Should I list my non-relevant summer job on my resume?

Deciding whether or not to list your non-relevant summer job on your resume can be a tricky decision. On one hand, the job may not be related to your desired career field, but on the other hand, it could show employers that you are a hardworking and reliable employee. When making this decision, there are a number of factors to consider, such as the job’s duration, the skills you learned, and the amount of responsibility you held. It can be helpful to look at your summer job in terms of how it will add value to your resume and make you stand out from the competition. With careful consideration, you can decide if listing your non-relevant summer job on your resume is the right move for you.

Factors to Consider When Deciding to Include a Non-Relevant Summer Job on Your Resume

There are a number of factors to consider when deciding if listing a non-relevant summer job on your resume is the right move. First, you should consider the job’s duration. If your summer job was only a few weeks long, it is likely not worth mentioning at all. Employers are looking for candidates that have consistent work experience. If your summer job was just one or two months long, it may be worth including on your resume. If your non-relevant summer job was at least six or eight months long, it is worth considering including on your resume. It is likely worth mentioning if you held a significant position in the company and/or had managerial responsibilities. Next, you should consider the skills you learned while working at the job. The more relevant skills you learned, the more worth it is to mention the job on your resume. For example, if you were an assistant at a real estate company, but learned how to conduct market research, organize data, and write marketing materials, it is worth listing on your resume because of the marketing skills you developed. If you were just a receptionist at a doctor’s office, it may or may not be worth mentioning on your resume. Finally, you should consider the amount of responsibility you held while working at the job. If you held a significant amount of responsibility, it is often worth mentioning on your resume. For example, if you were a manager for a small team at an event planning company, it is worth mentioning on your resume. If, however, you were managers for a youth soccer team, it may not be worth mentioning on your resume.

Benefits of Including a Non-Relevant Summer Job on Your Resume

One of the main benefits of including a non-relevant summer job on your resume is that it shows employers you are a hardworking and reliable employee. By showing that you are willing to take on a job, even if it is unrelated to your desired career field, you are showing employers that you are a reliable employee who is ready and willing to take on any task that is required of you. Another benefit of including a non-relevant summer job on your resume is that it gives employers a better sense of your work history. Employers often like to see that you have a long work history, and it is often easier to start working at a young age than to get a job later in life. By including a non-relevant summer job on your resume, you are giving employers a better sense of your work history.

Potential drawbacks of including a non-relevant summer job on your resume

While there are many benefits to including a non-relevant summer job on your resume, there are also a few potential drawbacks. One drawback of including a non-relevant summer job on your resume is that employers may question your motives for listing the job. Employers might wonder why you decided to list a job that is unrelated to your desired field and wonder if you are trying to cover up for a lack of experience in your desired field. Another potential drawback of including a non-relevant summer job on your resume is that employers may expect you to have the same level of experience in your desired field as they had while working at the non-relevant job. Employers may have higher expectations of you in your desired field because they assume that the skills you acquired while working at the non-relevant job are applicable to your desired field.

How to effectively include a non-relevant summer job on your resume

There are a few ways to effectively include a non-relevant summer job on your resume. You should always be honest and make sure to explain why you listed the job on your resume. You can start the description of the job on your resume with a phrase like, “Receptionist at Dr. Smith’s office,” or “Marketing assistant at XYZ Company.” You should then follow up with a phrase that explains why you listed the job on your resume, such as, “Proficiency with Microsoft Office,” or “Learned marketing skills.” You should also be sure to only list the skills you acquired from the job and only the amount of responsibility you held that is relevant. For example, if you were a receptionist and were in charge of scheduling appointments and ordering supplies, but not scheduling doctor appointments, you should only list scheduling appointments and ordering supplies.

Conclusion

It can be tricky deciding whether or not to include a non-relevant summer job on your resume. With careful consideration, you can decide if it is worth including a non-relevant summer job on your resume. One important thing to remember is that your resume is intended to show employers what skills you have and what you’ve accomplished throughout your career and education. It is not intended to explain why you took certain jobs or what you were doing when you weren’t in school. With that in mind, you can decide if listing a non-relevant summer job on your resume is the right move for you.