There`s a great deal of debate over whether hobbies and interests should be listed on a resume.
Should hobbies be included in a resume? Are hobbies relevant to job application? Should ‘areas/fields of interests’ be included and how?
The answer is an emphatic “yes.” However, there is a “but,” so read on to learn how and when to include these activities on a resume.
Should you?
Generally, yes. Everything, of course, depends on the position you are looking for.
It is great if you have a page full of important technical skills and years of professional experience. However, it usually produces a much better effect to have professional history combined with personal interests.
Why You Should List Interests and Hobbies on Your Resume
1. Let Your Personality Shine
When you include your hobbies on your resume, they provide an opportunity for your personality to shine through, and in many positions, this can be a powerful tool.
While an accounting position may not need to know about your personality, but a sales position at a sports store might like to see that your hobbies include skiing and skateboarding.
2. Why it is important?
Employers tend to respond better to professionals with a personality.
Listing hobbies in a way that’s relevant shows confidence. Personality and professionalism back each other up and assure employers that you possess the right qualifications as a well-rounded person.
3. You Could be Memorable
If you have hobbies that stand out, such as sky jumping your resume could become memorable to the hiring manager. And while rare, sometimes the applicant shares a hobby with the hiring manager that can also help make the resume stand out.
4. It Personalizes your Resume
When a hiring manager sees hundreds of resumes every day, you need something to make yours stand out, and one way of doing that is to add a little personality to your resume by including these things.
5. Can Boost Your Skills
Your hobbies aren`t always fun and entertaining things.
Sometimes they offer skills that can really look good on your resume.
For example, let`s say you are applying at a music store and your hobby is playing piano. It can also benefit those new to the workforce who don`t have a great deal of job experience, but who have developed skills through their hobbies.
How to List Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume
List the Relevant Hobbies
You might have tons of hobbies that can overwhelm your resume and annoy the hiring manager.
So pick those that are relevant and limit it to a maximum of four hobbies or interests. Your goal is to give the employer a better understanding of who you are with your list of hobbies on your resume. Avoid Listing Hobbies Related to Politics
Unless you are applying for a political position where your political affiliation could be beneficial, you should avoid any reference to political hobbies or affiliation.
Politics are a touchy subject, and you could find your resume passed by should the hiring manager see things differently.
Not all your hobbies/Interests/activities are relevant, of course. But this does not mean that if you are applying for an engineering position your hobbies should be power-tools and Home Improvement.
For Example: If you are applying, say, for a Desktop Support Engineer job, then mentioning hobbies like reading, blogging, and web browsing might seem irrelevant or insignificant.
But in fact, employers are happy to see such things.
They imply an innate ability to spend long hours at the table and in front of the computer. Which means that this individual is probably better suited for a Desktop Support or Technical Support job than someone who lists hiking and surfing as favorite pastimes.
Social Activities/Interests: This principle is especially obvious when it comes to interpersonal communication. When a job requires good people skills, employers pay a lot of attention to how candidates might interact with people.
To show an outgoing personality and leadership potential, list social hobbies: clubs, team sports, camping, social volunteer work, etc.
Be Honest: Employers are very experienced at correlating resumes and interviews. It would require considerable acting talent to appear the opposite of what you are in an interview.
Adapt: You can adapt your hobbies and personal interests to suit your resume. If a job is significantly people-oriented, mention only those of your hobbies which imply social skills or craft them in a way which makes the social aspect more apparent.
For example:
If you list “Reading/Writing”, it may imply solitary activity and an introverted personality.
While mentioning “Reading Clubs and Creative-Writing Workshops” brings out your sociability and socially oriented creativity.
Volunteer work in a resume can be especially effective. Even if it is not directly related to the position you apply for, it immediately implies initiative, strong social involvement, and significant social experience.
Finally, “Hobbies” does not have to mean only the one or two things you are truly passionate about. It may mean preferred pastime, preferred socializing activities, and volunteer work.
Examples for your resume
Here you can find a list of the 16 popular hobbies, activities, and interests:
- Sports – Walking, Exercise, Running, Tennis, Bicycling, Swimming, Skiing, Golf, Team Sports etc.
Music – Playing musical instruments, Listening to Music - Traveling – Exploring exotic countries, Fishing, hunting
- Socializing – Community work, Church Activities, Volunteer Work, Volunteering to the “red cross”
- Painting
- Cooking
- Dancing
- Reading, and Reading Club membership.
- Writing
- Astrology
- Bird watching
- Computer, Web savvy
- Gardening
- Animal Care, Childcare
- Fashion and modeling
- Collecting stamps, postcards, and pens
- Wine Tasting group.