Strategies for Including Side Projects on Your Resume

Including side projects on your resume can be a powerful way to showcase your skills, interests, and self-initiative to potential employers. Many job seekers, however, struggle to seamlessly integrate these projects in a way that complements their employment history and academic credentials. This article will explore the strategic ways to present your side projects to make your resume stand out.

The Value of Side Projects

Side projects can demonstrate a variety of qualities to a potential employer. They show a proactive nature and a willingness to engage in self-directed work. Often, side projects involve learning new skills or deepening existing ones, which can be highly attractive to companies looking for adaptable and self-motivated individuals.

Crucially, including side projects can also help fill gaps in professional experience, especially for new graduates or those transitioning to a new industry. For freelancers and consultants, side projects can underline your ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines.

How to Select Appropriate Side Projects

It's important to mention only those side projects that are relevant to the job you're applying for. Assess each project's impact, the skills involved, and the relevance to the position. Avoid listing projects that are too personal or unrelated to your profession, as these can detract from your professional image.

For instance, if you're applying for a programming role, include coding side projects or open-source contributions that allowed you to utilize and improve upon your technical skills. Conversely, if you're vying for a marketing position, highlighting a blog you've maintained, or a successful social media campaign you orchestrated can be very beneficial.

Integration into Your Resume

Where to Include Side Projects

You can either create a dedicated section for side projects or integrate them into the 'Experience' section of your resume, depending on their scale and significance. If you deem a side project comparable to a professional experience, it’s worth giving it similar prominence.

Crafting Descriptions

When describing your side projects, apply the same principles you would when detailing your professional experience. Use action verbs to start each bullet point, quantify the results when possible, and highlight the skills and technologies you used. Be sure also to draw a clear line between your responsibilities and the project's overall success.

Tailoring for Relevance

Tailor your side projects to the job description. Analyze the requirements and preferred skills of the position and mirror the language used in your descriptions. This not only makes your resume more aligned with the role but also helps it to pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

Including Side Projects in Different Resume Formats

Chronological Resumes

In a traditional chronological resume, include side projects within the work experience section if they are highly relevant and substantial. If they are less significant, place them in a 'Projects' or 'Additional Experience' section towards the end of the resume.

Functional Resumes

Functional resumes focus on skills rather than work history. In this format, group your side projects under skill categories. For example, if project management is a required skill, list any project where you demonstrated this ability, regardless of whether it was a paid position or a side project.

Combination Resumes

Combination resumes merge elements of both chronological and functional formats. Here, you can list side projects alongside your work history to exemplify how your experience and capabilities interlink.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid being too vague or too detailed. If your description is too cryptic, employers may not understand the value of your project. On the other hand, too much technical detail can overwhelm non-technical hiring managers.

Overstating the impact of your side projects can also backfire by raising unrealistic expectations. Stay truthful and provide context to clarify the scale and your role in the projects.

Side Projects on Cover Letters

While your resume should provide a succinct overview of your side projects, your cover letter offers the chance to delve deeper. Use it to tell the story behind why you pursued the project and how it has prepared you for the role at hand.

Conclusion

Side projects can significantly enhance your resume by filling gaps, demonstrating initiative, and showing a breadth of experience. Strategically incorporating them is crucial to ensure they complement your professional narrative rather than distract from it. By carefully selecting, describing, and positioning your side projects, you can present a well-rounded image of your professional self that appeals to future employers.