When you are job hunting, writing a resume can be one of the most difficult steps in the process. It is one document that you have to portray yourself as a suitable candidate for the position. This piece of paper needs to tell any hiring manager precisely who you are and what you are capable of.
To give the manager a better understanding of who you are, many job seekers wonder if they should list hobbies and interests on their resume.
There is no clear answer to this, and it isn’t merely yes you should or no; you shouldn’t put hobbies on a resume before sending it off. You should consider a few factors first, and here they are.
Are Your Hobbies and Interests Relevant?
Generally speaking, hobbies and interests on your resume should only be listed if they are relevant.
An excellent example is that if you enjoy writing on a blog, this can be advantageous in positions where writing is involved.
Much the same can be said for art and drawing. These could be seen as relevant if your intended position was for a design position or in an architectural firm.
The main thing to consider here is, putting interest in a resume should show you have attention and devotion toward the position you are applying for.
With this in mind, you certainly shouldn’t make a long list of what you enjoy doing in your spare time. These will be generic hobbies, and thousands of individuals enjoy the same things.
Keep it short, and keep it relevant.
Do Interests and Hobbies Translate to Skills?
A hiring manager won’t particularly care what you do in your spare time unless it makes you stand out.
If you are a coach or teach in a particular sport, it can prove to a prospective employer that you possess leadership skills and are capable of organising people.
You might be in a situation where one of your interests as you volunteering for something on the weekend or in the evenings. This shows you can work with people who are very different and you are comfortable in uncertain situations.
Resume interests listed and having no real benefit toward the job you have applied for can negatively impact your application and your overall chance of being hired.
Are You Looking to Rebrand Yourself?
This one is tricky because it comes into play if you apply for a position outside your current field. If you want the hiring manager to see past the role you are currently in, you should include hobbies and interests in a resume that show you in a very different light.
This can be the case if you are a recent graduate and your chosen field was more on the technical side.
If you apply for positions in marketing as an example, then adding these relative interests can shed new light on you and show you are not only skilled or focused on more technical aspects.
Some of the hobbies and interests might not be job-related, but if you choose carefully, it can add more depth to your resume and grab a hiring manager’s attention.
Examples of Good Hobbies and Interests to include on your Resume.
- Activities that show leadership qualities in something. This can consist of working for a charity or non-profit organisation.
- Being a part of any associations or groups.
- Blogging or having any published writing on the industry you are in or one where you have an acquired skill level.
- Charitable or Social activities. This can be something as simple as helping to feed the homeless.
- Any pastimes or skills you have which you undertake frequently. These hard and soft skills can show you are a good candidate for the position.
With this, you should not include things like fishing, cooking, going to the cinema or any political groups you are associated with.
How Many Interests and Hobbies Should I List?
If you do have hobbies and interests to add, the list should be quite small rather than a sprawling list that will eat up space on your resume. Two or three relevant ones should suffice, and if you keep to this number, you can minimise the word count and not lead to overcrowding the space you have used.
Should You Put Hobbies on Your Resume?
Relevancy – Make sure all of the hobbies and interests you include are relevant to the position you are applying for. If they aren’t relevant, make sure they show another skill or quality you have.
Length – Keep this section to 2 or 3 simple bullet points. There is no need to elaborate. If a manager wants to know more, he will ask in your interview.
Placement – You might wonder where to add these. They should be included toward the end of your resume. More crucial information goes at the start, and less relevant information toward the bottom.
Professionalism – You might participate in politics, religion, or even extreme sports. These should be avoided because they can lead you to be judged or seen incorrectly. Politics and religion shouldn’t affect your chances of landing the job.
Final Thoughts
We know resumes should be concise and to the point to grab attention. This alone can make it hard for job seekers to understand what to and not to include in their resumes.
It is easy to have the perfect upper part, and the hobbies and interests are included; it detracts away from all of the other information.
Because a resume is such a crucial job application device, many individuals don’t want to risk getting it wrong and seek a professional resume writing service. These companies have the skills to create the best resume possible with the information you hand them.
They also know what is best to leave in and what to leave out. As long as you back up in person, everything listed, landing that interview should be your next target.
