Some people think that it’s unacceptable to list down your hobbies and interests in your resume. While this belief applies to some professions, some situations will let you get away with having hobbies in your resume. And in this article, we’ll get down to the good examples of hobbies you can and cannot include in a resume.
Hobbies and interests
Hobbies and interests are two things you can mention in your resume. But before you list them down, it counts to know their difference first.
Hobbies are the activities you do for fun. You do these during your time off, where you don’t get paid for it. Hobbies are things you do out of habit and happiness. Some of the most common examples of hobbies include collecting items, traveling, painting, and more.
On the other hand, interests are passive ideas or topics that you like. Some of the common interests include travel, socialism, volunteers, animal welfare, and more.
When do you put your hobbies in a resume?
While some people may be against it, particular situations encourage you to list your hobbies in your resume. Here are some of those scenarios:
- When you have a limited educational background and related work experience
- When you possess limited skills and knowledge related to the job you’re applying for
- When the job listing specifically asked to add some of your hobbies to your resume
- When some of your hobbies align with the job requirements and responsibilities
- When the company culture values uniqueness and individual personalities of employees and applicants
- When your hobbies involve social and community services
These are the ideal situations that make listing hobbies in a resume acceptable. But the general rule is, you may include hobbies when they relate to your job and its requirements. If they don’t, you are just adding clutter to your resume. Remember, your resume should highlight the things you are more proud of—but not hobbies that do not relate to the job you are applying for.
Examples of hobbies you may include in your resume
In choosing the hobbies to include in your resume, remember to be strategic. Pick those that will resonate with the recruiters once they read your resume. Here are some of the examples of hobbies you can include and why they are valid:
1. Writing
Writing entails good written communication skills. Communication is essential to any profession, which gives you an advantage if you highlight your love for writing. It could even be more useful when applying for a writing position—it proves your passion for the craft.
2. Blogging
Similar to writing, blogging demonstrates your expertise in communication. It also shows that you are social and aware of the digital marketing trends at the moment. And this hobby can benefit you the most if you apply for a PR, marketing, research, or writing position.
3. Language learning
Your penchant for learning other languages shows your deep interest in learning. It proves that you make an effort to learn something new. It could even mean that you are investing in yourself, especially when you plan to use these other languages for professional development. When you learn a new language, you emphasize good memory skills and intelligence.
4. Photography
Taking pictures is one of the most common examples of hobbies you may include in your resume. This activity entails more than just shooting things—it shows your conceptual skills and technical expertise. Also, photography typically requires collaboration which you also prove when you highlight this in your resume.
5. Podcasting
If you have some love for podcasting, you could also include this on your resume. Doing so demonstrates excellent verbal communication skills. It also proves your marketing, networking, research, and organizational skills. This amps up your credentials when applying for a marketing position or any job that requires excellent persuasion skills.
6. Art
There are lots of artistic endeavors you may include on your resume. These may consist of painting, sculpture, drawing, and more, which all prove creativity. These activities entail critical thinking skills since you rely on imagination and an inventive mind. Critical-thinking skills are highly impressive to most employers since it’s a universal skill that proves intelligence.
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7. Reading
Lots of people love reading, and you can include this hobby in your resume. Reading proves that you enjoy learning. The activity helps you build a strong vocabulary, feed your mind, and even reduce stress. When you share your interest in reading, you show that you are someone who never stops learning.
8. Volunteering
Community involvement displays good morals and initiative. It’s a hobby that gives back to communities, making you a desirable applicant to hire. Engagement in volunteering and community involvement shows care for society. It also implies that you possess good organizational and leadership skills.
9. Sports playing
Including playing sports as a hobby in your resume may count as well. Sports demonstrate teamwork and collaboration, which most employers value the most in the workplace. Listing some sports can support these soft skills, especially when interviewing for a highly collaborative role.
10. Traveling
Traveling is one of the most common hobbies that people enjoy. And this is something that you may include in your resume not to impress but to show your outgoing and adventurous personality. It also entails that you may have excellent social and interpersonal skills since traveling requires good communication skills.
11. Stock trading
While stock trading is a side hustle or full-time job for others, some people do this as a hobby. And if you’re one of those people, you may mention it in your resume, especially if your niche is finance. Trading stocks implies that you are financially aware and have strong analytical skills. These skills are essential in the workplace regardless of what niche you are in.
12. Computer programming
The techie ones are prone to be the ones who do computer programming as a hobby. And that’s an advantage, primarily if they work in any computer-related field. It proves IT knowledge, initiative, and up-to-date knowledge in technology.
13. Child care
Who knew looking after kids is a valid hobby to include in a resume? Whether you babysit, care for your kids, or work as a camp counselor, you can highlight this experience to prove social skills and responsibility. Dealing with children is challenging, and you can use this aspect in demonstrating patience, stewardship, and innate care for others.
14. Gaming
Playing mobile games like solitaire demonstrates problem-solving, collaboration, and good analytical skills. Adding this hobby when applying for a highly collaborative or technical role is well-recommended. However, be mindful that this may come off unprofessional if you include it in positions related to law and other work in a highly professional setting.
15. Doing DIY
Doing DIY doesn’t just prove you’re crafty, but it also shows your resourcefulness and eagerness for learning. Doing DIY projects always consists of a methodological process that you need to follow to arrive at desired results. And you could prove your love for following procedures at a glance by including it in your resume.
Examples of hobbies that you should not include in your resume
Here are the examples of hobbies that you should avoid including in your resume:
- Hobbies that do not have much interactivity
- Hobbies that pose a danger
- Hobbies that presents antisocial behavior and activities
- Hobbies that share some personal information that potential employers won’t appreciate
- Hobbies that are too unprofessional
- Hobbies that are not directly related in your field
These are the examples of hobbies you should and should not include in your resume. Remember these pointers to land an interview with your dream companies. Always be mindful that hobbies are not essential in a resume. You may only include them when you lack relevant credentials to present. Going overboard with listing hobbies won’t do you any good; just pick one or two—as long as they relate to the job.
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