Whether or not you should have a list of hobbies or interests in your resume is a debate that’s still ongoing. You’ll meet some recruiters who tell you that adding your hobbies is a big no, but then some recruiters are pretty interested in knowing who you are outside of work.
The hobbies and interests on your resume have a role to play and tell the hiring manager a lot about you. And, believe it or not, they can make a huge difference in your application.
The key is to be strategic and include personal interests that bring out your unique personality and align with the job requirements.
Here’s some of the information you’ll find in this article.
- The best hobbies and interests to add to your resume.
- Why this section is essential to have in your resume.
- Where you should list your hobbies and interests
Check out our other resumes that you might be interested in:
Why Should I Include Hobbies and Interests on My resume?
Hobbies and interests demonstrate you’re an excellent fit for the profile they want, not only professionally. They can prove how well you suit the company’s culture.
Pros of putting hobbies on the resume
- Your interests bring out your personality and add a personal touch to the resume, which most recruiters are interested in.
- You might have the same interests as your future employer, which gives you something to bond over and talk about in the interview.
- It allows you to highlight transferable skills you’ve gained through your hobbies/interests that will be useful in the new position.
- If the job duties relate to your hobbies and interests, adding them to your resume can help you get past the ATS systems.
However, there are exceptions and considerations you should keep in mind before including a hobbies and interests section.
Exceptions
In short, you shouldn’t include them if:
- The space on your resume is limited. Remember that your resume should be short, and it’s better to prioritize your top accomplishments and qualifications.
- Your extracurricular interests are not directly related to the job and will not help your resume stand out in any way.
- The recruiter asks you not to include your interests and hobbies in the resume.
How to List Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume Properly
Your interests will be in the last part of your resume, which is the additional headings section.
The priority should always be your work experience, education, and skills related to the job . Once you’ve listed your top qualifications, then you can add your relevant hobbies.
Here are a few tips to consider when adding your interests and hobbies section.
- Research the company you’re applying to and determine whether it has a work culture that emphasizes hobbies and interests.
- Check the job description and include hobbies that transfer to the recruiter’s specific skills.
- List three to five interests closely related to the job you’re applying for
- Leave out irrelevant hobbies that will portray you in a bad light.
- Target unique hobbies that the recruiting manager will not find in every resume.
Mistakes to avoid when adding hobbies and interests to your resume.
- Avoid hobbies or interests relating to your political or religious affiliations.
- Avoid exaggerating a hobby or interest you don’t love and therefore cannot explain anything about it if asked at an interview.
- Keep away from adding generic hobbies and interests that the recruiter has seen in multiple resumes.
- Avoid adding a joke that may come off as insensitive or offend the recruiter.
- Avoid including risky hobbies that can cause harm to your colleagues, such as collecting guns.
What Kind of Interests to Put on a Resume?
There are different kinds of interests and hobbies that you can consider adding to your resume. Each personal interest you have in your resume should bring out a skill that will be useful at the new job.
Let’s look at them.
Enrichment hobbies
- Learning languages
- Blogging
- Podcasting
- Reading books
- Embroidery/Knitting
- Pottery
- Yoga
Sporting hobbies
- Tennis
- Basketball
- Football
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Surfing
- Jogging
- Volleyball
Creative hobbies
- Drawing
- Painting
- Photography
- Playing an instrument
- Singing
- Dancing
- Acting
Others
- Traveling
- Playing chess
- Volunteering at a local animal shelter or fundraising events
- Playing board games
- Attending networking events
- Archery
- Producing music
- Creating YouTube videos
Where to List Hobbies and Interests on The Resume?
As we mentioned earlier, your hobbies and interests are listed towards the end of your resume in the addition section .
Your professional experience, education, and skills related to the job take precedence, and it’s okay if you have to omit this section because your resume is full.
In fact, candidates applying for managerial and leadership positions don’t need this section on their resumes. Candidates who don’t have much experience like recent graduates are the ones who can benefit from this section.
You can check out our resume examples which are a great guide if you don’t know how to incorporate this section in your resume. We also have professional resume templates that will help you structure your resume without leaving this section out.
Here is an example of an image of the proper placement of the hobbies section.
What Hobbies and Interests to Include on the Resume?
One of the most challenging tasks for job seekers is figuring out the best interests related to their industries.
That’s because this section is critical and can either destroy or better your chances at a job. Hiring managers can use this section as a tiebreaker in a situation where two candidates are tied on qualifications.
Therefore, this is not just another space for you to fill up on your resume with a bunch of hobbies. You need to put some thought into it and decide what you want your prospective employer to see when they look at this section of your resume.
Let’s look at various industries and the best resume hobbies that will help you stand out.
Hobbies and interests for Information technology
If you’re a professional in this field, hobbies that will help set you apart from other candidates include:
- Digital art
- Producing music
- Online gaming
- Creating YouTube videos.
They showcase your soft and hard skills such as:
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
- Analytical skills
- Proficiency in Adobe Suite.
Hobbies and interests for Sales
Individuals in this career require specific skills, including:
- Exceptional communication skills,
- Interpersonal skills
- Public speaking skills
- Outstanding customer service.
Hobbies involving team sports are great to show that you’re a team player. Others include:
- Reading
- Writing
- Volunteering at your local church or general community involvement.
Hobbies and interests for Marketing
Hobbies that build on your creativity will look good on your resume and they include:
- Writing a career blog
- Painting
- Drawing
- Photography
These interesting hobbies showcase the following skills:
- Attention to detail
- Patience
- Ability to collaborate with other team members
Hobbies and interests for Accounting and Finance
Hobbies such as:
- Learning new computer programs,
- Podcasting
- Party-planning
- Playing chess
These hobbies will give insight to your potential employer on the following skills:
- Budget management skills
- Analytical skills
- Creativity
- Attention to detail.
Hobbies and interests for Administrative
Hobbies such as:
- Sporting activities
- Planning local meetups
- Community involvement
They build on these skills:
- Multitasking skills
- Organization skills
- Self-discipline
Hobbies and interests for Food Catering
Interests and hobbies such as:
- Traveling
- Learning new languages
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Paddling
Hobbies and interests for Maintenance and Repair
Maintenance and repair requires specific skills including:
- Patience
- Resilience
- Excellent analytical skills
- Physical stamina.
The following hobbies are appropriate for your resume:
- Playing football
- Taking an acting class
- Playing board games
Hobbies and interests for Medical
- Sporting activities such as hiking and basketball that build your self-discipline and physical stamina
- Painting
- Drawing
- Writing
Hobbies and interests for Engineering
Woodwork and carpentry are pretty good hobbies for engineers to unwind and build on their creativity skills. Other hobbies perfect for engineer resumes include:
- Playing musical instruments
- Playing chess
- Participating in outdoor games such as baseball and basketball.
Hobbies and interests for Creative and Cultural
Interesting hobbies that build on your creativity, such as:
- Blogging
- Theater
- Photography
- Singing
Hobbies and interests for Social work
The best hobbies for this profession include:
- Volunteering experiences
- Attending networking events
- Playing volleyball
- Mountain climbing.
These showcase some of the essential skills required for a social worker, including:
- Communication
- Public speaking
- Interpersonal skills.
Hobbies and interests for Transport
Some of the hobbies you can add to your resume for this industry include:
- Traveling
- Baking
- Surfing
Hobbies and interests for Sports
Interests and hobbies that build your physical stamina, such as:
- CrossFit
- Mountain climbing
- Hiking
- Swimming
How to Know What Hobbies and Interests to Put on Your Resume?
Getting a job is not an easy task, especially when there is so much competition in most industries. If you want to land more job interviews, choosing the right resume format, adding your work history, and listing your skills will not cut it . You need to blow the recruiter’s mind with your outstanding hobbies and interests and leave them no choice but to choose you as their preferred candidate.
It’s always important to check the job ad and description to tailor your resume to the recruiter’s requirements. This increases your chances of landing an interview which is one step closer to landing the job. If you’re a student or recent graduate, you should use this section to show the recruiter that you’re building on the skills that will be useful in the workplace.
Examples
On the other hand, we have Raymond. He’s applying for a video editor position at a Marketing agency. Upon visiting the about us page, he finds that the employees’ photos and bios are fun and full of personality. The employer has also expressed their love for video games and TV dramas in their bio. In this case, playing video games and catching up on your favorite TV show isn’t such a bad idea to add to your resume because this is something you can bond over with your prospective employer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a cover letter necessary?
It’s always advisable to accompany your resume with a cover letter to complete your job application. Cover letters allow you to provide a more detailed description of your achievements that a resume doesn’t and also allows you to inject your personality. Check out our cover letter examples which will help you with some amazing tips.
Which interests should you avoid in your resume?
Any hobby or interest unrelated to the job should not be on your resume. Always use your valuable space to showcase your best qualifications related to your desired position.