40 Interests That Deserve a Place on Your Resume
By Sam Lauron
Early in my career, my boyfriend (now fiancé) was helping me write my resume. I asked to see his and noticed he included personal interests. He’s an engineer, so seeing hobbies like basketball and video games stood out to me.
I asked him why he chose to include these, and he said, “I wanted a little more personalization to my resume and want [recruiters] to know me as a person beyond a piece of paper.”
And apparently, he’s not alone. According to a study by Standout CV, one in four people include hobbies and interests on their resumes.
Suppose you’re curious about what interests to put on your resume — and why — this is the article for you. We’ll also review the different interests and hobbies that will help you stand out in the job market.
Why You Should Include Interests on Your Resume
Why You Should Include Interests on Your Resume
While not always applicable, there are a few scenarios when mentioning your interests and hobbies on your resume makes sense.
Sarah Johnston, founder and CEO of executive resume writing firm Briefcase Coach, says if you choose to include interests on your resume, focus on customization. “We always consider the audience and the relevancy of the additional fun fact to the audience,” she suggests.
Here are a few reasons why you should add your interests to your resume.
1. You can showcase your personality.
The most compelling reason to include interests on your resume is to showcase your personality. Recruiters and hiring managers review countless resumes for every job role. They’re likely reading the same skills and similar experiences over and over. What better way to stand out than to give them a sense of your personality right off the bat?
In my experience, having interests on my resume has led to fun conversations with recruiters and hiring managers. Talking about hobbies was a great way to break the ice (and calm my nerves) before diving into the interview questions.
2. Interests help with culture fit.
If the company you’re applying to values uniqueness or specific personality traits, interests could help communicate how you’d be a good culture fit.
For example, here’s a job opening for a Senior Merchandising Manager at Tecovas, a direct-to-consumer western brand based in Austin. As a Western brand selling boots and apparel, Tecovas emphasizes its mission of “welcoming first-time boot buyers and Western enthusiasts alike.”
If you consider yourself a Western enthusiast and enjoy activities such as horseback riding, it would be worth mentioning that on your resume to show that your interests and experiences align with the company.
3. You can match niche industries or roles.
Some companies operate in niche industries and may seek candidates with specific skills or interests. For example, if you’re applying for a marketing manager role at an art museum, the hiring manager would likely expect you …read more
Source:: HubSpot Blog
