10+ Hobbies and Interests to Put on Your Resume

Never thought of writing a Resume yet?

I'll show you how to create a personalized and memorable application by featuring hobbies and interests on your resume. Learn what, when, and how to list personal interests and activities in your resume so you can bolster its content.

Your resume will certainly feature your education and work experience, but what else should you tell the hiring manager about yourself? Have you thought of that?

Well, depending on the circumstances, including hobbies and interests on your resume can strengthen and upgrade your application – especially if you don’t have a lot of work experience over time.

Yes, that’s right – showcasing your passion for traveling, blogging, and even gaming on your resume can help you land your dream job. I mean it can!

Yet in some cases, having an interests section on your resume might be considered inappropriate – and may even ruin your chances at the role. Before you dedicate half of your resume to your video game conquests, it’s important to understand:

1. When to include interests and hobbies in your resume
2. Good hobbies and interests to put on your resume (and bad ones)
3. How to list hobbies and interests on your resume  
   

 

The Difference Between Hobbies and Interests

Hobbies

A hobby is considered to be a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one's leisure time, not professionally and not for pay For example, you’d consider “painting” a hobby if you like doing it for fun.

Including hobbies on your resume is an opportunity to showcase skills you’ve developed outside of your education and traditional work experience.

Interests

Interests 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 you’re applying for. It goes without saying that you’d 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 leave the hiring manager with a well-rounded and memorable impression of who you are.

 

When to Include Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume

When to include interests and/or hobbies:

• Your hobbies and interests relate to the company and/or position
• Including a hobby allows you to showcase skills relevant to the role
• The organization prompts you to include this information
• Your education and work experience don’t fill a one-page resume
• You know the company values personalized applications

If you so much have enough work experience to fill one page, don’t put hobbies and interests on your resume because it can lead to congestion of thoughts . Instead, use the space to point out the professional skills you’ve developed and your major accomplishments from those past jobs.

But even if you lack the work experience needed to fill up a resume, you should still research the company you’re applying for before including any interests or hobbies.

If it appears the company values individuality and work-life balance, it’s probably safe for you to include relevant interests in your resume.

If you’re lucky, you might even share a hobby or interest with the hiring manager. So, come to your interview prepared to discuss your love of snooker alongside your professional strengths and weaknesses too.

Good Hobbies and Interests to Put on Your Resume

Once you’re so convinced without any doubt that putting hobbies and interests into your resume will help your application rather than hinder it the, the next step is to cherry-pick the right ones.

Although you might have a potent list to choose from, it’s 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 can’t think of one, it may be best to leave it off your application.

10 Examples of Good Interests and Hobbies to Put on a Resume

Here's a list of the interest's to insert while composing your resume, and what each one tells the hiring manager about you.

1. Club Membership

A membership in a club or association shows hiring managers that you’re an active member in the community who enjoys socializing. It shows your commitment to a group.

2. Music

Playing or creating music requires discipline, innovation, and dedication. Add music as a hobby to your resume if you want to demonstrate your ability to be creative as well as diligent.

3. Gaming 

Believe it or not, the video game you’re playing can be used to show your problem solving prowess and remote collaboration abilities. As an applicant for a role in the technology inclined organization, citing gaming as a personal interest could enhance your application.

4. Foreign Languages

Cultivating and having foreign language knowledge conveys perseverance, initiative and of course, communication skills. It’ll benefit you to include them on your resume if the role you’re applying for involves international travel, multinational sales, or is in the tourism industry.

5.  Travel 

If you’re a well-traveled individual, you’re likely progressive, innovative, and passive. Make sure to include travel as a hobby on your resume if you’re applying for a role that requires international travel, working in multicultural teams, or knowledge of different cultures.

6. Blogging or Video Production

Having a blog or YouTube channel is a wise way to show your creativity, orderliness, and technical ability. If you’re applying for an advertising or marketing role, link to this relevant hobby on your resume to display your personal brand.

7. Art

An interest in art tells the hiring manager that you’re 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.

8. Volunteer Work

Including the details of volunteer work done on your resume is a great way to showcase your civic engagement, generosity, and time management skills. If you’re applying for a role at a not-for-profit organization or a company that values social responsibility, volunteer experience is a necessity.

9. Endurance Sports

Engaging in an endurance sport such as road walk shows that you’re dedicated, focused, and capable of working alone. Include endurance sports as a hobby on your resume, if you’re applying for a role that requires high-concentration tasks, e.g., data management, writing, or editing roles.

10. Team Sports

Participation in a team-based sport demonstrates your leadership skills and teamwork abilities. Cite your involvement in a team sport if you’re applying for a people-centric role such as a marketing manager, team leader, or sales associate.