7 Ways To Boost Your Resume From Home

By Ashley Paskill on March 26, 2021

In these pandemic times, we are spending more time at home than ever before. For those looking to boost their resumes, this can be difficult without being able to go to in-person events, classes, and other things that would look good on your resume. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to boost your resume from home fairly easily.

Get certified

Certifications are a great way to show that you are knowledgeable in something, whether it is a software program, a skill, or a topic in general. Being certified shows potential employers that you have the skills needed to thrive in the jobs they are hiring for. Even if the certification is not directly related to your field, you may be able to find ways to have it connect and this shows that you are willing to learn skills to further improve yourself.

Online classes

Even if you cannot find online certifications, taking online classes has a lot of the same benefits as getting certifications. It shows that you are motivated to learn more about your field or other ways to help the company grow. Look into courses on LinkedIn, Lynda.com, and other websites to help you learn new skills to boost your resume. See if your school or library gives you free access to these kinds of websites so you can save money for other things you need. However, even if you do have to pay, it is an investment in your future.

Volunteer from home

Volunteer experience is a great way to show employers that you are active in your community and that you care about causes. It also demonstrates that you are willing to take initiative to make things better in the world. While many think that you have to go out and volunteer in-person, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer from home. Find a website online such as VolunteerMatch that can point you to organizations that are looking for volunteers for remote help. These things can include writing, graphic design, social media, and more. You may even be able to find something relevant to the field you are going into. However, try to avoid overemphasizing this experience as paid experience tends to be more relevant.

Image: Markus Spiske via https://unsplash.com/photos/r1BS0pzlr1M

Virtual internship

In recent years, more and more jobs and internships have moved online, and this was only emphasized during COVID-19. Because of this, you may be able to find more internships that you can do, especially ones that are not in your immediate area. This helps you to expand your search and potentially intern for prestigious companies that you may not have had a chance to pre-COVID. Not only will you get skills relevant to your career, but you may also be able to network with people you would not have had the chance to otherwise. You will also be able to see if doing remote work is something that fits your personality, especially if you have had an in-person internship or job experience.

Start a project

While you are likely doing a lot of projects in the classroom, starting something outside of the classroom and even off-campus can help you stand out to employers. For example, you can start a blog, even if you are not in a writing-heavy major. If a local organization you know of does not have a social media presence, offer to help them set it up and run it. Starting this sort of project outside of your coursework gives your resume evidence that you take initiative and are continually being creative in how you use your skills. Even if you do a project using skills not related to your desired career, it is still impressive to show what you have done in your own time. This will also help you network with more people who are in your chosen career.

Join a professional association

Every field of study has a professional organization that is made up of key people in the industry. These associations often hold conferences and other events that allow you to learn about what is new in the field as well as meet new people. Since many of these events are online due to COVID, you have a chance to meet new people. Putting that you are a part of these organizations shows employers that you are keeping up with what is happening and are taking initiative. While many professional associations require paid memberships, check to see if they have a student or recent grad discount on memberships.

Put your classwork into the world

You are doing projects and essays each week for your classes, but did you know that you can submit these to be published or win awards? Spending even just an hour a week can lead to some great results. Ask your professors if they know of any publications where you can submit your work or any competitions you can enter. Winning competitions and being published can help you build the portfolio you have linked to your resume, and this helps to demonstrate your skills. Simply adding that you have been published or won awards and competitions shows that you produce quality work.

While boosting your resume often includes things that are done in-person, there are still plenty of things you can do from home, especially in light of the pandemic.

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