Padding a Resume
...they'll know...they always know...
I’ve seen a lot of questions on FB lately…from CONSULTANTS…asking for advice on how to have a student ‘pad’ a resume.
What?!
If you work with a consultant who is requesting your teen tackle more than they can chew—run!
Perhaps these consultants confuse ‘pad’ with ‘purposefully develop’ which, I’m all for purposefully developing. However, there is no benefit to adding things to a resume that don’t make sense for the student. Same with the notion of not needing to fill out all 10 extracurricular spots in the Common App Activities section when you’ve got a few that are meaningful.
Don’t look to pad. If anything, look to build off of what you’ve already done. You’re on the robotics team? Ok, if you like teaching little kids how to build robots, offer up a class at your local library or ask your advisor to set up a field trip to the elementary school for a little demonstration. You’re into politics and being Class Treasurer isn’t enough? If you want to take that page job in Washington D.C., do it. But if you’re more of a homebody and the thought of being in a politically charged environment with outspoken teens drives you mad, skip it. Are there 4 volunteer opportunities at your local community center and you really want to do 1 of them? 1 is fine.
Of course there is always a benefit to stepping outside of one’s comfort zone and trying new things. But trying things to the point of stress or excess isn’t fun. In addition, if you’re looking to ‘pad’ with pay to play programs, do so sparingly-or should I say, with intention. You want that program cause it will give you skills you need and you can afford the tuition? Go ahead :) If it’s just because it’s an opportunity out there, don’t waste your time or money just to say you did it.
Operate with purpose, intention, drive. If you love keeping busy and want to do it all, then that’s fine. Then that’s not called padding. That’s called doing what you love.
But padding? No thanks.