You might wonder if you should list hobbies on your resume. The answer? It depends, and we’ll explain why.
Special skills and hobbies provide employers with a fuller picture of who you are and how you’d fit the company culture. Sharing them in your job application reveals your unique personality, which can help you stand out from other candidates.
To give your resume that extra competitive edge, here’s a guide to how you can showcase your special skills and hobbies on your resume, plus examples to get you started.
Making yourself stand out in a competitive job market is crucial. This is where special skills and hobbies in your resume can play an influential role.
When you apply for a job, you can expect the other candidates to have a similar background to you. This is particularly true if the position is in demand. This is why your interests are worth showcasing – they're unique to you. They add a personal touch to your application and help you stand out from other applicants.
Your special skills and hobbies reflect your unique strengths and soft skills. For example, suppose you're applying for a team leader position. If you're the captain of the local basketball team, that shows teamwork and leadership skills. Hiring managers study your hobbies to learn how well you might fit into their team and company culture.
Dedicating time to your hobbies demonstrates commitment, discipline, and patience. These are all traits that transfer well into a professional setting. Your hobbies don't just fill space – they present a full picture of who you are and why you're the perfect fit for the job.
For recent graduates or those with minimal work experience, incorporating hobbies and interests can enhance your resume. However, it's crucial to include only relevant activities that align with the job role and the values of the company.
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If your educational background is not extensive, your special skills and hobbies can still provide valuable experiences. These experiences can align with the tasks and duties required for the position you are seeking.
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If your hobbies and interests have taught you skills that can boost your job performance, consider showcasing them. For instance, activities like chess highlight problem-solving skills and analytical thinking, while involvement in crafts demonstrates perseverance and attention to detail.
To align your interests and hobbies with the company's culture and values, highlight relevant experiences. For example, mentioning your volunteer work with community or nonprofit groups would be fitting if you apply to a non-profit.
Providing your interests allows the hiring manager to understand your personality, ensuring a good fit with the company culture. It offers insights into potential contributions to the team dynamic.
The skills you've gained could benefit the organization. Let’s say you've applied to a pool construction and maintenance company, and your hobby involves swimming or surfing. This showcases your aptitude for swimming, which may be necessary for performing maintenance work in a pool.
Picking which hobbies and interests to include can be as important as choosing the right skills and work experiences. These are some things to consider:
Before you begin listing your passions, consider the job you're applying for. What activities might a potential employer in that industry most resonate with? For example, if the role is creative, you could mention your interest in photography or painting.
Think about what skills and personal qualities the employer is looking for. You can usually learn what the hiring manager wants by studying the job posting. Use this information to guide your selection process. For instance, suppose the job description emphasizes teamwork. In this case, including a group activity on your resume can help express that you work well with others.
When deciding which hobbies or interests to include on your resume, only consider ones that align with the job requirements. Choose the ones that reflect the skills, knowledge, or qualities that are most relevant to the role you're applying for.
For example, you might share your passion for graphic design or painting if the job requires creativity and design. Both are appropriate choices since they directly relate to the job requirements. Avoid potentially divisive or controversial hobbies.
Once you know which special skills and hobbies you want to include, the next step is to present them effectively on your resume.
Usually, your hobbies and interests section is at the end of your resume after the sections on work experience and education. This is because your professional skills and qualifications are more important.
While your hobbies don't take precedence, they can still be relevant to the position you're applying for. If this is the case, you can also highlight them in your professional summary or resume objective at the top of your resume.
Your resume section on hobbies and interests should be short. Keep your descriptions brief and to the point. Use action verbs, such as participating, volunteering, or achieving, when describing your involvement. Quantify your interests whenever possible.
These are some examples of how you can quantify your accomplishments or goals:
Make sure your hobbies and interests section is easy to read and well organized. Here are some tips on how to format and organize the content:
Below you can find some example categories of hobbies and interests. Consider including these on your resume:
Sports hobbies like boxing, tennis, or volleyball can show resilience, discipline, and commitment. You can also use them to show that you're competitive, energetic, and goal-oriented. These examples show how to include sports and fitness activities on your resume:
Creative pursuits can include activities such as painting, writing, or music. These are especially beneficial for jobs in design or product management that rely on innovation. Including creative hobbies on your resume shows that you're imaginative, dedicated, and innovative. Examples include:
Volunteer work and community involvement can include any type of work you do for free, such as fundraising for a local animal shelter. On a resume, they show empathy, interpersonal skills, and social responsibility. This is beneficial because hiring managers want to know that you're a team player who can help make the organization better. Some examples of volunteer work and community involvement include:
Travel and cultural experiences are valuable if you want to work in multicultural workplaces or roles. This is especially true if the role you’re applying for requires interaction with international partners or clients. They make you more attractive to employers because they show your ability to adapt and be open-minded. You could list them like this on your resume:
Professional development and continuing education refers to the process you undertake when gaining new skills, knowledge, or insights. It's continuing because it goes beyond your formal education. This is beneficial because it improves your professional abilities. It also ensures that you're staying up to date with the latest advancements in your field.
It's beneficial to list these interests on your resume. Including them shows hiring managers that you have a proactive mindset toward learning and personal growth. Here's how you can do it:
This refers to activities you do during your personal time that show skills that are directly applicable to the job you want. It might include starting a small business or building a website. Including this on your resume is good because it shows your ability to practically apply your skills outside of a formal work setting. Examples include:
To make your special skills and hobbies section enhance instead of detract from your application, avoid these common mistakes:
While showing off your personality is good, the hiring manager won't find every hobby and interest relevant or impressive. For example, listening to music or watching TV are fun activities, but are too generic to put on a resume. The best hobbies to list on your resume should show your passion, commitment, and skill set.
Listing reading or traveling on your resume isn't enough to get the reader's attention. Be specific – mention what you're reading or where you travel. For example, if you love reading, you might share that you're part of a book club meeting every month to read self-development books.
Steer clear of anything that might be controversial or offensive. This includes anything divisive or inappropriate, like hobbies that are overly religious, political, or contentious. It's important to be genuine, but your resume is still a professional document. The point isn't to start a debate but rather to present yourself as someone who's well-rounded and agreeable.
If you’re applying for a government job in the Philippines, you’ll likely be asked to fill out a Personal Data Sheet (PDS). The PDS features a dedicated section for ‘Other Information’, including your special skills and hobbies. Here are three key tips to follow to showcase your interests effectively:
Since you’re applying for a government position, showcasing your involvement in the community will shine a positive light on you. For instance, you can mention your volunteering work with community groups. This highlights your community spirit and willingness to contribute to positive change.
There isn’t much space given in the “Special skills and hobbies” section, so select what you want to include carefully. For example, if you’re applying for a teaching job, mentioning your passion for photography may not be crucial compared to highlighting your communication skills. Focus on skills that translate best to a professional workplace, such as digital tools or organizational skills.
Wherever possible, emphasize your expertise in your listed skill or hobby. Not only does this highlight your competence, but it also suggests that you have the discipline needed to work hard and improve. For example, if you have French language skills, you can write “Fluent in French to a B2 proficiency”.
Here’s a sample answer highlighting special skills and hobbies that complement a teaching role to get you started. When crafting your answer, tailor it to the industry and job description.
Special Skills and Hobbies |
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) |
Skilled in classroom management and instructional material development |
Fluent in English and Filipino; basic proficiency in Mandarin |
Experienced in public speaking and facilitating workshops |
Active participant in community outreach programs |
Capable of handling basic troubleshooting and maintenance of computer hardware |
Talking about these during a job interview can give the employer a better understanding of your soft skills, passion, and character. Here's how to prepare for and approach this discussion:
Before going to the job interview, take the time to review what you listed on your resume. Prepare to discuss your hobbies in greater detail. Consider what each activity says about your values, abilities, or character.
Practice explaining why and how you pursue them. Choosing something you genuinely enjoy helps your answers be more enthusiastic and sincere.
When you describe your interests, make connections between those activities and the requirements of the job. By aligning your passion to the job requirement, you show the interviewer why you're a good fit for the role.
For example, suppose you're passionate about photography. You're applying to a job that requires great attention to detail, such as editing or quality assurance testing. During your interview, you might talk about how taking the perfect photograph requires attention to detail.
You can then create a connection by explaining how it sharpened your ability to notice small nuances and details. This shows your skill in finding errors or issues that others usually overlook – a valuable talent when working in editing or quality assurance.
Your hobbies section reflects your passions, so it's important to show your enthusiasm during the interview. Showing enthusiasm about your interests tells the employer that you're committed, driven, and able to set and achieve goals.
Some of the ways you can show your passion and dedication include:
In a competitive job market, your resume must stand out. While your work experience and relevant skills are necessary for the job application, don't underestimate how powerful your hobbies and interests can be. If you use them wisely, you can add more personality to your resume and convince the hiring manager that you're the best candidate.
So, take the time to reflect on your hobbies and how they align with your ambitions. You might find that they're more than just a simple list of personal activities – they're a significant part of your career path.
Start crafting your interesting resume now and let employers know how well-rounded and versatile you are. Share your special skills and hobbies using our resume templates to help you get your dream job!
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