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100 Extracurricular Activities for Your Resume: Examples and Tips

Experience doesn’t just come from a 9-5. Here’s how you can use extracurricular activities to your advantage in your resume!

Maria Correa Profile
By Maria Correa 4 minute read

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What are extracurricular activities?

Extracurricular activities are activities that high school students participate in outside of school and college. These activities can range from a wide variety of interests to hobbies and pursuits, such as sports, clubs, arts, community service, academic competitions and more.

While participating in extracurricular activities isn’t an obligation, they do give students the opportunity to develop qualities like leadershipskills, teamwork, time management and communication skills, while also providing space for personal growth and building friendships.

Extracurricular activities are often overlooked when it comes to resume writing. People assume that valuable experience and relevant skills are only learned through a regular job when, in reality, after-school activities are a great space to gain experience and abilities that you’ll use in a job setting.

We know it might be easier for you to visualize a resume with extracurricular activities, so we’re here to help you! Keep reading to see our list of after-school activities you can put in your resume, resume examples and extra writing tips.

100 extracurricular activities for a resume: examples

Here’s a detailed list of extracurricular activity examples organized by category.

Academic clubs

Academic teams

  • Science Olympiad
  • Math Olympiad
  • Academic Quiz Team
  • Debate Team
  • Model UN Team
  • Robotics Team
  • Academic Decathlon Team
  • Mock Trial Team
  • Future Problem Solving Team

Art organizations

  • Art Club
  • Photography Club
  • Theater/Drama Club
  • Music Club (Choir/Band/Orchestra)
  • Dance Team
  • Film Club
  • Creative Writing Club
  • Ceramics Club
  • Fashion Club
  • Graphic Design Club
  • National History Bowl Team

Community organizations

  • Key Club
  • National Honor Society (Community Service Wing)
  • Habitat for Humanity Club
  • Red Cross Club
  • Interact Club
  • Volunteer Tutoring Program
  • Environmental Cleanup Crew
  • Homeless Shelter Assistance Group
  • Animal Rescue Volunteer Group
  • Community Garden Club

Cultural organizations and language skills

  • Spanish Club
  • French Club
  • German Club
  • Chinese Club
  • Japanese Club
  • Latin Club
  • International Students Club
  • Cultural Diversity Club
  • Indigenous Peoples Awareness Group
  • International Relations Club

Military organizations

  • Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC)
  • Civil Air Patrol
  • Young Marines
  • Sea Cadets
  • Veterans Support Group

Student Government

  • Student Council
  • Class Councils (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior)
  • Student Advisory Board
  • Honor Board
  • Student Ambassadors

Sports and athletics

  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Soccer
  • Volleyball
  • Tennis
  • Swimming
  • Track and Field
  • Cross Country
  • Baseball
  • Softball
  • Wrestling
  • Golf
  • Cheerleading
  • Gymnastics
  • Lacrosse
  • Field Hockey
  • Rugby
  • Skiing/Snowboarding
  • Equestrian Club
  • Martial Arts Club

Student organizations

  • Diversity Club
  • LGBTQ+ Alliance
  • Gender Equality Club
  • Student Newspaper
  • Yearbook Committee

Volunteer organizations

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Top 5 extracurricular activities to add to your resume

The impact of your high school extracurricular activities on your resume and future will depend heavily on your goals. That being said, some activities are more recognized than others and have the potential to influence your future prospects.

Example of top 5 extracurricular activities for your resume

  • 1

    Leadership positions in student government

    Participating in your school’s student government is impressive alone, especially when you’re in a leadership position. Not only does it help develop leadership skills but it also demonstrates your ability to organize, motivate others and make decisions. Employers and colleges often value leadership experience as it indicates interpersonal skills, initiative and the ability to work with others to find a common goal.

  • 2

    Sports and athletics

    It requires a lot of discipline, resilience and time management to be a student-athlete. Whether you plan to continue in sports once you graduate or want to venture into something else, being involved in sports can demonstrate your ability to set and pursue goals, handle pressure and work effectively with others. Additionally, it may also lead to scholarship opportunities.

  • 3

    Academic competition or teams

    Involving yourself in academic competitions or teams like debate, robotics or science Olympiads can show your intellectual curiosity, problem-solving skills and collaborative abilities. Depending on what you want to do in the future, having this as an extracurricular activity can impress college admissions officers and employers, as well as open doors to scholarships, prestigious programs or job opportunities.

  • 4

    Community service and volunteer work

    As we mentioned earlier, experience and skills can be learned in spaces outside of a traditional job. Engaging in community service and volunteer work shows your commitment to making a difference in your community and can develop skills like empathy, communication and cultural awareness. Volunteering is also a great way to network, gain valuable resume references and cultivate qualities like altruism and social responsibility.

  • 5

    Internships

    Gaining practical experience through internships or part-time jobs related to your career interests is always a sure way to gain valuable insights, skills and connections. Summer internships or after-school programs related to your future career allow you to apply what you have learned in the classroom in a real-world context.

How to add extracurricular activities in your resume

Here are our tips for including after-school activities in your resume and visual samples of extracurricular activities examples on different resumes.

Resume objective

The resume objective is located at the top of your resume and it’s typically what a recruiter or hiring manager will read first. It should be no longer than three sentences and include your top strengths and abilities, followed by a brief sentence telling the person reading your employment goals. Here’s a resume example with no work experience that features an extracurricular activity in the resume objective, as well as other accomplishments in different sections.
Extracurricular Activities Resume Ex Internship Zoom icon
Use this template

Work experience section

Whether you have a part-time job, an internship or an extracurricular activity, all three can be featured in your work experience section the same way. If you’re the treasurer in your school government, for example, use three to five bullet points to highlight your accomplishments. Focus on big tasks instead of daily activities. For example:
  • Developed and executed fundraising initiatives that raised over $5,000 for the senior prom.
  • Ensured accurate record-keeping and financial transparency by maintaining detailed financial reports and documentation.
The same can apply to other extracurricular activities, be it the school newspaper or sports activities. Be sure to start your statements with an action word and avoid using personal pronouns (I, me or my). Here’s a high text that features an extracurricular activity and a part-time job in the work history section.
Extracurricular Activities Resume Ex Part Time Zoom icon
Use this template

Separate section for extracurricular activities

Another option is to create a separate section to list your extracurricular activities. We advise using this method if you have an internship or a part-time job that already gives you some kind of experience, so your extracurricular activities are more of an add-on. This intern resume example features a work experience section with an ongoing internship, a previous part-time job and an extracurricular activities section with two after-school clubs.
Extracurricular Activities Resume Ex Internship Zoom icon
Use this template

More resume guides, tools and tips

ResumeHelp has tons of other resources to help you create a professional resume and cover letter.

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FAQ: Extracurricular activities

Have questions? We’re here to help.

Do extracurriculars have to be in school?

No, extracurriculars and after-school activities are also available outside of school. As a high school student, you can:

  • Check local community organizations for clubs or groups focused on specific interests orcauses
  • Local sports leagues such as club teams, recreational leagues or community sports programs
  • Arts and cultural organizations like community theater groups, art studios, music ensembles or cultural associations
  • Volunteer work with nonprofits, charities or hospitals
  • Pursue an internship, apprenticeship or part-time job

Do hobbies count as extracurricular activities?

Absolutely! Hobbies can count as an extracurricular activity, especially if you’re actively involved and dedicated to them outside of school. Maybe you’re not part of your school’s film club but you like creating small films on your own and have a small portfolio of your work; maybe you prefer to paint on your own instead of being part of a club or class.

Whatever the case, hobbies can provide the same benefits as a traditional extracurricular activity. If you’re going to include them in your resume or college application, be sure to highlight them in a way that demonstrates their relevance to your goals and the skills they have helped you develop. For example, if you enjoy photography as a hobby, you could mention how it has improved your attention to detail, creativity and ability to capture and edit images effectively.

Is a job an extracurricular activity?

No, a job is technically not an extracurricular activity. Despite it being something you do outside of your academic curriculum, extracurricular activities specifically refer to voluntary activities that students participate in to enrich their academic experience, develop professional skills and pursue interests beyond the classroom. Jobs are primarily focused on fulfilling work responsibilities, earning income and gaining practical experience in a professional setting.

However, sometimes certain aspects of a job may overlap with extracurricular activities, particularly if the job involves leadership roles, community involvement or activities that align with your interests and goals.

How many extracurricular activities should you include in your resume?

There is not a set number of after-school activities you should include in your resume, however, we recommend focusing on relevance. Include only the extracurricular activity that’s relevant to the job or college program you’re applying for. Focus on the skills or qualities that are most important for the job or program.

Which extracurricular activities are the most in demand?

It depends on the job that you’re applying for. A recruiter is going to be looking for extracurricular activities that showcase abilities and experiences that best match what the new job needs. Get familiar with what each employer needs, look through your extracurricular activities and choose ones that show skills you’ll use at the job you’re applying for.

When should I stop listing extracurricular activities?

If you haven’t been involved in something within the last few years, it’s typically best to leave it off your resume. If you’re still listing a Student Council position 10 years after leaving school, this can actually weaken your resume, as recruiters wonder why you’re still listing these outdated experiences. However, staying involved in a specific activity, like a volunteer position, opens the door to continue including this experience on your resume.

Can my teammates for extracurricular activities be references?

Think of your teammates in extracurricular activities as coworkers. If you think they’ll give a good review of your experience and skill set, you can definitely list them as references. Just don’t list only extracurricular teammates for references if you can also find professional references. It’s a good idea to find a variety of people in many different relationships so you can showcase your ability to relate to and benefit many different people in your life.

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Maria Correa Profile
WRITTEN BY Maria Correa

Maria Correa is a Puerto Rico-based Content Writer with ample background in digital marketing and copywriting. She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a B.A. in English and enjoys making information accessible to others.

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