Resume question Forum

[rebel30]

I was selected as a bone marrow donor match for a patient in 2010 via the National Marrow Donor Program's Be the match campaign. Should I include this in the activities section of my résumé?

[rebexness]

[bp shinners]

I don't thinks so, but that would make a really good PS, imho.

Assuming you donated.

But yes, I would leave it off the resume, but this would work as an essay topic.

[rinkrat19]

Eh, not really something you'd put on a resume. It didn't take any particular talent or skill or hard work to have a certain blood type compatibility.

If you actually donated, that'd be a fantastic essay topic. Or maybe even a DS in a pinch, if you can spin the experience into something that gives you more empathy for the sick/disabled or something. (Although that would be very east to do badly.)

[bp shinners]

If you actually donated, that'd be a fantastic essay topic.

Just to clarify why I didn't say it would make a fantastic essay topic, just a plausible one - it'd be very easy for this essay to go into the, "Look how awesome I am!" category. If you go this route (which I think you should at least try), be honest with the outcome - if the essay is too self-congratulatory, scrap it and either start fresh or pick a new topic.

[rinkrat19]

If you actually donated, that'd be a fantastic essay topic.

Just to clarify why I didn't say it would make a fantastic essay topic, just a plausible one - it'd be very easy for this essay to go into the, "Look how awesome I am!" category. If you go this route (which I think you should at least try), be honest with the outcome - if the essay is too self-congratulatory, scrap it and either start fresh or pick a new topic.

Fair point. OP would have to make sure not to sound like a self-congratulatory jackass who is now omniscient on the subjects of transplants and health issues because once he spent a few days in the hospital (or whatever).

I generally fall into the school of thinking that nearly any topic could be great if done right, but some topics are much harder and riskier to execute and probably shouldn't be attempted by most people. And most topics have pitfalls that are easy to fall into.