Hobbies Interests to Put on Your Resume [10+ Good Examples]

Hobbies Interests to Put on Your Resume 10+ Good Examples10+ Hobbies and Interests to Put on Your ResumeJuly 2, 2019 By Mollie Moric Reviewed by Mark Slack, CPRWCreate a personalized and memorable application by featuring hobbies and interests on your resume. Follow our step-by-step guide to learn what, when, and how to list personal interests and activities in your application.Build My Resume NowYour resume will certainly feature your education and work experience, but what else should you tell the hiring manager about yourself?Depending on the circumstances, including hobbies and interests on your resume can strengthen your application especially if you dont have a lot of work experience.Yes, thats right showcasing your passion for traveling, blogging, and even gaming on your resume can help you land your dream job. However, in some scenarios, having an interests section on your resume might be considered inappropriate and may even ruin your chances at the role.Before you ded icate half of your resume to discussing your recent defeat of a video game, its important to understandWhen to include interests and hobbies in your resumeGood hobbies and interests to put on your resume (and badeanstalt ones)How to list hobbies and interests on your resumeBefore you compile a list of activities for your resume, you should understand the difference between hobbies and interests. TipWondering what to put on a resume? See what else you can include with our comprehensive breakdown.1. The Difference Between Hobbies and InterestsPhotography is a great hobby to add to your resumeHobbiesHobbies are activities you enjoy in your leiaya time. For example, youd consider painting a hobby if you like doing it for fun.Including hobbies on your resume is an opportunity to showcase skills youve developed outside of your education and traditional work experience.InterestsInterests are topics that you find exciting and want to learn more about. For example, you might list art as an interest if you frequent art museums.Interests can be used to highlight a topic that you have in common with the company or role youre applying for. It goes without saying that youd cite your interest in world cuisine on your application for a position as a food critic.If done correctly, including a mixture of hobbies and interests on your resume will provide the hiring manager a well-rounded and memorable impression of who you are.2. When to Include Hobbies and Interests On Your ResumeIf you have enough work experience to fill one page, dont put hobbies and interests on your resume. Instead, use the space to elaborate on the professional skills you developed and your major accomplishments from those past jobs.Even if your application is lacking content, research the company youre applying for to get a sense of the culture before including any interests or hobbies. If it appears that the company values individuality and work-life balance, its probably safe for you to put relevant ex amples in your resume.Alternatively, if youre applying for a role in a buttoned-up industry, citing your passion for salsa dancing might be considered unprofessional.To help decide whether or bedrngnis to include hobbies and interests on your resume, ask yourself ifYour hobbies and interests relate to the company and/or positionIncluding a hobby allows you to showcase skills relevant to the roleThe organization prompts you to include this informationYour education and work experience dont fill a one-page resumeYou know the company values personalized applicationsIf youre lucky, you might even share a hobby or interest with the hiring manager. So, come to your interview prepared to discuss your love of golf alongside your professional strengths and weaknesses. TipWant to make sure the other sections of your resume are up to scratch? Take a look at our how to write a resumeguide to get the lowdown on how to craft the perfect resume.3. Good Hobbies and Interests to Put on Your ResumeO nce youre confident that putting hobbies and interests into your resume will help your application rather than hinder it, the next step is to cherry-pick the right ones.Although you might have a robust list to choose from, its important to be strategic and intentional in your selection.Only list relevant activities on your resume that reflect positively on you as a candidate. Reference the job posting, and consider what skill or quality you intend to communicate with each of those listed activities. If you cant think of one, it may be best to leave it off your application.10 Examples of Good Interests and Hobbies to Put on a ResumeHeres an HR-approved list of activities for your resume and what each one tells the hiring manager about you.1 Endurance SportsEngaging in an endurance sport such as cycling shows that youre dedicated, focused, and capable of working alone. Include endurance sports as a hobby on your resume, if youre applying for a role that requires high-concentration tas ks, e.g., data management, writing, or editing roles.2 Team SportsParticipation in a team-based sport demonstrates your leadership skills and teamwork abilities. Cite your involvement in a team sport if youre applying for a people-centric role such as a absatzwirtschaft manager, team leader, or sales associate.3 ArtAn interest in art tells the hiring manager that youre creative and have a keen eye for detail. Art is a good interest to put on your resume if your desired role is in a creative or design-focused field, like UX/UI, cinematography, or art curation.4 Volunteer WorkVolunteer work is a great way to showcase your civic engagement, generosity, and time management skills. If youre applying for a role at a not-for-profit organization or a company that values social responsibility, volunteer experience is a necessity.5 TravelIf youre a well-traveled individual, youre likely open-minded, adventurous, and tolerant. Make sure to include travel as a hobby on your resume if youre appl ying for a role that requires grenzberschreitend travel, working in multicultural teams, or knowledge of different cultures.6 Blogging / Video ProductionA blog or YouTube channel is a great way to show-off your creativity, organization, and technical skills. If youre applying for an advertising or marketing role, link to this relevant hobby on your resume to display your personal brand.7 Foreign LanguagesCultivating foreign language skills conveys perseverance, initiative and of course, communication skills. Itll benefit you to include them on your resume if the role youre applying for involves international travel, multinational sales, or is in the tourism industry.8 GamingBelieve it or not, the video game youre playing can be used to demonstrate your problem solving and remote collaboration abilities. If youre applying for a role in the technology industry, citing gaming as a personal interest could enhance your application.9 MusicPlaying or creating music requires discipline, inn ovation, and dedication. Add music as a hobby to your resume if you want to demonstrate your ability to be creative as well as diligent.10 Club MembershipA membership in a club or association shows hiring managers that youre an active member in the community who enjoys socializing. List a club membership, like your fraternity or sorority, on your resume if youre applying for a people-focused role such as a customer service representative or team lead.3 Examples of Hobbies and Interests NOT to IncludeWhen considering which hobbies and interests to fit into your application, remember that discernment is key.Its okay to enjoy skydiving and watching TV in your spare time however, it might send the wrong signal to the hiring manager if the role is for a job at your local library.To avoid making a negative impression, consider how the hiring manager will interpret each personal interest on your resume.In general, dont list activities on your resume ifYour hobby or interest hints at antiso cial or alienated behaviorParticipation in the hobby may be considered dangerous or violentYou know the hobby or interest conflicts with a companys culture or valuesYour hobby or interest may be seen as inappropriate or discriminatoryListing a hobby or interest divulges personal information such as political or religious affiliationsHere are a few hobbies and interests not to include on your resume and what they signal to the hiring manager.Hobby / InterestWhy You Should Leave it Off Your Resume Extreme SportsShows risk-taking, impulsiveness, which are unattractive traits in industries, such as teaching, accounting, etc. Political Clubs or ActivitiesJeopardizes your chances if you happen to be on the opposite side of the political spectrum from your employer.Watching TVExhibits passivity and inactivity. Doesnt showcase any unique skills or attributes about yourself. 4. How to List Interests and Hobbies on a ResumeOnce youve got a shortlist of activities for your resume, its time to think about the best way to feature them.Never shoehorn your hobbies and interests into sections they dont belong. Instead, naturally integrate them into your resume in one of the following ways.1. Create a Resume Interests sectionAlthough your hobbies and interests may be compelling, in most circumstances they shouldnt distract from your formal credentials.To avoid this, add your resume interests section to the bottom of the page after your education and work experience.Group your hobbies and interests together in one section, and add a title such as Personal Interests to separate it from the rest of your application.Include a brief one-line description that explains how each hobby or interest is relevant to the role. If possible, quantify each point by adding a number, percentage, or time.Quantities will transform your hobbies and interests from a list of activities to measurable achievements.Make sure that youre not repeating information that is already listed in other sections of your resume, such as Extracurricular Activities or Volunteer Experience.Heres an example of a resume interests section, if youre applying for a role as a Journalist.2. Fit into Your Resume ObjectiveThe average hiring manager will only look at your application for 6 seconds. So if youve got a hobby or interest that is highly relevant to the job youre applying for, add it to your resume objective.In case you dont know, a career objective is a short blurb at the top of your resume meant to convince the hiring manager that your skills, knowledge, and abilities can help the company reach its goals.Therefore, if you have an impressive hobby or interest that could influence the success of your application, make sure to list it front and center.For example, if youre applying for a role as a marathon coordinator, youd want to draw the hiring managers attention to the fact that youve run 20+ marathons by including it in your career objective. TipWorried about not having the right skills? Our list of 100+ free educational sites can help you pick up the skills you need to secure the job.Need further resume writing help? Dont forget to check out our free downloadable resume templates or our easy-to-use resume builder, or leave a comment below