Early in my profession, my boyfriend (now fiancé) was serving to me write my resume. I requested to see his and seen he included private pursuits. He’s an engineer, so seeing hobbies like basketball and video video games stood out to me.
I requested him why he selected to incorporate these, and he mentioned, “I needed just a little extra personalization to my resume and wish [recruiters] to know me as an individual past a bit of paper.”
And apparently, he’s not alone. In line with a examine by Standout CV, one in 4 individuals embody hobbies and pursuits on their resumes.
Suppose you’re inquisitive about what pursuits to place in your resume — and why — that is the article for you. We’ll additionally evaluate the completely different pursuits and hobbies that may enable you to stand out within the job market.
Why You Ought to Embody Pursuits on Your Resume
Why You Ought to Embody Pursuits on Your Resume
Whereas not all the time relevant, there are a couple of eventualities when mentioning your pursuits and hobbies in your resume is smart.
Sarah Johnston, founder and CEO of govt resume writing agency Briefcase Coach, says in the event you select to incorporate pursuits in your resume, concentrate on customization. “We all the time take into account the viewers and the relevancy of the extra enjoyable truth to the viewers,” she suggests.
Listed here are a couple of the reason why you must add your pursuits to your resume.
1. You may showcase your character.
Probably the most compelling purpose to incorporate pursuits in your resume is to showcase your character. Recruiters and hiring managers evaluate numerous resumes for each job function. They’re doubtless studying the identical expertise and related experiences again and again. What higher approach to stand out than to offer them a way of your character proper off the bat?
In my expertise, having pursuits on my resume has led to enjoyable conversations with recruiters and hiring managers. Speaking about hobbies was an effective way to interrupt the ice (and calm my nerves) earlier than diving into the interview questions.
2. Pursuits assist with tradition match.
If the corporate you’re making use of to values uniqueness or particular character traits, pursuits may assist talk the way you’d be an excellent tradition match.
For instance, right here’s a job opening for a Senior Merchandising Supervisor at Tecovas, a direct-to-consumer western model based mostly in Austin. As a Western model promoting boots and attire, Tecovas emphasizes its mission of “welcoming first-time boot consumers and Western fans alike.”
In the event you take into account your self a Western fanatic and revel in actions equivalent to horseback driving, it might be price mentioning that in your resume to point out that your pursuits and experiences align with the corporate.
3. You may match area of interest industries or roles.
Some corporations function in area of interest industries and should search candidates with particular expertise or pursuits. For instance, in the event you’re making use of for a advertising supervisor function at an artwork museum, the hiring supervisor would doubtless anticipate you to be curious about artwork or artwork historical past.
I did a fast seek for such a function to check this concept, and I discovered an outdated job posting for a social media coordinator on the MoMA. One of many job necessities was an curiosity within the artwork and non-profit worlds.
4. You’ll enhance your resume if in case you have restricted expertise.
All of us have to begin someplace. In the event you’re a brand new graduate or making a profession change, you doubtless received’t have many related experiences to incorporate but. Itemizing your pursuits or hobbies in your resume can assist an employer get to know you if in case you have restricted work expertise.
The bottom line is to attach the dots between your pursuits and the job you’re making use of for thus recruiters perceive the way it can assist professionally. Examine the job descriptions and the corporate to get a way of their tradition and job necessities, determine how your pursuits and hobbies relate, and showcase your strengths.
For instance, sports activities can exhibit your power in crew actions, whereas portray can showcase your creativity.
40 Pursuits for Your Resume
It’s been some time since I’ve interviewed for a full-time place, however sometimes, I share my resume for freelance work. And after I do, I need to be certain it’s tailor-made to the function and firm to extend my probabilities of standing out.
I put collectively a current resume utilizing one in every of HubSpot’s resume templates.
I added an pursuits part that displays my present work and is related to the kinds of corporations I need to work with. Listed here are the hobbies and pursuits I included.
1. Pilates
I attend Pilates lessons at the least twice per week (it helps that my sister is an teacher!), and it’s all the time the perfect a part of my day. As a author, I’m sitting in entrance of my laptop computer display screen for hours, so Pilates helps me get a break from my desk.
Why it really works: Committing to a daily train routine — whether or not yoga, operating, and even strolling — showcases a wholesome work-life stability.
2. Dwelling Renovations
If you recognize my fiancé and me, then you recognize we love tackling dwelling renovation tasks. We aren’t shy about taking a sledgehammer to our cupboards or reconfiguring our home format to create one thing completely our personal.
Why it really works: In my expertise, that is often a terrific dialog starter throughout interviews. Individuals are curious about listening to concerning the course of, primarily as a result of we do the work ourselves to save cash (for higher or worse).
3. Classic Amassing
On any given weekend, you will discover me at a thrift retailer or an property sale. I really like looking for distinctive objects and hidden gems and giving them a second life.
Why it really works: I’ve discovered that this subject is one other icebreaker. If I’m speaking to somebody who additionally enjoys classic purchasing, we often swap tales concerning the kinds of objects we gather and the place to seek out them.
4. Ebook Golf equipment
A number of years in the past, I began my very own e-book membership right here in Austin. We learn nonfiction books on enterprise, creativity, and entrepreneurship, equivalent to Elizabeth Gilbert’s Massive Magic and Essentialism by Greg McKeown. As soon as a month, we’d meet up at a neighborhood enterprise to share what we realized from the e-book.
Why it really works: This pastime demonstrates my curiosity in persevering with training and my eagerness to arrange occasions (on a small scale) since I created the group and deliberate the whole lot myself.
5. Small Companies
I used to jot down for a neighborhood journal protecting way of life subjects, equivalent to the place to buy and eat round city. The most effective half was interviewing small enterprise house owners, attending to know their day-to-day routines and motivations, and sharing their tales.
Why it really works: This curiosity works for my resume as a result of I now write for corporations whose viewers consists of small enterprise house owners. I can use my enthusiasm and information of small companies to tell my writing.
These pursuits are particular to my expertise and related to the kinds of roles I’d be curious about pursuing sooner or later.
If these aren’t a match for you, listed here are another pursuits to think about including to your resume.
6. Sports activities
As I discussed, my fiancé enjoys enjoying sports activities like basketball and golf. He’s commonly a part of leagues with each colleagues and non-work teams alike. Together with this on his resume demonstrates his enthusiasm for crew actions and camaraderie.
What we like: In the event you’re an lively sports activities crew or group league member, add it to the pursuits part in your resume to showcase your teamwork exterior of labor.
7. Images
I used to be scrolling via X (previously Twitter) after I noticed that senior product supervisor Diego Granados shared the resume he used to land a job at Microsoft in 2019.
Within the pursuits part, he included iPhone pictures, video video games and enjoying musical devices like saxophone and guitar.
What we like: Images is a pastime that demonstrates an curiosity on the earth round you. You may even get particular and checklist the kind of pictures you’re curious about, like iPhone, movie, or product pictures.
8. Group Service
Early in my profession, as I used to be constructing my resume, I relied on my earlier volunteer experiences to exhibit my completely different expertise and pursuits. I used to be an lively member of a volunteer group in school and even did some volunteer social media work for nonprofits after graduating.
What we like: Including volunteer work to your pursuits part in your resume can exhibit your ardour for particular causes. That is particularly useful if the trigger is related to the corporate or job you’re making use of to.
9. Portray
Hobbies like portray or drawing are an effective way to train creativity and exhibit your artistic expertise.
What we like: Whether or not you’re making use of to a artistic job or not, artistic hobbies can assist enhance your creativity at work.
10. Baking
My pal Micah Peterson, an internet designer and developer, was a baker in a earlier life and consists of “baker by pastime, developer by commerce” on his resume.
He explains that together with this curiosity on his resume has helped kind lasting impressions throughout interviews.
“As soon as, after I was being interviewed, [my baking interest] led to a dialog concerning the interviewer’s son, who was additionally a baker,” he mentioned. “The interviewer admired that about his son, so I feel it left an enduring impression on him.”
What we like: In the event you’ve ever had a profession pivot, embrace it by together with it within the pursuits part in your resume. It’s an attention-grabbing dialog starter, however in the event you can join your expertise to the function you’re making use of for, that’s even higher.
11. Studying
Possibly you’re in a e-book membership like I used to be or take pleasure in studying challenges. Or maybe you’re lively on #BookTok, the huge subcommunity on TikTok devoted to sharing and reviewing books.
Why it really works: One instance of a task the place this curiosity may intersect with a job you’re interviewing for is a social media place. Mentioning your curiosity in studying, and particularly #BookTok, demonstrates your information of present social media communities.
12. Video Video games
I’ve seen a number of individuals embody video video games as a pastime on their resume, together with my fiancé and Diego Granados, whose resume I shared above.
What we like: Video video games can exhibit curiosity and information in a number of components, from the technical points of the gaming system to the visible points discovered within the graphics to the technique that goes into the sport.
13. Writing
Do you take pleasure in writing in your free time? Whether or not you favor writing fiction, poetry, or blogs, these expertise will doubtless translate to no matter function you’re making use of for.
In line with GMAC’s 2023 Company Recruiters Survey, communication and writing expertise are among the many most in-demand expertise employers search for when hiring.
What we like: Writing will all the time be an important ability within the office, so this can be a timeless curiosity to incorporate in your resume.
14. Graphic design
In line with Upwork, graphic design is one in every of essentially the most in-demand expertise for freelancers. Even in the event you’re not pursuing freelance work, this information proves the necessity for this ability amongst corporations of all sizes.
What we like: You probably have graphic design expertise, even when this isn’t the main target of your function, it could possibly enhance your resume.
15. Animals
Sure, the furry mates in your life might be included as an curiosity in your resume. Whether or not you volunteer at a neighborhood animal shelter or are a proud pet proprietor, there are methods to say this whereas holding your resume skilled.
Johnston, who works with a few of the world’s prime leaders at her govt resume writing agency, remembers when she’s seen pets efficiently talked about as an curiosity.
“I do know a job seeker who utilized for a task with Purina Company,” she remembers. “They listed on the backside of their resume that they’re a ‘proud canine dad to 2 golden retrievers,’ and the recruiter apparently cherished this!”
Professional tip: This curiosity works effectively when the corporate you’re interviewing for is within the pet or animal {industry}.
16. Nonprofits
Like group service, an curiosity in nonprofits demonstrates your dedication to particular causes or communities.
Professional tip: Solely embody this as an curiosity in the event you’re genuinely concerned in particular nonprofits or volunteer work.
17. Entrepreneurship
Do you need to begin your individual enterprise sometime? Are you a go-getter with a development mindset? Entrepreneurship in all probability comes naturally to you, which makes it price together with as an curiosity in your resume.
What we like: Having an entrepreneurial mindset might be the important thing to success as a salesman or at a startup.
18. Music
Making use of to a place within the music {industry}? It is smart to showcase your style in music, whether or not you’re making use of to a competition manufacturing firm, a recording studio, or a streaming platform like Spotify.
In the event you’re perpetually on-line like I’m, chances are you’ll bear in mind seeing this artistic resume make its rounds on LinkedIn and Twitter (now X) again in 2021:
The Spotify-themed resume was created by product supervisor Emily Vu, who ultimately landed a job on the music streaming platform because of her creativity.
What we like: As if the Spotify-branded design format wasn’t artistic sufficient, Vu added an pursuits part that referred to as out her music pursuits. This additional demonstrated her enthusiasm and information of the {industry}.
19. Artwork Historical past
Whether or not you went to high school for artwork historical past or you have got a powerful curiosity and information of the topic, together with this in your resume can exhibit that you simply’re well-rounded.
Why this works: In the event you work in a artistic subject, particularly in the event you’re making use of for a job within the artwork world, mentioning your curiosity within the arts is a good suggestion.
20. Tenting
Anybody who’s been tenting is aware of how a lot preparation and work is concerned. From establishing your tent to making ready your meals to connecting along with your pure environment, tenting demonstrates an adventurous character.
What we like: In the event you’ve been tenting earlier than, chances are high you have got a joke concerning the expertise, which may make for an excellent icebreaker.
21. Instructing
In the event you educate lessons associated to your job function, it may very well be a good suggestion to checklist that in your resume.
As an illustration, do you educate coding lessons throughout evenings and weekends? This may exhibit your deep understanding of the function and dedication to furthering the {industry}.
What we like: An curiosity in instructing can set you up for a coaching or instructing function inside your organization. In the event you’re curious about pursuing this sooner or later, don’t hesitate to incorporate your instructing expertise in your resume.
22. Journey
An curiosity in journey might be particularly related in the event you work at a distributed firm that values journey and encourages its workers to see the world.
Advertising and marketing marketing consultant Anna Crowe created an “About Me” part on her digital resume to say her curiosity in touring to nationwide parks.
What we like: Journey demonstrates openness to studying about completely different cultures and an adventurous character.
23. Mountain climbing
Like tenting, climbing can exhibit a way of journey. You don’t should verify Mount Kilimanjaro off your checklist to think about your self a hiker.
What we like: If climbing is your pastime, this is usually a nice dialog starter throughout an interview. You may point out any vital hikes you’ve accomplished, which may result in thrilling tales between you and your interviewer.
24. Operating
Nearly 50 million individuals within the U.S. take into account themselves runners and 115 million are walkers, in accordance with Statista. Translation? These widespread actions are relatable pursuits to incorporate in your resume.
What we like: Being a constant runner speaks to your dedication and coaching routine.
25. Persevering with Schooling
There are such a lot of on-line studying alternatives out there at this time. Whether or not you need to study a brand new language, how to attract, or the best way to grasp search engine optimization, there’s a web based course for it.
To not point out, 62% of corporations supply skilled improvement as a part of their advantages bundle, in accordance with the GMAC Company Recruiters Survey. If persevering with training is crucial to you, it’s price mentioning in the event you’re interviewing with an organization that provides this as a part of the job.
Why this works: An curiosity in persevering with training exhibits dedication to studying new expertise and topics.
26. Inside Design
You probably have a watch for inside design, don’t hesitate to say it in your resume. You might even showcase your expertise over a video interview by displaying your completely designed setup within the background.
What we like: Having design expertise can translate throughout many roles.
27. Digital Group
Do you utilize undertaking administration apps to handle the whole lot from work duties to grocery purchasing? A ardour for planning and dedication to organizing can go a good distance in any function.
What we like: Bonus factors in the event you create and share group templates like this Notion creator does.
28. Actual Property
Other than the plain industries like actual property or mortgage lending, there are different roles that an curiosity in actual property may benefit from.
For instance, if you’re making use of for a job within the private finance {industry}, your curiosity in actual property may exhibit an intimate information of one of many greatest purchases the typical purchaser will make of their lifetime.
What we like: Some pursuits, like actual property, exhibit your cross-industry information, which might be useful in the event you apply to jobs in enterprise, advertising, or gross sales.
29. Cooking
Do you have got a meals weblog? Take part in cooking competitions? If cooking is a major pastime of yours, there’s a spot for it in your resume.
What we like: Like baking, cooking can exhibit endurance and creativity.
30. AI and machine studying
Pursuits don’t all the time should be hobbies. Pursuits embody topics you’re curious about studying extra about or are increasing your information on, like AI.
Having an curiosity in know-how like machine studying may put you in a greater place for future roles. These are the talents employers consider are crucial for the long run, in accordance with the GMAC Company Recruiters Survey.
What we like: Displaying an curiosity in sure applied sciences demonstrates adaptiveness and a dedication to studying.
31. Private Finance
I do know a couple of individuals who have achieved main monetary achievements — like paying off their scholar mortgage debt inside a yr or saving as much as purchase a home — who now share their suggestions with others on-line.
What we like: In the event you’ve carried out one thing related and commonly share your ideas and tips about social media or via a weblog, this may be a wonderful curiosity so as to add to your resume to exhibit your thought management.
32. Distant Work
In the event you take into account your self a digital nomad or are obsessed with distant work, you possibly can add that as an curiosity to your resume. This may additionally showcase your want to work remotely and assist join you to the best employers.
Whereas distant work could also be extra widespread than in years previous, some individuals and corporations have advocated for the digital nomad way of life for a very long time. For instance, Buffer has been a totally distant and distributed crew since 2013.
Why this works: This curiosity doubles as a job desire to your resume.
33. Studying Languages
Studying a brand new language is usually a problem. Nonetheless, a dedication to finding out and practising a international language is price mentioning in your resume.
It showcases your pursuits. Plus, relying in your ability stage, understanding a number of languages may also be an asset to any crew.
What we like: Studying languages exhibits dedication to studying and an openness to completely different cultures.
34. Podcasting
It’s estimated that there might be over three million lively podcasts in 2023. In the event you host one in every of them, take into account mentioning it in your resume.
You won’t need to embody your podcast’s precise title or style, relying on what your podcast is about. But when it’s one thing related to your {industry}, add it.
What we like: A number of creativity, know-how, and advertising goes into creating your individual podcast. These expertise can assist enhance your resume in the event you work in advertising or communications, for example.
35. Internet Design
In line with Upwork, internet design and improvement are each in-demand expertise for impartial professionals. In the event you’ve been exploring internet design in your free time, take into account together with it as a pastime in your resume, even in the event you aren’t planning on pursuing freelance work.
What we like: This curiosity can double as a ability if in case you have loads of information and experience on the topic.
36. Attending Conferences
In the event you take pleasure in networking occasions and attending {industry} conferences, this counts as an curiosity to incorporate in your resume.
Why this works: In the event you’re making use of for a gross sales place, your potential employer will doubtless be impressed that you simply take pleasure in networking in your free time.
37. Standup Comedy
Most of us love to observe comedy exhibits, however pursuing standup comedy as a pastime is a completely completely different story — one which’s far more attention-grabbing. In the event you observe comedy, this will exhibit creativity, braveness, and the flexibility to not take your self too significantly.
What we like: Together with standup comedy as an curiosity will result in attention-grabbing (and humorous) conversations throughout an interview.
38. Content material Creation
Do you like creating cooking movies to share on TikTok? Or perhaps you typically submit UGC (user-generated content material) on Instagram to showcase manufacturers you like.
Content material creators have expertise in pictures, advertising, and social media, which may all be interesting expertise within the eyes of an interviewer or recruiter.
What we like: Being a content material creator can enhance your resume in the event you’re searching for advertising and social media jobs.
39. Gardening
There’s one thing peaceable about getting your palms soiled, planting seeds, and watering flowers. Gardening is a soothing pastime and is a good weekend exercise to partake in.
What we like: Gardening can exhibit endurance and humbleness.
40. DIY Initiatives
Much like my curiosity in dwelling renovations, I additionally take pleasure in any sort of DIY undertaking. I often discover inspiration for a house decor DIY on Pinterest or Instagram and spend a weekend placing my very own spin on it.
What we like: An curiosity in DIY tasks showcases creativity, dedication, and a way of individualism.
Showcasing your pursuits in your resume is a artistic approach to give recruiters and interviewers a greater sense of who you’re.
Not solely do pursuits let individuals know what you take pleasure in exterior of labor, however in addition they give employers an concept of how these pursuits translate into your work.
