Some employers require one to even consider you for employment, so don’t hesitate.
But—
Unless it’s relevant to your application, then leave this information be. Or, if the certificate was earned at the end of your schooling or a training course, think twice about whether it’ll bring any value to your application. If not, then again, drop it.
Check out the below examples to see how to put certificates and licenses as additional information on your resume:
Certificates & Licenses
You can, but don’t have to, keep these two separate. It’s crystal-clear which is which if you indicate the license.
You should also note that every entry on your resume in additional information should be in reverse-chronological order. It means you put the most recent, here a certificate or license, at the top of your list.
Let’s move on to the awards.
Ah, who doesn’t want to be commended by their boss or acknowledged and applauded by the entire industry?
E-very-one.
“That’s an achievement with a capital A!”
Awards as additional information play great importance to your potential employer. Through it, they see a hard worker committed to success and, what’s the most important, bringing results.
Accolades bring glory as much to the employee as to the entire company. So if the award is relevant to the job you’re pursuing, go ahead: make it part of your application.
Let’s see how to add awards as additional information to your resume. There are two ways to do it:
Awards
Experience
Project Manager
Projectopia, Louisville, KY
September 2020—February 2022
You see, there is no need to create a separate section for awards.
But—
It doesn’t mean you can’t do it. I’d even recommend that because it’ll make the awards stand out, and recruiters won’t have any problem finding them amongst your other achievements.
Just like awards, publications are a fantastic achievement, especially when you appear in industry magazines or journals. This is exactly how you show you’re a subject-matter expert and know what’s what. If you’re a candidate for a creative opportunity, publications can give away your writing skills.
Don’t hesitate to include a link if you’re sending an electronic copy of your resume. For an on-page version, stick to bibliographical descriptions.
This is how to list publications for additional information on a resume:
Publications
An opportunity for Gen Z to prove that their experience gap exists only on paper.
There’s definitely no obligation to explain your entire employment history on a resume. Still, you may win your recruiter over if you say you did charity or voluntary work in between getting a salary or studying. This is your chance to not only prove you’ve been building your skills for the entire time outside school and work but also that you take helping others seriously.
If you’re trying to put volunteering on a resume as a full-time gig, list it with others in the experience section. If it wasn’t full-time, include your unpaid experiences in a separate resume section under “Volunteering.”
Let’s glance at the below additional information on a resume example:
Volunteering
There are jobs such as a customer rep in a call center that require excellent communication skills. What they also may require is the ability to speak at least several foreign languages. Sometimes, you can even get some fancy benefits if you speak more than one!
Look at how to put foreign languages as additional information on your resume:
Languages
As you’ve noticed, the beginner level didn’t get a chance to land in this example. This is because it’s only taking up space instead of providing an actual qualification.
I’m not talking about counting cars on a parking lot.
Your personal interests should be relevant to the job description and the job you’re pursuing in general. It means that for an analytical job, playing chess would do a world of good on your resume, as well as playing sports would for a physical type of job.
Why?
It’ll be just as important as stating logical thinking and stamina in your skills and attributes section.
Lets’s see how you can present hobbies and interests as relevant additional information. First, take a look at the following job description example—imagine it comes from the job ad you’re interested in:
Responsibilities:
Now, here’s how to prove you’re great at both through carefully picked hobbies & interests:
Hobbies & Interests
What do you say? Still thinking whether that time-killing game on parking lots should make it to your resume?
So now that you know what to put on your resume as additional information, let’s dig deeper into how you should actually think about it before you get down to writing.
Not every certificate, license, or training will play to your assets.
Why? Because relevancy is the key to it all.
If you decide to include something on your resume, make sure it responds to the requirements and desired skills. You can access that information in the job description. Cross-check, and only then make a decision.
The thing about relevancy is that it’s relative, and in your resume, everything has to be crystal clear. So whatever you’re including as a hobby, interest, or an award—describe it, write more than only one or two words. Give the context so that the employer and you are on the same page.
If there isn’t much you can add to your experience, additional information sections such as volunteering, internships, or continuing education are great examples.
When you apply for non-experience or junior roles, employers look into your personal attributes and qualities rather than qualifications. Professional experience is a cherry on top, but a cream cake tastes delicious without it too.
If you already have industry certifications that you earned while at the university or just by personal development, do not be afraid to include that in your resume. There’s nothing better than motivation and dedication demonstrated by a younger candidate.
You’ve got to claim some real estate on the pile. And additional sections, such as conferences, publications, or awards, will do that for you. It’s like buying a house instead of a one-bedroom apartment.
I know you feel better just by the sound of it!
The recruiter will feel better knowing that the employee they invited for an interview is such a great investment.
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Here’s the essence of the article:
Please tell us—
Do you have questions about additional information on a resume? Is there anything else you’ve ever felt like including in the additional information section? What do you think of such information put in your resume?
Give us a shout in the comments! Let’s get the conversation rolling.
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