So, you’re looking at the skills section of your resume and thinking it looks a little bare or unoriginal? After all, how many other applicants will use the terms ‘people person’ and ‘well-organised’?

If you haven’t got a great deal of work experience, or none at all, you could think about your hobbies, interests, and community activities. You quite possibly have more skills and sought-after attributes than you thought – skills and attributes that can be extremely useful in a variety of positions, workplaces and industries.

Make a mental list of what you do in your spare time…
For example, you might:

• Play sport
  Playing sport can demonstrate that you’re a team player and can work well with others. Participating in team sports shows commitment, loyalty and reliability, amongst some of the other attributes picked up from being part of a team.
• Volunteer
  Volunteering shows commitment and demonstrates your passion for a subject, as well as your determination and willingness to contribute to a cause. It also gives employers a gauge of your work ethic, and they’ll likely hire the candidate they know will go above and beyond what is required.
• Write a blog
  Blogging can be a very useful one to put on your resume for some jobs. Like volunteering, it shows your passion for a subject. And, if you’re applying for a job which involves writing, design or creativity, it gives them a preview of your writing style, and your design and multimedia skills.
• Play an instrument
  Being a musician is something that takes a lot of time and effort, and this shows employers your determination and dedication. It also shows that you have the ability to go it solo and work autonomously, but that you are adept at working with others when you need to.
• Be involved in a club
  While not all university clubs are academic-based, joining one related to your course shows employers your passion for what you’re studying, and companies will always want to hire someone who’s passionate about their work. Being a member of a club also demonstrates your time management skills – fitting extra into your extra-curricular!
• Have a bespoke interest
  Many students have diverse interests – it could be something academic, it could be something analytical or something tactile, it might be something out of the box. A niche interest like online gaming can demonstrate skills including leadership, mediation, organisation, improvisation and planning.

Whatever your interests, they’ll have provided you with both generic and unique skills. Think about the things you like to do and why. You may be amazed at the skills you uncover.