How to Write About Unpaid Experience

This question came from a reader who purchased my book on resume writing.

I'm in the process of updating my resume and I would like to know your recommendation for including non-paid/non-professional working experience.

For example, I love travel planning & research and have planned several multi-week/multi-country trips as well as other event planning experience such as wedding & party planning. How & where do you suggest including this type of information that might be beneficial in showing experience?

I purchased your book online and it has been very helpful but this is not something I remember being covered. I hope you can take some time to answer my question.

This is a great question. Too often, people feel that unpaid experience doesn't belong on a resume but this is completely wrong and also self-defeating. Why does it matter whether or not you were paid to do something? Do you learn more when you're being paid? Is the experience any less valuable when you work for free?

No, unpaid experience belongs on your resume as long as it relates to what you want to do next. There are different ways to do this. You can list these experiences as 'freelance event planner' or even 'volunteer event planner.'  Then show the dates just as you would with a normal position, describe the work (you can say that it was unpaid if this makes you feel more comfortable) and highlight a couple of key accomplishments.

I do this all the time for my clients and it's very effective. Good luck!

Comments

[QuestingElf]

I agree the unpaid experience is definitely valuable. Trouble is not all employers do, and that's where part of this problem comes from.

Some employers believe that only work that someone actually paid you to do counts. Volunteer work also doesn't seem to have the same kind of pressures and urgency that corporate work does. Sure, if somebody doesn't get the blood donation or food supply on time, they (like a company) can die. Try, however, explaining that to an employer who's been too obsessed with management's Measure Everything clause.

I'll definitely document my ability to do something. Hopefully the employer is of like mind, that what I can do is far more important than where I've done it. Then again, there are those employers who insist their industry is super-different from all others; I've learned to pick my battles and only persuade those employers who are worth it. My time, like theirs, is limited.

[resume writing by itouch]

Excellent article, unpaid experience should be listed if relevant to the resume or CV. However, consider moderation and how it effects the balance of the resume or CV. Its worthwhile seeking advice on this subject. Hope you get a chance to visit us on http://www.resume-solutions.com.au or http://www.employmentguide.com.au