Side Projects in Resumes: How Your Activities Sell You

Show not tell

Although many people believe that creating a strong resume accompanied by an equally outstanding cover letter is enough to land you the gig, if we’re to be honest the resume is nothing more than a glorified list of things you have done in the past without any proof supporting your statements. Rookie movie directors are often warned to show not tell – and most CVs typically make the mistake of just telling.

But with the inclusion of any of your side activities, not only is the usual monotony of a resume broken but it is also made very clear of what you are capable of. In other words, by showing and not just telling qualities such as being self-driven, passionate, focused, and more than ready to perform the tasks of the job description are all brought to the forefront. But more than that, side projects showcase all your best skills at once, letting the employers discover your interests – as side projects can be your hobbies, too – and they can follow a trail of work on their own that further increases your credibility.

The art of including side hustles

As with anything in a resume, it’s important to impress your future employer in such a way that you are selected for an interview, or perhaps even get the job. Therefore, even side projects have to be carefully selected and placed in your CV.

What and how many to include

The most important rule of listing your side activities is to only select those that are relevant to your current job application. Even if there are plenty of past gigs to choose from, you should still only pick those that showcase certain skills the best. And keep in mind the limited nature of the resume, so only include the core selection of secondary opportunities. And if they are convincing enough recruiters and employers will definitely take a look at the rest of your CV in more detail.

Where to put them

Since side projects can be considered work experience – especially if they are relevant to the desired job – you should feel encouraged to put them into the most important section of your resume. Remember that including the skills that these side gigs have earned you in the skills section of the resume will also stand out for a recruiter.

Since side hustles are about showing your skills, they are ideal for featuring either links or even QR codes if you’d like to keep up with the latest trends. Better still, why not provide only a single link? One that directs the reader to your online portfolio where it’s possible to showcase any number of projects you’ve worked on – and blow the recruiter’s mind.

Links and sites

Since side hustles are about showing your skills, they are ideal for featuring either links or even QR codes if you’d like to keep up with the latest trends. Better still, why not provide only a single link? One that directs the reader to your online portfolio where it’s possible to showcase any number of projects you’ve worked on – and blow the recruiter’s mind.