Do Hobbies and Interests Have a Place on Your Resume

Do Hobbies and Interests Have a Place on Yur Resume Do Hobbies and Interests Have a Place on Your Resume Whether you have limited work experience or are an industry vet looking to breath more life into a dull resume, adding your hobbies and interests to your resume may be the perfect way to woo recruiters. These elements can give employers a complete picture of you beyond the skills youll bring to the role. Plus, showing a potential employer that you are a well-rounded person can get your resume noticed.But whats the difference between a hobby and an interest? In short Interests are passive, whereas hobbies are the active pursuit of interests. Collecting stamps, writing poetry, building model airplanes, and knitting are all hobbies reading about these subjects would make them interests. Both interests and hobbies can be directly associated with your profession or might be completely unrelated to your work.Interests are occasional pursuits or pastimes. For example, someone with an i nterest in financial investing might read a lot about the stock market, whereas someone who lists investing as a hobby likely spends hours each week studying financial reports and trading stocks. Make sense?You arent required to add hobbies and interests to your resume, so if you do add them, do so strategically and sparingly. Only mention those hobbies and interests you are prepared to discuss during an interview. Never add fake interests just to enhance your resume if a recruiter asks about them during the hiring process, youll call your own bluff and theyll discover you know little or nothing about one of your so-called passions.Another protip Only include safe-for-work pastimes. If any of your pursuits could be considered at all offensive, dont include them in your resume. In general, avoid mentioning hobbies or interests with a political or religious bent, as well as anything that might make you look frivolous. Shopping and binge-watching Netflix, for example, wont earn you any points.Hobbies and Interests That Look Great on a ResumeHere are examples of hobbies and interests that willposition you as a more attractive candidateTravel Letting employers know you enjoy travel is an excellent way to show that you are a curious person with seeks out new experiences.Reading If you add this to your resume, be prepared to discuss the last book you read or your favorite blogs and publications.CollectingIf youve been collecting stamps since you were eight-years-old or you have a passion for antique typewriters, its work mentioning. Employers often want to hire people who have pursuits outside of work.BloggingBloggers tend to be experts in the topics they cover. Whether or not your blog is relevant to your desired position, it can show consistency and expertise. If your blog contains content of a deeply personal nature, however, you should keep it off your resume.Volunteer Work/Community Involvement Companies want people who are engaged, and many companies strive to be more actively involved in their communities. Active community involvement or volunteer work can be a real asset on your resume.SportsMentioning sports you play or watch regularly can lend proof tothe soft skills listed on your resume, like being a team player, conflict resolution, and leadership abilities.Club Memberships Being a member of a club can highlight your ability to work well with likeminded individuals. But remember Dont include clubs with a religious or political focus.LiveCareer develops tools to help job seekers write resumes, draft cover letters, and prepare for interviews.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.