Including relevant extracurricular activities on a resume can strengthen a teaching candidate’s application. These activities provide insight into an applicant’s personality, skills, and passions beyond the classroom. For example, volunteering at a literacy center demonstrates a commitment to education outside of work, while participation in a community theater group showcases creativity and communication skills. Carefully chosen activities can complement and enhance the professional qualifications listed on a resume, painting a fuller picture of the individual.
Supplemental activities can demonstrate qualities desirable in educators, such as dedication, teamwork, leadership, and creativity. They can also provide evidence of skills directly transferable to teaching, like organization, planning, and communication. Furthermore, listing relevant hobbies can offer conversation starters during interviews, allowing candidates to highlight their strengths and passions in a more personal way. Historically, resumes focused primarily on formal work experience. However, as the job market has become more competitive, demonstrating a well-rounded personality and diverse skill set through extracurricular pursuits has become increasingly valuable.
