If you are in the market for creating a resume, you’ve likely viewed a number of resume templates. Maybe you have even input your information into an automated resume builder.
If so, did you include a Hobbies and Interests section on your resume? Many templates include this section.
You may be wondering, however, “What do my hobbies have to do with getting a job?” The answer is simple – they can have a lot to do with it or nothing at all.
Below, we will consider two reasons why you might consider including hobbies on your resume – as well as three occasions when you shouldn’t. We’ll also discuss which types of hobbies are appropriate for inclusion.
Check out this article for more on listing hobbies and interests on your resume with examples.
What Are Hobbies?
Hobbies are activities or interests “pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation.” Common hobbies include things like reading, writing poetry, cooking, gardening, building things, arts and crafts, tinkering with electronics, or even playing video games.
When to Include Hobbies on your Resume
Should you include hobbies on your resume? If you fall into either of the following categories, the answer may be yes.
When Your Resume Is Too Short
If you are a student, a recent graduate, or entering the workforce for the first time, you may find that your resume does not even fill one page. In this case, you might consider using some of that space for a “Hobbies and Interests” section.
This section can say a lot about you as a person. It can demonstrate your personality traits, work ethic, and even some skills you may have acquired. As such, you should be very selective about which hobbies you choose to include. See the section “Hobbies with Transferable Skills” below for tips on choosing which hobbies to state on your resume.
When Hobbies Supply Valuable Skills
We have already mentioned that hobbies can demonstrate transferable skills, but they may offer skills related directly to the needs of your job. For example, a computer building hobby may be relevant if you work as a computer network developer or an information security analyst.
For more examples of career-relevant hobbies, see the section “Hobbies Relevant to Specific Jobs” below.
When Not to Include Your Hobbies
While hobbies can be beneficial, they can also be detrimental to your resume. Consider the following.
When Your Resume Is Too Long
If your resume is already packed or longer than one page, you should probably avoid including a Hobbies and Interests section. This space may be better assigned to work history, education, or your skills list.
When Hobbies Are Unrelated
When you are well along in your career, including hobbies unrelated to your field of work can make you look childish or silly. Make sure any hobbies you choose to include contribute to your necessary skills.
Questionable Hobbies
Questionable, controversial, or workplace inappropriate hobbies can hurt the reputation your resume is building for you.
What qualifies as being questionable, controversial, or inappropriate? That depends on where you work. Don’t include hobbies that controvert the values or culture of the company. Think about whether you would want your boss to see you participating in the hobby. Think about the impression it could make.
Generally, you should avoid hobbies that could be considered illegal, violent, dangerous, or antisocial. You may also wish to omit hobbies that reveal highly personal information, such as your religious or political affiliation.
Types of Hobbies to Include on Your Resume
The following hobbies can look good on your resume.
Hobbies Relevant to Specific Jobs
Job-specific hobbies may include, but are not limited to:
- Foodservice industries – cooking, recipe creation, foraging/wildcrafting
- Marketing – social media influencer, blogging, videography, photography, drones
- Healthcare – nutrition, exercise, sports
- Computer technology – building computers, programming, gaming
- Journalism – blogging, travel, creative writing
- Veterinary medicine – dog training, horsemanship, competitions
- Music – proficiency at playing an instrument, dance
Hobbies with Transferable Skills
You can demonstrate the following transferable skills via hobbies.
- Leadership – volunteer work or other community involvement
- Communication – blogging, creating YouTube videos, social media influencer, podcasting, creative writing
- Foreign language skills – proficiency in languages other than English can allow you to translate or interpret on the job
- Photography – valuable in many marketing situations
- Cultural awareness – travel
- Teamwork – sports or other team competitions
- Creativity – art, creative writing, dance
- Calm under pressure – skilled competitions, yoga
Key Takeaways
You can leverage hobbies on your resume if you have little or no work experience or if your hobbies relate directly to your career goals. Hobbies can be used to demonstrate transferable skills.
However, if your resume is already more than a page in length, your hobbies are irrelevant, or if they might be considered inappropriate, do not include them on your resume.
