How to Create an Activities Resume
The goal of an activities resume is to highlight your strengths and inform colleges about
your accomplishments and special talents. This is your opportunity to showcase your
talents so USE IT!
Getting Started
To begin, make a list of all of your activities. This should include summer
activities, work experiences, sports achievements, volunteer experiences and
community service, and any other educational experiences you have
had outside of Shady Side Academy.
After you have compiled the list, arrange these activities in similar groups. Now
put the list in order of importance or significance. That order may be different for
each student depending on which particular skills you would like to highlight!
Now define your role in the various organizations/activities. If it is an activity
that is unique or if its purpose or mission is unclear, write a description of that
organization. If you tackled any special projects or accomplished specific goals,
describe the requirements of those projects.
Have someone look over your descriptions to see if they are clearly stated.
Format
Since your goal is to quickly inform the reader about your interests, choose a
format that flows:
Different Styles
Traditional resume format
Organized by date/class year
Organized by category
Theater or portfolio style
Application style
Hints
Be honest and use language to present your information in the most positive light
possible. Use active words for activities in which you are still involved. Edit!
Action Words Skill Areas
Achieved Lectured Analyzing/Evaluating
Administered Managed Artistic
Advertised Marketed Athletic
Analyzed Negotiated Clerical
Arranged Organized Communication
Attained Originated Detail/Follow-through
Authorized Operated Financial
Balanced Oversaw Helping
Budgeted Performed Human Relations
Calculated Planned Influence/Persuading
Chaired Prepared Interpersonal
Collected Processed Language
Conceptualized Produced Leadership
Coordinated Promoted Management
Communicated Publicized Performing
Compiled Recommended Planning/Organizing
Computed Recorded Research
Condensed Recruited Teaching
Conferred Repaired Technical
Consulted Represented Writing
Controlled Revitalized
Corresponded Revived
Critiqued Scheduled
Delegated Set goals
Demonstrated Strengthened
Designed Summarized
Developed Supervised
Diagnosed Surveyed
Directed Systemized
Drafted Tabulated
Enabled Taught
Evaluated Trained
Executed Transcribed
Expanded Transferred
Facilitated Transformed
Generated Translated
Guided Treated
Identified Tutored
Illustrated Unified
Improved United
Increased Upgraded
Initiated Used
Inspected Utilized
Instructed Worked
Interpreted Wrote
Sample Resume
Earl E. Action
423 Fox Chapel Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
DOB 12-25-1991
Phone: 412-608-0780
Education
Shady Side Academy, 2005 – present
(List other high schools attended and dates of attendance)
Honors and Awards:
National Merit Semi-Finalist, 2007
Pittsburgh Tribune Review Outstanding Young Citizen’s Award, 2007
American Math Contest, Certificate of Distinction, 2006
Activities/Athletics
SSA Varsity Soccer Team, (Grades 9 – 12, 10 hours week/12 weeks
per year) Co-Captain Grade 12, MVP Grade 11.
Student Council Representative (Grades 11-12, hours vary)
Worked with administration to address student concerns
Organized annual student day of games known as “Color Bowl”
Community Service Club (Grades 9 – 12, hours vary)
Constructed homes with Habitat for Humanity
Organized a student team for Race for the Cure
Baked dog treats to be donated to local animal shelter
Shady Side Academy Symphonic Band (grades 9-12) Alto, Tenor, and Baritone
Saxophone, Tuba, Baritone Horn,
Writing Center Scribe (Grades 11-12, 2 hours per week)
One of 10 students selected by the faculty to assist student body with writing,
editing, and proofreading papers for all academic subjects
Chess Club (Grades 9, 10, hours vary)
Other Educational Experiences
Governor’s School for Information Technology, Summer, 2007
Shady Side Academy China Exchange, Spring, 2008
Jobs/Employment
Independent Lawn Care Service (30 hours per week) summer of 2007
McDonalds Restaurant (four 6-hour shifts per week) summer 2006
