Your work experience isn’t the only thing that matters to employers. Ultimately, employers are looking for people that can add value to their organization. Sometimes that means you have to have special skills in order to do the job well, but there are also a lot of “soft skills” or personality traits employers look for that are often forgotten by job seekers. If you’re a college student or new professional, then you probably don’t have a long work history. Here’s a list of ideas of where you can uncover accomplishments that you may have never though of.

Consulting projects with local companies

A lot of business, marketing, or communications majors often work with local companies on small, single project assignments. These shouldn’t be overlooked as valuable experiences and often lead to positive interactions with company employees. Don’t be afraid to reach out to these companies and get a small testimonial from them about the research/assignment that you’ve worked with them on.

Social networking achievements

Do you have over 1000 followers on twitter, or is your Klout score impressive? Maybe you have a

huge list of friends on facebook, or other social networks like Linkedin, Flickr, or others. In any case, employers recognize that this doesn’t happen overnight and its likely that you’ve put a lot of effort into developing this network of individuals. There’s an opportunity to explain what your social strategy is and why you have so many followers, for example. This also can become a value resource to companies if you are willing to promote their products or services through your channels. Just saying….all those hours you spent on twitter might not have been a total waste.

Published papers or research studies you have written

A lot of the research, thesis papers, or projects you have worked on in school are accomplishments. Sometimes its difficult to quantify these as accomplishments on a standard paper resume, but surely you can share them with potential employers. Rem

ember, employers are looking for what you are capable of. If they find your resume interesting, perhaps they will want to dig a little deeper into understand your qualifications better. What better way than to actually showcase your work. Just remember, recruiters and employers hate email attachments, so find another way to link to these items.

Personal blog

Do you have a personal blog where you speak your mind about a given topic? Do you have a f

air share of visitors to your blog that you’ve been able to achieve over time? Why not share this information with the person reviewing your resume. If nothing else, they’ll be able to learn more about you than they ever could from a resume. PS. If you don’t already have a personal blog, then its probably best you get started on one.

Contests entered with positive outcome

Contests are a great opportunity to show that you’re competitive and not afraid to put yourself, and your work, out into the public. There are contests for all different types of industries. For example, if you’re in marketing or public relations, there are always social media competitions hosted by a variety of sites. Reach out to different companies and offer your services to help promote their business. It’s a win-win-win for everyone involved.

Events or conferences attended

Event and conference attendance shows that you have a passion or strong interest in a particular field. Many times the connections and information gathered at these events can useful to employers. Perhaps there is a way to relate something you learned to a particular employer you are interested in working for.

Involvement in events or non-profits

Non-profits are always happy to acquire any additional help to support their cause. No matter what your skill-set, a non-profit is likely to want your help. Select a non-profit with a cause and location that is a good fit and reach out to them. You’ll gain valuable work experience and likely some awesome testimonials that you’ll be able to add to your resume.

Accomplishments related to on-campus organizations

Did you organize, raise money, or help put on any on-campus events? All of these are great achievements that you should share on your resume. If you haven’t, getting involved in these events are a quick, easy way to gain additional experience that you can share.

Just remember. The section titled “Experience” on your resume doesn’t have to be limited only to work experience. Your life is filled with experiences that can become a valuable asset to any employer. Be creative, get involved, and always be on the lookout for fun ways build accomplishments for your resume.