Additional Information on a Resume: What to Include and What to Skip

Additional Information on a Resume: What Belongs There?

Use an Additional Information section only when it helps prove you are a stronger match for the job. Good additions include required certifications, language skills, relevant projects, volunteer work, awards, publications, licenses, or training that does not fit neatly into your experience, education, or skills sections.

If the detail does not support the role, skip it. A focused resume is usually stronger than a crowded one.

What Counts as Additional Information?

Additional information is any job-relevant detail that sits outside your core resume sections. It can help when you need to show a qualification, explain useful experience, or add evidence that would otherwise be hidden.

Common options include:

• Certifications, licenses, or professional training
• Languages and proficiency levels
• Volunteer work or community leadership
• Awards, scholarships, or honors
• Projects, portfolios, or open-source work
• Publications, speaking, or research
• Professional memberships
• Security clearances or work authorization, when relevant and appropriate

You do not need to use the heading "Additional Information" if a clearer heading works better. "Certifications," "Languages," "Projects," or "Volunteer Experience" is often easier to scan.

When to Include It

Add this section when at least one of these is true:

• The job description asks for a certification, license, language, portfolio, or other specific qualification.
• You are early in your career and need relevant projects, coursework, awards, or volunteer work to show potential.
• You are changing careers and want to highlight transferable experience that does not appear in your job titles.
• You have a career gap and completed relevant training, volunteer work, or project work during that period.
• The information supports the employer's mission or the role's day-to-day work.

Do not add the section just to fill space. If your work experience already proves the same point, keep the resume shorter and stronger.

Useful examples

Certifications and licenses

• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Scrum Alliance, 2025
• Google Analytics Certification, Google, 2026
• Active professional license, where required for the role

Languages

• English (fluent), Spanish (professional working proficiency), French (conversational)

Volunteer work

• Volunteer Coordinator, City Food Pantry, 2024-present: scheduled weekly volunteers and improved weekend coverage.

Projects

• Customer Churn Dashboard, 2026: built a Tableau dashboard with sample subscription data to analyze cancellation patterns.

Only include examples you can explain honestly in an interview.

How to Format the Section

Keep the section short and easy to scan:

• Put it after Experience, Education, and Skills unless it contains a required qualification.
• Use a specific heading when possible, such as "Certifications" or "Languages."
• Use bullets or short lines, not paragraphs.
• Include dates only when they add useful context or prove currency.
• Match the language of the job description without keyword stuffing.
• Keep formatting simple so applicant tracking systems can parse it.

A good rule: if the section takes more than a few lines, split it into clearer sections or remove weaker items.

What to Leave Out

Avoid details that create noise, risk, or confusion:

• References or "references available upon request"
• Unrelated hobbies
• Personal details such as age, marital status, religion, or political affiliation
• Outdated certifications that are no longer valid
• Awards from many years ago unless they are unusually relevant
• Claims you cannot support in an interview
• Sensitive information that the employer does not need at the resume stage

For international applications, check local resume norms. Some details that are common in one country may be inappropriate or unnecessary in another.

Quick Decision Checklist

Before adding anything, ask:

• Does this match a requirement or preference in the job posting?
• Does it prove a skill that is not already obvious elsewhere?
• Would I be ready to discuss it in an interview?
• Is it recent, credible, and specific?
• Does it make the resume easier to understand, not just longer?

If the answer is mostly yes, include it. If not, leave it out and use the space for stronger bullets, clearer skills, or a better summary.