The Importance of Authentically Building Your Resume
Written by Julia Yurchesyn
@julia.yurchesyn
Thumbnail Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
I’m sure that somewhere you have heard the importance of extracurriculars, whether they be volunteering, being an active member in a society, working a part-time job, or some combination thereof. They help us grow in experiences, learn skills, and contribute to the community in some way. However, this can easily be viewed as a to-do list - activities you have to do to give your resume a boost. It’s easy to pick random activities to be involved in without being intentional, and to prioritize the quantity of activities that you do rather than the quality.
Instead, there is an argument to be made for resisting the pressure to do as much as possible and to instead authentically decide what you want to support and give your time to. The most obvious reason for this is that you get to spend time supporting things that you value, whether it is volunteering for an organization you support, creating art, or being a part of a SMU Society. Doing what you love is not just a bonus – it’s essential. How many hours of the day do we spend doing things we don’t really enjoy, sacrificing the time we could spend doing things we love? Sometimes our time can be better used elsewhere. Additionally, doing activities that we love has health benefits, both mental and physical, and can lower our stress levels.
Photo by Clark Tibbs on Unsplash
Another way building a resume authentically and intentionally can be beneficial is that it can help you discover what you want to spend your life doing. By being involved in causes you care about, you’re exposed to more potential career opportunities. Maybe you discover that you want to have a career working for a particular non-profit that you care about, having made invaluable connections during a volunteer position or internship. In this way, you are able to discover opportunities and network in the industries that you feel passionate about.
Finally, when you build your resume authentically and intentionally it will give an accurate representation of you as a person; it shows others who you are and what you care about. In an interview, employers will be able to tell if you are passionate about your experiences or if you just did them for resume filler. Being passionate shows that you care about what you are doing and that you would be a valuable asset to a team.
So how can we build our resumes authentically? One place to start is to take some time to discover causes that you care about the most. They could be humanitarian, academic, cultural, or entrepreneurial; the sky’s the limit! The point is to acknowledge what makes you feel excited so that you are able to channel your efforts towards those passions (even if you can’t immediately see how). Then, once you have some ideas, make a note of it (mentally or physically) to come back to it later.
Next, identify where you are spending your time right now. Does it match up with your interests and passions? Volunteering and being involved is never a bad thing, but it could be even better if your efforts are for something that you are passionate about. Are you volunteering somewhere just because you need a resume filler? You might want to consider volunteering somewhere else, or in a different way. Remember that your time and energy are valuable!
If you decide to branch out, take out your phone or laptop and see if there are any local opportunities that are related to your interests. Try typing in the keywords of what you’re looking for, and an organization may pop up which makes you feel excited! If you need more ideas, here is a link to Volunteer Halifax, which provides various postings you can browse through. Additionally, the SMU Volunteer Fair in the fall provides opportunities you may not have heard of! However, be mindful that volunteering in the midst of COVID-19 is a unique challenge, and some options may no longer be open.
If there is something you already have in mind, find the appropriate contact and send an email to ask if there’s any way you can contribute. Make sure to proofread and check if your email follows proper etiquette, as it demonstrates that you are taking the time to reach out and are genuinely interested in giving your time and energy.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Remember that SMU has numerous societies that you can be involved in! The SMU Journal has an entire Societies section that you can find here, and you can find the SMUSA list of active societies here. These can be anything from societies relating to your major to interests completely unrelated to university. If you’re not sure where to start, checking out the wide variety of societies to join is a great option!
Finally, something to remember when building your resume and professional experience is that being authentically yourself is important. Extracurriculars should not only give you experience but also empower you and help you discover the kind of life you want to live. This is not to say that every activity or position must be perfectly fulfilling, but rather intentionality when deciding where we want to spend our time is important for our own life and discovering who we are. If we only have one life to live, why would we not spend our time pursuing our passions?
References:
https://www.thesmujournal.ca/university/beyond-the-classroom-the-importance-of-volunteering
https://www.thesmujournal.ca/editor/email-etiquette-matters-more-than-you-think-it-does-1
https://www.thesmujournal.ca/societies
https://www.smusa.ca/get-involved/societies/active-societies/