Personal Section on Resume?

Comments

• Paul Caint Alum Member ⭐

  September 2017 3521 karma

  Eh I'm unsure. Whatever they said in the webinar I would follow that, since I'm no expert.

  But when I was hiring interns, and when my colleagues were also hiring, we always viewed the "personal" section of resumes as kind of tacky..

  Especially since you have the opportunity to write a personal statement, a diversity statement, and for many schools optional addenda, the resume seems like an awkward or redundant place to put that kind of stuff. Something as big as being a sole provider for your family for the past four years should be something you delve into and explain and really flush out in a personal statement. To just offhandedly mention it in a resume wouldn't do something of such gravity justice.

  But again I'm no expert, just my thoughts.
• 1 Like

  akistotle Member ⭐ 🍌🍌

  September 2017 edited September 2017 9382 karma

  I did not attend the webinar, but my resume (edited by a professional) has a personal section. I made a list of languages I speak and some interests.

  I like Sample Resumes on Job Search Toolkit page of HLS:
  http://hls.harvard.edu/dept/opia/job-search-toolkit/sample-resumes/
• StellaBlue Alum Member

  September 2017 185 karma

  I've always viewed the personal section as a way to put in something sort of fun that wouldn't come across anywhere else on your application. I mention that I bake bread and am a certified Wilderness First Responder.

  @Charlesroy100, where you have something serious and valuable to say, I personally would put something as important as providing for your family in a diversity statement or personal statement. It'll be more likely to get the weight it deserves
• Charlesroy100 Member

  September 2017 43 karma

  Thank you so much everyone for your response. I decided to pull it from the Resume. @StellaBlue that's a great idea to put it in the diversity statement.