How to list sorority experience on your resume
If you spent time in a sorority during your college years, you know firsthand how enriching the experience can be to both your personal and professional journey. You gained valuable experience as a leader and developed teamwork and communication skills that translate directly to the workplace. The question is, what’s the right way to list your sorority in resumes? Here’s how to put a sorority on a resume.
Why include sorority experience on your resume?
Your time in a sorority can be incredibly enriching. Listing these experiences on your resume showcases leadership abilities gained through roles like president or committee chair. These positions often involve organizing events, managing budgets, and leading groups of people. All of these achievements are impressive to potential employers.
You also engage in frequent collaboration with people from all walks of life during your time in a sorority. Working with a diverse group of members on projects and events reflects your ability to integrate into a team.
Sorority involvement also includes event planning and community service. These activities highlight your organizational skills and commitment to giving back to others. Employers value candidates who can plan and execute events successfully and show a sense of social responsibility.
Additionally, being active in a sorority requires excellent time management and organizational skills. Balancing sorority duties with your academic responsibilities is no small feat. It shows you can prioritize tasks and meet deadlines. Employers value all of these skills.
Expert Tip:
Focus on specific achievements and roles that demonstrate your leadership and organizational skills rather than just listing the sorority name.
Listing your sorority experience on your resume
Here are the steps you need to follow when listing sorority experience on a resume outside of the declaration statement.
Choose the right section
Choose the right resume format that includes key sections like “Leadership” and a declaration statement.
Next, choose where you’ll list sorority on your resume. You can include it in the aforementioned leadership section or under “Experience” or “Volunteer Work.” There aren’t any hard and fast rules here. Choose a section title that best aligns with your experiences as a sorority member.
For example, if you engaged in lots of volunteer work, list your sorority experience there. Conversely, if you held an important leadership position, mention your sorority under that section. Focus on keeping your resume and the details about your experience organized.
Use action verbs
Elaborate on your sorority experience using a bulleted list. Start each point with a strong action verb to convey your responsibilities and achievements. Words like “organized” and “led” are impactful.
Quantify what you achieved
Don’t be vague. Provide hard numbers to support what you accomplished as part of the sorority. For example, if you planned a successful fundraising event and raised $10,000, say so. Prospective employers want specifics, especially if you are claiming that sorority membership taught or sharpened valuable skills like leadership or collaboration.
Be specific
Detail your roles and responsibilities within the sorority. Mention specific committees you led, events you organized, and initiatives you spearheaded. Don’t ramble, but give enough detail to generate interest in the minds of your audience. You’ll have plenty of time to elaborate after you’ve landed an interview.
For more insights about how to list “sorority” in resumes, explore Jobseekers’ resume articles.
“Your time in a sorority can be incredibly enriching. Listing these experiences on your resume showcases leadership abilities gained through roles like president or committee chair.”
Examples of listing sorority experience
Now, let’s look at some examples of how to put “Greek Life” on resumes.
Leadership Section
President, Alpha Beta Gamma Sorority
August 2020 to May 2021
- Led a team of 25 members in organizing events and managing sorority operations
- Coordinated annual charity gala, raising $10,000 for local shelters
Volunteer Work Section
Volunteer Coordinator, Alpha Beta Gamma Sorority
August 2019 to May 2020
- Organized monthly volunteer activities for 30+ members
- Partnered with local food banks to provide 500 meals to families in need
Experience Section
Vice President, Greek Life– Alpha Beta Gamma Sorority
August 2020 to May 2021
- Managed a team of 30 members to plan and execute charitable events
- Coordinated weekly meetings and gained insights from members with diverse backgrounds
- Implemented a mentorship program, pairing new members with senior leaders
There are many different ways to frame your sorority involvement on a resume. The key is to do so in a way that makes you a more appealing candidate.
Key skills to highlight from sorority experience
Don’t just mention that you were in a sorority. Link that experience to tangible skills that will add value to the employer’s team. Here are some abilities to showcase when mentioning your sorority involvement.
Leadership
Leading committees and organizing events are key aspects of sorority life. If you participated in any leadership position, make sure to elaborate on those experiences.
Teamwork
Emphasize experiences where you worked with others to achieve common goals. This could include planning events or participating in group projects. Show off your teamwork skills and let prospective employers know you’ll fit right in.
Communication
Effective communication can bring value to any business. Detail your experience in public speaking, conflict resolution, or any other communication-related activities.
Time management
Balancing sorority duties with academic responsibilities requires excellent time management. Highlight your ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
Event planning
If you helped plan any major events, share this experience with prospective employers. Detail your involvement in planning and executing these activities.
Best practices and mistakes to avoid
There are right and wrong ways to list your sorority experience.
If you are going to list “sorority” in resume documents, make sure to mention it in your cover letter, too. Consistency across your cover letter and resume showcases that you carefully prepared your application documents. Some other to-dos include:
- Focusing on achievements
- Being specific
- Using action verbs
It’s also important to avoid common mistakes like:
- Being too vague
- Not quantifying achievements
- Overloading your resume with unnecessary details
Make sure to align your mention of sorority experience with the skills and traits mentioned in the job description. Doing so shows that you read the posting while also helping the hiring team see how your sorority journey makes you a good fit.
Want some help avoiding the aforementioned mistakes while leveraging our best practices? Check out cover letter templates and fillable resume documents from Jobseeker.
Debunking misconceptions
Some might think your sorority experience simply isn’t relevant to a resume. That’s simply not the case. It’s all about how you frame your time in a sorority and link those experiences back to skills the employer values.
Devoting several years of your life to a sorority while also succeeding academically showcases your versatility and work ethic. Likewise, your ability to juggle multiple responsibilities and take on a leadership role can demonstrate to an employer that you thrive under pressure.
If you spent time in a sorority and believe that experience made you a more skilled and versatile worker, don’t be afraid to share that part of your story with a prospective employer. Highlight your specific roles and achievements to make yourself a more well-rounded and appealing candidate.
Does Phi Theta Kappa look good on a resume?
Absolutely! When hiring teams see “Phi Theta Kappa” on resumes, they understand that you’ve been a part of something larger than yourself. Including similar phrases, like “Phi Beta Kappa,” on resumes is also appropriate. The same rule applies when hiring teams see “sorority” in resume declaration statements.
No matter what sorority you’ve been a part of, it’s a good idea to mention it on your resume. Check out Jobseeker and our resume examples for inspiration on where and how to include sorority in your job application forms.
Make sure to explore our cover letter examples, too, as these documents are a great place to elaborate on your sorority experience.
