Here's why you should consider putting hobbies on a resume to stand out

When putting together a resume, you already know you need to include sections on skills, education, and your work history. But have you ever considered listing your hobbies and interests as well? While a few purists might frown on the notion, adding interests and hobbies and interests to your resume can give the hiring manager or recruiter a clearer picture of who you are as a person, the value you would bring to the company, and help you stand out from the competition. Win-win!

In this article, we'll discuss why you should consider including hobbies and interests in your resume, including:

• The difference between hobbies and interests

• The benefits of listing hobbies and interests on your resume

• When you should include hobbies and interests on your resume

• How to incorporate hobbies and interests into your resume

• 7 great examples of hobbies and interests you can include on your resume

Hobbies and interests: what’s the difference?

Often, the words "hobby" and "interest" are used interchangeably, but they do have different meanings and can show different aspects of your personality on your resume. A hobby is something that you regularly do for fun in your free time, outside of work. An interest, on the other hand, is the pursuit of knowledge on a particular subject, and may or may not be work-related. Learning about an art movement or a particular artist might be a personal interest, while learning more about psychology if you’re a salesperson, for example, might be beneficial for your career.

The difference between the two comes down to the level of activity. If you have an interest in painting, you might go to museums to study the works of the Impressionists, but if it’s a hobby, you might take painting lessons. Additionally, hobbies are generally ongoing (such as building a model train collection) but interests are sometimes more transient — you learn about a particular subject or concept as the mood strikes you.

It is completely possible for an interest to morph into a hobby. For example, perhaps you have an interest in jazz. After learning about the composition of this type of music, and the major figures in the genre, you may decide to learn how to play the saxophone. 

The benefits of listing hobbies and interests on a resume

If you’re a fresh grad or have limited work experience, hobbies and interests are a great way to fill out a resume. Through these interests and hobbies, hiring managers can more easily relate to you as a human being, not just as words on a piece of paper. If you think about it, your resume is your only connection to the employer (at least at first), and since you’re a well-rounded person who participates in activities that compliment your personality, you should be able to express that to a hiring manager. They’re an important piece of your personal puzzle. And the bottom line is that having a hobby (or two) can make you a better person, which will also help you be a better employee.

Why else should you list your hobbies and interests on your resume?

• It can create a connection with the hiring manager. If they’re interested in that thing as well, it can work as a great icebreaker should you get an interview. Interviewers often ask, “What do you do for fun?” If you’ve listed them on your resume, you can refer them to that section, and then take a minute to elaborate. You don’t have to hem and haw to come up with an answer—it’s all right there in black and white.

• It demonstrates how you'd fit into the company and its values. These days, many employees are looking to strengthen their work-life balance, and employers are seeing the value in providing a workplace where their employees can feel appreciated and engaged. For example, perhaps you like to complete Ironman triathlons in your free time, and the company often sponsors charity races and sporting events. Perfect match!

• It can support your transferable skills. A successful accountant is detail-oriented and tech-savvy. So if you enjoy building computers from scratch on the weekends, that will demonstrate that you do indeed have those qualities. An advertising firm would appreciate the fact that you coordinate charity events for the local children’s hospital, as it shows that you’re outgoing, organized, and like to communicate with people. 

Don't list every single interest and hobby you have—that would be overwhelming and take up valuable space on your resume. Two or three examples are just fine. 

Why should you include your hobbies and interests on your resume?

When you’re tailoring your resume for each position you’re applying for, you’ll want to adjust your hobbies and interests as well. This is an example of how doing your research on a company can serve you well, even before you've had an interview. Take a look at the company's social media pages to get a better idea of its overall culture. For a more conservative, corporate environment, you might be better off focusing on your skills and experience. But if it’s a more relaxed environment, such as a company in a creative industry or a startup, by all means, include your hobbies! If the people in the company express their interests and activities, chances are they’ll want to hire someone who does, too.

The best reasons to include your hobbies and interests on your resume include:

• You don’t have an extensive work history

• The employer requests it in their job posting

• The job posting details tasks and skills that match up with your interests/hobbies

• Your research has shown that the company values individuality and creativity in its employees

But if you really can’t decide what to do, ask yourself, “Do these hobbies and interests add value to me as a potential candidate at this company and in this position?” If the answer is no, leave it off. Adding hobbies and interests—judiciously and targeted for each position—can make you stand out as a fully-formed personality, and increase your chances that they’ll want to meet this fabulous applicant.

How to include hobbies and interests on a resume

If you choose to include hobbies and interests on your resume, they should supplement your work history, education, and skills, not take center stage. Place them in a section towards the bottom of your resume titled something like “Hobbies and Interests,” and consider using bullet points to make them easy to read. (You can describe each hobby/interest, but keep it brief. It’s a “supporting character,” not a “lead actor” situation.) And be prepared to talk about it should you get an interview—the hiring manager might be intrigued! And, like every resume, this section should be tailored to the job to which you’re applying—no generic lists allowed—and you should be able to make a connection between the skills required for the job and your hobby.

When making your list of hobbies and interests, there are a few important points that you want to keep in mind:

• Be truthful. If you’ve never climbed a mountain, don’t list “mountain climbing” as a hobby. You don’t know the interviewer’s background, and you don’t want to get caught in a lie.

• Don’t be vague. Saying you like to play video games isn’t helpful, but mentioning that you’re learning coding in your free time might be a useful skill.

• Be distinctive but in a good way. Mentioning your weekend softball league shows that you're a team player; talking about bungee jumping might make the interviewer think you're too much of a risk-taker.

What hobbies should you not list on a resume?

The hobbies and interests you include on your resume should support your skills and experience and add value to your candidacy. However, there are a few things you should not include in your “Hobbies and Interests” section:

• Dangerous hobbies

• Interests or hobbies that might reveal aspects of your life you might want to keep private from an employer, such as religion or politics

• Hobbies or interests that might be interpreted as provocative, harmful, or unethical

• Listing anything as a “joke,” such as “unicorn grooming”

• Hobbies that require no interpersonal communication

Do

• • Strike a balance between hobbies that are individual activities and team-based
• • Give a variety of hobbies/interests that showcase your personality
• • Make sure your listed interests and hobbies are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• • Be truthful. Don’t list something like “mountain climbing” if you’ve never done it.
• • Be distinctive but in a good way. Mentioning your weekend softball league shows that you're a team player; talking about bungee jumping might make the interviewer think you're too much of a risk-taker.

Don't

• • Be vague. Saying you like to play video games isn’t helpful, but mentioning that you’re learning coding in your free time might be a useful skill.
• • List anything that might be polarizing, such as dangerous sports or hot-button political activities.
• • Give too much detail. Keep your descriptions brief. You can always expand on the topic if it comes up in an interview.
• • Include mundane activities such as “hanging out with friends” or watching movies.

7 Examples of hobbies you can list on a resume

As we’ve mentioned, the best hobbies to list on your resume are ones that complement the job you’re applying for. Don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of interests and hobbies—you only need a few. Some examples of interests and hobbies that would be good to list on a resume include:

1. Intellectual hobbies, like chess, astronomy, robotics, or learning a new language show that you possess both creative and analytical thinking skills.

2. Creative hobbies, such as writing, painting, ceramic, or drawing. These show imagination and that you can take a creative approach to problem-solving.

3. Social or community-based hobbies, such as volunteering at a homeless shelter, amateur theater, cooking classes, or delivering meals for the elderly. These hobbies demonstrate that you care about the world around you and can work well with others.

4. Team sports, such as bowling leagues, softball, running clubs, yoga classes, or basketball, suggest that you have leadership and teamwork skills.

5. Endurance sports, such as triathlons, marathons, trail running, or long-distance cycling show commitment, perseverance, and determination.

6. Collecting hobbies, such as stamps, coins, vinyl records, or baseball cards, show off both a deep interest in and commitment to your collection. This also displays your research skills, attention to detail, and desire to learn new information.

7. Outdoor hobbies, such as camping, hiking, gardening, or white water rafting demonstrate that you value your health and well-being and take the opportunity to step away from work to avoid burnout.

In this competitive employment market, job-seekers should do everything they can to stand out from the crowd. Including interests and hobbies on your resume is a good way to demonstrate intellectual drive, relevant skills, and your uniqueness as a candidate. This way, employers can rest assured they’re hiring a well-rounded individual who will bring a variety of talents to the table.

Need a little help polishing your resume? Check out our Resume Builder tool to create a professional resume that will get you noticed.

Key takeaways

1. A hobby is something that you regularly do for fun in your free time, outside of work, and an interest is the pursuit of knowledge on a particular subject, and may or may not be work-related.

2. If you’re a fresh grad or have limited work experience, hobbies and interests are a great way to fill out a resume. 

3. Tailor your list of hobbies and interests for each job you’re applying for.

4. Place your hobbies/interests in a separate section at the bottom of your resume.