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As the highest attainable rank in the Scouts BSA program of the United States of America, it would be such a shame not to include this achievement on your resume. It is almost equivalent to attaining a University degree and omitting it from your CV. If you have earned the coveted rank of Eagle Scout, it means you have worked hard enough and put in enough dedication, patience, and work ethic.
Since the American Boy Scouts began in 1911, only 4% have achieved the feat, making it noteworthy to include the Eagle Scout on a resume.
Although the requirements to attain this award are constantly being updated, the basic attributes remain the same, and an officer of this arm is given as much respect as they deserve.
Writing a resume has always been a source of confusion for so many people, as so many proper guidelines are to be followed to ensure it is effectively done — no wonder why people want to know what to do and how to include Eagle Scout on resumes.
There is no need to worry, though, because this article is dedicated to helping people navigate the resume process and giving useful tips on organizing your accomplishment effectively.
Should I Include Eagle Scout On My Resume?
What is the entire essence of a resume? The one vital essence of a resume is to elucidate what you have achieved to make a company see your worth and hire you for how your qualities can be beneficial to their growth and development.
According to this definition, what is the answer to your “Should I put Eagle Scout on resume” questions? A resounding yes!
Including this award only tells recruiters that you’re the person for the job based on all the impressionable skills you have acquired. However, there are certain rules to this, and thankfully this article will be showing you.
Firstly, we would start with the best stuff because, why not? The benefits of adding your award to your resume are numerous, and here is why:
Benefits Of Listing An Eagle Scout On Resume
“When Eagle Scouts appear on a resume, it is almost electric,” says Richard Rogers, who runs the Diamond Bar office of Santa Ana, a California-based Power Resumes. He should know because he has helped write over 1900+ resumes.
Continuing, he said, “It shows leadership, willingness to make the extra effort, and strong moral values. Those who exhibit those qualities are in great demand even by people who do not have those qualities themselves.” This goes to show that there are so many benefits of listing this award on a resume. Some of these are:
● It Outlines Your Qualities
An Eagle Scout rank can not be gotten as a mere joke. The requirements are quite lengthy. Let’s quickly get into it:
- Must have been in the Life scout for at least six months;
- Must have earned about 21 merit badges;
- Must have demonstrated acute scout spirit;
- Must have demonstrated ability to plan and lead within the troop;
- They must have planned, led, and developed the Eagle project;
- Then complete an Eagle Scout board of review.
It is impossible to complete any of these projects without developing some impressionable skills on the way. A reputable company is always on the lookout for a skillset like this. Already excited? Wait, there’s more!
There is the Eagle project which is done for the benefit of a community or religious institution. A scout must not gain any financial benefit whatsoever from this project at all. By doing this, not only are you developing integrity, but you are also building up compassion, honesty, and trustworthiness.
In Bill Bradley’s famous quotes, he mentioned that “The Boy Scouts of America stands for a set of principles. These principles have a lot of staying power. The values you learn as a Scout are like a compass. They can help you find your way through difficult and sometimes uncharted terrain. The principles of scouting give you a sense of what’s important. I feel I owe the Boy Scouts a great deal, both personally and professionally.”
These are the qualities every hiring manager looks for in a prospective employee, so when next you find yourself asking, “Should I put Eagle Scout on my resume?”, remember that you have all the qualities they need and that your award is one of high excellence. Hurray!
● It Might Help You Network
Many professionals in the industry have received the Eagle Scout ranks themselves. By including this in your resume, you give yourself an advantage over every other candidate for the job.
Having had the privilege of being in the BSA program, such an employer would have so many questions to ask, and it might turn out to be one of the best interviews ever.
Also, a BSA recruiter knows firsthand what it means to be in the program, so why wouldn’t they give you a chance? Should Eagle Scout be on a resume? What do you think!
● Greater Edge If You’re Seeking A Job In The Military
A wonderful thing to note is, if you’re applying for a job in the military, then it is the best time to list the eagle scout award on resume. Admirably, someone with an eagle scout rank will be permitted to join the military several ranks above a regular recruit.
Aside from the fact that this comes with regular base pay, it also means they are quickly promoted and given leadership positions ten times more than their colleagues.
When Not To List Eagle Scout On Your Resume?
After discussing the benefits and how to list Eagle Scouts on resume, it is important to note that there are some instances where putting Eagle Scout on resume would not be entirely necessary. Let’s check these instances out:
● When Applying For Senior Roles
As you grow older and advance in your career, you start to acquire more and more relevant job skills as suited to your discipline and work industry. On this note, if you are applying for a senior position, it means you are confident that you have acquired all the necessary accomplishments and qualifications needed for the job. At this stage, there would be no space left on your resume to include your Eagle Scouts award.
It might be tempting to just stuff it there, along with all your other qualifications, but it is advisable not to crowd your resume as it would make the entire work look disorganized and unrealistic.
Nevertheless, you could verbally throw it in during the interview as it could be a great addition that way.
● When Applying For A Technical Job
As impressive as your rank is, the skills it gives are mainly soft. For technical jobs like computer science, microbiology, and other related tasks, technical skills are needed for gainful employment. Although your soft skills are appreciated, technical jobs require education and knowledge to discover lasting solutions to prevailing societal problems.
What your recruiter wants to see on your resume in this instance are your technical skills; therefore, leave out the award so you can have more space to fill in what is relevant to the job description.
You might need to employ any resume writing services to assist you with this; the key to a successful resume is to tailor all your qualifications and achievements to the job description.
How To Describe Eagle Scout On Resume
This section describes how to put Eagle Scout on resume to ensure it has the maximum effect you want it to. When writing a resume, there are several sections, and each has specific purposes. This is the standard outline to follow:
- Contact information
- Resume introduction
- Experience
- Skills
- Education
Firstly, we would address where to put Eagle Scout on resume. Isn’t this the moment you have been waiting for? Is it? Well then, let’s get right into it!
● About Me Section
This is one section where you can seamlessly chip in your time in the BSA without sounding like you’re trying too hard about it. This is better when your resume is full, but you still want to list your Eagle Scout award. Confused? Don’t be. Here’s how it can be done:
Example 1
Adding the Eagle Scout title just below your name in the title of your resume:
Dami Peters
Eagle Scout
[email protected] +122 345 122
Example 2
Add your award to your “about me” professional summary.
Honest and studious high school graduate with a 5.0 GPA and the highly coveted Eagle Scout rank. Dedicated time to build correctional facilities for mentally disabled prison inmates by raising about $15,000. Trilingual proficiency in English, Spanish, and French.
● Extracurricular Activities Section
This is another process on how to write eagle scout on resume. Creating an extracurricular activity section would do just fine if you want more space to showcase your abilities.
Don’t know how? Well, relax! Here’s an example:
Eagle Scout
Boy Scouts Of America | Irving, Texas | March 2014 — March 2018 |
- Raised over $15,000 to build correctional facilities for the mentally disabled
- Organized a fundraiser to raise food for the homeless in TX
- Managed a team of 200 to execute these projects
● Awards And Recognition
This is also another great place to add this award if you do not have enough space to write it in your resume. This is how:
Awards And Recognition
- Head Boy (Chief Hemingway High School)
- Eagle Scout (Boy Scout of America, March 2018)
How To Put Eagle Scout On Your Resume
Whew! Now that we’ve gotten that part over with, it’s now time to address the right way in which to include this award on your resume. When listing, what is important is not what you say but how you say it. Still don’t get it? Now, let’s go over that in simple terms.
When listing and writing your Eagle Scout qualifications, you want to write out your experience and how you developed the impressionable qualities you have listed.
The truth is, despite how honorable this rank is, not everyone would know it. You need to spell it out to them in a way that they would understand and give you the respect you deserve. Now, you get it.
● Highlight Your Skills
Your journey through the BSA is enough to highlight your exceptional attributes and capabilities. Brag about all that you did. Don’t just assume the recruiter knows! Talk about it; make sure you highlight your experience.
Do this with bullet points, and always ensure you have a clear goal of what you want to achieve with each line.
To buttress this point, Lord Robert Baden-Powell said, “I have over and over again explained that the purpose of the Boy Scout and Girl Guide Movement is to build men and women as citizens endowed with the three H’s, namely, Health, Happiness, and Helpfulness. The man or woman who succeeds in developing these three attributes has secured the main steps to success in life.”
General Resume Writing Tips
Now that you’ve known how to put your Eagle scout award on a resume, it is imperative to quickly note other tips that can help make your resume stand out.
● Periods In Resumes
This particular point has caused quite the debate amongst many people when it comes to whether bullets should end with a period. However, most people have concluded that if you list all your achievements as a complete sentence, then it is okay to end with a period. If not, you should skip the use.
● Americorps In Resumes
Just like the Eagle Scout award, a lot of people ask how to put Americorps on resumes. Completing a successful term as an AmeriCorps will set you apart, and yes, you can include this on your resume the same way the Eagle Scout award goes.
● Future Internships On Resumes
“Can I put a future internship on my resume?” The answer is yes! You can put future internships on your resume if you are sure you would get the internship and if the description would benefit the job you’re applying for.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is An Eagle Scout Good For Your Resume?
A: Yes. An Eagle Scout is always good for your resume, but it might not be necessary to include it at all times based on certain circumstances.
Q: Should I Stop Listing Eagle Scouts On My Resume?
A: This depends on your reasons why. The Eagle Scout is an award that remains honorable throughout a person’s life. Still, as an individual, if you have qualifications that you feel are more relevant to your industry, then you can omit them from your resume.
Conclusion
Just like the BSA motto says, scouting helps you stay prepared for real-life situations. However, you should not limit your experience as they can also help you get into the workforce. With this article, you will discover when to use this award and how to maximize your qualities to ensure you get hired.
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