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+20 Best Examples of Hobbies &

Interests To Put on a Resume (5 Tips)
Resume Writing 05/05/2016

Natalie Severt
Resume Expert at Uptowork

Blog Resume Writing +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests To Put on a Resume (5 Tips)

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"I like traveling and long walks on the beach, said anyone whos ever struggled to
be interesting on a date.

Weve all been there.

Finding interesting and exciting things to say about yourself isn't easy.

Any many experts will tell you that you should never, ever, list examples of hobbies
andinterests on a resume.

What if I told you though that there are times when you should? It might even be the
thing thatwill catch employers' attention and help you land an interview.

In this article, I will tell you:

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When you should include a list of hobbies on your resume.

Whathobbies in a resume work best.

How to add examples of hobbies and interests to your resume.

Important: When you read the article, and you're still not sure how to put your hobbies
on a resume, make sure you ask a question in the comments section.

Bonus: The ultimate checklist of 56 things you need to do before you send your
resume. How many have you missed?Download: Resume 101 Checklist.

Just remembera list of good hobbies for a resume is not mandatory. Place them at the
bottom of the resume.

Take a look at one of over 20 resume templates (see more) from our resume builder
below:

One of our resume templates - create your resume in 5 minutes here

1. Why Put a List of Hobbies andInterests on

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1. Why Put a List of Hobbies andInterests on

a Resume?

Adding a personalinterests 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 coee and
answer phones all day. They want them to t in with their work culture.

Take a look at this:

Google hires people who are open and playful.Why?

Because that's Google's work culture.

And Google wants new employees to t in with their other workers and the culture of
their oce.

So, if you wanted to apply to Google, how could you let them know that you t?

1. Not putting a list of hobbies and interests on a resume.

2. Listing "sports" and "lm" in the hobbies and interests section of your resume.

3. Carefully choosing unique hobbies for your resume that show that you are an open and playful

person.

The correct answer is 3. Why?

If you want to work at Google, you should tailor your resume (check this
infographic)so that your best hobbies match their work culture.

On the other hand, if you are applying to a buttoned-up accounting rm, you might
want to skip putting examples of hobbies in your resume altogether.

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How do you decide what is the best list of interests and hobbies to put on a CV? I'll
show you everything step by step - just keep reading.

2. Here's What Your Hobbies and Interests

Say About You

Here's the thing - most of the hobbies and interests you put on your resume will say
something specic about you to the hiring manager.

So, selecting examples of hobbies for your resume is about choosing what aspects of
your personality you want to emphasize and communicate.

7 examples of hobbies and interests on a resume:

1. Individual Sports (Marathon Running) -You're t and you enjoy challenges.

2. Team Sports (Basketball) -You excelat teamwork and have leadership skills.

3. Extreme Sports (Motocross) - Arisk taker (bad for desk jobs).

4. Tech Hobbies(Computing) - Tech savvy and introverted (not great for social jobs).

5. Puzzles (Crosswords) - You're an analytical thinker with problem-solving skills.

6. Games (Chess) -You're an intelligent strategist.

7. Social Hobbies (Mentoring) -You communicate well and connect with others.

See what these hobbies can mean? Of course, there are thousands of examples of
hobbies that you could put on your resume.

But you should always do your best to interest your hiring manager. That will give you
a much better chance at landing an interview.

So how to choose examples of hobbies and interests for your resume? How can you
show your hiring manager that you're a good t?

Read on! I'll show you everything step by step.

3. How to Find Good Interests to Put on Your

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3. How to Find Good Interests to Put on Your

Resume

A. Research the Company to Find Out What Personal
Interests to Put on a Resume

You should always start by researching the company. Do they have a particular work
culture?

Would they nd a unique hobbies and interests section on your resume valuable?

Where should you look to nd out what to put in your personalinterests and
hobbies section?

1. Start withthe job description. Most job oers will have a list of traits that companies wish

the new employee to have.

2. Second, take a quick look around their website. Especially pay attention to any employee

proles.

3. Next, check social media accounts (LinkedIn/Twitter/Facebook).

4. End with any press you can nd and check out company reviews on sites like Glassdoor.

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]

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B. Choose Wisely - Personal Interests to Include on a
Resume

When you choose examples of good hobbies to put on a CV,try to match them to
desired personality traits.

For example:

If the job requires you to be outgoing and a good team player, sportsare good
hobbies to mention on yourresume.

Leave out the bit where you like to sit alone in sweatpants knitting.

Right:
Basketball (Team sport exhibiting both qualities.)

Wrong:
Stamp Collecting (Introverted, individualistic activity.)

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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, exible enough to be comfortable in a lot of dierent situations.

Second, relatable to a range of dierent 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

C. Use a List of Hobbies to Flesh Out Your Skill Set

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You can also select examples of good hobbies for a resume that ll in gaps in your
skill set.

Meet Jack.

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 tolist 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 decidedto 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(create your resume).

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The tool will give you loads of useful tips for every section of your resume. Take a look
at somesample resume templates (see more):

Sample resume templates from our resume builder - create your resume here

D. Examples of Hobbies to Mention at the Bottom of
Your Resume

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 CV doesnt exceed two page (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 rst things to
go.

You may feel tempted to list your best hobbies in a resume:

Football, reading, traveling.

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Don't!

Its more eective if you provide a brief, specic description:

I teach ballet classes three time a week for children with disabilities.

I volunteer at my local soup kitchen on weekends.

I enjoy playing chess, and I started a chess club for the elderly in my community.

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.

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3. Three Rules You Should Never Forget [These Work for
Dates Too]

Be specic:

Reading is not a unique interest. Reading complicated Russian novels is more specic.
List some of your favorite authors. It will also help a recruiter remember you.

Right:
Reading complicated Russian novels.

Wrong:
Reading

Be honest:

Stay away from using examples of hobbies for a resume that arent true to you. It could
come back to haunt you.

If you put opera bu as a hobby on a resume, then you better have season tickets.

It wont be fun when the recruiter turns out to be an Oenbach enthusiast, and it
comes out that the closest youve ever been to a stage was the one time you watched
Phantom of the Opera on Netix.

Right:
Watching Broadway Musicals.

Wrong:
Opera Bu

Keep your level of weird low:

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It is one thing to be unique, but be careful not to cross the line into the Twilight Zone.

Its 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:

Always avoid politics, religion, or sex.

Why?

This is an easy way to alienate someone whose views are dierent from yours.

Remember, you want to be relatable and likable.

Right:
I volunteer at my local animal shelter.

Wrong:
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 xes: 42 Amazing Resume Tips
That You Can Use in 30 Minutes [Examples]

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4. The Best Hobby and Interest Ideas to

Include on a Resume

So what happens if you are unable to come up with any good hobbies?

What happens if the best hobbies for your resume are boring?

Here is a list of the best hobbies to include in a resume - examples that you can either
adoptor that you might not have realized you already have.

Sports - Individual and Team

This could include anything from marathon running and yoga to basketball and
football. Its best to avoid extreme sports because they are risky.

The pros of team sports are directly translatable:

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They highlight your ability to cooperate with others and lead.

Individual sports may imply that teamwork isnt your strong suit. Try to focus on the
perseverance and drive that it takes to do something like marathon running.

Examples of Hobbies for a Resume - Sports:

Basketball

Baseball

Football

Yoga

Marathon Running

Thought Hobbies

Hobbies like chess, trivia, or playing a musical instrument display analytical and
creative skills.

Examples of Hobbies for a Resume - Thought Hobbies:

Chess

Trivia

Playing the Trombone

Reading

Writing

Collecting

It doesnt matter if you collect stamps, coins, or rocks. The management of collections
shows strong attention to detail and a passion for your personal interests. Just
remember - no cats.

Examples of Hobbies for a Resume - Collections:

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Stamps

Coins

Rocks

Action Figures

Rare Books

Social Hobbies - Volunteering or Mentoring

Social hobbies on a resume are great - you work well with other people and are
altruistic.

Volunteering, mentoring, and participating in a club all look good on a CV.

Examples of Hobbies for a Resume - Social Activities:

Volunteering at a Local Soup Kitchen

Volunteering at Your Local Library

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Garden Club

Book Clubs

Also, read our guide on describing your achievements on a resume. This is one of the
most important resume tips out there: Examples of Professional Achievements to Put on
a Resume [3 Tips]

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5. How Putting Examples of Interests and
Hobbies on a Resume Benets You

Adding a unique interests and hobbies section has hidden benets.

Recruiters, searching for candidates, shue 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.

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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 prole.

Knowing your interviewers 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)prole by adding your best
hobbies and interests there as well.

Key Takeaway

Just like dating, listing your best hobbies is a way for other people to get to know you.

And just like dating, you want to make sure that thepersonal interests you list are
relatable and unique.

Employers are looking for people who will t in with their company.

Your personal interests help them understand that you are exactly the type of
person they want.

The trick is to know if you should put your best interests and hobbies on a resume in
the rst place.

After that, its all about using the ve hacks to pick which exciting hobbies to include. If
you need more information on how to make a perfect resume, read our complete
guide here: How to Make a Resume The Only Guide You Need [Examples]

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Bonus: The ultimate checklist of 56 things you need to do before you send your
resume. How many have you missed? Download: Resume 101 Checklist.

So what exciting hobbies are you going to put on your resume?Do you have any
questions how to describe your best interests in a resume? Leave a comment.

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AUTHOR

Natalie Severt
Natalie is a writer at Uptowork. She loves writing about resumes and
eating tacos more than life itself. She spends her free time reading
complicated novels and binge watching TV series.

10 Comments Uptowork
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Prosenjit Das 2 months ago

I put various unnecessary things on my resume before reading this article.

Thanks a lot,at last i know what will make my resume worthy.

1 Reply Share

Natalie Severt Mod > Prosenjit Das 2 months ago

I'm glad you found it useful, Prosenjit!

Reply Share

Bardock 4 months ago

I was expecting another generic article, I was pleasantly surprised. Comprehensive &

unique, thanks.

1 Reply Share

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Natalie Severt Mod > Bardock 4 months ago

Thanks! I'm glad you found the article useful.

Reply Share

prashant > Natalie Severt a month ago

can you please make my resume@ free of cost

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Natalie Severt Mod > prashant 14 days ago

Hi Prashant,

Thanks for your question! Have you heard of our referral program?

If you can get five of your friends to purchase a Start or Premium

plan, you can get a free 30-day Start plan!

For more details you can check out this link:

https://uptowork.com/user/refe...

Please let me know what you think!

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Kasuni Ruwangana 2 days ago

My hobbies are trying creative arts (paper quilling,pergamano etc) and sewing.

I haven't done any sport as a hobby.

How can i include my hobbies in my resume?

Do you think these hobbies are beneficial for me to get a job or is it better not to mention

my hobbies in my CV?

Reply Share

LvsMrV 9 days ago

Great pointers. Could you please correct the missing "s" in I teach ballet three time a

week? Thanks so much :)

Reply Share

malek azar a month ago

THank you very much.

I do some card tricks (beginner magician). I'm not sure if this can be mentioned. What do

you think, please?

Reply Share

Natalie Severt Mod > malek azar 14 days ago

Hi Malek,

Thanks for the question!

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It all depends on the type of job. You can add magic tricks as a hobby, but youll

also want to add a couple of hobbies that are tailored to the office culture.

Do some research and find out what kind of hobbies other people have. Do you

have any of them as well? The point of putting hobbies on your resume is to show

the hiring manager that your personality is a good fit.

Was this helpful for you? Let me know!

Reply Share

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