Hobbies and Interests to Put on a Resume

Enhance your resume by incorporating an ideal selection of hobbies and interests. Explore the best choices that will capture any employer’s attention for a well-rounded resume.

While some argue against including hobbies on a resume, there are situations where it can be beneficial. When done correctly, listing hobbies and interests may enhance your chances of making a positive impression on the recruiter. This article will guide you on:

1. When it’s appropriate to include hobbies and interests on your resume.
2. Differentiating between hobbies and interests.
3. Examples of top interests and hobbies to include on a resume.
4. The proper way to list your hobbies and interests on a resume.

Is it advisable to include hobbies and interests on your resume?

 

Recruiters sift through numerous resumes when seeking candidates, aiming to find those that align with their expectations and stand out. Incorporating distinctive hobbies and interests into your resume not only enhances your appeal but also makes you more memorable to potential employers. Additionally, it provides interviewers with a more comprehensive understanding of your personality.

However, there are instances where including hobbies and interests on a resume may be unnecessary or even detrimental. For instance, if your extensive experience results in a lengthy resume spanning two pages, it might be advisable to exclude hobbies and interests. Similarly, if your extracurricular activities are unrelated to the job, it’s prudent to omit them.

How do Hobbies Differ from Interests?

Hobbies and interests are both leisure activities that individuals pursue in their free time, usually without professional involvement or compensation. These pursuits are chosen for enjoyment, entertainment, or personal growth.

Hobbies commonly involve activities like sports, collecting, creative and artistic endeavors, playing musical instruments, etc. They often require active participation, practice, and dedication.

Interests, on the other hand, are topics that captivate individuals, prompting a desire to learn more about them out of curiosity or for career development. Interests involve exploring ideas, concepts, and knowledge and may not necessarily demand active engagement.

When Should You Include Hobbies and Interests in Your Resume?

The hobbies and interests you choose to include on your resume can convey valuable information to the hiring manager. Consider incorporating them in the following scenarios:

1. Empty space on your resume: If key sections of your resume are filled, yet there is still white space at the end, consider adding a few pertinent hobbies and interests.

2. Limited experience and skills: If you are a recent graduate with no work experience, including hobbies and interests can help showcase your unique skills and passions.

3. Job-relevant interests: Adding interests that are directly related to the job demonstrates that you are a suitable candidate with a genuine interest and commitment to the field.

4. Culture alignment: Aligning your hobbies and interests with the company’s culture and values can enhance your appeal to an employer.

 

 Top Examples of Hobbies and Interests for a Resume

You’re likely aware that the most effective hobbies and interests for a resume are those aligning with the job profile, portraying you as a passionate candidate. Simultaneously, there exists a list of interests highly valued by employers, making them desirable when sifting through applications. These include:

1. Volunteering: Research indicates that 82% of managers prefer candidates with volunteering experience, showcasing initiative, strong morals, and organizational and leadership skills.

2. Writing: Whether crafting novels or publishing scientific papers, writing demonstrates clear communication skills, a vital aspect for any organization.

3. Blogging: Similar to other writing endeavors, blogging showcases communication skills, with reports highlighting communication as a highly sought-after soft skill.

4. Podcasting: In the era of popular podcasts, engaging in podcasting demonstrates industry expertise, marketing skills, networking abilities, and organizational prowess.

5. Marketing: With the rise of social media, showcasing experience in creating engaging Facebook pages or maintaining Instagram profiles can leave a positive impression on recruiters.

6. Languages: Beyond English proficiency, learning languages such as Russian, Hindi, and Japanese correlates with improved problem-solving abilities, intelligence, and memory skills.

7. Photography: More than just capturing images, photography enhances conceptual and technical skills while fostering collaboration with others.

8. Travel: Reflecting curiosity, courage, and self-organization, travel demonstrates adaptability and flexibility, crucial workplace traits.

9. Sports: Any form of exercise, irrespective of the sport, develops self-discipline, collaboration, patience, and resilience. Team sports additionally enhance leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

10. Yoga: Beyond being a physical activity, yoga involves concentration on breathing and serves as an effective stress-management technique.

11. Dance: A social activity that teaches collaboration skills, dance also improves cognitive performance and aids in stress and pressure management.

12. Art: Creativity skills, imagination, and inventiveness, integral to critical thinking, are essential for numerous jobs, according to the World Economic Forum.

13. Reading: Regardless of the genre, reading signifies a commitment to passions, prevents cognitive decline, reduces stress, and contributes to maintaining work-life balance.

14. Making Music: Learning to play instruments fosters math and science ability, improves mental performance, and enhances concentration and memory.

15. Listening to Music: Beyond stress reduction, music consumption elevates mood, strengthens learning and memory abilities, and supports continuous learning—an essential skill in the evolving corporate landscape, especially with the advent of AI.

 

What is the correct way to showcase your hobbies and interests on a resume?

You already possess essential information on suitable hobbies and interests for inclusion on a resume. Let’s now apply that knowledge.

Here’s how to list your hobbies and interests correctly:

1. Research the Company

Begin by conducting thorough research on the company:

Firstly, carefully examine the job description, as it often outlines the desired traits the company is seeking in a new employee.

Secondly, explore their website, with a particular focus on employee profiles.

Lastly, review their social media accounts such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Take note of the company’s work culture and consider whether including a unique hobbies and interests section on your resume would be beneficial.

This brief investigation will aid you in selecting suitable examples of interests and hobbies to include in your resume.

2. Select your resume interests thoughtfully.

When deciding on activities, aim to align them with the desired personality traits for the job. For instance, if the role necessitates being “outgoing and a good team player,” consider highlighting sports as suitable hobbies on your resume. Basketball, as a team sport, exemplifies both qualities. Conversely, avoid mentioning solitary activities like knitting alone in sweatpants.

If feasible, choose a diverse range of activities. By showcasing various interests, you demonstrate flexibility and the ability to adapt comfortably to various situations.

3.Utilize your passions to emphasize your skills and qualities.

You can also opt for hobby examples on your resume that address skill gaps in your repertoire.

For instance, imagine you’re seeking a graphic designer role with limited previous internships. To showcase your visual acumen, consider selecting relevant hobbies to include on your resume.

Take photography, for instance. Choosing a hobby aligned with the job reinforces your possession of the required skills. Additionally, if you’ve researched the company and identified a preference for family-oriented and entrepreneurial employees, you might mention your occasional freelance photography work for weddings.

4. Establish a distinct section at the bottom.

Ensure your resume is concise and pertinent, and the same applies to your list of hobbies. To maintain brevity, incorporate only two or three hobbies directly related to the job.

The temptation to enumerate all your top hobbies on a resume may arise, but resist it.

5. Include a maximum of 5 individual interests.

Ensure that your resume’s list of hobbies and interests stays within the limit of 5 unique activities. The inclusion of hobbies should be a thoughtful selection, avoiding an extensive list solely for the purpose of filling space.

 

Examples of Suitable Hobbies and Interests for a Resume

However, the array of hobbies and interests for a resume extends beyond this. Numerous examples exist that can enhance the attractiveness of your resume. We’ve categorized them to simplify your selection process.

Artistic Interests and Hobbies Examples

Opting for art as a hobby frequently signals a creative mindset, highlighting the capacity to think innovatively and generate captivating ideas. Incorporate this hobby when seeking positions such as art teacher, gallery curator, art designer, and similar roles.

Examples of art-related hobbies include:

1. Engaging in artistic creation
2. Exploring museums and galleries
3. Reading artists’ biographies
4. Collecting art
5. Critiquing exhibitions

Hobbies Examples: Collecting

Amassing items like stamps, coins, or vintage artifacts demonstrates commitment and a meticulous nature. This could also serve as evidence of your organizational prowess, particularly if you exhibit your collections publicly. These qualities are highly esteemed in fields such as archiving, museum curation, or antique dealing.

Examples of collecting interests include:

1. Stamps
2. Coins
3. Postcards
4. Seashells
5. Rocks and minerals
6. Fridge magnets
7. Travel souvenirs
8. Vintage items
9. Designer clothing or accessories
10. Dolls

Hobbies Associated with Culinary Pursuits

Various avenues exist for incorporating food as a hobby (and no, we’re not just referring to consumption). Showcasing food-related interests can underscore your creativity, precision, and patience, which can be pivotal when applying for roles where food is a central aspect.

Examples of food-related hobbies include:

1. Exploring world cuisines
2. Baking
3. Exploring different diets
4. Food blogging
5. Culinary tourism
6. Restaurant reviews
7. Food photography
8. Wine tasting

Creative Interests Examples

Engaging in hobbies like writing, drawing, painting, or photography signifies creativity and an open-minded approach. These attributes may be valued by employers, especially in creative fields such as marketing or design.

Explore creative hobby examples below:

1. Embroidery
2. Knitting
3. Sewing
4. Drawing
5. Painting
6. Sketching
7. Woodwork
8. Scrapbooking
9. Photography
10. Writing
11. Blogging
12. Dancing
13. Macramé
14. Crocheting
15. Pottery
16. Sculpting
17. Singing
18. Acting
19. Film

Hobbies and Interests Examples: Games and Puzzles

Demonstrating interests in games and puzzles suggests that you have critical thinking and analytical skills. It also underscores your proficiency in teamwork, portraying you as someone who enjoys collaborative endeavors. Such analytical and strategic skills are highly valued in fields such as IT, finance, project management, and others.

Explore if you have any of these games and puzzles interests:

1. Chess
2. Board games
3. Video games
4. Poker
5. Card games
6. Jigsaw puzzles
7. Sudoku
8. Crosswords
9. Mobile games
10. Scrabble
11. Arcade games

Examples of Hobbies and Activities Involving Group Participation

If you enjoy participating in group activities and choose to highlight them on your resume, you are likely to be seen as someone with strong communication skills and adaptability. These skills are appreciated in various professions, particularly those involving interactions with clients.

Explore the following exemplary hobbies:

1. Volunteering
2. Clubbing
3. Paintball
4. Bowling
5. Bar crawls
6. Trivia nights
7. Pub quizzes
8. Escape rooms

Literature Interests Examples

Engaging in hobbies related to literature can suggest a range of traits and abilities, including research and comprehension, critical thinking, and understanding with empathy. If you’re seeking a position as a writer or editor, incorporating literature hobbies into your resume is highly recommended.

Consider the following examples of literature-related hobbies:

1. Reading books
2. Writing stories
3. Writing book reviews
4. Exploring writers’ biographies
5. Participating in book clubs
6. Enjoying comic books

Music Hobbies and Interests for Resumes

Engaging in music hobbies might show creativity, but also learning agility, focus, and perseverance. Such traits are valued in many professions, be it music teachers or musicians.

See music hobbies examples below:

• Listening to music
• Playing instruments
• Concerts
• Reviewing music albums
• Singing

Outdoor Activities & Hobbies for Resumes

Listing outdoor activities as hobbies on a resume conveys traits like physical fitness and health, resilience and determination, but also time management and planning skills. Add these hobbies to your resume if you’re applying for a sports or tourism job.

Check the examples below:

• Camping
• Hiking
• Trekking
• Climbing
• Gardening
• Going on walks
• Mushroom picking
• Foraging
• Horseback riding
• Outdoor photography
• Fishing
• Sailing
• Kayaking
• Birdwatching

Examples of Interests Related to Travel

Participating in travel-related hobbies highlights your open-mindedness, curiosity, and adaptability, qualities that are valuable across various professions as they indicate a genuine eagerness to learn and evolve.

Explore the following travel hobbies examples:

1. Sightseeing
2. Camping
3. Cruising
4. Off-road driving
5. Backpacking
6. Travel blogging
7. Writing hotel reviews
8. Agritourism
9. Motorcycle touring
10. Scuba diving