Paid vs. Non-Paid Work Experience on Your Resume

Paid vs. Non-Paid Work Experience on Your Resume As you make your new, up-to-date, and awesome resume, you start making a list of all of the things you have accomplished, the volunteerism you have contributed, and the job duties for all of your workplaces. Then, you begin to list your internships, community organizations, and church activities. Suddenly, you have a huge inventory of information and you have no idea how to include it. Does this sound familiar? Before they contact me, many clients struggle with trying to figure out where to put this information on their resumes. How are you supposed to include both paid and unpaid work experience? Or, do you even need to do so? Should your internship experiences be broken out separately? Just because your work experience or volunteer experience was not paid doesn’t mean that it is not applicable to your job search. Please see below for three important reminders for adding both paid and non-paid experience on your resume. Think relevance. The resume is not about youâ€"it’s about what is important to a potential employer. For example, if you are seeking an accounting position and have worked at a workplace as a bookkeeper, also volunteered as your church treasurer, and had an accounting internshipâ€"all of that information is relevant. All of that information could potentially be included under your work experience. Use your headings wisely. Instead of listing sections as “Paid Work Experiences” or “Internships,” name your section “Relevant Professional Experience.” This means that all information contained therein is relevant, but doesn’t necessarily mean that you were paid for it. Unpaid work experience can be critical when you are switching industries. If you have been working within a particular industry for 10+ years and now want to switch to a different focus, unpaid work experience may be your ONLY experience. List this “Relevant Professional Experience” first and be sure to emphasize these skills. Don’t be afraid to include your unpaid work experience, community involvement, and internship experiences directly in your professional history. Both paid and non-paid work experiences show that you are driven, have honed skills, and exhibited abilities that can be utilized in future positions. However, remember to only include that information which is both timely and relevant. Do you have additional questions about your resume, cover letter, or LinkedIn profile? Contact us today for a free resume critique â€" we would love to help your information shine!