What are your hobbies and interests
What are your hobbies and interests
Interview Question: “What Are Your Hobbies?”
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When you’re preparing to interview for a new job, remember that not all the questions asked during an interview will directly relate to the position you’re interviewing for. If interviewers are interested in you as a candidate for the job, they will go further afield with their questions.
What the Interviewer Wants to Know
If interviewers are interested in you for the job, they are going to want to know if you are a well-rounded person who will fit in with the company culture. Interviewers will want to know if you are passionate about certain things. They may ask you about your hobbies, interests, and activities outside of work if they are truly interested in you as a candidate.
Some employers also ask about your hobbies to get a sense of your ability to balance your work and personal life.
They want to know that you have a life outside of work, but that you won’t let it interfere with your ability to get tasks done.
How to Answer “What Are Your Hobbies?”
When answering these kinds of interview questions, provide answers that are honest, but be careful not to go into so much detail about your hobbies that they will seem to threaten your commitment to the job. If, for example, your hobby is following your daughter from city to city because she performs as a gymnast, that might be worrisome to many interviewers.
Prior to your interview, do some research on the company and see if any of your hobbies or interests dovetail with the company culture. Those are interests you should emphasize if your interviewer asks this question. Avoid answers that make you seem uninteresting or, even worse, inappropriate. Keep your answers brief.
Examples of the Best Answers
Here are some sample answers that might help you when you are faced with a question about your hobbies and interests. You can use these to formulate your own response.
Example Answer #1
One of my hobbies is working out and I noticed, in your job advertisement, that you have a gym for your employees. That is attractive to me not only because I can work out there but also because I’ll be able to meet other employees in the gym and get to know them on a more casual basis.
Why It Works: Exercise and fitness-related hobbies can demonstrate health, energy, vitality, and the ability to manage stress. If an older applicant works out as a hobby, this could alleviate an interviewer’s concern about the applicant’s age. The interviewer would also be pleased to hear that you are interested in getting to know your fellow employees, particularly if the organization is one that focuses on team-building.
But remember to be honest first and foremost. You don’t want to brag about being a “golf pro» and then get to the driving range with your new employer, only to have no idea what to do.
Example Answer #2
I enjoy volunteer work and community activities. I coach my son’s Little League baseball team. I also volunteer a couple of hours per week at a social services organization that hands out clothes and furnishings to the homeless.
Why It Works: Volunteer work shows high character and concern for people other than yourself. Working for community-based organizations is also a great way to source potential clients while pursuing a common interest.
Example Answer #3
One of my extracurricular activities is keeping up with my professional development and continuing education responsibilities. As you know, we must complete six hours of continuing education each year. I keep up with my area of expertise through reading professional journals, attending seminars, and taking the occasional class, either online or in a traditional classroom. I also often serve as one of the officers for our professional association.
Why It Works: In some professions, it’s mandatory to keep up with new developments by taking continuing education classes and keeping up through meetings and conferences, reading journals, and taking other classes of interest. Indicating that you do these things will be reassuring to your interviewer.
Example Answer #4
I have a variety of hobbies. I hike with my dog every chance I get. I spend time with my spouse and children. I try to work on the New York Times crossword puzzle every weekend. I like to cook.
Why It Works: If you’re honest, these things are considered positives. Physical fitness and attention to pets and family are always positive activities. Working on crossword puzzles indicates an attention to detail. Cooking suggests a certain creativity.
Tips for Giving the Best Response
Take it in stride. Some people get surprised by questions about things unrelated to the job. Don’t let this question throw you off your game. If you need to, take a pause and think, and then answer as you would any other interview question.
Try to relate the hobby to the job or company. If possible, connect your hobby to the company or job. This will show your deep interest in the industry. For example, if you are applying for a job in gaming, you might mention your passion for certain video games.
You might also focus on answers that demonstrate a positive quality that might indirectly help you achieve success at work. For example, if your job requires that you do a lot of writing and editing, you might mention your passion for reading novels or writing your own stories.
Explain how you fit your hobby into your life. Don’t just name an activity as your hobby and leave it at that. Go on to (briefly) explain how you incorporate your hobby into your life. If your hobby is gardening, you might say that you own a plot in a community garden in your neighborhood and that you spend a few hours there every weekend. Demonstrate to your employer that you follow through with your interest.
You also want to avoid seeming as if you spend all your time on your hobbies. You want to show that you have interests, but that you also have the time to do the job well.
Explain why you love it. Along with saying how you fit your hobby into your life, add a brief explanation of why you love the hobby. Perhaps you like gardening because you find being outside calming. Maybe you play team sports because you love working with other people. By explaining why you like an activity, you’ll give your employer a better sense of who you are and what makes you tick.
Keep it brief. Even though you want to include all of this information, you still want to keep your answer brief. Don’t go on a 10-minute monologue about your favorite plant or your past five camping trips. This question is not meant to be a big part of the interview.
Be honest. Make sure the hobby you mention is one that you actually pursue. If you get the job, the employer will likely remember that you said you loved soccer, for example, and might invite you to join a team. Don’t get caught in a lie. Also, be prepared for follow-up questions: If you say you love movies, for instance, interviewers may ask you what your favorite movie is, or the last movie you saw in theaters.
What Not to Say
Don’t Talk About Controversial Hobbies. If your hobby is protesting for a political party or religious zealotry, then keep that to yourself. You don’t know the interviewer’s views, and you don’t want to cause any offense or bring up a difficult subject.
Be Careful About Personal Conversation. Don’t bring up personal issues except as they relate to your hobbies. You don’t want to talk about difficult health issues that concern you or your family during your interview. Don’t ask the interviewer personal questions.
Don’t Talk Too Much About Your Hobbies. Even though extracurricular activities are important if the interviewer asks you about them, they aren’t the most important part of the interview. Be brief in your answers.
BEST Examples of Hobbies and Interests to put on a CV [2021]
Sobhan Mohmand, Career Expert
17 May 2021
The hobbies and interests section is an important but optional section in your CV. Many candidates do include it in their CVs, whereas others don’t.
We recommend including your personal interests on your CV because it is a great way to stand out from the crowd, show the prospective employer a bit of your personality and make it a basis for conversion at the job interview.
David Littleford et al., (2004) in their book Career Skills (pg. 14-15) mention under “other interests”:
“You should include hobbies and other interests, especially if they involve social and community activities. These activities are important – cover membership of societies, sports clubs/teams, etc. All these activities and the extent of your involvement give the recruiter clues about the real you and your interests.”
In this guide you will find out:
1. What are hobbies and interests?
A hobby is an activity that you regularly pursue for enjoyment purposes, particularly during your leisure time. These are activities that generally relieve you from stress, tension or fatigue.
What are examples of hobbies for a CV?
An interest is an activity that you want to do or are currently doing on an irregular basis.
What are examples of personal interests for a CV?
2. Should I add hobbies and interests to my CV?
Yes, adding personal hobbies to your CV can strengthen your job application and increase the chances of securing a job interview. This is because recruiters invest in people; they hire and work with human beings, not robots. Recruiters actively look for every clue in the candidates’ CVs to find out about their interests, skills and competencies.
The benefits of including your personal interests on your CV:
Remember that your CV is your personal marketing tool, and you should make the most out of using the totality of your CV, including the interests section, to “sell yourself” to the prospective employer.
Due to the lack of valuable space on these candidates’ CVs, relevant work experience and qualifications take a higher priority over personal interests.
3. What your hobbies “say” about you
Here’s what the prospective employers will be subconsciously asking themselves when reading through the candidates’ CVs:
What does “I play football on a regular basis”, “I enjoy solving puzzles” or “I like fixing computers” tell me about this candidate?
Many people do not realise that the hobbies and interests they include in their CVs can reveal a lot of information about them and their personalities.
Below is a list of some hobbies and interests and what they tell employers about the candidate:
List of hobbies and interests for a CV
Hobby, interest or skill | What it reveals about the candidate |
---|---|
Computing | Is technical-minded and good with technology, may also be introverted |
Swimming | Keeps fit and healthy |
Solving puzzles | Has excellent problem-solving and analytical skills and likes to overcome challenges |
Playing Football/Soccer | Has team-working skills; enjoys the company of other people |
Playing chess | Is intelligent, a strategist and deliberates before taking action |
Mentoring | Is a team player (rather than loner), has good communication and interpersonal skills |
Playing squash | Is highly competitive and motivated |
Reading | Is intelligent, likes learning new things, is open-minded and analytical |
Writing | Is creative, artistic and/or passionate |
Going to the gym | Is conscious of their health, is fit and motivated to accomplish goals |
Travelling | Is outgoing, social and adventurous |
Ask yourself: how do these interests add value to my application? Try to highlight your ability to interact, help and/or communicate with others.
4. What kind of hobbies should I put on my CV?
Answer: Those that are relevant and add value to your application!
The rule of thumb is only to include activities that contribute to and strengthen the application. If you cannot draw this valid connection, then do not include those activities.
Different activities can be interpreted differently depending on the job you are applying for. For example, “playing computer games” as a hobby is irrelevant to most jobs and may sometimes portray you as a self-absorbed individual living in their own little cyber world.
However, the same hobby can add tremendous weight to your CV if you apply for a job as a video game developer, graphics designer or as a shop assistant at your local games shop!
How to match your interests with the job you are applying for:
Many companies have a ‘culture’ in the way they operated and how employees of that organisation behave. Google, for instance, is now famously known for allowing employees to play games, take a walk or do sports in order to relieve stress or become more productive during working hours. When applying for a job at a company like Google, there is no harm in showing a little bit of your fun, playful and human side because that fits in nicely with their company culture.
It is always a good idea to write down the list of skills and abilities that you possess and see which of these would add value if you include it in your CV. Skills and abilities are closely related to your hobbies and interest; therefore, you may include them in this section too.
5. How to write hobbies on a CV
Now, let’s get down to writing it.
There are thousands of hobbies and interests that people include in their CVs. Selecting the correct hobbies to include will depend on a number of factors, including the job sector and the job role/specifications.
6. What are some good hobbies to put on a CV? [Examples]
Let’s get down to the specifics!
Martin Yate, a best-selling careers author, outlines three broad categories of leisure activities to include on your CV in his book The Ultimate CV Book (Pg.35):
However, not every one of the above categories may be suitable for your situation and the job that you are applying for. Only select the hobbies and interests that are relevant to the job and add value to your application.
Below you will find lists of good hobbies/interests to put on your CV:
10 Examples of good interests for a CV
These interests enhance your CV because they inform the employer that you possess excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills which enables you to undertake these activities. It also confirms that you are motivated and determined about the things you are passionate about.
27 Examples of excellent hobbies to put on a CV
7. 5 Great examples of interests section of a CV
Example 1 – Economist
Example 2 – Teaching Assistant
Note: The example below is a bit long because the candidate had empty space in their CV and utilised it accordingly.
Example 3 – Civil Engineer
Example 4 – Credit Controller
Example 5 – Journalist
8. Location of the hobbies section on a CV
The interests section should be placed at the end of the second page, just before the CV references section:
Remember: This section is optional so placing it higher up on your CV will give the prospective employer the impression that you do not understand how to prioritise things. Think about it, how can your personal interests be more important to the employer than you work experience or qualifications?
9. Things to avoid when writing your hobbies section
It is best to avoid putting anything controversial or sensitive on your CV. Humans are by their nature very judgemental, so be wise about what you disclose on your CV. For example, some recruiters may judge you negatively if you included heavy metal as your favourite music genre.
Stating that you are an “active member of the local church” may harm your chances of being invited to an interview, especially when the potential employer reading your CV is a strict atheist. Similarly, stating that you “volunteered on a number of Labour election campaigns” or that you are a “huge fan of Manchester United” is also not a very good idea.
It is in the employer’s best interest to have you healthy, fit and able to work. Any leisure activities that put your life at risk (or are too time-consuming) will be looked unfavourably upon. Therefore, please remove “regular rock climbing in the Himalayas” as one of your hobbies from your CV. Thanks.
Managers, executives and directors should entirely omit this section of their CVs. Their personal interests should be clear from their achievements and experiences in the workforce.
Adding too many hobbies to your CV fills up valuable space that could be used for more important information. The following is a sample of a CV’s Hobbies section with too many hobbies:
At this stage, the prospective employer will most likely be wondering: “Gosh, when will this person have any time to do some work?!”
Remember that whatever you put on your CV, including your personal interests, may be asked about and scrutinised at the interview stage. Save yourself the embarrassment and do not lie about your hobbies.
Performing witchcraft and frog dissections for fun shouldn’t be the hobbies of anyone, let alone mentioning it on your professional CV!
Yes, believe it or not, people have actually used these hobbies on their CVs…
Conclusion
Adding a list of hobbies and interests to your CV is an excellent way of enhancing your CV and improving the chances of being invited to job interviews. Regardless of your job or industry, you should only add hobbies or interests on your CV that are relevant and add value to your application.
Good example list of personal interests and hobbies for a CV that will impress any employer:
That is it; we have come to the end of this guide. You should now have written an excellent CV hobbies and interests section – well done!
Do you need any help on other parts of your CV or looking for a template? Check out Download CV templates (Word) and How to write a CV (guide) where you will find more tips, information and examples.
How to Answer “What Are Your Hobbies and Interests?” (Example Answers Included)
By Mike Simpson
What are your hobbies and interests? Seems like a strange question for an interview, right? After all, what do your hobbies and interest have to do with your career? Well, they can actually have a lot to do with it, depending on what they are.
So, are you ready to learn more about the wild world of interests and hobbies, including which interests and hobbies to put on a resume, discuss during an interview, and more? Great! Here’s what you need to know.
Hobbies, Interests, and Your Job Search
Alright, it might not seem like hobbies, interests, and your job search have a ton in common. The thing is, they can, particularly if you frame the situation the right way.
First, let’s take a moment and talk about what a hobby or interest even is. So, what are hobbies? Well, the definition from the folks at Merriam-Webster says, “a pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.” While that might be a little nondescript, it’s nonetheless accurate.
As for interests, in this context, it usually references – according to Collins Dictionary – something “you want to learn or hear more about.” Again, a bit vague but apt. It is a subject or pursuit you enjoy, typically to the point that you willingly and enthusiastically spend personal time diving into it.
Alright, but how does all of this matter to a job search? Well, your hobbies might showcase your creativity, your ability to work as part of a team, or a specific skill that you acquired through non-traditional means. With interests, you can showcase a passion for a topic and a willingness to learn on your own. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
Why does being able to showcase additional skills and traits matter? Well, no matter where you are in your career, they could help you separate yourself from the pack and land the job you have your eye on; that’s why.
Here’s something to consider; entry-level jobs were down 68 percent during the pandemic. That meant most recent grads were facing stiff competition for a limited number of openings. Couple that with skyrocketing unemployment, and finding any advantage could be a must.
Even seasoned professionals can benefit from looking beyond their traditional job-earned skills. Of companies that screen candidate social media accounts, 31 percent were specifically looking at whether the job seeker seemed well-rounded, including having a wide variety of interests. While that was social media-specific, it shows the potential value of showcasing knowledge and passions outside of your professional life.
Plus, the hobbies and interests you choose could demonstrate that you’re a great culture fit. Since many hiring managers take that into consideration, highlighting activities that align with the company’s mission, values, or vibe can work in your favor.
Ultimately, by highlighting the right hobbies or interests, you might be able to differentiate yourself from the pack. Yes, they are that powerful, but only when properly leveraged. And how do you do that? Don’t worry; we’ll get into that here in a moment.
List of Hobbies / List of Interests
Okay, before we dig into why hiring managers ask this question and how to tackle it properly, it’s helpful to see a list of hobbies and a list of interests that could potentially be relevant to your job search. That way, you can focus on the right areas when it comes time to prepare a response.
So, without any ado, here are those lists.
List of Hobbies
List of Interests
Why Does the Hiring Manager Ask This Question?
Generally speaking, the hiring manager asks you, “what are your hobbies” or “what are your interests” for a few reasons. One of the biggest is to see if you’re a well-rounded person.
Hobbies and interests suggest a full life that isn’t entirely dominated by your career. Plus, there’s a good chance you use them as a form of stress management, which may mean you’re better equipped to handle challenges that occur in all parts of your life.
Second, the hiring manager wants to know about your hobby or interests because you likely gained some transferable skills along the way. Both hard and soft skills can be earned through these kinds of activities and pursuits of knowledge, so the hiring manager is trying to figure out if you’ve picked any potentially valuable capabilities or understandings.
Finally, learning about your interests and hobbies lets the hiring manager assess your culture fit. For example, if a company values wellness, they may appreciate your dedication to fitness as it makes you look like a better match for the culture.
Ultimately, the hiring manager has to look at more than your technical capabilities to figure out if you’re right for the role. By asking about your hobbies and interests, that gets a bit easier.
Remember, this is just one question the hiring manager could ask you in your interview! That’s why we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview.
Click below to get your free PDF now:
Get Our Job Interview Questions & Answers Cheat Sheet!
Common Mistakes When Answering This Question
Alright, when it comes time to prep an answer to this interview question, it’s critical that you avoid certain mistakes. For example, lying about your hobbies or interests is a biggie. Why? Because, eventually, the truth will probably come out. Not only can dishonesty be a huge red flag, but it can also cost you the job.
Second, talking about hobbies or interests that aren’t professional isn’t a smart move. Similarly, anything related to taboo, controversial, or illegal undertakings shouldn’t come up on your resume or during your interview.
Additionally, avoiding specifics isn’t ideal. If you’re overly vague, it may come across as disingenuous. Ideally, you want to exude enthusiasm for what you do, and adding some details can help you do that.
On a final note, it’s also best to avoid hobby or interest overload. While mentioning a few is fine, even if they are usually good interests or hobbies to put on a resume, it’s better to limit yourself to no more than a handful, preferably just three or so.
Tips for Answering This Question
Now that you have some ideas about which hobbies and interests to put on a resume or talk about during an interview, let’s take a moment to discuss how to create a quality answer to the interview question. If you want to make sure your response is on point, here are some outstanding tips that can help.
Focus on Relevance
As with every part of your job search experience, when you’re choosing interests or hobbies for a resume or interview answer, relevance is the key. You should only discuss an activity or knowledge area that provides the hiring manager with some level of value.
Now, this doesn’t mean you’re stuck with only relevant hard skills. Soft skills are essential, too, along with culture fit. If one of your examples hits at least one of those areas in a way that matters to the hiring manager, you should be in good shape.
How do you figure out which hobbies and interests hit the mark? By doing some research. Review the position description to learn about must-have skills and traits. Take a deep dive into the company’s website to explore its mission and values. Head over to the company’s social media accounts to glean insights about its culture. Those are all great ways to find out more about what the hiring manager is trying to find, ensuring you include the best hobbies and interests to show you’re a match.
2. But Be Genuine
As mentioned above, being passionate about the hobby or interest is crucial. Don’t say that you love an activity or subject if you don’t just because you think it’ll help you get on the hiring manager’s good side. Instead, talk about something that really matters to you.
Enthusiasm is an important part of the equation. It’s better to say what your hobbies and interests are – and briefly explain why you adore them so much – in an authentic manner. That way, your answer feels real.
Plus, the hiring manager may only be concerned with whether you’re well-rounded, not whether the activity gave you a work-related skill. That means that the hobby or interest you discuss doesn’t matter as much as having one in the first place.
3. Be Concise
While you do want to add enough detail to showcase the relevance of the hobby or interest, as well as your passion for it, it’s still important to be concise. When we talk about stuff we adore, it’s easy to get carried away; that’s just a fact.
Create an answer that about three to five sentences long. That way, you can fit in a few details without digging too deep. Then, practice it so that you really have it down.
And, when your interview arrives, resist the urge to extrapolate. Keep your answer brief. If the hiring manager wants to know more, they’ll ask follow-up questions – giving you room to expand – so keep that in mind.
How to Answer the Interview Question “What Are Your Hobbies and Interests?”
When it comes time to answer the “what are your hobbies and interests?” you want to have a compelling response ready to share. How do you prep an answer that’s informative and engaging? Well, by using the Tailoring Method, of course.
With the Tailoring Method, it’s all about relevance and creating a great narrative. By using that approach, your responses will be meaningful in relation to the role, ensuring you can showcase your potential value as an employee.
So, what does it look like when you put the Tailoring Method, and the other tips above into action? Why don’t we show you? Here are the great examples of how to answer “what are your interests and hobbies,” with one showcasing a hard skill, one showcasing a soft skill, and one focused on culture fit.
1. Hard Skill
Usually, you’ll want to focus on a hard skill you learned through a hobby when the capability is relevant to the role, and you don’t have any on-the-job experience with it. It’s an approach that lets you highlight how you earned the capability, effectively covering what may otherwise look like a gap.
Here is an answer that focuses on hard skills.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“When it comes to hobbies, photography is the most significant one in my life. Not only has it taught me a lot about composition, but it also created an opportunity to hone my photo editing skills. It is the photo editing aspect of this role that really caught my attention. Turning images into something spectacular is one of my passions, and I believe that my experience with my own photography has given me the necessary capabilities to thrive.”
2. Soft Skill
In most cases, soft skills are highly transferable. Plus, they can be crucial for success, giving you the ability to navigate complex situations at work with greater ease and work better with others, regardless of whether you always see eye-to-eye.
Here is a response to this interview question that concentrates on soft skills.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“When it comes to interests and hobbies, I would have to say my volunteer work is the most important thing in my life in that regard. Every month, I spend time volunteering at my area foodbank. Not only has this given me the opportunity to support my community, but I’ve also learned valuable skills along the way. I’ve had opportunities to lead projects, connect with people in need, and become part of a dedicated team that shares common goals. The experience is invaluable, and I look forward to my time there greatly.”
3. Culture Fit
With a culture fit answer, you want to align how a hobby or interest connects to one of the companies values or workplace vibe. It’s all about showcasing how you’re on the same page and that you’d mesh quickly with the company’s culture.
Here is an answer to this critical interview question that addresses culture fit.
EXAMPLE ANSWER:
“One of my biggest hobbies and interests is meditation. I noticed in your company values that employee wellness is a priority. Through meditation, I find that I am better equipped to offer myself self-care. It also keeps me centered and focused, even during high-stress times. Your dedication to wellness is one of the reasons I applied to the position, as I feel the company’s values align with my own.”
Other Places Hobbies / Interests Are Important
Alright, so now you should have a solid idea about how to tackle the interview question. But what about interest and hobbies to put on a resume? Where do they go?
Well, one of the simplest things to do is to add a “Hobbies and Interests” section to your resume. If you go that route, you can list a few choice hobbies or interests in a spot that’s just for them.
Just make sure you do more than listing the activity by itself. Instead, include a few extra words that highlight why it’s relevant to the role, like the skills it helped you acquire, or at least give a bit of context.
However, your resume isn’t the only option. You can also discuss hobbies and interests in your cover letter. If you need a bit of extra space to showcase why a particular one is relevant, your cover letter could be the perfect spot for that.
Putting It All Together
In the end, hobbies and interests can come up during your job search. Use the tips above to make sure you showcase the right ones at the proper time, including during your interview, on your resume, and even in your cover letter. That way, they can help you come across as appropriately skilled, well-rounded, a great culture fit, and, ultimately, the best candidate for the job.
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Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.
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«My Hobby» — топик по английскому
У всех у нас есть увлечения и интересы, и как же нам приятно о них рассказывать. Давайте с вами научимся говорить о своих хобби и интересах на английском языке.
Ниже будет дан базовый словарь по теме, а также примеры рассказов для разных возрастных групп.
Какие могут быть хобби?
Вот вам полезный словарь по теме «Hobbies».
Из всех активных видов хобби первым на ум приходит, конечно же, спорт:
Любителям адреналина больше подойдут экстремальные виды хобби:
Также к активным видам хобби можно отнести и следующие занятия:
К спокойным видам хобби можно отнести занятия, которым вы можете предаваться не выходя из дома и которые не потребуют от вас особых физических усилий:
Также для рассказа о хобби вам будут полезны следующие выражения:
Примеры топика «Hobbies»
Для средней школы
A hobby is something you like to do in your free time. Some people make something, grow plants or collect things. A lot of people do sports in their free time. Some people are fond of traveling or gardening.
My friend is fond of collecting dolls. She has got a very good collection and she is proud of it. She keeps her dolls in special bags and doll’s houses. This hobby is very popular with girls. Collecting dolls is funny but expensive.
I spend a lot of time on my homework but in the evenings I have enough free time to do my hobby. My hobbies are reading, playing LEGO and roller skating.
I like reading very much. I read interesting books, usually about magic.
I like to play LEGO. I have built a lot of houses from LEGO blocks and I like to do it.
I’m fond of roller skating. I can roller skate but I want to skate better. I’ve done skating for about 6 months. I’m proud that I could learn to roller skate so quickly.
I think that my hobbies are exciting!
Перевод:
Хобби — это то, чем вы любите заниматься в свободное время. Некоторые люди что-то делают руками, выращивают растения или коллекционируют вещи. Многие люди занимаются спортом в свободное время. Некоторые любят путешествовать или заниматься садоводством.
Моя подруга увлекается коллекционированием кукол. У нее очень хорошая коллекция, и она гордится ей. Она хранит свои куклы в специальных сумках и кукольных домиках. Это хобби очень популярно среди девушек. Собирать кукол — это занимательно, но дорого.
Я провожу много времени, делая домашнюю работу, но по вечерам у меня достаточно свободного времени, чтобы заниматься своими хобби. Я увлекаюсь чтением, игрой в LEGO и катанием на роликах.
Я очень люблю читать. Я читаю интересные книги, обычно о магии.
Мне нравится играть в LEGO. Я построил много домов из блоков LEGO, и мне нравится это делать.
Я люблю кататься на роликах. Я могу кататься на роликах, но хочу кататься лучше. Я катался на коньках около 6 месяцев. Я горжусь тем, что смог научиться кататься на роликах так быстро.
Я думаю, что мои увлечения захватывающие!
Мое хобби — компьютерные игры
Many people have hobbies. They make our life more interesting. A hobby is what people like to do when they have free time. Everyone chooses a hobby according to his character and taste. Some people are fond of music, others like to read books. Some people like to collect stamps, coins or badges, others prefer gardening or hiking or taking photographs. Some people like to cook, others like to knitter sew. Generally speaking, a hobby is a matter of taste.
My hobby is playing computer games. Both grown-ups and children are fond of it now. It has become one of the most popular hobbies nowadays. I think that playing with a computer is very interesting. It is not only «wasting time» as some people say.
Computer games make us to think things over properly, they widen and develop our mind and imagination. I have a good collection of different games and when I have some free time I play them with great pleasure. My favourite game is…
Some of my friends have the same hobby and we like to play together.
Перевод:
У многих людей есть хобби. Они делают нашу жизнь более интересной. Хобби это то, что люди хотели бы делать, когда у них есть свободное время. Каждый выбирает хобби согласно его характеру и вкусу. Некоторые люди любят музыку, другие любят читать книги. Некоторые люди любят собирать марки, монеты или значки, другие предпочитают озеленение или пеший туризм или фотографировать. Некоторые люди любят готовить, другие вязать или шить. Грубо говоря, хобби — это дело вкуса.
Мое хобби — играть в компьютерные игры. Как взрослые, так и дети любят это теперь. Это стало одним из наиболее популярных хобби в настоящее время. Я думаю, что компьютерная игра очень интересна. Это не только «тратить время», как некоторые люди говорят.
Компьютерные игры стимулируют нас обдумать вещи должным образом, они расширяют и развивают наш ум и воображение. У меня есть хорошая коллекция различных игр, и когда у меня есть свободное время, я играю в них с большим удовольствием. Моя любимая игра …
Некоторые из моих друзей имеют такое же хобби, и нам нравится играть вместе.
My Family’s Hobbies
My name is Adrianna and I’m 14 years old. My family is not very big. It’s just me, my parents and the tortoise named George.
All the members have their own hobbies in our house. Even George has a hobby — to eat and to sleep. My hobby is dancing and knitting. I regularly attend the dance class and watch step-by-step tutorials for knitting.
My mum’s hobby is cooking. She even runs her own blog.
My dad’s hobby is cycling. He loves spending time outside especially if the weather is fine. Last year he even participated in road cycle racing.
However, we also have a family type hobby. During each holiday we make a plan to go somewhere new and to explore the city sights. For example, last summer apart from going to the seaside, we visited two new cities — Irkutsk and Angarsk. We have relatives living there, so it was rather convenient for us to arrange our stay in the city. I’m glad that my parents love travelling as much as me. This New Year we plan to spend at my uncle’s place in Rostov-on-Don. We’ve been there before, but we don’t mind visiting it again.
Another collective hobby is to buy souvenirs from these cities. For example, in Irkutsk we bought some ethnic finery. As for Rostov, we have already plenty of objects from there, mainly magnets and ceramic plates.
It’s a shame George has to stay at home. Luckily, our neighbor Valentina feeds him, when we are away.
Перевод:
Меня зовут Адрианна, мне 14 лет. Моя семья не очень большая. В ней только я, мои родители и черепаха по имени Джордж.
В нашем доме у каждого свои собственные увлечения. Даже у Джорджа есть хобби — покушать и поспать. Мои хобби танцы и вязание. Я регулярно посещаю уроки танцев и смотрю шаг за шагом руководство по вязанию.
Хобби моей мамы — готовка. У нее есть даже свой блог.
Хобби моего отца — езда на велосипеде. Он любит проводить время на свежем воздухе, особенно если погода хорошая. В прошлом году он даже участвовал в велогонках.
Помимо всего прочего, у нас есть также хобби семейного типа. Каждые каникулы мы составляем план о поездке в новое место и исследовании достопримечательностей города. Например, летом прошлого года, помимо поездки на море, мы посетили два новых города — Иркутск и Ангарск. У нас там живут родственники, что облегчило наше пребывание. Я рад, что мои родители любят путешествовать также сильно, как и я. В этот Новый год мы планируем съездить к моему дяде в Ростов-на-Дону. Мы бывали там прежде, но не против съездить еще.
Другое общее хобби — это покупка сувениров в посещенных городах. Например, в Иркутске мы купили этнические украшения. Что касается Ростова, у нас есть уже много предметов оттуда, в основном, магниты и керамические тарелки.
Жаль, что Джордж должен оставаться дома. К счастью, наша соседка Валентина кормит его, когда мы в отъезде.
Примеры топика «My Hobby» для ВУЗа
My name is Katherine. I’m 17 years old and I’m a student. I have several hobbies which make my day diverse and interesting.
Аlmost every day after the lessons I go to the gym. It’s one of my favourite pastimes. Moreover, I like swimming and skating. There is a sports center in my town where I can do both of these sports. It contains a swimming-pool and a skating-rink. I think sport is a great opportunity to stay healthy and in good mood. I’m lucky because my two best friends also share my hobbies.
Apart from doing sport, I like singing and dancing. I sing at home and at a local karaoke club sometimes. As for dancing, I go to the local youth club with my friends and we dance there. My favourite types of music are disco, pop and rock. I can also play the guitar a little bit. So, when we have guests over, they often ask me to play something. Apart from music and sport, I enjoy beadwork. I like weaving different objects out of beads. I have already made some trees, flowers, small animals and toys as a gift for relatives or friends. They all loved my works of art.
I rarely have spare time, but when I do I play computer games or read a book. These activities can also be regarded as my hobbies. Another interest that I have is foreign languages and travels. My parents sometimes let me travel with them to other countries and I like practicing my English there. I study English and Spanish at school. I like both languages, however they are absolutely different. English is more popular among the tourists, but Spanish is a more melodic language. Last year, me and my parents were in Turkey and local people could speak both these languages, which was a bit surprising for me. To sum up, I’d like to say that it’s important to have some hobbies. They don’t let us to get bored and keep us happy.
Перевод:
Меня зовут Кэтрин. Мне 17 лет и я студентка. У меня есть несколько хобби, которые делают мой день разнообразным и интересным.
Почти каждый день после занятий я хожу в спортзал. Это одно из моих любимых занятий. Кроме того, мне нравится плавание и катание на коньках. В моем городе есть спортивный центр, где я могу заниматься обоими видами спорта. В нем есть и плавательный бассейн и каток. Я думаю, что спорт – это прекрасная возможность оставаться здоровым и в хорошем настроении. Мне повезло, потому что две мои лучшие подруги также разделяют мои увлечения.
Помимо занятий спортом, я люблю петь и танцевать. Я пою дома и в местном караоке-клубе иногда. Что касается танцев, то я хожу в местный молодежный клуб с друзьями, и мы там танцуем. Мои любимые стили музыки — это диско, поп и рок. Я также могу немного играть на гитаре. Поэтому, когда к нам приходят гости, они часто просят меня сыграть что-нибудь. Помимо музыки и спорта, мне нравится бисероплетение. Мне нравится плести различные объекты из бисера. Я уже сплела несколько деревьев, цветов, мелких животных и игрушек в качестве подарков для родственников или друзей. Им всем очень нравятся мои произведения искусства.
У меня не так много свободного времени, но когда оно бывает, я играю в компьютерные игры или читаю книги. Эти виды деятельности можно также приписать к моим увлечениям. Другим моим увлечением являются иностранные языки и путешествия. Мои родители иногда разрешают мне путешествовать с ними в другие страны, и мне нравится практиковать там мой английский. В школе я изучаю английский и испанский языки. Мне нравятся оба языка, однако они абсолютно разные. Английский является более популярным среди туристов, но испанский язык более мелодичный. В прошлом году, мы с родителями были в Турции, и местные жители могли говорить на обоих этих языках, что меня немного удивило. Подводя итог, я хотела бы сказать, что очень важно иметь какие-нибудь хобби. Они не дают нам скучать и делают нас счастливыми.
Еще вариант
Hobby is what a person likes to do in his spare time. Hobbies differ like tastes. If you have chosen a hobby according to your character and taste you are lucky because your life becomes more interesting. The most popular hobby is doing things. It includes a wide variety of activities from gardening to traveling, from chess to volleyball. Both grown-ups and children are fond of playing different computer games. This hobby is becoming more and more popular. Making things include drawing, painting, handicrafts. Many people collect something — coins, stamps, compact discs, toys, books. Some collections have some value. Rich people often collect paintings, rare things and other art objects. Often such private collections are given to museums, libraries.
As for me, I like to listen to music. 3 months ago my parents bought me a compact disc player and I decided to collect compact discs. I like different music, it should be good. I collect discs of my favourite groups and singers. I carefully study the information printed on discbooklets. I try to find everything about my favourite singers. Also I like to watch music programmes on TV. I want to keep up with the news in the world of music.
Of course, I like to spend my spare time with my friends. We talk about all sorts of things (politics, teachers, girls). We discuss films, books, TV programmes. In fine weather we like to be in the open air. We find a nice place somewhere in the forest. We make a fire, bake potatoes and have a lot of fun. When the weather is bad, my friends come to my place. We have a good time together.
Перевод:
Хобби — это то, чем человек любит заниматься в свободное время. Хобби отличаются как и вкусы. Если вы выбрали хобби в соответствии с вашим характером и вкусом, вам повезло, потому что ваша жизнь становится интереснее. Самое популярное хобби — это делание вещей. Оно включает в себя широкий спектр мероприятий от садоводства до путешествий, от шахмат до волейбола. И взрослые, и дети любят играть в разные компьютерные игры. Это хобби становится все более популярным. Делание вещей включает в себя рисование, живопись, ремесла. Многие люди что-то собирают — монеты, марки, компакт-диски, игрушки, книги. Некоторые коллекции имеют определенную ценность. Богатые люди часто собирают картины, редкие вещи и другие предметы искусства. Часто такие частные коллекции передаются музеям, библиотекам.
Что касается меня, я люблю слушать музыку. 3 месяца назад мои родители купили мне проигрыватель компакт-дисков, и я решил коллекционировать компакт-диски. Мне нравится разная музыка, это должно быть хорошо. Я собираю диски моих любимых групп и певцов. Я внимательно изучаю информацию, напечатанную на буклетах. Я пытаюсь найти все о моих любимых певцах. Также я люблю смотреть музыкальные программы по телевизору. Я хочу быть в курсе новостей в мире музыки.
Конечно, я люблю проводить свободное время с друзьями. Мы говорим о самых разных вещах (политика, учителя, девушки). Мы обсуждаем фильмы, книги, телепрограммы. В хорошую погоду нам нравится быть на открытом воздухе. Мы находим хорошее место где-то в лесу. Мы разводим костер, печем картошку и веселимся. Когда погода плохая, мои друзья приходят ко мне. Мы хорошо проводим время вместе.
Hobbies and Interests to Put on a Resume (List of 20+ Examples)
—What are your hobbies and interests?
—Err… I like traveling and long walks on the beach…
Many experts will tell you that you should never, ever list hobbies and interests on a resume, and they have a point. But what if I told you there are times when you absolutely should?
Listing hobbies and interests on your resume might be just the thing that helps you land an interview, but you have to do it right.
In this article, I will tell you:
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Why Put a List of Hobbies and Interests on a Resume?
What are interests?
Interests are subjects that fascinate you and want to learn more about. Interests are usually more about learning and discovering ideas, concepts, and knowledge like history, animal behavior, or even pop culture.
For example, if your interest is history, going to museums would be your hobby.
So what are hobbies?
A hobby is an activity done for fun. Hobbies are done during your time off, not professionally and typically done for no pay. Hobbies include collecting things like stamps or Americana, engaging creative and artistic endeavors, playing sports, or exploring ideas and knowledge.
Notice a pattern?
That’s right: hobbies and interests are typically done for fun, for free, and don’t contribute to the proverbial bottom line. And that’s why in most cases focusing too much on what you do outside of work is not advised. However—
Adding a personal interests and hobbies section is often seen as irrelevant and unprofessional. Yet, the culture is changing.
A lot of companies are no longer looking for mere minions to sit and drink coffee and answer phones all day. They want them to fit in with their culture, so they need something more than just work experience. Take a look at this: Google hires people who are open and playful. If you want to work at Google, you should tailor your resume so that your best hobbies match their work culture.
On the other hand, if you are applying to a buttoned-up accounting firm, you might want to skip putting hobbies in your resume altogether.
Candidate discretion is advised—to borrow from a TV disclaimer.
Here’s What Your Hobbies and Interests Say About You
Most of the hobbies and interests you put on your resume will say something about you to the hiring manager. You can use them to (1) resonate with the interviewer, (2) give them an ice-breaker question, (3) signal character traits they might be looking for.
But here’s the problem—
According to Zety’s analysis of 133,000 resumes, the most commonly mentioned passtime activities were, you guessed it, watching movies, listening to music, reading books, and travel. Hiring managers have seen these hobbies a million times. and truly don’t care. (And neither would you if you were looking for a date.)
Selecting activities for your resume is about choosing what aspects of your personality you want to emphasize and communicate.
See the list below—
Examples of top 15 best hobbies and personal interests to put on a resume:
Volunteering and community involvement
There’s a reason we’re mentioning volunteering first—data shows that 82% of managers would rather hire someone with volunteering experience. Volunteering shows a lot of initiative and strong morals. It also teaches organizational and leadership skills.
Writing
Communication is the heart of every organisation. Writing novels or publishing scientific papers give a clear representation of your written communication skills.
Blogging
Blogging, just as any kind of writing, proves you have communication and writing skills. Data shows communication is the most important skill for people entering the workforce.
Podcasting
The podcast format has become incredibly popular. Podcasting allows to demonstrate you have industry expertize, know how build an audience (marketing skills) and connect with thought leaders (networking and research skills). It’s a good way to improve organizational skills, too.
Marketing
The percentage of US adults who use social media increased from 5% in 2005 to 79% in 2019. The rise of social media has created such new job professions as a social media manager, content creator, or SEO specialist. If you’ve ever made a Facebook page that drew engaged audience or owned an Instagram profile with a stable number of followers, it will definitely make a good impression on the recruiter.
Learning languages
Speaking English might not be enough if you’re planning on developing your career. The three fastest-emerging languages of global consumers are Russian, Hindi, and Japanese. Studies have found a correlation between learning languages and problem-solving abilities, intelligence, and memory skills.
Photography
Photography is so much more than just taking pictures. It develops conceptual skills and technical expertise, but also teaches how to collaborate with others.
Travel
Curiosity, courage, and self-organization. Traveling can prove you’re not afraid of stepping outside your comfort zone and learning new things. And flexibility and adaptability are among the most important workplace personal traits.
Sports
It doesn’t matter what sport you do. Exercising in general develops self-discipline, patience, and helps bounce back from disappointment. Team sports create opportunities to improve leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, too.
You might say yoga is a type of sport, but it’s much more than stretching. It also involves concentrating on breathing and is a great way to relax your mind. And data shows a relaxed employee is less likely to leave their job.
Dance
Dancing isn’t just fun. It’s a social activity that teaches collaboration skills. It also boosts cognitive performance and helps to unwind.
Hundreds of jobs require creativity skills. Imagination and inventiveness are also parts of critical-thinking skills. And research revealed that 93% of employers value critical thinking over the candidate’s undergraduate degree.
Reading
It doesn’t matter if it’s romance books that you read. Reading shows you follow your passions. It also prevents cognitive decline and reduces stress. And helps maintain work-life balance.
Making music
Making music is good for your brain. You might find it surprising, but research shows learning how to play instruments fosters math and science ability. It also helps improve your mental performance (making you better able to concentrate) and memory.
Listening to music
Listening to music lowers stress and elevates your mood. It strengthens learning and memory abilities, too. In the ever-changing corporate world being able to learn new things on a daily basis is a top employability skill (especially in the rise of AI).
The list above is more-or-less sorted by how appropriate listing them on a resume is. The last four? Skip them unless you can be more specific and know for a fact that they will resonate with the hiring team.
They want to see through the hobbies and interests on your resume to find the soft and hard skills. And there are plenty of ways to achieve that, really. See for yourself:
Top Soft and Hard Skills to Read From Hobbies & Personal Interests on a Resume
Hobby & Personal Interest
Top Soft Skill
Top Hard Skill
Volunteering
Writing
Blogging
Content Management Software
Podcasting
Marketing
Search Engine Optimization
Learning languages
Photography
Attention to detail
Travel
Sports
Yoga
Dance
Art
Reading
Music
Here’s what we mean—
Be specific to attract the hiring manager.
Let’s be honest, if you boil down your passions into a single word, they become a yawn fest. Listening to music, reading books, and watching movies? Saying you like these is like saying you like to breathe. Here’s what to do instead—
How to List Hobbies and Interests on a Resume
Take Shanice, for example. She’s applying for a junior position with an advertising agency. She noticed the company is laid-back and a bit geeky—at least juding by a photo she saw on the about us page. The team seems to love Rick and Morty. She does too! There you go, immediate connection.
Then there’s Mike. He likes reading books, sure, but his favorite writer is Wang Shuo. He could mention that on his resume: Reading books by Wang Shuo. Who is Wang Shuo, you ask? Bam—immediate conversation starter.
And Peggy—she’s played basketball since high school and noticed strong teamwork skills in the job ad. Now she can use her passion to signal that she’s a team player—quite literally!
Quirky hobbies like origami, calligraphy, amateur astronomy or breadmaking can stand out. But some will stand out for all the wrong reasons (think: amateur taxidermy or collecting photographs of famous killers).
Also, be careful and don’t try to game the system—
If you’re applying for a job in marketing, don’t say it’s your hobby. (And don’t double-down by saying Confessions of an Advertising Man is your favorite book ever.) If you’re a developer, don’t try to squeeze coding, programming, and computer science into your hobby section, and so on. It will look desparate and become a distraction.
Pro Tip: If you want to save time and find out how to write a resume for your profession, take a look at our guides and examples of resumes for different jobs.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
How to Find the Right Passions for the Company
1. Research the company
You should always start by researching the company. Do they have a particular work culture? Would they find a unique hobbies and interests section on your resume valuable?
Where should you look to find out what to put in your personal interests and hobbies section ?
Make sure you also pay attention to the skills that will be useful for the new position. What are the best skills to put on a resume? Read our guide: What Skills to Put on a Resume? [Examples+ 6 Tips]
2. Choose wisely
When you choose activities, try to match them to desired personality traits.
For example:
If the job requires you to be “outgoing and a good team player,” sports are good hobbies to mention on your resume.
Leave out the bit where you like to sit alone in sweatpants knitting.
right | wrong |
---|---|
Basketball (Team sport exhibiting both qualities.) | Stamp Collecting (Introverted, individualistic activity.) |
At the same time, do try to choose a variety of activities.
By providing a variety of unique activities, you can show that you are:
First, flexible enough to be comfortable in a lot of different situations.
Second, relatable to a range of different people.
Both are important, especially if you are applying for a client-facing position.
Need more tips on how to use the information from the job description to quickly tailor your resume? Read our guide with an infographic: 6 Proven Tips on How to Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description
3. Use passions to highlight your skills and traits.
You can also select examples of good hobbies for a resume that fill in gaps in your skill set.
Jack has gaps in his skill set because he’s only had a handful of internships in the past.
Now, Jack is applying for a position as a graphic designer.
It might be a good idea for Jack to prove he has an eye for visuals by choosing relevant hobbies to list on his resume.
For example: Photography.
Choosing a related hobby reinforces the fact that Jack has the skills necessary for the job.
Also, Jack has done enough research to know that the company hires family-oriented and entrepreneurial employees.
So, he’s decided to write about how he is an occasional freelance photographer for weddings.
Be like Jack.
Take your resume to the next level by matching your list of hobbies to the work culture of your chosen company.
And if you want to save time on formatting and write a great resume and cover letter in a few minutes, check out our resume builder.
The tool will give you loads of useful tips for every section of your resume. Take a look at some our 18 resume templates:
4. Push down your personal activities to the bottom.
Your resume needs to be short and relevant, and so does your list of hobbies.
A good rule of thumb is to make sure your resume doesn’t exceed two pages (read more). To keep it short, only include two or three relevant resume hobbies.
If you need to make cuts, your list of hobbies and interests should be the first things to go.
You may feel tempted to list your best hobbies in a resume:
Don’t!
It’s more effective if you provide a brief, specific description:
Adding a list of interests and hobbies at the bottom of the page is a great way to end your resume. And it may help you make an impression on the recruiter.
If you want to know how to start your resume with a bang, read our guides about resume summaries or resume objectives. They include a lot of actionable examples that you can quickly use to write a perfect opening for your resume.
Three Rules You Should Never Forget [These Work for Dates Too]
Be specific:
Reading is not a unique interest. Reading complicated Russian novels is more specific. List some of your favorite authors. It will also help a recruiter remember you.
right | wrong |
---|---|
Reading complicated Russian novels. | Reading |
Be honest:
Stay away from using examples of hobbies for a resume that aren’t true to you. It could come back to haunt you.
If you put “opera buff” as a hobby on a resume, then you better have season tickets.
It won’t be fun when the recruiter turns out to be an Offenbach enthusiast, and it comes out that the closest you’ve ever been to a stage was the one time you watched Phantom of the Opera on Netflix.
right | wrong |
---|---|
Watching Broadway Musicals. | Opera Buff |
Keep your level of weird low:
It is one thing to be unique, but be careful not to cross the line into the Twilight Zone.
It’s okay to volunteer at an animal shelter, but we all know what cat hoarding implies.
The golden rule of dinner parties is also applicable for examples of interests to mention on a resume:
This is an easy way to alienate someone whose views are different from yours.
Remember, you want to be relatable and likable.
right | wrong |
---|---|
I volunteer at my local animal shelter. | I collect cats compulsively. |
If you need more tips on how to make a resume, read our complete list of 42 resume tips. We divided all the tips into quick 2, 5 or 30-minute fixes: 42 Amazing Resume Tips That You Can Use in 30 Minutes [Examples]
How Putting Examples of Interests and Hobbies on a Resume Benefits You
Adding a unique interests and hobbies section has hidden benefits.
Recruiters, searching for candidates, shuffle through hundreds of resumes looking for the right people.
It is important for the interviewer to be able to create a full image of an applicant.
A list of interests on a resume can help you stand out from the crowd. They can also make you more attractive and memorable to your potential employer.
You are a champion cupcake decorator. That will stick with a recruiter and get your foot in the door before someone else.
It also works in reverse:
If you know who will be conducting your interview, put on your Sherlock cap and do some snooping. Find out if you have personal interests in common with them by checking their LinkedIn profile.
Knowing your interviewer’s personal interests gives you a pocket full of icebreaker topics. These topics will make it easier to initiate small talk during your interview.
Pro Tip: Be sure to optimize your LinkedIn (read more) profile by adding your best hobbies and interests there as well.
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here’s what it may look like:
Key Takeaway
Just like in dating, listing personal interests should be done with caution and for a reason. You want them to resonate, reflect the company culture, and become a conversation starter for all the right reasons. You can use your personal interests to signal character traits, but it’s a bit of a long shot. In the end, the most important aspect of the perfect resume is it’s relevance to the job on hand. Learn how to build a professional resume here.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hobbies and Interests on a Resume
What are personal interests?
Personal interests are activities enjoyed in a person’s free time. They can include hobbies, sports, artistic expression, leisure activities, volunteering, cultural activities, spiritual practices, traditional activities, learning pursuits, and personal development.
Common personal interests include:
Employers often ask candidates about their personal interests to get a better understanding of their character. Listing personal interests on a resume can be beneficial for the candidate, as long as the included list of hobbies and interests is related to their profession. For example, a software developer’s resume may list interests such as writing reviews of video games or recording tutorials for beginner programmers.
As candidates from Gen Z expect a good work-life balance, their personal interests also matter to them more than they mattered to previous generations of workers. Having personal interests can also contribute to better mental wellbeing, managing stress, being less afraid of retirement.
What are examples of hobbies?
There are countless types of hobbies a person can pursue in their free time. They can be divided into several categories, such as: sports, creative activities, art, self-development, group activities, collecting, outdoor activities, music, food, games and puzzles, literature, travel, and more.
Examples of Hobbies: Art
Examples of Hobbies: Collecting
Examples of Hobbies: Food
Examples of Hobbies: Creative Activities
Examples of Hobbies: Games and Puzzles
Examples of Hobbies: Group Activities
Examples of Hobbies: Literature
Examples of Hobbies: Music
Examples of Hobbies: Outdoor Activities
Examples of Hobbies: Self-Development
Examples of Hobbies: Sports
Examples of Hobbies: Travel
If you want to include hobbies on your resume, try to mention the ones which are relevant to your profession. This way, they can boost your application! For example, if you’re writing a line cook resume, mention hobbies such as food blogging, reviewing restaurants, attending cooking classes, and so on. According to our 2021 resume trend study, the top 5 interests listed on resumes include reading, blogging, traveling, music, and sports. This means that mentioning a more specific and unique hobby can make you stand out from other applicants.
What hobbies should I put on a resume?
All the information in your resume must be relevant to the job you want. When choosing hobbies to include in your job application, pick the ones that match your profession. Some hiring managers use the information about interests in the resume as conversation starters to break the ice. But don’t try to impress the recruiter too much with fancy personal interests! And, of course, don’t lie on your resume. Remember that the hiring manager may ask you to elaborate on the hobbies you included. If you write that you love learning languages, but in fact, you haven’t moved beyond beginner level in any of them, it won’t work to your advantage. This may result in a job hunting nightmare for you—but it will be your fault!
Should you add hobbies to a resume?
The short answer is: yes!
The long answer: it depends. First, check if you have enough space left in your job application. Remember that a resume should fit on one page only. It may seem like a lot of space, but in reality, it’s not. It might be more important to list other additional resume sections, such as certifications and licenses, or language skills. But if you have enough space to add a list of interests—then go for it!
Hobbies on resume can show a different aspect of your personality than the other sections. They prove that you also have a life beyond work, and you possess additional skills apart from the ones you use for your job. Of course, remember to include only those hobbies that are relevant to the job you’re pursuing. For example, if you’re writing a hair stylist resume, you can mention interests such as running a beauty blog, writing reviews of cosmetic products, and following fashion trends.