Incorporating your hobbies and interests on a resume

With a strategic approach to selecting interests to put on resumes, you can highlight the soft skills and personality traits that make you right for the job. In this article, we’ll explore when, why, and how to include hobbies on your resume and offer tailored examples for various industries and roles.

Why include hobbies on your resume?

Though you may be tempted to focus solely on education and paid work experience to showcase what you’re capable of, adding your interests on resumes you submit can be incredibly effective at helping you demonstrate your soft skills.

For example, participating in sports can highlight teamwork and discipline, while those who love the arts can show off their creativity and leadership.

Additionally, including a hobby section on a resume humanizes your profile, allowing recruiters to see the person behind the numbers and accomplishments. It showcases your values and who you are beyond the office, making it easier to see which candidates align with company culture.

When to include hobbies on your resume

Selecting good hobbies to put on resumes can definitely enhance your career. Recent graduates and early-career professionals can use this section of their resume to augment work experience, especially if the hobby has helped them gain relevant knowledge that may enhance job performance.

Career changers can use hobbies to highlight transferable skills. Including this section can also show your commitment to building your skillset outside of the office.

Recruiters and hiring managers at startups and culture-driven companies may be especially interested in your hobbies, as they can showcase strong values that are a great fit for the company culture.

If your hobbies align with the job (such as a photographer applying for a marketing or web design position), they should definitely have a place on your resume.

How to choose the right hobbies

Though all of your hobbies may be important to you, they don’t all belong on your resume. When selecting interests to put on a resume, you’ll want to ensure that each one can be tied directly to the role or company you’re applying to. If it isn’t relevant, it’s best to leave it out.

You should also ensure that you’re specific about the hobbies you do choose. For example, while “running” is a vague term, “marathon training,” “cross-country athlete,” and “running club enthusiast” can convey discipline, goal-setting, endurance, adaptability, and teamwork.

Finally, when selecting hobbies for resumes, ensure they are professionally appropriate by avoiding anything that could be controversial or obscure. Avoid listing any hobbies just to try to impress the recruiter or seem cool or relevant. You should be able to speak about each hobby in detail if you are asked about it during an interview.

In deciding which interests to put on a resume, make sure to keep them relevant and authentic, treating that section with the same level of care as your work history.

Top hobbies to include on a resume (with examples)

If you’re not sure whether your particular interests are relevant to your resume or cover letter, check out this list of top hobbies to put on resumes and the value they can bring to the workplace.

Creative hobbies

You may be into:

These can showcase imagination and creativity, storytelling abilities, and visual thinking — all relevant skills for marketing, design, and any role that requires creative problem-solving and unique perspectives.

Physical activities

You may be into:

Such hobbies require dedication and perseverance, which is critical in today’s competitive business landscape. They also let hiring managers know that you understand how to manage stress and solve problems in the moment, which are qualities needed for leadership positions.

Volunteering and community work

You may be into:

These hobbies highlight your ability to be empathetic, which is critical for sales and other customer-facing roles. They also showcase leadership and organizational skills.

Technical and digital hobbies

You may be into:

Not only do technical projects like these reflect your ability to take initiative and build an idea from the ground up, but they put your hands-on technical skills on display in a tangible way.

Strategic and analytical hobbies

You may be into:

These hobbies can reveal your risk assessment, critical thinking, and quick problem-solving skills. They also showcase your patience, precision, and ability to manage a situation in real-time.

How to list hobbies on your resume

To make effective use of your hobbies, alter your resume sample so that it aligns with the following guidelines:

• Section Title: Create a dedicated section entitled “Hobbies and Interests”
• Format: Use bullet points or inline text based on what fits your resume format
• Language: Use specific and action-oriented words to grab a recruiter’s attention
• Placement: Place near the bottom unless relevant to a particular job experience or skill set
• Customization: Tailor your list of hobbies and interests to the role you’re applying for

Adhering to these tips when placing hobbies in resumes will ensure that they enhance your resume’s effectiveness and don’t detract from your qualifications.

Examples of hobbies based on industry

Are you wondering how to keep your hobbies section relevant to the job you are applying for? Here is a list of interests to put on a resume to ensure they align with your target industry.

Tech/IT

Consider adding:

These are good interests to put on a resume because they demonstrate your ability to build something technical, engage with cutting-edge technology, or strategically manage a technical project to achieve a specific outcome

Marketing and creative

Consider adding:

Finance

Consider adding:

Placing these hobbies on resumes highlights your incessant quest for knowledge, precision, and analytical thinking.

Healthcare

Consider adding:

These hobbies show that you understand how to maintain mental and physical wellness and your passion for helping others do the same.

Education

Consider adding:

With these additions, you can show a recruiter how much you love teaching and learning.

Hobbies to avoid listing

It’s not enough just to know which interests to put on a resume. It’s also important to know which ones to avoid, such as:

1. Potentially controversial topics related to politics, religion, or anything else that may inadvertently alienate the reader
2. High-risk activities like skydiving or extreme sports that may raise concerns about your reliability, decision-making, or potential healthcare costs
3. Hobbies that don’t add value to the resume or target role
4. Overly common or generic — “watching TV” or “listening to music” adds no value
5. False claims of a hobby you can’t show enthusiasm for or speak about with a high level of credibility

Auditing your resume and cover letter sample to eliminate these types of hobbies will keep your documents relevant and professional.

Use your hobbies and interests to enhance your resume and achieve your professional goals

Though you may have previously thought they were best left off your resume, hobbies and interests can be a strategic addition that elevates your resume and shows why you’re the best fit for both the role and the culture.

In deciding which interests to put on a resume, make sure to keep them relevant and authentic, treating that section with the same level of care as your work history.

As you seek to craft your perfect application, you can use Jobseeker’s professional resume and cover letter templates to create a polished and professional presentation.

By taking the time to audit your professional narrative and add a few carefully selected personal passions to your well-designed Jobseeker resume, you can enhance your chances of landing the job you desire.

Sources:

(1) SHRM: Recruiters Say Their Job Got a Little Easier in 2023