A Personal Section on your resume gives you a chance (and a place) to add some pieces of information to your profile that normally would have no other place to be included – pieces of information that may say quite a lot about you, in fact, in just a few words.
As with every other component on a resume, the Personal Section is going to look and read differently from one resume to the next – depending upon the particular lifestyle and experience of the individual. The Personal Section can actually be a “subcategory” under an “Additional Info” Section where several other subcategories are placed (such as Kudos & Accomplishments, Volunteer Work, Travels Ventured, etc.) There is a specific reason for EVERY SINGLE point you mention (or don’t mention) in this section.
Here are some examples of what you CAN (and should) include in this section:
1. Non-smoker (you are not only showing that your company’s health insurance costs won’t go up as a result of you being a chain smoker, but also that you won’t be taking a break 500 feet outside the building every hour to catch a puff.)
2. Bi/multi-lingual (the more languages you can speak, write, and interpret either conversationally or fluently, the more of an asset you are to any situation, environment, or corporation!)
3. Tri-athelete (you are disciplined, committed, and in good shape)
4. History/current events buff (you read, you are literate, you are informed about what has happened in our world and what is currently going on in the world.)
Here are a few examples of the many things you should NOT include ANYWHERE on your resume, including in your Personal Info Section:
1. Member, of the Rifle Association or Hunt Club, (you are free to join whatever group you want – just don’t include it on your resume if you even THINK it might offend someone else or raise a flag of concern.)
2. Interests include: bar hopping, sky diving, and planking (any potentially-dangerous hobby will raise flags and the question of your ability to show up for work the next day (both mentally AND physically) and not raise health insurance costs!)
3. Your birthdate! (this tells the reader EXACTLY how old you are – which can be used to discriminate against you before you even get an interview because you are too old or too young).
4. Collector of…transformers, Cher costumes, whatever! (when and if you are ever ready to share your personal collection of whatever it is you collect – let it be from your own invite to your home and not broadcasted on a resume for any stranger to see what you have of value at your home and/or what interests you.)
There are also some “universal” statements that everyone ought to include on their resume in their Personal Section. Ask us!
For help writing your Personal Section, email us at writers with spark @ aol. com after you have completed the paypal transaction and send us a list of all your interests, hobbies, and the things you enjoy doing when you are not working! We’ll design your Personal Section for you and have it back to you within 48 hours!
