what to put on resume for hobbies

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List of 50 Hobbies & Interests for Your Resume in 2024

• Hobbies/Interests Examples
• Should Hobbies/Interests Be on a Resume?
• Interests/Hobbies to Avoid
• Adding Hobbies/Interests
• Hobbies/Interests Tips
• Hobbies/Interests FAQs

Imagine: You’re a hiring manager for an athletic clothing brand considering two candidates—both with great resumes . You’re having trouble deciding which of the two to move forward.

During your review, you notice one of the applicants is an avid runner. So, you decide to pick the one you think will be a slightly better cultural fit since the applicant likely aligns with the fitness-related clothing products your brand offers based on their running hobby.

But, why “running hobby” instead of “running interest?” Great question. There is a difference between hobbies and interests. Hobbies are things you actively participate in, whereas interests are your dreams or topics you’re fascinated by. That said, they can both be used effectively on a resume to make your already excellent skill set more personable and relevant.

We’ll dive into interests and hobbies to include on your resume and show you how to list them to gain a leg up in the application process.

Hobbies & Interests Examples for a Resume

Example Resume

Why these hobbies/interests work

• Always choose hobbies and interests for your resume that relate to your field. 
• Don’t be afraid to include something cool and credible, like being a Jeopardy contestant. 
• Thought-provoking activities like helping troubled youths can effectively display your compassion and adaptability in difficult situations.

Most Common Hobbies & Interests for Resumes in 2024

Knowing the value of hobbies/interests on a resume, you may wonder which ones are the most popular in the US. Here’s a quick overview.

• At the top of the list, 40% of US adults have cooking/baking as a hobby or interest. This is a great one to list on resumes for culinary positions or when working around food. It also shows you can follow instructions precisely.
• Want to show some expert research abilities? Reading is an excellent hobby for resumes when applying to jobs involving scientific research or business analysis, to name a couple.
• Everyone’s interested in their pets. Plus, positions like vet techs or even care-based nursing roles can see directly translatable abilities from individuals who love and cherish their animals.
• Applying to a tech-related role? Video games are a potential hobby/interest you could list. It can also show unique problem-solving abilities for analytical positions.
• Nearly half of all jobs require outdoor work. So whether you’re applying to construction, agriculture, or other similar roles, many outdoor activities will be applicable. For instance, a gardening hobby could be great for an aspiring landscaper.

List of Hobbies & Interests for Your Resume

Here’s an extensive list of hobbies and interests to potentially include on your resume.

Volunteering

What better way to demonstrate you’re a caring, civic-minded person than by including your volunteer efforts on your resume?

People want to work with kind people. Not to mention, many companies now give employees time off each year to volunteer for efforts they care about.

Volunteering ideas

• Fostering animals
• Serving within your religious organization
• Firefighter/ EMT
• Coaching youth sports teams
• Volunteering with organizations that help the homeless
• Assisting at local meetups or hackathons
• Volunteering at an animal shelter
• Working for local committees or organizations in your community (like the Board of Education, for example)

Mentioning how you exercise as one of your interests or hobbies can be a great way to build a quick bond with the person reviewing your resume.

However, saying something like “sports” in your interests section is not worth including. What sport do you play?

Exercise can be anything that gets the heart pumping. If you dance or do karate, those are unique hobbies that you should definitely mention on your resume.

Exercise ideas

• Running (if you run events like 5Ks, say so!)
• Weight lifting
• Dance (salsa? square dancing?)
• Basketball (do you play in a league?)
• Rock climbing
• Skiing/ snowboarding

Most companies would benefit by having a creative person join their company. If you’re looking for a career in marketing or design, that’s especially true.

Even if you’re looking for a job as a programmer or data scientist, creativity can still be an invaluable skill.

Listing “music” is not a particularly unique hobby. Saying you play guitar, however, may catch the employer’s eye.

If you have a portfolio of your work, you should link to it in your resume, too, if you’re really proud of it.

Creative ideas

• Photography
• Comic books
• Classic films
• Instruments (guitar, violin, piano, etc.)
• Interior decorating
• Writing (fiction? slam poetry?)
• Calligraphy
• Stand-up comedy

Puzzles/Games

Much like your artistic endeavors can showcase your creativity to a prospective employer, an interest in strategic games indicates that you can strategize and plan.

We likely sound like a broken record but remember to be specific. Saying “video games” is not going to add value to your resume, whereas “PC gaming” might (do your research on the company to make sure this would be appropriate).

Puzzle/games ideas

• Dungeons and dragons
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Crossword puzzles

Your hobbies or interests don’t have to be (and likely aren’t) confined by neat category distinctions. Just ask yourself whether your passion has the potential to showcase a valuable skill.

For example, in the list below, you’ll see brewing beer as a hobby. As long as the business you’re applying to is a more modern company, this could be appropriate to include. To be a successful brewer, you need to be precise and thorough—both great traits in a prospective employee.

Other ideas

• Learning languages (which/how many languages have you learned?)
• Foodie (talking about local restaurants can be a great way to break the ice in an interview)
• Brewing beer
• Cooking (which cuisine is your specialty?)
• Baking (who doesn’t love the person who bakes for office parties?)
• BBQing (this would grab our attention)
• Social media (if you run a successful social account for a local cause, that can be an invaluable skill)

We know! That’s a lot of examples to look through! You can always list a slew of things you enjoy on your  resume outline  and narrow it down when you create a resume . We’ve also got some simple resume templates from Google Docs  with a section just for hobbies and interests.

Remember, your hobbies are supposed to be for your enjoyment. If you don’t think you have any hobbies for your resume that will work, that’s okay, too!

Should Hobbies and Interests Be on a Resume?

Before we dive into the types of hobbies and interests you should add to your resume, we first need to answer the question of whether you should include them at all.

The primary factor in determining whether you should include a hobbies and interests section on your resume is the type of role and company you’re applying to .

While older, more established businesses are less likely to be intrigued by what you do outside of work, modern tech companies or startups will likely be interested in learning about your prospective cultural fit. One great way to demonstrate that on your resume is through your hobbies.

• Entry-level candidates can approach  resume writing  with a “small but mighty” mindset.
• For example, mentioning that you’re a World Sudoku Championship Competitor for not just one but  three  years in a row shows dedication and laser-like focus.
• If you’re applying for a web development job, try adding a related side project like apps; alternatively, If you’re playing up your artistic side, talk about your interest in web graphics!

How to know whether you should list hobbies/interests

• Read the  job description  of the role you’re applying to.
• If the answer is “yes,” that’s a good indication that you should list hobbies and interests.
• Visit the company’s website. Read their “about us” section as well as their employment pages.

When it comes to your resume,  not all hobbies and interests are created equal ! For example, some of us here at BeamJobs are expert television show binge-watchers. If there was a binge-watching championship, we think we could win gold. 

Still, this is a hobby we would leave off our resumes. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with this hobby; it’s just that it’s neither particularly unique nor noteworthy. Remember— the goal of your hobbies and interests are to help you stand out . If the hobby you include is something the hiring manager has seen hundreds of times, it won’t accomplish what you want it to on your resume.

This means you should be as specific as possible when describing your hobbies or interests. “Sports” is not the same as “captain of co-ed basketball team.”

Here are a few more examples of what we mean:

• Wrong: Cooking
• Right: Cooking Middle Eastern cuisine
• Wrong: Travel
• Right: Backpacking through Europe
• Wrong: Music
• Right: Electric guitar
• Wrong: Volunteering
• Right: Volunteering at local ASPCA
• Wrong: Puzzles
• Right: Expert at Sudoko

Interests and Hobbies to Avoid on a Resume

If you’re on the fence about whether you should include a particular interest or hobby on your resume,  err on the side of caution . The last thing you want to do is turn a “yes” into a “no” by including something taboo on your resume. This means you shouldn’t list anything about politics on your resume (unless, of course, you’re applying for a job in politics).

This is not to say you should avoid talking about your volunteer experience through your local church if that’s your hobby! Just imagine you’re meeting someone you’d like to make a good impression on. If it’s a topic you’d avoid in that conversation, leave it off if you’d like to present a  professional resume . With that said…

BeamJobs’ co-founder, Stephen, knows a thing or two about including a hobby that, under different circumstances, would have been better left off his resume

Before I started BeamJobs with my brother and dove head-first into the world of resumes, I was a data analyst at a company called Chegg.

At that time, one of my biggest hobbies was playing poker. Now, as a data nerd, I took a very data-driven approach to playing poker. I studied the game religiously to develop a deep understanding of winning strategies and probabilities.

Since I was applying for jobs as a data analyst, I thought that would be worth including as an interest on my resume.  I also understood poker would likely not be appropriate for all of my job applications .

When it came time to apply to Chegg, I learned that the role I was applying for would be as an early employee for their recently acquired company, Imagine Easy Solutions. I researched the founders and learned they had a history of entrepreneurship.

As such, I included poker as a hobby on my resume. That gamble (poker pun intended) paid off. I learned during my interview that one of my interviewers was a big poker player.  This gave me an opportunity to elaborate on my data-driven approach to the game and how I would take a similarly quantitative approach to my job .

We hope this illustrates the potential positive impact of including unique interests or hobbies in your job applications.  They help humanize you and give you a potential common interest with your interviewers .

Stephen’s anecdote also highlights two important points:

• Do your research on the company and role you’re applying for; make sure what you’re including as a hobby is relevant.
• Don’t lie. By his own admission, Stephen would have been quickly exposed by a much better poker player in his interview had he told a lie!

How to Add Hobbies and Interests on a Resume

Before we dive into the best way to include hobbies or interests on your resume, let’s start with an example.

• Have outdoor interests like kayaking? These kinds of hobbies can suggest experience in nailing the perfect photography shot and other design strengths.
• Hobbies like fly fishing and comic art can suggest sociability and interconnectedness with others—good  soft skills to list on your resume .
• You can use hobbies and interests to express that you’re well-rounded, but the way to really rock this section is by displaying those that directly or indirectly relate to the job you’re after. 

Guidelines for adding hobbies/interests to your resume

• Add a specific section to your resume called “Hobbies,” “Interests,” or “Hobbies & Interests.”
• Limit the number of hobbies you include to five at most.
• We have brand-new  Google resume templates  and  Word resume templates  that already have this section built in. 
• Be as specific as possible.
• Don’t let this section be the reason your resume extends to two pages.

All of these rules follow the principle that your interests/hobbies shouldn’t be the focus of your resume.  They’re on your resume to add color.  Sadly, some hiring managers won’t put much or any weight on this section of your resume. That’s the reason you shouldn’t make it so prominent.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to land a job as a surgeon with your hobbies alone—you still need to have the right qualifications for the role! With that said, the more specific you are with your hobbies and interests, the more likely what you list will resonate with the person checking out your AI cover letter and resume . 

You also want to be able to relate your hobbies or interests to what makes you a particularly good fit for the role you’re applying to. Let’s look at a few examples.

Job title: Marketer

Hobby: Painting

How it relates: This demonstrates an eye for creativity and design—both important characteristics for a marketer.

Job title: Manager

Hobby: Long-distance runner

How it relates: Committing to improving at long-distance running requires dedication without the ability to see immediate results, which can happen in management as well.

Job title: Software engineer

Hobby: Baking cakes

How it relates: To be an effective baker, you need to be exact with measurements, temperatures, and time but also need a high degree of creativity. To be a strong developer, you must be creative and rigorously logical.

Job title: HR manager

Hobby: Volunteering as an EMT

How it relates: Much like an EMT, to be a good HR manager, you must be caring and empathetic while staying calm in tense situations.

Hobbies and Interests Resume Tips

Most people don’t live to work; they work to live. Therefore, most of your time is likely going to be spent outside of your office.

Including your hobbies and interests on your resume is a great way to humanize yourself and become more than just a resume  to the hiring manager.

Tips for adding hobbies and interests to your resume

• Research the company and job description for the role you’re applying for to determine if you should include hobbies.
• Remember: Interests are related to topics you find interesting, while hobbies are activities you participate in and enjoy.
• Keep this section short (four to five interests at most ) and move it to the bottom of your resume.
• Your hobbies are for you—don’t take up a hobby just to please a potential employer.

A hobbies/interests section works great for entry-level candidates who want to include additional relevant abilities or when applying to companies that emphasize workplace culture in the job description. For example, many retail organizations emphasize their culture, so someone applying to be an entry-level retail clerk could benefit from a hobbies/interests section.

A hobby is something you actively do, whereas an interest is something you may be fascinated by or dream about. For example, someone who actively reads an hour per day could consider reading a hobby. On the other hand, someone fascinated by psychology could consider that an interest. You could even combine the two to say you enjoy reading about psychology, which could work great for an aspiring therapist.

Between one to three hobbies/interests works best for most resumes . It typically shouldn’t be the focus of your resume, but moreso act as a way to provide a bit more information or personability to your already excellent skill set.

Either the bottom or the left-hand side margin beneath your education and top skills is the best place for hobbies/interests. This placement leaves room for your work experience, education, and achievements to remain the primary focus of your resume.

Volunteer work is one of the best things to put in a hobbies/interests section when you don’t have work experience since it’s the most similar to a work-related environment. Otherwise, aim for things that are the most relevant to the position. For example, listing a favorite sport or fitness activity, such as rugby or HIIT training, could be great when applying for an entry-level job at a gym.

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40+ Hobbies & Interests to Put on a Resume [Updated for 2024]

“Hobbies and interests have no place on the resume.”

Done right, hobbies on a resume can help you stand out from other candidates, show a bit of your personality to the hiring manager, and potentially even get you the job!

That said, not every resume needs hobbies and interests, and at the same time, not every hobby belongs on a resume.

In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about hobbies on a resume, including when to list them, how to pick the right ones to mention, and more!

Here’s what we’re going to cover:

• Should You Mention Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume?
• 12 Best Hobbies and Interests to Put On Your Resume

How to List Hobbies and Interests on a Resume

4 tips to keep in mind when listing hobbies and interests, 40 best hobbies and interests to put on your resume [complete list].

Let’s dive in!

Should You Mention Hobbies & Interests on Your Resume?

There’s no straight-up answer to this question as it depends on several factors.

For example, if you’re a professional with many years of experience in your field, you could probably do without a hobbies and interests section on your resume. 

As a seasoned professional, you probably have tons of skills, work experience , and certifications to fill your resume with and set yourself apart from the competition. 

If adding a “hobbies and interests” section will make your resume spill over to page two , then you should definitely leave it out. 

On the other hand, if you’re a recent graduate with little work experience, adding your hobbies and interests to your resume can help you stand out as a candidate, as well as help fill up your resume to take up an entire page.

But enough with the hypotheticals! Let us tell you exactly when to mention hobbies and interests on your resume and how they can benefit your job application.

What’s the Difference Between Hobbies and Interests?

First things first - what are hobbies and interests? 

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re not exactly the same thing:

• Interests are topics, ideas, or subjects that interest you, fascinate you, and you want to learn more about. Culinary art, history, and classical music are all examples of various interests.
• Hobbies are activities you actually engage in. Some examples of hobbies may include cooking, playing basketball, or visiting museums.

Hobbies show the hiring manager how you spend your free time and what kind of additional skills you may possess. For example, if you include “basketball” as your hobby, you’re also telling the hiring manager that you have great teamwork skills. 

Interests , on the other hand, indicate what topics and ideas you’re currently interested in or you’d like to explore in the future. If, for example, you’re applying for a job that requires relocation and you list traveling as your interest, you may seem like a more relevant candidate because you enjoy traveling to new places. 

So, as you can see, hobbies and interests can add value to your resume if they’re relevant to the job and if they point to soft skills the company may be looking for. 

Which leads us to the million-dollar question: when exactly should you include hobbies and interests on your resume? 

When to Include Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume

You should include hobbies and interests on your resume when:

• You still have space after including all the essential resume sections (contact information, work experience, education, and skills).
• You have limited work experience, education, and skills related to the position you are applying for.
• The company puts emphasis on its employees’ personalities and unique traits.
• The company specifically asks to list additional hobbies and interests.
• Your hobbies and interests show that you’re good at your job. E.g. if you’re applying for a writing role, having Dungeons & Dragons as an interest might help (as it shows that you’re creative).

New to resume-making? Give our resumes 101 video a watch before diving into the article!

12 Top Hobbies and Interests to Put On Your Resume

So here’s the takeaway: for hobbies and interests to add value to your resume, they should be somewhat relevant to the job you’re applying for. 

In most cases, though, candidates list pastime activities that say nothing to the hiring manager reading their resume, like watching movies or listening to music. 

To help you avoid such a mistake, we’ve listed some of the best hobbies and interests to put on your resume, based on companies’ most commonly required skills and abilities: 

#1. Community Involvement

Volunteering and community involvement is probably the best hobby/interest you could be adding to your resume, as it’s associated with 27% higher odds of employment . 

In a nutshell, volunteering shows initiative, empathy, and the ability to see beyond your personal interests. On top of this, volunteering teaches organizational skills, teamwork, and leadership. 

#2. Writing

Communication skills - both verbal and written - are some of the most sought-after soft skills by companies . 

As such, having writing as a hobby can effectively show potential employers that your communication skills extend beyond the workplace and are, as such, stronger than other candidates. 

#3. Blogging

Blogging is another hobby that proves you’ve got excellent communication skills, which is essential for most roles.

At the same time, blogging as a hobby also shows that you’re a self-starter that can work on independent projects, which is another very in-demand skill for most roles.

#4. Learning Languages

It’s no secret that speaking foreign languages can improve your chances of getting a job . 

For starters, employers are always on the lookout for candidates who can communicate with people from different nationalities and can be an asset when dealing with international markets.

On top of that, learning languages is associated with improving valuable skills like problem-solving and dealing with abstract concepts, both of which are desirable employee skills. 

Some of the jobs where listing learning languages as a hobby can come in handy include social workers, human resources managers, flight attendants, community health workers, hotel managers, customer service agents, etc. 

#5. Photography

Just like all the other hobbies on this list, photography can represent you in more ways than “this candidate likes to take pictures.”

After all, photography takes creativity, interpersonal skills, and even technical skills ! 

This means that, in addition to all the jobs that require photography skills, there are many other positions out there that could benefit from a candidate who’s into photography. 

Traveling may not seem like the best hobby to include on your resume at first sight. After all, it simply involves picking a destination and being a tourist, right? 

Well, not exactly. 

Someone who loves traveling is also likely to be: 

• Curious to learn new things, experience new cultures, and meet new people
• Well- organized and adaptable to new situations and people
• Not afraid to step out of their comfort zone

All of these personality traits make for an adaptable and flexible employee, something that employers appreciate!

Sports - and any kind of physical activity, really - are known to improve brain health and your ability to do everyday activities . 

Not only, but sports also help you develop self-discipline, teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal skills . 

All of these are essential skills that could help you “adapt” your resume to different kinds of jobs. 

#8. Reading

Reading is one of the best hobbies to put on your resume, regardless of what types of books you like to read.

Reading exercises the brain, improves the ability to focus, increases general knowledge, can sharpen your communication skills, and helps relieve stress . 

#9. Making Music

Making music not only takes creativity, but also a lot of determination, patience, and endurance. Not to mention, studies show that playing an instrument can also improve your memory and focus . 

Showing such qualities can instantly make you more attractive to hiring managers.

Yoga is known to create mental clarity , relieve chronic stress patterns, relax the mind, and sharpen concentration.

And - let’s be honest - who doesn’t want an employee who’s mentally clear, unstressed, and able to concentrate on their work? 

To do any kind of art, you need to be creative, which is among the most popular transferable skills companies are looking for in 2022. 

According to this Adobe study , creativity has gained the most value in driving salary increases in the past five years. That’s also because creativity is also linked to inventiveness, imagination, and problem-solving abilities. 

Dancing is more than just a fun pastime. It improves your cognitive abilities, and collaboration skills (especially if you’re dancing with a partner), and can help you unwind and keep your stress levels low. 

Top Soft and Hard Skills Related to Hobbies and Interests On a Resume

And here’s what the hiring manager is likely to read from including the hobbies and interests listed above to your resume in terms of soft and hard skills: 

Yep, you heard that right.

There IS a right and wrong way to list hobbies and interests on your resume.

In this section, we’ll teach you all you need to know to make your hobbies and interests section as effective as possible!  

#1. Decide whether you need them

The first thing you want to do is decide whether you’d benefit from adding hobbies and interests to your resume. As we already mentioned, hobbies and interests can be a breath of fresh air for your resume, but only in certain circumstances.  

If you’re a professional with many years of work experience under your sleeve, your resume can do without a hobbies and interests section.

You already have a lot of professional achievements , relevant skills, and qualifications to make your resume a full one-pager, while adding a hobbies section would mean removing some other critical section from your resume.

On the other hand , if you’re a student with almost no work experience or skills, or if you’re applying to a startup or to a company that puts more emphasis on company culture, then you could definitely benefit from listing your hobbies and interests. 

The optimal length for a resume is one page.

If including a hobbies and interests section spills your resume over to the second page, that means that you can probably just skip including the section in the first place.

#2. Research the Company

So, you’ve decided it’s a good idea to include your hobbies and interests on your resume. But, which ones do you actually include? 

To make the best possible choice, start by researching the company. See if they have any specific work culture, work retreats, and what qualities would complement your role.

Here’s exactly where you should look: 

• The job ad. Read the job ad and identify the type of skills that they’re looking for.
• The company website and any employee profiles you can find there.
• Their social media accounts . Specifically, their LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. 

#3. Choose the Right Skills

Once you’ve done this, you should think about how specific skills or requirements may transfer to a hobby or interest and tailor yours to the job accordingly. 

You may have dozens of exciting hobbies and interests, but your resume isn’t the right place to list them all. Just to reiterate - you want your hobbies and interests to be as relevant as possible . 

So, for example, if the job ad mentions the company’s looking for someone who’s “outgoing” or a “great team player,” then any kind of sport is a good hobby to list on your resume. 

Meanwhile, anything that involves you sitting alone and being introverted (e.g. reading or knitting) is not very relevant. 

An alternative approach to choosing the right hobbies and interests is to use them to fill your skill gaps.

Let’s say that you’re an entry-level professional and you’re applying for your first job as an illustrator. Chances are, you lack some of the technical skills required for the job, simply due to your lack of professional experience. 

In such a case, choosing a hobby that proves you’ve got an eye for design and aesthetics can help your application. Anything art-related, including photography, painting, drawing, etc., will show the hiring manager that you’re passionate about this line of work. 

#4. Create a Separate Section (and Push It Down) 

By now you should have a clear idea of what hobbies and interests to add to your resume. 

The rest is fairly easy. 

Simply create a separate section titled “Hobbies and Interests,” and place it at the end of your resume . It’s crucial that this section doesn’t overshadow the more important parts of your resume, like your contact information, work experience, education , or even any volunteer work or internships you’ve completed. 

Ultimately, adding a “Hobbies and Interests” section at the end of your resume is a great way to wrap up your resume. 

It can help you make an impression that extends beyond the professional aspect and give the recruiter a little extra something to remember you by. 

Want to start your resume in a way that will grab the hiring manager’s attention? Learn how to write a resume summary with our guide! 

#5. List Up to Four Interests or Hobbies

Last but not least, it’s important to list the right amount of hobbies and interests on your resume. 

We recommend listing 4-6 total, at most. Anything less, and your hobbies section will look too empty. Anything more, and it’ll look like you’re just trying to fill in space.

Here are some additional tips you should always remember when you’re creating the “Hobbies and Interests” section of your resume: 

#1. Find out what you specifically enjoy about your hobbies 

People enjoy hobbies for different reasons. 

For example, someone might enjoy photography because they love being outdoors and capturing beautiful landscapes, while someone else might enjoy it because it gives them an opportunity to remember every place they visit or every person they meet. 

By identifying exactly what it is that you enjoy about your hobbies, it can be easier to describe them on your resume and talk about them genuinely in case the hiring manager asks about them during the job interview . 

#2. Be honest

Just like with everything else on your resume, you should be honest about the hobbies you list. 

Meaning, don’t lie about hobbies just because you think they sound cool, and don’t over-exaggerate something that can come back and bite you later on during the interview.

Just because you like to go on walks sometimes, doesn’t mean you’re “passionate about hiking” . Imagine the hiring manager’s also a hiking enthusiast and they ask you about the latest trail you hiked, but the only thing you can mention is how you enjoy taking a one-hour walk around your neighborhood daily to clear your mind. 

In such cases, it’s better to be honest and write this: 

• Physical exercise: exercising daily for 45 minutes by taking a walk in nature.

Instead of this: 

#3. Be specific 

The more specific you can be about your hobbies and interests, the higher the chances to stand out from other applicants and make an impression on the hiring manager. 

Here’s what we mean by that: 

• Learning languages: studying and practicing some of the most-spoken languages in the world, such as Mandarin and French. 

#4. Keep these hobbies OUT of your resume

A very thin line separates unique from weird, and you want to make sure not to cross it. 

To be on the safe side, avoid listing hobbies and interests that might be considered weird or controversial, such as any of the following:

• Hobbies that signal antisocial behavior or activities.
• Hobbies and interests that could be misinterpreted, even if you meant them as a joke (e.g. partying like there’s no tomorrow). 
• Hobbies and interests that reveal personal information such as your political or religious views. 
• Hobbies that could be considered violent or dangerous (e.g. lighting things on fire). 
• Hobbies and interests with little or no interactivity. 

Looking for inspiration?

Here are several hobbies you can include, by category, based on your personality type.

Sports Interest and Hobby Examples

Generally speaking, there are two types of sports you can include on your resume - individual and team-oriented .

Depending on the sport, they either show you work well with others, or that you have the self-discipline and perseverance to work alone (or both!) 

Endurance sports (like jogging) show your drive and discipline.

Team sports (like football, basketball, etc.) show that you’re comfortable working with others.

Which one you might want to include depends on you and the job. Here are some sports hobbies you could list that will paint you in a positive light:

• Marathon running
• Mountain climbing

Most of these sports are outside and physical activities. They show that you’re comfortable with working with other people and that you have discipline. Therefore, they’re relevant for most job roles that require you to be communicative and self-driven.

Analytical Thinking Interest and Hobby Examples

What’s a thought hobby?

Anything that points to your creative skills and imagination. 

If you’re applying for a job that requires a lot of out-of-the-box thinking, you can list the following hobbies:

• Playing a musical instrument
• Photography
• Blog writing

These all point to your analytical thinking and that you’re a creative person.

Possibly more calm and self-composed, and also that you think before you speak.

These qualities can be relevant depending on the job.

Though, your interest section doesn’t necessarily have to consist only of sports. 

Social Interest and Hobby Examples

Social hobbies are a great way to show you directly work well with others. Nowadays, most jobs require you to be in contact with other people, in one way or another

To show you work well with others and you’re adept at communicating, you can include:

• Creating and organizing a book club
• Networking events
• Local meetups
• Volunteering at a charity center
• Public speaking
• Exploring other cultures
• Language classes

Social hobbies are great because you’re going to be interacting with other people in most jobs - so one way or another, they’re going to help. Even more so if the job is in a leadership position.

Unique Interest and Hobby Examples

Do you have a particularly unique hobby that not a lot of people are into?

This can work in your favor and help you stand out, as long as it’s still in the unique area and not in the weird one.

The HR manager shuffling through a stack of resumes can remember your unique hobby and come back to your resume later. Or they could even ask about you during the interview, so be prepared to talk about it.

Some unique hobbies that can speak about your character may include:

• Stand-up comedy
• Calligraphy

How do these hobbies help?

Archery implies you might be a precise and focused person. And yoga shows that you can be calm and don’t lose your cool in stressful situations.

Though, just how effective those hobbies will be in your resume may depend on the job.

But as long as it’s not too weird, a unique hobby can help you get your foot in the door and show that you’re not afraid of being different.

Looking for tips on writing a CV instead of a resume? We've got you covered! Head over to our in-depth guide explaining how to write a CV !

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still have some questions about hobbies and interests on a resume? Check out the answers below:

1. Should hobbies and interests be on a resume?

If you have the extra space to list them, then yes, you should include hobbies and interests on your resume.

Hobbies and interests can help you stand out from other candidates by shining more light into your personality and can also highlight skills you may have that employers seek, such as creativity, organization, problem-solving, etc.

2. What are some good hobbies and interests to put on my resume?

Some of the best hobbies or interests you can put on your resume are community involvement, writing, blogging, learning languages, photography, traveling, doing sports, reading, and art.

3. What are some hobbies and interests for a student resume?

Some hobbies and interests you can put on your resume as a student include creative writing, blogging, volunteering, learning a new language, and singing and/or playing an instrument.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap on everything you need to know about hobbies and interests on a resume!

Before you go and start applying what you learned to your own resume, let’s go over the main points we covered in this article: 

• Hobbies and interests can help shine a light on a candidate’s personality and get them to stand out from other applicants with similar work experience and skills. 
• Include hobbies and interests on your resume if you still have space after listing all the essential sections, if you have limited work experience and relevant skills, if the company specifically requires it, or if the company puts emphasis on its employees’ character traits. 
• Some of the best hobbies to add to your resume include community service, writing/blogging, learning languages, traveling, doing sports, and reading. 
• Before creating a separate section for your hobbies and interests, first make sure that your resume would benefit from them, then research the company, and choose the right skills that could complement your skills and qualifications. 
• Four things to remember when you’re compiling your hobbies and interests are, to be honest, be specific, and keep hobbies that may be considered weird or antisocial out of your resume. 

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• How to List Hobbies and...

How to List Hobbies and Interests on a Resume (With Examples)

18 min read · Updated on July 04, 2024

Should you add personal interests to your resume?

A resume is a summary of your career that informs a future employer of your professional suitability. Personal interests and hobbies on a resume fall outside that traditional definition, but as employers become more interested in cultural fit, showcasing your personality in a job search is increasingly important.

However, how to include hobbies and interests on a resume is not straightforward. In this post, we consider:

How hobbies and interests are different

The benefits of including hobbies and interests on a resume

When you should include interests on a resume

When you should not include interests on a resume

How to include interests on a resume

Where to include hobbies and interests on a resume

The most common hobbies and interests to put on a resume and why they're relevant

Interests you should avoid including on a resume

What's the difference between hobbies and interests?

Though many use the terms “hobbies” and “interests” interchangeably, there are some subtle differences between the two.

Hobbies . Hobbies are activities you engage in regularly. They tend to be more hands-on activities that people participate in for enjoyment and relaxation. Hobbies require acquiring new skills and tend to need engagement and a time commitment. Examples of hobbies include engaging in a specific sport, writing, and cooking.

Interests . Interests are things - ideas, topics, activities - you're interested in learning more about or engaging in more often. Interests often have a broader focus than hobbies, tend to be more intellectually driven vs. hands-on, and expand your understanding. They also tend to require less of a time commitment, since they can be explored through things like reading or asking questions.  Examples of interests include airplanes, filmmaking, and photography. 

For some, interests eventually become hobbies. You might also note that a hobby for one person might be an interest for another, and vice versa. 

So, on your resume, should you call them hobbies or interests? It depends. If you only have relevant interests, you can call the section “Interests.” The same goes if you only have relevant hobbies - call the section “Hobbies.” However, if you're including both interests and hobbies, refer to the section as “Hobbies and Interests.” 

What are the benefits of adding hobbies and interests on a resume?

There are a handful of benefits to adding hobbies and interests on your resume, with several outlined below. 

Offers a chance to build rapport. Interests and hobbies on a resume offer the chance to build a rapport with an interviewer during an interview . They may even feel comfortable about revealing some insights into their personal life. This is the ideal scenario – you want to work out what makes them tick, too.

Brings depth to your application. Including your interests and hobbies on a resume brings depth to your application, but only if they're relevant to the role. The best candidates get creative about how they position their hobbies and interests to enhance their career story.

Shows you're more than just your work persona. Including a couple of brief one-liners about your hobbies and interests shows that there's more to you than your work persona. As work-life boundaries blur, people want to collaborate with interesting colleagues. 

Highlights hard and soft skills. Hobbies and interests require and enhance soft and hard skills that can be highly relevant to open positions.  

Fills gaps. Hobbies and interests on a resume can help to fill in work experience and skills gaps you might have for the job you're seeking. 

When should you include hobbies and interests on your resume?

Here are examples of when it might be appropriate to include personal interests on your resume:

Entry-level professional. If you're an early-career professional with minimal work experience, including interests is a great way of outlining your motivations and giving the hiring manager a better idea of who they are employing. Two or three lines of personal interests are expected and will add to the application, but you still need to hint at why they are relevant for the role.

Experienced professional. The decision to include interests is less clean-cut for a more senior applicant. In most cases, you'll likely have plenty of relevant work experience to include on your resume. Still, most careers contain skills that can be developed outside of the workplace. If you genuinely have a hobby or interest that contributes to your effectiveness at work, there is no rule that says you shouldn't include it.

Career changer. If you're changing careers and have limited practical work experience, skills, or education related to the position for which you're applying, adding interests and hobbies could help fill in these gaps. 

Interests and hobbies emphasize your abilities. If you happen to have an interest or hobby that indicates you're good at the type of job you're applying for, include them. For example, suppose you're applying for a position that requires a lot of public speaking. In that case, you might include your interest in acting, as it highlights your ability to perform in front of audiences. 

It's requested in the job description. As is the case for any request listed in the job posting, if the employer requests for you to include your hobbies and interests, be sure you do!

The organization puts a lot of focus on employee qualities and traits. If you notice on a company's website that they tend to highlight their employees' extracurricular activities and personalities frequently, then adding hobbies or interests on a resume could help you to stand out. 

When should you not include interests or hobbies on a resume?

And now, here are the reasons you should not include hobbies and personal interests on a resume:

Lack of space. If you're finding that space is tight on your resume, the Hobbies and Interests section is the first that should be cut. Even the section header can take up valuable space. You should always prioritize your work experience if you have more to say. Remember that you may get a chance to mention your interests during an interview.

Lack of relevance. To reiterate, only include hobbies or interests that are relevant to the job. As much as you might like someone to know you can walk a tightrope like a champ, unless it adds value and is applicable, don't include it. 

How to include hobbies and interests on your resume

There are several ground rules in terms of adding interests on a resume. Let's discuss the main ones.

Research the requirements of the role

Before you work out whether you're including relevant interests, make sure that you understand the specifics of the role. Making a link with an interest and an obscure requirement of the job is a great way of showing that you know what you're getting yourself into.

Choose interests that match your workplace skills

Once you have a list of skills that your employer desires, be creative in how you match your hobbies with the role. The hiring manager will be reading a lot of resumes, so don't assume that they will automatically make the connection. Be clear about exactly why you're including your interest.

You never know when you might run into an interviewer who knows more about your hobby than you do. Resist the temptation to exaggerate the level of your participation, or it might become an embarrassing situation that will torpedo your chances of getting the job. Honesty is the best policy in a job search.

You can include hobbies and interests on a resume in one of three places:

In a separate “Hobbies and Interests” section

In your Work Experience section

In your Skills or Competencies section

Hobbies and Interests section

If you choose to include hobbies and interests on your resume, the most obvious place to include them is in a stand-alone “Hobbies and Interests” section. In most instances, this should be the very last section you include on your resume. 

Work Experience section

While you might have space for a separate Interests and Hobbies section on a two-page resume, there's also the option of slipping an interest or hobby into bullet points or paragraphs around your work experience. If it fits with the point that you are making, it won't seem out of place.

Include bullets with an intriguing description. Just listing “swimming” or “horticulture” as a personal interest will be ignored. If your interest is relevant to the role, include a brief description that offers more detail to fire the hiring manager's imagination. You don't need to write this in full sentences. Include context and quantify with detail if possible. For example, if you're applying for a team lead or training position, you might include the following:

• Swimming. Won the state U23 200m backstroke title. Trained 100+ juniors at the local club.

Skills or Competencies section

If you have one or two hobbies or interests that relate to a specific skill required for the job or would add value to the role, you could choose to include it in your Skills or Competencies section. For example, if graphic design is a hobby of yours and you're applying for a marketing or communications role, adding graphic design as a competency or skill could prove valuable in such a role. 

Hobbies and interests to put on a resume - examples

Now, let's get into the details of the interests to put on a resume that may be worth including and why. In this section, we highlight:

Different categories of hobbies or interests

A brief description of why each category can be relevant

The hard and soft skills related to the category that could add value

Specific hobbies and interests examples that you might include on your resume

In the competitive world of work, countless lessons can be transferred from sporting activities. Whether you are playing in a team or dedicated to individual glory, the drive to win and the experience of losing are two sides of the same coin. 

In general, including sports on a resume can speak to the following soft skills:

Self-discipline

Communication

Interpersonal abilities

Collaboration

Determination

Ability to handle stress

Examples of sports hobbies and interests to put on a resume are:

Baseball. Everyone has different roles on any sports team. If one person is not doing their job, then the team is weaker. This is collective responsibility at its most basic.

Swimming. Swimming requires hours of dedication and preparation. Any endurance sport offers ample time to think about other aspects of your life.

Skydiving. Extreme sports indicate a risk-taker who is not afraid to push their limits. Perfect when you're figuring it out as you go along in an innovative industry sector.

Yoga. Any interest that involves looking within and clearing your mind of unwanted distractions should be beneficial. Yoga practitioners are often clear-headed decision-makers.

Fitness. The ability to maintain a regular fitness regime should never be underestimated. There are times when you won't want to hit the gym but you overcome your lethargy, which is also a valuable approach to work. 

Outdoor pursuits

Venturing outdoors into an uncertain world means that you often need to react to whatever nature throws your way. There's a reason why company away days are often held in outdoor activity centers. Outdoor adventures can teach us a multitude of lessons.

Some soft skills that those who face the great outdoors might have are:

Problem solving

Critical thinking

Working well under stress

Adventurous

Attention to detail

Safety-conscious

Risk-conscious 

Examples of outdoor interests to put on a resume include:

Fishing. Patience is a key requirement for many roles. When the long-anticipated opportunity arrives, you need to reel it in confidently and with skill. The chance may not come again.

Orienteering. Working out and agreeing on a path forward is a common sticking point in many corporate settings. Orienteering teaches communication skills and teamwork.

Horticulture. Spending countless weeks preparing the ground for a flower that may only bloom for a short time requires attention to detail and visionary planning.

Camping. The ability to put the hustle and bustle of everyday life to one side and lose yourself in the great outdoors is incredibly good for your mental health. It also shows you have the ability to take time away to balance your work and personal life. 

The dedication and creativity that come with learning a musical instrument or training a singing voice can be put to good use in any workplace. The journey is similar when it comes to mastering a new skill at work. Practice makes perfect.

Soft skills relevant to many positions that are often highlighted by musical ability include:

Of course, the technical skills of playing an instrument or being able to sing would be highly relevant in sectors like theater and filmmaking, as well. 

Some music-focused hobbies or interests to put on a resume include:

Songwriting. Even writing an email requires filling a blank space with something meaningful. Songwriters understand how to make other people feel a certain way.

Singing or gigging. Standing in front of a crowd and performing are skills that will be useful at work. You will communicate confidently in any meeting or presentation.

Playing an instrument. The process of mastering an instrument never ends. Perfection has no limits. There's always a more difficult piece to play that you can't quite nail.

Volunteering

Every hiring manager wants to hire a selfless employee who will share duties and help others, even when it isn't specified in their job description. Someone with an interest in volunteering will be naturally inclined to make a difference to those around them.

When you showcase volunteer work on your resume, you're often emphasizing the following soft skills, as well:

Charitability

Originality

Abstract thinking

Community-focus

Examples of volunteer work that candidates might choose to include are:

Charity work. The charity that you choose to support will offer an insight into your character. It may also provide a chance to bond with a hiring manager. 

Environmental activism. This is bordering on a controversial topic for some people, so include details about your environmental activities with care. If the company you're applying to is environmentally or green-focused, then you'll likely be safe to include it. 

Being a mentor. Mentoring outside the workplace is a fantastic source of positive energy. It will teach a multitude of influencing and people management skills.

Community work. Selflessly helping others is a trait of a valuable team player – so long as you know your limits. Sometimes, you need to be selfish and focus on your tasks.

Many creative dilemmas are solved outside of the workplace environment. Do you have the ability to think through a problem laterally when you're taking a shower or during your commute? Creative interests help the right side of your brain to see things differently.

Those with a hobby or interest that requires creativity often possess the following soft skills in addition to creativity:

Detail-orientation

Some creative interests to put on a resume include:

Painting or drawing. While painting is a leisurely pursuit that has little to do with many careers, are we discounting the observational skills of the perceptive artist?

Photography. An appreciation for how visuals can convey a message to make the required impact is central to marketing and sales-related roles. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Graphic design. As business moves increasingly online (and eventually into the Metaverse), graphic design skills come in handy in many careers. 

Blogging. Sharing your thoughts in a blog not only benefits your writing skills. As companies increasingly rely on employee advocacy, you can become a champion for their cause. Written communication skills are also a highly-sought after commodity. 

Poetry. Brevity lies at the heart of every successful team. Say what you want to say. Make sure that everyone gets it. Move on. Most workplaces could do with more succinct poets.

No one wants to hire a technophobe who is constantly asking colleagues for advice about how to use the basic functions of Excel. Sharing an interest in technology means that you may be the go-to person to ask when such questions crop up.

When including technology-focused interests, you're not only highlighting hard skills that employers eagerly seek, but soft skills, as well, like:

Openness to change

These are just a few of the technology-focused hobbies you might include on your resume:

Programming. An appreciation of coding and programming languages will soon be required in many non-technical industries. The future is digital. Are you ready?

Trading. Dabbling in stocks or crypto requires a level of risk tolerance that is rarely tested in a career. When you're investing your own money, you'll develop critical thinking skills.

Artificial intelligence. If you are this interested in the future of work, it's likely that you will have countless other fresh perspectives to bring to the workplace.

Online activity

While not every industry is dependent on an online presence, there are many functions where online activity is central to success. Sales, marketing, PR, human resources, and recruiting require employees with solid social media credentials and hard skills. 

In addition to the technical skills required for online activities, some of the soft skills include:

Creativity 

Communication 

Decisiveness

Examples of online activity hobbies include:

Social media. As social media evolves into a second life for so many of us, people who have developed an online audience can bring countless transferable skills to an employer.

E-sports. Split-second decisions in a virtual environment (alongside a team) mirror many jobs. Your job might not be a game, but your brain won't know any different.

Vlogging. Building an audience on YouTube or another similar platform requires creativity to work out what to say and the courage to put it out into the world.

Entertainment

Captivating a crowd has been a prized skill for millennia, and it's highly valued in the modern workplace. The ability to keep a screen of Zoom listeners engaged on an hourly basis is a skill that shouldn't be underestimated. Entertaining a crowd is a superpower. 

A few soft skills required for entertainment-related hobbies include:

Confidence 

Ability to improvise

Below are a few entertainment-related hobbies and interests to put on a resume:

Acting. While we might try to be true to our authentic selves at work, there are occasions where acting skills are required. The ability to play a part is important to maintain unity.

Comedy. If you have the God-given talent to make someone laugh, making friends and influencing others will come that little bit easier. 

Dance. Concentration and physical preparation are required to master a dance routine. Sometimes, you only get one chance to make an impression. Dancers can also perform under pressure.

Miscellaneous hobbies

Some hobbies might not fall neatly into a category, though they still offer fascinating insights into your personality and are worth mentioning.

Language learning. Choosing to learn a foreign language as a hobby is no small undertaking. You need a stellar memory and an organized mind to piece together the puzzle of language. Plus, many employers value bilingual candidates. 

Home improvement. Project management is ubiquitous in the workplace. Ensuring that a home improvement project runs smoothly demands many of the same project management skills.

Mindfulness. Slowing down and immersing yourself in mindfulness allows the tumult of worldly thoughts to fall into place. Prepare for success from a mindset of calm emptiness and focus. 

Which interests should you avoid adding?

When considering interests to put on a resume, avoid these types:

Illegal ones. Okay, you can laugh, but it's still worth mentioning. An employer might question your judgment if you tell them about your late-night parkour running across the city – avoid anything even remotely illegal. 

Religion or politics. As mentioned earlier, even environmental activities can be polarizing. Avoid anything with the potential to cause an argument. 

Ones requiring complex explanations. Omit any obscure activities that require a detailed explanation. Keep it simple and make sure that the employer will understand the workplace impact of the hobby.

Including hobbies and interests can add value

Now you know when it's okay to put hobbies and interests on a resume and when it's not. You also have plenty of examples of the types of interests to put on a resume that could help you to stand out and highlight vital soft and hard skills. Given that you likely have many relevant interests to put on your resume that might be worth mentioning, be selective in your choices and creative in how you present them using the guidelines above!

Still wondering if you should include hobbies or interests on your resume? And if you are, are you doing it appropriately? Why not upload your resume for a free review from our resume experts and find out?

This article was originally written by Paul Drury and has been updated by Ronda Suder.

Recommended reading:

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How to Decide If You Should Turn Your Hobby into Your Life's Work

How to Check if My Resume is ATS-friendly for Free

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How to Include Hobbies on Your Resume in 2024 (With Examples)

Learn when and how to professionally list your hobbies on your resume.

What are Hobbies?

Hobbies are activities that you do frequently and in your spare time. It can be anything from collecting postage stamps to working out to volunteering. The key here is that hobbies are activities you perform regularly -- they are more than an interest. An interest is more passive, it’s something you’re curious about but have yet to pursue. 

For example, perhaps you have it on your bucket list to scuba dive. That makes scuba diving an interest, because you’re in the research stage. It’s only a hobby if you’ve actually gone scuba diving, and continue to do so on a semi-frequent basis. 

It’s important to leave interests out since they can be misleading, and since you don’t yet have the skills associated with that interest.

What Hobbies Should I Include on My Resume?

Hobbies are a great way to show a company who you are and what you value. That being said, try to avoid listing potentially touchy hobbies, as you don’t want it used against you in the hiring process. 

• Political associations
• Controversial hobbies  
• Religious affiliations 
• Irrelevant hobbies

If you do have a hobby that fits in one of the above categories, “rebrand” it so that you can still convey your skills. For example, if you coach your church’s basketball team, leave out the religious component and just write that you coach youth sports. Similarly, if you campaign for a political candidate, note that you can rally your organization and fundraising skills to support an individual or mission.

See the infographic below for examples of hobbies to include on your resume.

Beautiful resume templates to land your dream job

How to Include Hobbies on Your Resume

‍ Have you ever thought about listing your hobbies on your resume? While it seems like “scuba diving” or “baking” may have no place on a resume, your hobbies can actually show that you're a strong candidate for the job by revealing hidden skills. 

For example, let’s say you’re applying for a writing position and you keep a personal blog in your spare time. Mentioning this hobby on your resume shows your passion for writing -- you do it even when you aren’t at work! -- your ability to manage time, to research, and to keep your creative juices flowing. 

Similarly, if you’re applying to work as a waiter and you’re an avid baker, you should add your love of cookies to your resume. It shows employers that you enjoy the food environment and have an understanding of the time and diligence that cooking requires. 

But before you start listing everything you’ve ever done on your resume, let’s break down a few do’s and dont’s. 

Why Include Hobbies on My Resume?

Hobbies impart some sort of skill, whether it’s implicit or actively learned. They can show a company what you have to offer. Your goal is to list your hobbies in a way that conveys these skills. 

In other words, think of your “hobbies” section like a more interesting “skills” section on your resume. 

For example, if you enjoy an endurance sport like running, it shows that you have diligence, determination, and patience -- all skills that cannot be taught through any job or educational opportunity. Skills like these are called “soft skills” because they are implicit in your personality.

Soft skills convey your communication and relational abilities. Some soft skills include:

• Adaptability
• Problem-Solving
• Responsibility 
• Interpersonal Skills such as conflict resolution, empathy or mentoring
• Time Management
• Leadership 
• Attention to Detail

In contrast, if you enjoy a hobby such as designing art using a software like Adobe Illustrator, this is considered a “hard skill.” Hard skills are those that are learned and gained through a degree, certificate, or another form of education. These include trainings and technical knowledge, such as accounting or software acumen or medical expertise. 

Examples of hard skills include:

• Technical Writing, such as email blasts, client relations and research 
• Computer Skills, including Microsoft Suite 
• Analytical Skills such as data analysis
• Marketing Skills like SEO, SEM, CMS
• Presentation Skills
• Management Skills like database management
• Project Management, include softwares that you are familiar with, such as Trello, Spredfast, and Zoho
• Copywriting
• Foreign Languages
• Design Skills, including Adobe Creative Suite, UX design, UI design 
• Mobile and Web Development
• Network Security such as encryption algorithms or authentication systems

When to Include Hobbies  

Not all resumes should include hobbies, and it depends heavily on the company to which you’re and its culture. For example, if you’re applying to a firm on Wall Street, it’s best to skip the hobby section. But if you’re looking to work for a local mom-and-pop store or for a more artistic company, then jot down a few hobbies. 

Let’s break it down a bit more below.  ‍

Only include hobbies if they are relevant to the position to which you’re applying. Ask yourself, what skills does this hobby require, and how does it fit with this job?

For example, don’t include “drawing” on your resume if you’re pursuing a managerial position at an accounting firm, since the two have no common denominator. But, if you’re seeking a job as an event planner , a talent for drawing could help show that you are adept at bringing your ideas to life and communicating them to clients. 

Company Culture

A lot of companies today are concerned about their image -- they want to be a fun place for employees to work. If you feel that one of your hobbies shows that you “fit” right in, then list it. 

For example, if you’re applying to be a blog writer for a magazine, feel free to note that you love watching films. This could open the door for you to write movie review articles, or it may show that you fit right in with the entertainment-focused atmosphere of a magazine like Cosmopolitan or The New Yorker .

The best way to determine if you should list your hobbies on your resume is to research the company beforehand. Read their “about us” section on their website and browse what former employees have to say about their experience on sites like Glassdoor. 

Ice-Breaker and Networking 

Interviews are pretty awkward, and it’s hard to stand out when the tired interviewee has already seen dozens of hopeful job applicants. Listing an interesting hobby on your resume can make you memorable. The person interviewing you may even enjoy the same hobby, which will help break that awkward interview tension. 

Even if you don’t get the job, having a conversation with a company employee about a common interest is a great way to expand your network. They’re more likely to remember you if you happen to reach out in the future about another opening. 

What to Do Next

Brainstorm the hobbies that you enjoy and think about the skills they impart. Now, how well do they match the job that you’re applying to? Be sure to only include hobbies that are relevant to the job description or to the company’s culture. 

Customize your hobbies on our modern and professional templates . We also have more tools for writing the perfect resume , adding colors to your resume and listing your certifications . 

Good luck and happy writing! 

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200 Hobbies and Interests to Include in Your Résumé

Need some inspiration on what hobbies and interests to include in your résumé? We’ve got you covered.

Chris Leitch

Editor-in-Chief & Résumé Expert

Reviewed by Hayley Ramsey

Isn’t it inappropriate to list my hobbies and interests on my résumé?

Well, sometimes. But not always.

In fact, including your pastimes when writing your résumé can help you show employers that you’re a great cultural fit and present yourself as a more well-rounded candidate.

Okay, sold. But what exactly should I list?

Well, that’s what this article is for. Here you’ll learn when to include hobbies and interests in your résumé and how to choose suitable activities — plus 200 suggestions to consider adding that will help you stand out from the crowd .

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Should you include them?
• How to choose
• List of 200 hobbies and interests

Should you include hobbies and interests in your résumé?

For the most part, no. You shouldn’t include hobbies and interests in your résumé.

Although they give employers a better idea of your personality and what additional skills you may have, they generally provide little value to your overall application. Employers are far more interested in your qualifications and accomplishments than in how you spend your free time outside work.

That said, there are a select few situations where mentioning your hobbies and interests on your résumé is perfectly acceptable — and even encouraged — such as:

• You’re just starting out in your career and you have limited work and educational experience.
• Your hobbies directly align with the duties listed in the job posting.
• The employer specifically asks about your hobbies in the job posting.
• You have limited skills that directly relate to the job you’re applying for.
• The employer is looking for unique candidates.

Most importantly, you should only list hobbies and interests in your résumé if you have the space for them.

How to choose hobbies and interests for your résumé

If you’ve decided to add a section for your hobbies and interests to your résumé, it’s important that you’re strategic in what you choose to list. Here’s how to do just that:

Step 1: Research the company

Before you start listing your hobbies and interests, do some research into the company that you’re applying to so you can better understand their culture. You can do this by reading the job description, browsing through the company website and checking out their social media pages.

This will, essentially, help you tailor your interests to the job. For example, if the company arranges regular hikes for its staff, it’s a no-brainer that you should mention your love of hiking (provided, of course, that it’s applicable). Remember: the more tailored your résumé , the better your chances are of getting noticed.

Step 2: Focus on your transferable skills

When choosing which hobbies and interests to list, think about the specific transferable skills and personal qualities that they demonstrate, and how these can be translated to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a customer-facing role, then you’ll want to showcase your confidence and interpersonal skills — and hobbies like acting and improvisation can help you achieve this. Likewise, sports-related hobbies are perfect if you want to demonstrate your teamwork abilities .

Step 3: Show variety

It’s always a good idea to have some variety between the hobbies and interests you list.

Not everyone is musically inclined, for example, so mentioning that you enjoy songwriting, playing the guitar and collecting vinyl records limits you to a very specific audience. But by listing a variety of interests and activities, you can relate to different people — not only the hiring manager reading your résumé but also your future coworkers and clients.

Step 4: Make sure you’re memorable (for the right reasons)

Don’t be afraid to list unusual hobbies and interests, such as African drumming or collecting keychains — as long as you can relate them to the job, of course. This will further demonstrate your personality to employers, and it helps you stand out from other applicants who have chosen more traditional hobbies.

That said, there are some no-go areas, including hobbies and interests that:

• are controversial
• are potentially dangerous, violent or illegal
• reflect antisocial behavior
• are listed as a joke that could be misinterpreted
• reveal political or religious affiliations

Get more information on résumé hobbies with this video:

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List of résumé hobbies and interests to include

Need some inspiration? We’ve compiled a list of 200 hobbies and interests to consider adding to your résumé.

Arts and crafts

• Architecture
• Calligraphy
• Candle making
• Fashion design
• Furniture building
• Glass painting
• Home decorating
• Jewelry making
• Photography
• Scrapbooking
• Soap making
• Woodburning
• Woodcarving
• Woodworking
• Action figures
• Amateur geology
• Comic books
• Model diecast cars
• Movie memorabilia
• Music memorabilia
• Sports memorabilia
• Sports trading cards
• Vinyl records

Food and drink

• Beer tasting
• Coffee roasting
• Sushi making
• Whiskey tasting
• Wine making
• Wine tasting
• Arcade games
• Board games
• Crossword puzzles
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Table tennis
• Video games
• Word scrambles

Model, electronic and tech

• App building
• Car restoration
• Model airplanes
• Model railroading
• Model rockets
• Model ships
• Programming / Coding
• RC helicopters
• Scale miniature building
• Choir singing
• Composing music
• Playing a musical instrument

Performing arts

• Breakdancing
• Historical reenactments
• Line dancing
• Magic tricks
• Standup comedy

Pets and animals

• Animal breeding
• Animal rescue
• Animal training
• Dog walking
• Fishkeeping
• Pet fostering
• Pet grooming

Spiritual and mental

• Freelance writing
• Neurolinguistic programming
• Novel writing
• Online classes
• Play writing
• Screenwriting
• Sign language
• Songwriting
• Speed reading
• Volunteering

Sports and outdoors

• Backpacking travel
• Base jumping
• Birdwatching
• Bodybuilding
• Fantasy football
• Figure skating
• Hang gliding
• Horse racing
• Horseback riding
• Ice skating
• Marathon running
• Martial arts
• Mountain biking
• Mountaineering
• Paragliding
• Rock climbing
• RV traveling
• Scuba diving
• Sightseeing
• Skateboarding
• Snowboarding
• Water skiing
• Weight training
• Windsurfing

Key takeaways

To sum up, here’s everything we covered about including hobbies and interests in your résumé

• Only list hobbies and interests if it makes sense to do so (they’re directly relevant to the job you’re applying for, for example) and you have space for them.
• Research the company, and tailor your hobbies and interests around their culture.
• Choose hobbies and interests that demonstrate your transferable skills and unique personality traits.
• Stay away from controversial hobbies or potentially illegal activities (such as gambling, pole dancing, hunting and hacking) or interests relating to your political or religious affiliations.

Meanwhile, if you decide to include your hobbies and interests in your résumé, keep these things in mind:

• Add a dedicated section for them at the end of your résumé.
• List them as separate bullet points and, ideally, briefly expand on each one in up to one sentence.
• Don’t list more than five hobbies and interests.

Got a question about including hobbies and interests in your résumé? Let us know in the comments section below.

Originally published on 31 October 2019.

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200+ Hobbies and Interests to Put on a Resume

June 17, 2024

The best way to stand out on a resume beyond showcasing some epic experience is to give the hiring manager a glimpse into your world. Whether it’s showcasing some hobbies you’ve taken up and mastered or showing interests that showcase unique skill sets, having hobbies and interests on a resume could be valuable. Of course, your work experience is more valuable than the things you do for fun, but they do share insights into what kind of person you are, your dedication to mastery, and more. This article is going to give you a deep dive into when to include hobbies and interests on a resume, which type are best to include, the best niches for hobbies on a resume, and includes lists of hobbies based on common skills and job titles.

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Should you put hobbies on a resume?

It depends. Adding hobbies on a resume isn’t always ideal. For some professions, it’s more formal and serious to hire a candidate and it’s less about personality and more about whether or not you can do the job. Hobbies on a resume might also introduce some bias. For example, if your resume includes a bunch of thrill seeking hobbies and you’re applying for a job at a boring bank, a bank hiring manager might think you’d get bored at the job. The type of work you do needs to line up with the hobbies and interests on a resume so it showcases that you’re a good fit for the job.

When to include hobbies and interests on a resume

When it’s relevant to the job.

Adding hobbies and interests to a resume makes sense when it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for. A nurse who exercises and practices healthy eating will likely set better examples for her patients. So, if it’s relevant it can create a positive bias for you. However, if your hobbies include racing and you’re a mechanic, you might be at risk of injury which may put you at a disadvantage. You know, unless you’re applying to be a mechanic for a racing team.

When it shows culture fit

Adding hobbies and interests on a resume is a good idea when it shows culture fit. For example, if you’re applying for an entrepreneurship company, showcasing your entrepreneurial spirit is a good idea. However, if your hobbies include political activism at a neutral company, it may be seen as a distraction.

When you lack professional experience

When you lack professional experience, you can include hobbies and interests to pad out your resume. This can be helpful for allowing you to add relevant interests and hobbies to help you land a role as an early employee, such as a new grad.

When you need to fill an employment gap

When you’ve recently been laid off from a job or you’ve been off of work for a while to take on parental leave, you might find filling an employment gap is necessary. You might add hobbies and interests on a resume to showcase that you’re aligned with what the role is about while showcasing yourself as an ideal candidate despite the small employment gap.

When you need to stand out

When you know a specific job is ultra competitive and you need to stand out to differentiate yourself from other candidates, you can add hobbies and interests to showcase your uniqueness.

When you want to demonstrate unique skills

Every hobby and interest requires a different set of skills. If you’re trying to showcase your unique skill set through your hobbies and interests, you’ll be able to differentiate yourself while still showing others that you have developed those unique skills through what you’ve done.

When applying for creative roles

It’s not uncommon for creative roles like graphic design, writing, marketing, and entrepreneurship to find creatives who have hobbies within their craft. A writer who writes novels for fun could include her interests on a resume and it’s a good fit. An entrepreneurial person putting their side hustle on a resume could help them land a job.

Which type of hobbies are best to include on a resume

Relevant skills.

The best hobbies and interests to put on a resume are those that align with your skills. For example, if a job posting asks for someone with presentation skills, you might put public speaking, Toastmasters, improv club, tutoring, podcasting, and debate club.

Relevant to craft

When deciding which hobbies and interests to put on a resume, consider choosing hobbies and interests that align with your craft. For example, a writer applying for a job might put hobbies and interests, such as blogging, novel writing, content marketing, scriptwriting, poetry, creative writing, and so on.

Relevant to industry

When choosing hobbies and interests to put on a resume, you might choose things that are related to your industry. For example, if you work in tech, you might mention AI, robotics, programming, building things, entrepreneurship, and more.

Best hobbies niches to put on a resume

Community focus.

Those who are community-minded and like helping the people around them can put community-focused hobbies and interests on their resume. For example, volunteering, philanthropy, book clubs, community gardening, bowling, and so on.

Creativity minded

Those in creative industries can put more creative-minded hobbies and interests on their resume. For example, drawing, writing, photography, pottery, dance, woodworking, sewing, or cooking.

Multicultural interests

Those in diversity and inclusion focused roles or companies might list some multicultural hobbies and interests. For example, learning languages, traveling, folk dancing, networking, and so on.

Intellectual pursuits

Those who like intellectual stimulation might find themselves including intellectual pursuits on their resume. For example, reading, learning new skills, playing an instrument, chess, jiu jitsu, crossword puzzles, and so on.

Professional affiliations

In some industries, there are professional affiliations that you can sign up for to connect to your work community. For example, human resources, public relations, engineering, and so on have professional affiliations.

The difference between hobbies and interests on a resume

The difference between hobbies and interests is that interests might include things you consume content for, like learning about, or enjoy passively. However, hobbies are something you actively pursue and do. If you like watching social media videos about making money online, that’s an interest. However, if you like playing tennis and actively play multiple times a week, that’s a hobby.

Is it better to put hobbies, interests, or skills on a resume?

You can put hobbies, interests, and skills on a resume. Skills are the best thing to put on a resume. However, hobbies showcase that you develop skills through your regular activities. Interests showcase you like learning new things. Ultimately, whether you’re adding hobbies, interests, or skills to a resume it should help you pass filters by having the right keywords on your resume but also showcase your unique personality to give you a competitive edge in your job search.

Best Hobbies Based on Skills

Communication skills.

• Public speaking
• Blogging or vlogging
• Debate club
• Storytelling
• Learning a new language

Teamwork Skills

• Participating in team sports
• Volunteering for community projects
• Playing multiplayer video games
• Joining a book club
• Organizing group travel or events

Problem-Solving Skills

• Puzzles (crosswords, Wordle, Sudoku)
• Escape room challenges
• Coding or programming
• Strategy board games (e.g., chess)
• DIY projects or repairs

Time Management Skills

• Planning and hosting events
• Using productivity apps
• Maintaining a personal journal or planner
• Practicing mindfulness or meditation
• Gardening or maintaining a home

Adaptability Skills

• Traveling to new places
• Learning new activities
• Attending workshops or seminars
• Learning new technologies or tools
• Engaging in improv theater

Creativity Skills

• Painting or drawing
• Creative writing
• Crafting (e.g., knitting, scrapbooking)
• Playing a musical instrument
• Cooking or baking new recipes
• Long-distance running or endurance sports
• Joining a study group or academic club
• Learning a new skill or subject
• Practicing a disciplined hobby (e.g., martial arts)
• Participating in charity or volunteer work

Interpersonal Skills

• Networking events
• Hosting social gatherings
• Presenting in philanthropy groups
• Engaging in active listening exercises
• Joining social clubs or organizations

Leadership Skills

• Leading a sports team
• Organizing community events
• Mentoring or coaching
• Taking leadership roles in clubs or organizations
• Participating in leadership training programs

Attention to Detail

• Model building or miniature painting
• Photography
• Editing or proofreading
• Collecting (e.g., stamps, coins)
• Playing musical instruments that require precision

Emotional Intelligence

• Practicing active listening
• Journaling about emotions
• Meditation or yoga
• Reading books on psychology or self-improvement
• Volunteering for support groups

Negotiation Skills

• Playing negotiation games (e.g., Monopoly)
• Role-playing exercises
• Participating in debate clubs
• Practicing conflict resolution scenarios
• Learning about different cultures and perspectives

Conflict Resolution Skills

• Mediation training
• Studying psychology or counseling techniques
• Role-playing conflicts and resolutions
• Participating in collaborative projects
• Volunteering for community mediation programs

Stress Management Skills

• Practicing yoga or meditation
• Engaging in regular exercise
• Pursuing hobbies that induce flow (e.g., painting, playing music)
• Spending time in nature
• Learning and practicing relaxation techniques

Networking Skills

• Attending industry conferences
• Joining professional associations
• Participating in social media groups
• Organizing meetups or networking events
• Volunteering for community events

Decision-Making Skills

• Playing strategic games (e.g., Risk, chess)
• Scenario planning exercises
• Participating in escape rooms
• Learning about decision-making models
• Analyzing case studies

Critical Thinking Skills

• Reading and discussing non-fiction books
• Engaging in philosophical debates
• Solving logic puzzles
• Learning a new language or coding
• Analyzing current events and news

Customer Service Skills

• Volunteering in customer-facing roles
• Participating in role-playing exercises
• Working in retail or service industries
• Joining a hospitality club or association
• Taking courses on communication and empathy

Presentation Skills

• Practicing public speaking
• Joining Toastmasters
• Participating in drama or theater
• Creating and delivering presentations for clubs
• Recording and reviewing video presentations

Self-Motivation Skills

• Setting and achieving personal goals
• Learning new skills independently
• Participating in self-improvement workshops
• Engaging in solo sports or activities
• Maintaining a personal blog or journal

Best Hobbies Based on Job Titles

Software developer.

• Coding or programming side projects
• Participating in hackathons
• Building and tinkering with electronics
• Contributing to open-source projects
• Playing strategic video games

Project Manager

• Participating in strategic board games
• Learning new project management methodologies
• Engaging in DIY home improvement projects

Graphic Designer

• Drawing or sketching
• Visiting art galleries and museums
• Creating digital art
• Participating in design challenges

Marketing Manager

• Blogging or content creation
• Studying market trends and consumer behavior
• Networking at industry events
• Participating in social media campaigns
• Volunteering for community marketing projects

Sales Representative

• Networking and attending social events
• Reading books on sales techniques
• Participating in competitive sports
• Engaging in role-playing sales scenarios

Human Resources Specialist

• Volunteering for community support groups
• Participating in workshops on empathy and communication
• Reading about labor laws and workplace culture
• Organizing team-building activities
• Mentoring or coaching others

Financial Analyst

• Studying stock market trends
• Playing strategy-based board games
• Analyzing financial news and reports
• Participating in investment clubs
• Engaging in personal budgeting and finance management
• Volunteering for educational programs
• Reading and discussing educational theories
• Creating educational materials
• Engaging in public speaking
• Participating in community theater or drama clubs

Administrative Assistant

• Organizing events and gatherings
• Practicing mindfulness and organization techniques
• Learning new office software
• Volunteering for administrative roles in community projects
• Engaging in journaling or planning
• Volunteering in healthcare settings
• Participating in first aid training
• Practicing mindfulness and self-care
• Learning about nutrition and wellness
• Engaging in physical fitness activities

Mechanical Engineer

• Building and repairing mechanical devices
• Participating in robotics clubs
• Flying model airplanes or drones
• Studying automotive mechanics

Data Analyst

• Analyzing data sets for personal projects
• Participating in data science competitions
• Reading about statistical methods and trends
• Learning new programming languages
• Engaging in puzzles and logic games

Content Writer

• Blogging or journaling
• Participating in writing workshops
• Reading a wide range of literature
• Engaging in storytelling or creative writing
• Volunteering to write for community newsletters

Customer Service Representative

• Learning about communication and empathy techniques
• Managing personal or family budgets
• Participating in financial literacy workshops
• Studying tax laws and regulations
• Volunteering for community finance roles
• Visiting architectural landmarks
• Sketching and drawing
• Participating in model building
• Studying architectural styles and history
• Engaging in photography

Operations Manager

• Planning and organizing events
• Participating in strategy-based board games
• Volunteering for logistics roles in community projects
• Learning about new operational methodologies

Web Developer

• Building personal or freelance websites
• Participating in coding challenges
• Learning new web development languages
• Engaging in gaming or tech forums

Public Relations Specialist

• Networking at social events
• Writing press releases or blog posts
• Studying media trends and communication strategies
• Participating in public speaking or debate clubs
• Volunteering for community PR projects

Human Resources Manager

• Volunteering for mentorship programs
• Participating in workshops on leadership and communication
• Reading about workplace culture and employee engagement

Nicole Martins Ferreira

Nicole Martins Ferreira, Senior Writer at Huntr, brings a rich background in marketing, tech, and ecommerce to craft insightful content on job search strategies and career advancement. With experience from Super Magic Taste to Shopify, she excels in creating engaging, actionable advice for job seekers. Nicole's expertise in SEO and content marketing, honed across diverse roles, enables her to effectively guide individuals through the complexities of the job market. Her contributions at Huntr are vital, offering readers valuable tips and strategies to navigate their professional journeys successfully, making her work an invaluable resource for job seekers everywhere.

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Ultimate List of 150+ Hobbies and Interests for Your Resume

3 key takeaways:

• The benefits of listing relevant interests and hobbies on your resume 
• 150+ categorized examples of hobbies and interests 
• How to list hobbies and interests professionally on your resume

As you work through all of the “must-have” sections on your resume, you may find yourself getting to the end and thinking, “Have I given the hiring team any information or insight into my personal interests in my free time and who I am as a person?”

As you work through all of the “must-have” sections on your resume, you may find yourself getting to the end and thinking, “Have I given the hiring team any information or insight into who I am as a person?”

Enter: the “Interests” section of your resume.

How do you add your interests and hobbies for resume details without drawing attention away from the most important details? And what should you even include? Read on for helpful resume tips on all of the above, in addition to 150+ creative hobbies you can use as inspiration throughout your job search. 

Is it unprofessional to list hobbies and interests on a resume?

Highlighting hobbies and interests on resumes can help you stand out and demonstrate your personality, creativity, and unique strengths.

Rather than being unprofessional, listing hobbies and interests on a resume can be a way to showcase yourself as a whole person and not just your work experience or education.

And while there may be some cases where listing hobbies and interests on a resume may not be appropriate or relevant, it can help you stand out and showcase your unique qualities and abilities.

As long as the hobbies and interests are presented in a professional, and they're relevant to the job you're applying to, they can be a valuable addition to a resume.

Why you should list hobbies and interests on your resume‍

People often make mistakes when crafting their resume and leave out important details.

The "Interests" section of your resume is an opportunity to show a potential employer a little bit more about who you are and what you do in your spare time, as they relate to the job description, in a few critical ways:

1. Resume hobbies showcase a multidimensional person 

We're more than our work experiences and skills, and including your unique hobbies and interests on your resume can present a more well-rounded idea of who you are as a person.

For example, let's say a hiring manager is making a decision about the last candidate they'll bring in for an interview. They're deciding between two people with the same level of experience and the same skill set—you and another applicant. You've included a few details about your interests. Suddenly, you're a person with a personality and a bit of depth—a small addition that got you to the next round of the hiring process.

‍2. Resume interests offer culture insight

‍There are many companies on the lookout for applicants with unique character or personality traits. Listing hobbies and interests on a resume is an easy way for hiring managers, recruiters, and potential employers to get a glimpse into who you are as a person and how well you'll relate to the company's work culture.

3. Hobbies and interests add depth to limited experience

If you're writing a resume with no work experience under your belt, or you've just graduated and are on the lookout for your first role, listing your hobbies and interests can help to fill in the blanks of any limited skills.

If some of these hobbies include community involvement through volunteering or being a part of an association or networking group, they could speak to you being a team player and highlight your leadership skills.

How are hobbies and interests different from each other?

Interests and hobbies are closely related and often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two.

Interests refer to the broader range of activities or subjects that you enjoy or find engaging, while hobbies are more specific activities that you pursue for enjoyment or relaxation. And while there is some overlap between interests and hobbies, hobbies tend to be more specific and hands-on, while interests may be more intellectual or broad-based.

Examples of how hobbies and interests for a resume are different

Hobbies tend to be more hands-on activities that someone actively pursues Interests can be more passive engagement with a topic or subject area

Hobbies are often done for relaxation or creative expression Interests are pursued more for intellectual stimulation or expanding one's knowledge

Hobbies require setting aside time specifically to engage in the activity Interests can be satisfied through more flexible or occasional engagement, like reading or attending events

Hobbies produce tangible results like a painting, knitted scarf, or piece of furniture Interests produce more intangible rewards like satisfying curiosity or gaining new perspectives

Hobbies tend to have a process or involve developing skills Interests are more about appreciation and understanding

Benefits of having hobbies and interests

At the end of the day, both interests and hobbies can provide a source of enjoyment and fulfillment outside of work or other obligations. They can also offer opportunities for:

• Personal growth
• Skill development
• Stress relief
• Mental breaks from daily routines and challenges  
• An enhanced sense of identity and self-awareness
• Boosting overall well-being

What kind of hobbies should you put on your resume?

The simple answer: include hobbies and interests relevant to the job you're applying for and that show your value .

Here are a few tips on what kind of hobbies and interests to include:

• Look for hobbies and interests that align with the job requirements and highlight your strengths.
• Show a range of interests by including a mix of personal interests that demonstrate different aspects of your personality and skills.
• Think about the company culture and values and choose hobbies and interests that fit with them.
• Be mindful of the hobbies and interests you include and avoid ones that may be controversial or could be perceived as inappropriate.
• While including hobbies and interests can be a great way to stand out and showcase your personality, it's important to keep it concise and relevant.

With these tips in mind, let’s take a look at some of the different types of interests and hobbies that would be suitable for a resume. 

Best types of interests and hobbies for a resume

The best hobbies for your resume will ultimately depend on the nature of the role, the organization’s culture, and which types of experiences matter to the position—you should always tailor your resume for every role. But generally speaking, there are certain hobbies and interests that are strong indicators of different skill sets that can strengthen your candidacy.

Here are some great types of interests and hobbies that can often be strong additions to a resume:

Community Involvement

By engaging in community projects or local councils, volunteering, outreach work, supporting local organizations with your time, youth mentorship, (and more!) community involvement shows that you're not just confined to your own professional and personal life but also concerned about the well-being of others around you. 

Listing volunteer work, community service, or other meaningful extracurricular activities on your resume can show interpersonal skills like empathy, compassion, and the desire to make a positive impact on the world.

Community involvement can also demonstrate that you're a team player, have leadership potential, and have a strong work ethic. It reflects your ability to engage with diverse groups and collaborate towards common goals—valuable traits in any employee.

Community involvement can add value to your resume by:

• Highlighting management capabilities
• Presenting event coordination skills
• Emphasizing public speaking skills
• Showcasing empathy and social responsibility
• Signaling a cooperative and compassionate team member

Creative pursuits

Creative hobbies like painting, writing, or performing arts not only enrich your personal life but also have a place on your resume if they're relevant to the role you're applying to. 

These pursuits often require critical thinking and problem-solving, which are key in many professional settings. They show that you have a strong imagination, an eye for aesthetics, a desire to express yourself in unique ways, the ability to think outside the box.

Creative pursuits can add value to your resume by:

• Underscoring your ideation, innovation, and the application of abstract concepts to real-world scenarios 
• Showcasing proficiency in project management 
• Highlighting the ability to see tasks through from start to finish
• Showing a dynamic approach to obstacles and 
• Demonstrating a passion for originality

Continuing education

Whether you're taking online courses, attending workshops, or pursuing additional certifications, continuing education is a testament to your commitment to professional growth. 

It suggests you're a person who is dedicated to enhancing your skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis. It also demonstrates you likely have transferable soft skills like communication, collaboration, and time management—which are valuable across almost every industry.

Continuing education can add value to your resume by:

• Reflecting an investment in your professional development 
• Highlighting a readiness to adapt to new information or technology
• Showcasing self-motivation and seriousness about maintaining a competitive edge 
• Demonstrating initiative and desire to improve
• Indicating you are likely to be a lifelong learner who will continue to grow and contribute

Professional development

Active participation in professional organizations, attending industry conferences, or even informal study groups related to your profession can be excellent resume additions. These activities signify your genuine interest in staying connected with industry trends and best practices.

If you enjoy professional reading, learning new skills, or taking courses in your free time, it may suggest that you're intellectually curious, motivated, and enjoy expanding your knowledge and understanding of the world. You may also be detail-oriented and have a love for precision and accuracy.

Professional Development can add value to your resume by:

• Underscoring your commitment to your career and willingness to invest time in your own growth
• Highlighting leadership qualities if you've taken on roles within professional organizations
• Demonstrating a proactive approach to your career trajectory
• Showing foresight and a strategic approach to your professional life

Cultural awareness

Involvement in multicultural festivals, language learning, and international travel all speak to your cultural awareness. This is particularly valuable in today's globalized business environment, where understanding and respecting different perspectives is key.

Cultural awareness can improve your interpersonal skills, making you more effective in diverse teams and customer interactions. It can also boost your adaptability and problem-solving ability in unfamiliar situations.

Cultural awareness can add value to your resume by:

• Suggesting you're a global citizen 
• Highlighting your ability to navigate and appreciate the complexities of a multicultural workplace
• Indicating strong communication skills 
• Showcasing your potential to represent a company in a global market

Technology proficiency

Including hobbies demonstrating your technological proficiency, like coding for personal projects, engaging with maker communities, or even building computers, can make your resume stand out. In a world where technology is integral to most jobs, these skills are highly valuable.

Technological proficiency can add value to your resume by:

• Showing that you're comfortable with modern tools and platforms, which can be crucial for efficiency in many roles
• Suggesting strong problem-solving skills 
• Indicating your ability to self-teach—important in rapidly changing fields
• Highlighting your ability to adapt to new technologies—essential for any business looking to stay current

Intellectual challenges

Participating in activities that present intellectual challenges, like chess, strategic games, or problem-solving competitions, can be an excellent addition to your resume because they highlight attributes that are valuable in roles requiring tactical planning and decision-making.

Intellectual challenges can add value to your resume by:

• Indicating a penchant for critical thinking and analytics 
• Suggesting you enjoy overcoming complex problems 
• Demonstrating an ability to bring innovative solutions to the table
• Inferring you're a strategic thinker with sharp intellect 

Create your interests and hobbies section with Teal

Use Teal's AI Resume Builder to create and customize the interests section of your resume.

Add dozens of interests, group them into categories, and choose which ones you want to showcase on your resume as they relate to every unique job you apply to.

Teal gives you ultimate control over the look, feel, and presentation—clear, precise, and compelling.

150+ examples of hobbies and interests to put on your resume

Creating a carefully curated list of your own hobbies and interests and then choosing the ones that align closely with every unique role can help you save time during your job search in the long run.

And while they should always be relevant to the role you're applying to, understanding everything you bring to the table before you get started can give you a significant advantage in tailoring your resume for every job you apply to.

Below are 150+ examples of interests and hobbies for a resume you can pull from or use as inspiration to highlight your transferable skills, add depth and dimension to your resume, and stand out as a qualified, well-rounded candidate.

Artistic interests for a Resume

• Creative activities
• Creative writing
• Flower arranging
• Furniture building
• Furniture restoration
• Illustration
• Photography
• Restoring Furniture
• Woodworking

Writing hobbies for a resume

• Copywriting
• Essay writing
• Fan fiction
• Fiction writing
• Memoir writing
• Poetry writing
• Screenwriting
• Travel writing

Organization hobbies for a resume

• Bullet journaling
• Calendar syncing
• Digital organizing
• DIY projects
• Event planning
• Home organizing
• KonMari method
• Meal planning
• Organizing local meetups
• Personal inventory

Reading hobbies and interest for a resume

• Attending literary events
• Book collecting
• Book reviewing
• Literary analysis
• Reading challenges
• Reading different genres
• Reading for education
• Translating books

Collecting hobbies for a resume

• Action figures
• Comic books
• Record albums
• Sports memorabilia
• Vintage collectibles

Volunteering hobbies for a resume

• Animal rescue
• Community gardening
• Conservation
• Disaster relief
• Elderly support
• Fundraising events
• Habitat for Humanity
• Homelessness support
• International service
• Literacy support
• Teaching assistant
• Youth sports coaching

Marketing interests and hobbies for a resume

• Content creation
• Data analysis
• Reading marketing books
• Social media
• Videography

Music, movies, and performing arts hobbies for a resume

• Composing music
• Playing a musical instrument
• Magic tricks
• Songwriting
• Standup comedy

Finance hobbies and interests for a resume

• Bargain shopping
• Computer programs
• Learning languages
• Participation in investment clubs
• Reading financial news and market reports
• Volunteer work

Sales hobbies for a resume

• Building relationships
• Cold calling
• Networking events
• Persuasion and influencing skills
• Practicing negotiation
• Role-playing games
• Team sports
• Window shopping

Sports and outdoor hobbies for a resume

• Backpacking
• Basketball 
• Bodybuilding
• Fantasy football
• Fantasy baseball
• Individual sports
• Martial arts
• Mountain biking
• Mountain climbing
• Rock climbing
• Scuba diving
• Snowboarding
• Whitewater rafting

Technology hobbies and interests for a resume

• 3-D printing
• App building
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer programming
• Virtual reality
• Web development 

Other unique hobbies and interests for a resume

• Building models
• Car restoration
• Community activities
• Cooking classes
• Historic preservation
• Networking groups
• Personal development
• RV traveling
• Sign language
• Stamp collecting
• Vintage shopping

How soft and hard skills relate to hobbies and interests

Hobbies and interests can play a significant role in developing both soft and hard skills.

Soft skills, or interpersonal skills, are the personal skills that help you work effectively with others, while hard skills are the technical abilities required to perform a specific job.

The relationship between hobbies and interests and soft and hard skills can be quite strong, and many people find that their hobbies and interests have helped them develop the skills they need for success in their careers.

Soft skills

When it comes to resume soft skills , hobbies and interests can provide opportunities to develop and improve them.

For example, if you're passionate about team sports, you might have developed communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Or, if you're interested in volunteer work, you may have honed your problem-solving, empathy, and conflict-resolution skills. These skills are essential in the workplace, and they can make a significant difference in your success.

Hard skills

Resume Hard skills can also be developed and enhanced through hobbies and interests.

Many hobbies require technical skills, such as programming, graphic design, or data analysis. These skills can be valuable in a variety of professions, and they can help you stand out from other job applicants. Even if your hobby isn't directly related to your career, the skills you develop can be transferable to other areas of your life.

Ultimately, hobbies and interests can provide a valuable avenue for developing both soft and hard skills. They allow you to explore your passions and interests while developing skills that can benefit you both personally and professionally.

When it comes to your career, showcasing your hobbies and interests on your resume or during an interview can demonstrate your skills and make you a more compelling candidate for the job. So, if you're looking to develop new skills, consider exploring a new hobby or interest that aligns with your career goals.

Customize the skills and interests on your resume

Manage both the "Skills" and "Interests" sections on your resume with a great level of control to tailor your resume for each individual job you apply for.

How to list interests on your resume

1. use space wisely.

" How long should a resume be ?" is a common question among job seekers. If there just isn't room on your resume for listing interests, it's okay to leave them off. Don't adjust your professional resume template's margins and font just to squeeze these in.

Consider putting your unique interests on another piece of professional real estate—your optimized LinkedIn profile's “About” section, for example.

A great way to check your LinkedIn profile for optimization is to download Teal’s Free Chrome Extension , which includes an automated LinkedIn Profile Review . Once you install the extension, just go to your profile page and click on the Teal logo. You’ll see a list of recommendations on optimizing your profile, and you can make updates as needed.

Teal’s Free LinkedIn Profile Review Chrome Extension

2. Keep your hobbies and interests list short yet detailed 

Choose three to five activities for your resume, and be specific if you can.

For example, you can list “Active in a year-round indoor pickleball league” instead of “Playing team sports” or “Part of a book group focused on historical fiction” instead of “Reading.”

3. Tailor your list of interests based on the job posting you're applying for

Your collection of cookbooks may be more relevant than your love of true crime podcasts if you're applying for a role at a marketing agency that works with food and beverage brands. Interests related to musical instruments would also not be the most appropriate for that role.

Choosing relevant hobbies and experiences to highlight can reflect positively on you and help establish that you're even more of a fit for the job position you're applying for. The best resume examples always align closely with the target role, including the your interests.

Use Teal's AI Resume Builder to quickly compare the skills and keywords in the job posting to those in your resume. Make sure to add any relevant experience to your customized resume and to your application answers.

4. Stay away from controversial and irrelevant hobbies

It most likely goes without saying, but avoid listing anything that might be considered polarizing. That could include political or religious affiliations—or potentially controversial activities of personal interest like gambling or hunting.

Unless you're applying for a very specific role where those interests are expected, certain activities might harm the perception of you as a candidate and give other applicants an advantage.

Optimizing the "Interests" section on your resume

Since these details aren't as critical to your experiences, skills, and personal summary, the ideal place for your hobbies and interests is at the very bottom of your resume.

Instead of "Hobbies Section," for the actual name of the section, it's best to stick with something general, such as “Interests.” Remember, you don't want to overcrowd your resume, so don't include more than five hobbies.

If you'd like to take the guesswork out of this section, Teal's AI Resume Builder has a built-in "Skills and Interests" section where you can easily add your details. 

Final thoughts on resume hobbies and interests

There are plenty of people who will tell you to leave more “personal” details out of your resume, but business is personal. 

You shouldn't have to shut down your personality and the unique details that make you who you are just because you're interviewing for a job. In fact, showcasing a few of the things you like to do when you're not working can offer the entire picture of who you are as a candidate.

Using the Teal AI Resume Builder, you can create a master list of interests and hobbies to put on a resume, then customize your content with relevant details for every role—adding value and clarity to your candidacy.  

Sign up for Teal for free and craft a resume that showcases your unique personality, interests,  and  professional achievements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are interests.

Interests are activities, subjects, or passions that an individual enjoys or finds engaging outside of their work or academic responsibilities. They are things that make you happy or curious.

Interests can be wide-ranging and may include topics such as history, science, literature, or art. They may involve reading, attending lectures or events, or simply learning more about a particular subject. Interests can also include pursuits that involve physical activity, such as sports, exercise, or outdoor recreation.

What are hobbies?

Hobbies are specific activities or pursuits that an individual pursues in their free time for enjoyment or relaxation. Pursuing hobbies can also offer opportunities for learning, growth, and social connection.

Hobbies are typically more focused activities that a person pursues in their free time. Hobbies may involve crafting, playing a musical instrument, gardening, cooking, or other activities that offer a sense of creative expression or relaxation.

How personal should you make your hobbies and interests section?

When including hobbies and interests on a resume, it's important to strike a balance between being personal and professional. You want to share enough information to give potential employers insight into your personality, values, and strengths, but not so much that your resume becomes too personal or oversharing.

To achieve this balance, focus on hobbies and interests that are relevant to the job or that demonstrate skills or qualities that would be valuable in the position. When describing your hobbies and interests, use language that is professional and relevant to the job. Avoid overly personal or casual language, and focus on highlighting the skills or qualities that make you a strong candidate for the position.

You can use Teal to manage all of your personal interests and hobbies for multiple resumes.

Becca Dershowitz

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Listing Hobbies and Interests on a Resume: Examples & How-to

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What are hobbies and interests you can list on a resume?

How to list hobbies and interests on a resume, best hobbies and interests for different industries.

Adding relevant hobbies and interests to your resume can show hiring managers that you’re dedicated to your profession. They can also highlight your skills and related experience to make you stand out from other candidates. Learn how to add hobbies and interests to your resumes and the best ones for different industries.

Hobbies and interests on a resume are things you do in your free time that help complete your resume. Usually, you can create a ‘Hobbies and interests’ section towards the end of your resume to show employers what you like to do when you’re not working. Listing hobbies and interests can help hiring managers understand more about you and how you could fit into their company culture. 

It can be helpful to list hobbies and interests that relate to the role you’re applying for to show you’re a dedicated professional in your field. For example, if you’re applying for a job as a mechanic, you can list interests like rebuilding classic cars or reading automotive magazines. 

Here’s how you can add your hobbies and interests to a resume: 

1. First, think about what you do in your free time

Consider anything you enjoy doing when you’re not working, like exercising, reading, cooking or anything else. Most things that you like doing in your free time can be considered hobbies or interests. 

2. Second, make a list of all of your hobbies

Write down everything you like doing. Make the list as long as you need to include all of your interests. 

3. Third, look at job descriptions

Read different job postings in fields you’re interested in to see what some common responsibilities and skills are. See if any of your hobbies or interests relate to the jobs. Your hobbies could also use some of the skills needed for the job. For example, if you’re applying for a job that listed teamwork as a needed skill, you could list playing a specific sport to showcase your teamwork skills.

4. Next, read resume samples

Find resume examples for the job you want to apply for to see some possible hobbies and interests you could list on your own resume. These examples can give you inspiration for hobbies you have that you hadn’t thought of before. Examples can also show you the best way to add your hobbies. 

5. Then, create a ‘Hobbies and Interests’ section on your resume

This section should probably be last on your resume since you want to show all of your experience, skills and education first. When you add your hobbies and interests, it’s best to add three at most, so choose your most relevant ones. 

6. Last, be descriptive

 When you add your hobbies and interests, be sure to make them specific so hiring managers have a better understanding of them. For example, instead of adding ‘Cooking’ as a hobby, try ‘Passion for French baking.’ Being descriptive helps you be more relatable to the employer. 

Not everyone adds hobbies and interests on their resumes, but it can be a useful section to show your personality. Only include a ‘Hobbies and Interests’ section if you have space on your resume. 

Here are some of the best hobbies and interests you can list for different industries: 

Information technology (IT)

Examples  that show IT interests or how you stay current in a continuously changing field:

• Building neural networks 
• Active participant in local annual hackathon 
• Learning new coding languages 
• Volunteer instructor at local high school’s after-school programming class 
• Play Sudoku and other number puzzles 

Be specific in any programming languages or other IT programs you’re learning in your free time. The IT industry also involves a lot of analytical thinking and problem-solving. Additionally, you may need to collaborate with a group or team.

Examples to highlight your communication or entrepreneurial skills for retail:

• Member of neighborhood softball league since 2015 
• Regular volunteer at local clothing and furniture charity 
• Create custom sewing patterns as side job 
• Active member of chess club 

Depending on the type of retail you’re involved in, you may be able to add more specific interests as well. You can also add any hobbies that could showcase your customer service skills, which is another valuable skill needed for retail. 

Examples for the healthcare industr y to show your interest in physical health and staying current with the latest medical trends:

• Read monthly psychology and neurology medical journals 
• Boston and New York Marathon participant 
• Volunteer coordinator at local Red Cross 
• Lead cycling class twice a week at fitness center 
• Member of group aiming to provide healthcare to underserved communities 

Healthcare has a wide variety of jobs available, so mention any other hobbies for your specific field. 

Construction

Examples for construction that show your stamina and creative problem-solving skills:

• Create custom tables for additional income, about one per month 
• Habitat for Humanity volunteer since 2017 
• Avid backpacker and speed hiker 
• Practice welding techniques 

Some of these hobbies involve working with others, which is also important in construction. 

Hospitality 

Examples for working in the hospitality industry with a variety of people:

• Traveling and exploring local culture 
• Maintain a blog about travel experiences 
• Currently learning Portuguese and Italian 
• Sailboat enthusiast 
• Volunteer at local refugee center 

Adding any hobbies that involve teamwork would be helpful for hospitality resumes as well. 

Foodservice

Examples for foodservice related to your experience with food, time management and collaboration skills:

• Maintain active food critic blog Interest in variations of curry worldwide 
• Participant in local food service kickball league 
• Volunteer three times a week at local food bank 

Depending on the job you’re seeking in the foodservice industry, there are many other hobbies you could add. A server’s hobbies and interests will likely be different than a sous chef’s hobbies.

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How To List Hobbies And Interests On A Resume (With Examples)

• How To Write A Resume
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Adding your hobbies and interests to your resume shows hiring managers who you are, what you’re interested in, and what you’re passionate about. It can even give them clues about your work ethic and personality. This is especially valuable if you don’t have a lot of work experience or are changing career paths .

It can be tricky to know which hobbies and interests to include on a resume and where to put them, so we’re going to show you how to do that. You’ll also see examples of hobbies and interests on a resume. Key Takeaways

Share hobbies and interests that emphasize your soft and hard skills.

Tailor the hobbies and interests you share on your resume to the culture of the company you’re applying to.

Avoid including hobbies and interests that are controversial, illegal, or dangerous.

How to list interests and hobbies on your resume

When to include a list of interests and hobbies on your resume, examples of interests and hobbies to list on a resume, how to decide whether to include a hobby or interest on your resume, tips for including hobbies and interests on your resume, hobbies vs. interests, resume hobbies and interests faq, final thoughts.

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To list your interests and hobbies on your resume, start by making sure you understand the company and role you’re applying for, then choose hobbies that relate to those and emphasize your skills. Put the hobbies you choose in a bulleted list at the end of your resume.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to including interests and hobbies on your resume:

Research the company . Before you can know what hobbies will be valuable to the hiring manager or recruiter , you have to know what the organization values. Check out the company’s “About Us” page , its LinkedIn profile, and any other public communications the company puts out.

Understand the role. Next, turn to the job description . Pay special attention to the soft skills and personality traits that are listed as essential or preferred within the job requirements section. Then, think of how your hobbies relate to those desired qualities.

Choose hobbies that emphasize your skill set. The hiring manager has already perused your resume’s skills section — now it’s time to further highlight your proficiency with outside-of-work activities that also leverage your skill set. Use your research from the above two steps to inform which skills are most valuable to focus on.

Title a separate section, at the end of your resume. Call this section “Hobbies and Interests” and place it as the last section of your resume. Typically this will come after either your education or skills section.

Make a bulleted list of 2-5 hobbies. Each hobby should be one bullet point and ideally a single line long, so as not to take up too much space. You should list at least two but no more than five hobbies.

Here’s an example of what this looks like:

Hobbies and interests Hiking – Started weekly hiking group to improve fitness. Bass guitar – Play with band at local gigs once a month. Cooking – Cooked through The Joy of Cooking in one year with roommate.

Include a list of interests and hobbies on your resume when you don’t have much experience, when it’s required, or when your hobbies and interests align closely with the job description.

Since no two job openings are the same, it won’t always be necessary (or useful) to include this information on your resume. Here are some examples of instances when you should consider adding interests and hobbies to your resume:

When you have little background experience in the industry, department, or role that you’re applying to.

When you’re just getting started in the job market and you therefore have little to no professional experience at all.

When the job description explicitly requests that job applicants include a list of their interests or hobbies in their job applications.

When the requirements and responsibilities of a given job description align well with your interests and hobbies.

When an employer mentions in a job posting that they’re interested in learning about applicants’ personalities (in addition to their work experience and background).

Okay – now that we have an idea of how (and when) to list your interests and hobbies, let’s now turn our attention to some examples of how they might look on a finished resume.

Here are some examples that you can use as a guide when listing your personal interests and hobbies on your next job application:

10+ years of experience playing violin, with an additional three years of experience playing with a small band of local musicians.

Regularly compete in chess competitions at the local and state levels as a means of sharpening my skills as a strategist and problem-solver.

Passionate hiker and mountaineering guide who has led individuals and groups of all ages to the summits of more than two dozen 14,000-plus-foot peaks.

International travel

Annually plan and organize overseas trips to expand my language skills and my cultural worldview.

Dedicated yoga practitioner with more than five years of experience studying Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga in a group setting.

Founder and sole contributor of the “Denver Food Hub” blog, which focuses on the city’s up-and-coming culinary culture and has attracted more than 25,000 subscribers since its initial launch in 2015.

Volunteering

Regular volunteer at local soup kitchens, food banks, and community shelters, with experience coordinating groups of local volunteers for the annual Thanksgiving 5k outdoor sporting event.

Stage theater

Actor with 4 years of experience producing and performing in stage productions at the local Albrington Theatre.

Long-time hockey player (left winger) with a passion for the sport, and three years of experience as a volunteer coach with the local youth girls’ hockey league (ages 6 to 12).

Photography

Photographer with eight years of experience taking family, graduation, and other portrait photos for clients. Have also had several nature photographs published in local tourism publications.

Foreign language

Studying and practicing Spanish by taking college classes, practicing during my travels to Spanish-speaking countries, and volunteering as an assistant translator at a local hospital.

Create clay vases and bowls and take classes to strengthen my creativity and problem-solving skills.

Compete in biannual team robotics competitions across the country.

Consistently bike 14+ miles three times a week with my local mountain and road biking club.

To decide whether to include a hobby or interest on your resume, you should make sure it is relevant to the job you’re applying for. Before you mention an interest or a hobby on your resume, be sure to ask yourself the following questions:

Is this interest or hobby (or the skills I learn from it) valued within this employer’s workplace culture?

Does this interest or hobby match well with the particular job requirements of the position that I’m applying to?

Will the hiring manager (i.e., the person who will be reading the resume) be familiar with what I’m talking about?

If the answer to each of those questions is “yes,” then go ahead and add that interest or hobby to your list. If the answer to one or more of them is “no,” then you should consider choosing a different hobby or interest that will be more relevant to the purposes of your job application.

Good types of interests and hobbies to put on your resume

Here are a few examples of interests and hobbies that will be useful to list on almost any job application:

Travel. Travel experience conveys a sense of adventure and an eagerness to explore new places, cultures, and ideas. Plus, the ability to adapt and fit into a new environment proves that you have the power to adjust to your new role as well.

Exercise. A job candidate who’s committed to taking care of their physical health through regular exercise can also be depended upon to take care of their professional responsibilities.

Writing for a public audience. A love of writing, particularly when it’s shared with others (as in a blog, for example), demonstrates curiosity, a passion for learning new things, and a willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone.

Yoga. This practice is gaining huge popularity as a means of maintaining a calm, cool, and collected state of mind within a group setting.

Art (painting, music, drawing, sculpture, dance, etc.). A passion for artistic pursuits conveys creativity and independence, as well as a willingness to be outgoing and to try new things.

Volunteer work . A job applicant who routinely volunteers within their local community can be relied upon to be a strong team player and a compassionate member of the workplace.

Outdoor activities. A job candidate who spends a significant amount of time outdoors usually has strong problem-solving skills and is adventurous and curious, all of which employers value in employees.

Bad interests and hobbies for a resume

In contrast, here are some examples of interests and hobbies that should never be mentioned on a professional resume:

Coin collecting

Watching cartoons

Eating ice cream

Scrolling through Instagram

While these activities aren’t necessarily bad, they don’t convey anything about who you are and what you bring to the table as a professional. Space on your resume should be reserved for information that builds on why you’re the best candidate for the job, and these hobbies don’t do that.

In addition, to avoid giving hiring managers a negative impression of you, you should avoid mentioning any interests or hobbies that:

Involve no interaction or cooperation with other people

Are controversial or polarizing

Could be interpreted as unnecessarily dangerous

Are in any way illegal

Communicate sensitive personal information, such as your political affiliations, religious beliefs, or medical history

When including hobbies and interests on your resume, make sure you’re truthful, avoid controversy, and are specific about the extent of your hobby.

Don’t lie. You shouldn’t lie on any part of your application, but choosing to lie about your hobbies is especially silly. One of the big points of including a section on your hobbies and interests is to establish a connection with the hiring manager. If you’re caught red-handed as a total novice , it could very well sink your chances of landing the job.

Avoid controversial topics. There’s no reason to include hyper-partisan topics in your resume (unless you happen to be applying to a hyper-partisan organization).

Be specific. If you really want to give the hiring manager a glimpse at your life outside of work, it pays to be a bit more specific than simply writing “cooking” as a hobby. Instead, say “Amateur chef working on learning and improving recipes inspired by Southeast Asian cuisine.”

Don’t force it. If you can’t think of appropriate hobbies and interests to put on your resume or simply don’t have room for them, leave them off. Unless you’re specifically asked about them in your application or interview, they’re not a must-have for your resume or cover letter .

Tailor them to the interviewer. We already mentioned the importance of matching the hobbies and interests you choose to share with the company and position, but you can also take this one step further and tailor them to individual people as well.

Keep things concise. The hiring manager reviewing your resume does not need a comprehensive explanation of how you originally took up a hobby or how your skills have progressed over time.

While hobbies and interests are closely intertwined, they’re not exactly the same thing.

Interests are passive and don’t automatically entail participation. For example, you could be very interested in Spaghetti Westerns, but you’ve never engaged in an activity related to filmmaking or critical film theory.

Hobbies require active participation on your part. It’s something that you do for free, during your free time, to have fun. To use the same example, if you actively write screenplays for your own version of Spaghetti Westerns or produce animated shorts that unpack old movies, you’re engaged in a hobby.

Generally speaking, every hobby is related to a more general interest, while not all interests have associated hobbies.

When you include hobbies and interests in your resume, focus on your interests that have hobbies to go along with them. This shows hiring managers that you’re actively growing and learning, not just thinking about it.

Is it professional to put hobbies on a resume?

Yes, it is professional to put hobbies on a resume. This is especially true if you don’t have much relevant work experience.

Just make sure that the hobbies you include relate in some way to the job you’re applying for. This could be a technical skill like photography, or it could be a soft skill like the teamwork or tenacity that you learn in a sport.

How do you write your hobbies and interests on a resume?

Write your hobbies and interests on a resume by creating a section at the end titled “Hobbies and Interests.” In this section, make a bulleted list of two to five hobbies, each with a line describing them and the skills you’ve obtained from them.

Adding a short list of interests and hobbies to the end of your resume is a simple and effective way to stand out from the competition.

When you’re composing your list, remember to limit each bullet point’s explanation to a single sentence, and be sure to only emphasize those details that will be directly relevant to the role, department, and company that you’re applying to.

No matter what industry or field you’re trying to excel in, listing your interests and hobbies in a resume can increase your chances of being invited to a job interview and advancing to the final stages of the hiring process!

University of the Cumberlands – 11 Hobbies That Will Look Good to Future Employers

Utah State University – How Hobbies Improve Mental Health

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.

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Resumes are a place to showcase your professional skills and achievements to the recruiters.

Most resumes consist of your professional experience, and educational background, as this information is crucial for recruiters to select you.

However, the real question is, should you include hobbies in your resume?

If you apply for a software developer job, the recruiter may not care about your "Gardening" hobby.

The idea is to add hobbies and interests relevant to the job. Something that demonstrates your core qualities to the recruiter.

For example, if you've led a team in your college sports, add it to your resume to showcase your leadership skills.

Of course, it's an oversimplified example.

But most companies nowadays want to know your personal hobbies and interests to give you the right work-life balance.

And they get it from your "Hobbies and Interests" section on your resume.

This blog will tell you everything you need to know about hobbies and interests on your resume.

Table of Content:

• What are interests?
• What are hobbies?
• What is the difference between hobbies and interests?
• Why do you want to add hobbies and interests to your resume?

How to List Hobbies & Interests on Your Resume?

• Top 40 best hobbies and interests on a resume?

What Are Interests?

Interests are the topics that fascinate you and help you want to learn more about them. Interests can be broad or narrow, but they're always things that are important to us as individuals.

For example, you might be interested in cars or animals—or maybe you're really into music, archaeology, or modern art. These are all interests! They could also be specific topics within a larger field of study—for instance, if you were interested in classical music but didn't know much about it, learning about classical music would become an interest for you!

What are Hobbies?

Hobbies are fun and relaxing activities you do in your free time. They can be anything you like, from collecting stamps to playing video games.

What are the Differences between hobbies and Interests?

Hobbies are different from interests because they don't require any special training or knowledge to do them. You don't have to have any special skills or be good at something in order to have a hobby.

Interests are more specific than hobbies, usually taking up more time and effort than your average hobby does. Interest could be learning how to play the guitar, reading about science fiction, or even learning how to speak another language.

Why do You Want to Include Hobbies and Interests in Your Resume?

While there are no hard and fast rules, many employers prefer to see hobbies and interests on a resume or CV. A section for hobbies and interests on your resume or CV is often included to show that your interests extend beyond your work and help the hiring manager, interviewer, or employer connect with you personally and professionally.

When done strategically, hobbies and interests on your resume help in showcasing your strengths and soft skills to the recruiters.

You can also consider adding a hobbies or interests section, if:

• If you have limited or no work experience
• If your job responsibilities align with your hobbies and interests
• If you are interested in a new industry

Also Raed: How to write a resume in 2023?

Ideally, the hobbies and interests in the resume should go at the bottom of the resume, only if there's space left there.

If there is no space, you can choose not to add hobbies and interests to your resume after adding all the important sections.

However, if you mention your hobbies and interests on your resume, you need to explain them to help the recruiters understand your points.

For example, it's not enough to add Basketball in your Hobbies section, and you need to demonstrate it by saying something like: "Played in a local Basketball team for a recreation sports league."

Also Raed: How to list key skills in a resume in 2023?

List of 40+ Best Hobbies and Interests on Resume?

Here are an extenisive list of common hobbies and interests on resume:

Indoor Hobbies and Personal Interests on Resume

Only indoor hobbies and indoor personal interests on your resume might represent you as an introvert. This could deem you fit for profiles that do not necessarily require social interaction - coding, writing, etc.

However, some indoor hobbies and personal interests on the resume demonstrate good reasoning and great patience. Achievements in chess and scrabble might reflect highly on the candidate's intelligence.

They are best suited in the fields that involve calculative risk-taking, strategic planning, and analysis.

Quick tip : The unique resume hobby section lists all unique hobbies like coffee brewing, flower arranging, haiku, etc., which can be a double-edged sword. It is best to avoid them on your resume if you're applying for a managerial role that requires business-friendly skills.

However, these skills are suitable for exceptional circumstances wherein you must apply specifically in these areas.

List of indoor resume hobby or common indoor personal interests on a resume:

Also Read: How to add interpersonal skills on resume in 2023?

Outdoor Hobbies and Personal Interests on Resume

Outdoor hobbies and personal interests on a resume exhibit a person's adventurous and risk-taking abilities .

They showcase a person's nature of coming out of their comfort zone and working proficiently under pressure which is essential for administration and leadership positions.

Quick tip : This resume hobbies list might be a huge turn-off for a serious recruiter and work committed in fields like medicine. However, it makes you a good strategist adept at planning and getting the job done.

List of hobbies on a resume or common personal interests on a resume that is conducted outdoors:

Collection Hobbies and Personal Interests on Resume

A collection of hobbies and personal interests on a resume are an excellent way to show that someone has a nature for perseverance and usually indicates an exquisite approach to situations.

These unique hobbies and personal interests on the resume must be listed when the creative aspect of a person is to be highlighted.

You may list these resume hobbies and interests related to the fields like designing, crafting, and specific job profiles related to Human and Public resources.

Quick tip : It may not work well in an independent workspace where a free flow of ideas and thoughts is required. It may be too conservative.

List of collective hobbies for resume and common collective personal interests on a resume:

Indoor Collection Hobbies in a resume:

• Book Collection
• Stamp & Postcard Collection
• Card & Coin Collection
• Video Game Collection
• Movie Collection
• Vintage Collection

Outdoor Collection Hobbies in a resume:

• Antiquities
• Insect Collection
• Flower Collecting
• Seashell collecting
• Fossil Hunting
• Flower Pressing

Competitive Hobbies & Interests

Competitive hobbies and personal interests on a resume display a fierce ability to achieve a goal in a person once it is set.

Indoor competitive resume hobbies list exhibits that the person is very stern and resilient. He is prone to believing in himself more than others.

This is an up point for leading roles as he must believe and be true to himself even when others are not.

Outdoor competitive resume hobbies list subjects a person's taste for teamwork , loyalty , and commitment to your team in times of pressure and adversity. They develop strength and agility in a person.

This is very helpful in areas that pertain to long working hours outdoors. Example : field surveys, site visits, sports trainer, yoga, pilates, dancing, etc.

Quick tip: When combined with people and language skills, it can be great for jobs like sales, where you require interaction with people. Classification of competitive hobbies on resume and common personal interests on resume based on where they are undertaken:

Indoor Competitive Hobbies in a resume:

• Martial Arts
• Weightlifting

Outdoor Competitive Hobbies in a resume:

• Horseback Riding

Observational Hobbies in Resume

Indoor observational hobbies and indoor observational personal interests on resume demonstrate the person's ability to sit and examine.

They can analyze small changes in a secluded environment, away from all the distractions. But they may not be suited for loud work environments.

Jobs that require precision and seclusion like design, coding, planning , etc., are likely to be appropriate for these people.

Outdoor observational resume hobbies list portrays a person's ability to sense the smallest changes in chaotic places.

Outdoor observational hobbies and personal interests on a resume are appropriate for figuring out flaws in the other person's strategy or body language. These people can even favor the outcome according to their whim.

Quick tip: This is an excellent opportunity for a** business analyst, interviewer** and certain finance/marketing job profiles.

List of hobbies for resume or common personal interests on a resume that is known as observational hobbies:

Indoor Observational Hobbies in a resume:

• Fishkeeping

Outdoors Observational Hobbies in a resume:

• Aircraft Spotting
• Birdwatching
• Photography
• Meteorology

Also Raed: How to write different sections in a resume in 2023?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how many resume interests can you list.

After extensive resume writing research by our professionals, we suggest at most five hobbies on resume be listed authentically.

Mentioning an extensive list of hobbies and personal interests on resume might be an issue as the person may come out to be highly distributive. Having so many hobbies on resume might not resonate well with the recruiter.

It makes you appear erratic, and the recruiter might perceive you as a frequent job switcher. The recruiter might think that you will not be able to deliver your work well. So why risk your application!

However, if you really want to elaborate on your resume hobbies , you might do that in the cover letter. A cover letter provides space and is longer than a 2-page personal resume. It also has room for explaining.

2. What to Do if You Don’t Have Any Hobbies and Interests on Resume?

If you have no hobbies or interests, we have got some solutions to fill out your list of resume interests!

Volunteer Work: You can start with some volunteer work. It is an excellent way to enhance your resume. It is easy to discover and helps in your participation with the community.

You can mention your volunteer work if your resume deals in subjects like medicine, philosophy, psychiatry, etc.

Various volunteer works may include working at an animal shelter home, helping at a vet, a nursing home, an orphanage, a plant drive, a blood donation bank, a blind school, or simply allowing the students in your community with their studies.

3. Can I list False Hobbies and Personal Interests on my Resume?

Including a list of hobbies and resume that are false is a big no-no!

You should not use false hobbies on your resume as bait to fit the recruiter's criteria.

It may come off as a casual attitude and might backfire if they find out later.

Hobbies Section Resume

It can be difficult to describe abstract interests and hobbies in an impactful way. Here's a complete personal interests resume sample containing a separate section for hobbies and interests that might give you an idea:

• Ranked 9th in the Call of Duty World League (CWL) - Black Ops 4 | 2018
• Member, I nternational Game Developers Association (IGDA)
• Member, American Gaming Association (AGA)
• Assisting in redesigning the curriculum for McMillan's Shelter Home for Boys by gamifying difficult concepts as a volunteer teacher at the Make A Difference nonprofit
• Appointed as the Contributing Writer at the Gaming Weekly magazine
• Travelled to 15+ countries in the last 18 months
• Software: Phaser.JS
• Programming Language: HTML5, JavaScript
• Certification in Game Development with Phaser.JS | Codecademy | Jan '19 - Jan '19
• Learn Phaser: Basics | Learn Phaser Physics | Learn Phaser Animations | Learn Phaser: Visual Effects
• Created an action-adventure style fantasy story in Phaser by deploying Click
• Recreated arcade classic: Space Invaders, in the form of Bug Invaders
• Developed a game with scene transitions , animations, and tweens
• Spearheaded a team of 4 to execute social media listening projects including campaign & conference monitoring
• Oversaw finalization of keywords , data extraction & deck preparation by deploying multiple software and tools
• Supervised preparation of final presentations via graphs & pivots to generate quantitative & qualitative insights
• Deployed analytical tools like Radian 6 for gathering data from social media platforms to curate & present insights
• Collated & evaluated data available from online sources like news organizations & multiple social media platforms
• Analyzed the data collated for rendering assistance to clients in designing campaigns for research & marketing
• Formulated 25+ reports for effectively serving ~15 clients to render insights about the product’s market presence
• Conducted research for US-based pharma companies in markets like US, UK , Japan & Europe
• Deployed primary research methodologies by collating data of pharma companies based in the US to perform analysis
• Languages : English and Chinese

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You can choose from hundreds of free templates, and then customize them to match your unique skills and career objectives.

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• 1-click design change
• Unlimited PDF downloads
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Key Takeaways

In the end, we believe that you need to ask yourself one question. Is your list of hobbies and interests going to help support the positive qualities I mentioned above?

If not, don’t include them on your resume. It will only take up space, and likely won’t make much of a difference in the eyes of your interviewer.

Here’s how to decide that:

• Look at the job description and see how your hobbies and interests can reflect the required skills
• Don;t just namedrop the hobbies or interests. Flesh out it a bit in single-line bullet format. It will help the recruiter get to know you better.

If you want to add hobbies and interests in your resume, Go to Hiration Resume Builder which has 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries. You can also write to us at [email protected] and we will make sure to reach out to you as soon as possible.

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Resume Examples & Samples

How and why put hobbies on a resume [20+ real examples].

Dayana Aleksandrova

Create a Resume in Minutes & Get More Job Interviews

Table of Contents

Why is it important to talk about hobbies and interests, how to tailor interests and hobbies to a job.

• The 4 Main Sets of Hobbies and Interests

Creative Hobbies and Interests

Athletic hobbies and interests, people-oriented hobbies and interests, analytical hobbies and interests, how to connect with a recruiter.

Hobbies and interests are a vital, yet overlooked part of a resume.

When applying for a job, it’s not enough to just flash a perfect resume with tons of experience and brand names. Employers care about you as a whole. What this means is that you have to show them who you are outside of the office through your hobbies and interests.

This is why it is extremely important to paint a clear picture of yourself, demonstrating your passions and values. All successful resume templates include this section.

That being said, not all hobbies and interests are created equal. There are ways to leverage the things that excite you and tailor them according to the company you are applying to.

in this guide, we will teach you:

• Why it is important to talk about hobbies and interests on your resume
• How to leverage your interests and tailor them to the specific company
• The four main sets of hobbies to mention
• What your interests say about your personality
• How to connect with recruiters based on interests

Let’s dive into it. Remember, regardless of which hobbies and interests you decide to put on your resume, you have to be genuine. Don’t pretend to have interests you don’t, because that will make you look like a fraud.

Don't have a resume yet? Head over to our resume builder and create one.

#why-is-it-important-to-talk-about-hobbies-and-interests

Have you noticed how companies often talk company culture during the recruiting process?

Recruiters need to make sure that each employee will fit in with the company culture. This is important, as every successful business needs people that communicate and work well together. People are inherently different and having common hobbies tends to break the ice quicker and over time bring people together.

#how-to-tailor-interests-and-hobbies-to-a-job

It all comes down to research .

The company website gives you everything you need to get the job. You just have to dig and find the key pieces of information that talk about interests and hobbies.

For example, if a boutique hotel lists on their website that they value:

• Honest people with a high level of integrity
• Social butterflies who enjoy travel
• People who will take care of guests like their family
• Those who go the extra mile to make every experience memorable

You can choose to list your interests and hobbies that reflect these values. It would look like this:

Passionate Monopoly player who always wins fair and square.

What does this say? If you like to play Monopoly, you are clearly a social butterfly because the game usually includes a group of at least four people and is very emotionally expressive.

Saying that you won fair and square demonstrates your honesty and integrity without you having to say “I’m honest.”

When listing your hobbies and interests on a resume, you really let them show who you. It’s a subtle and elegant way of painting yourself in a good light.

for example:

Organize meet-ups for travelers in the city, aimed at building new friendships and showing them around town from a local perspective.

This shows that:

• You care to help strangers feel accepted and make friends; this is a great social skill to bring to a job that requires customer interaction for example
• You go the extra mile to find locals from your city and convince them to show travelers around, so that they could have a memorable experience

Given the fact that you are applying for a hotel, mentioning the word travelers is very important. You have to know the audience the company is going for and show your engagement with it.

Step up your game. Have a look at How and Why To Tailor Your Resume to the Job (10+ Examples) .

THE 4 MAIN SETS OF HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

#the-4-main-sets-of-hobbies-and-interests.

While your hobbies and interests may be extremely diverse, there are 4 main categories in which they typically fall. These are:

• People-oriented

We will look at each group individually to see what examples best reflect these hobbies and interests and what skills they convey.

#creative-hobbies-and-interests

What comes to mind when you think “creative” hobbies? Those could be:

• Painting/ sculpture
• Design (websites, clothes, bags)
• Photography
• Videography

Now, what skills do you think someone with creative hobbies would have?

Creative people usually:

• Think outside the box
• Are able to see a challenge from a different angle
• Can make links between two projects that seem totally opposing
• Are good with big workloads, as they get bored easily

If you are applying for a position where problem-solving is one of the main tasks, listing these six hobbies and interests on your resume will be helpful. Same goes for jobs that require someone with a visual understanding of things.

If you're looking for some extra inspiration, have a look at these resume templates .

#athletic-hobbies-and-interests

Athletic hobbies and interests are very important. Why? Because they demonstrate a few key characteristics of job applicants:

• Competitive spirit
• Perseverance
• Desire to win (sometimes at all cost)

What are some athletic hobbies and interests to put on your resume? Take a look at some of the best options:

• Club sports (baseball, basketball, football, swimming)
• Running marathons
• Dancing (competitive; couples)
• Coaching a team
• Hiking, camping
• Doing races - Spartan Race, Mud Run, obstacles

What skills does someone with athletic interests bring to the table?

Sports are no easy task, so someone who lists these interests and hobbies tells the recruiter that they are:

• Can work in a team
• Like to win
• Strong (both physically and mentally)

For example, if you have the motivation to play basketball three times a week at your local court with friends, that shows commitment which tells the recruiter that you are reliable.

If you take time off your day to coach your kids’ middle school football team, it shows leadership and that you are generous with your free time.

If you go on races with obstacles and various physical challenges, that exhibits strength and perseverance. A 10K race through the Irish mud trails is not for weak people, so if you do this for fun, it increases the chances that the company would want you on their team.

If you are a fan of hiking and camping, this shows that you aren’t afraid of the possibility to get stranded in the mountains and that you come prepared ahead of time. Planning ahead is always a useful trait, especially when it comes to company projects.

If you dance, that shows a few things - you have a great coordination and attention to detail; you can follow instructions; you get along with others enough to dance in a couple.

If you do sports, it's always a great idea to have at least one athletic hobby on your resume, so take your pick.

#people-oriented-hobbies-and-interests

Chances are that wherever you apply to work, the recruiter would want to see that you work well in a team and get along with others well.

These are the top hobbies and interests to put on your resume in order to demonstrate your social skills:

• Organize events/ meet-ups/ parties
• Help out at a local homeless shelter
• Teach others (languages, drawing)
• Host dinner parties
• Volunteer to chaperon your kids’ school events
• Like to volunteer as a tour guide in your city

All of these hobbies are very social. For example, if you are someone who likes to organize events, you must do well with groups of people. Events and meet-ups require a ton of coordination, figuring out logistics and doing a fair amount of marketing and promotion.

Having these skills is very valuable for many job functions and industries such as Business, Sales, Hospitality, Education, Travel.

If you like to teach others, this exhibits a high level of patience, dedication, and care. It’s challenging to teach others new skills. For example, very high levels of frustration could build up when you’re trying to teach someone a new language, even if it’s your family.

Showing that you handle yourself well in these situations is key. Volunteer projects always look great on a resume, because you do something and expect no reward in return. This shows character.

If you volunteer at a local homeless shelter, it suggests a role of a community leader and is very likely that you are someone well-respected and selfless. This is the type of person companies want.

#analytical-hobbies-and-interests

While people and leadership skills are very valuable, we must not forget analytical qualities. These are the hobbies and interests that best illustrate your analytical side:

• Master sudoku/ cards/ board games player
• Book club member
• Read philosophy
• Play real-time strategy computer games
• Tutor others in science/ math/ literature

There are many ways to show that you are an analytical mind. For example, if you’re a member of a book club, this shows that you can think about different plots and context and draw conclusions.

The fact that you do so in a group of people shows your social side as well. This is sometimes a factor which analytical people have to pay attention to. Of course, companies would want a smart, detail-oriented employee, but you would not be any good if you don’t communicate.

Reading philosophy is another great hobby. Though a bit less social than book club, it shows that you are open-minded.

If you tutor others in math, science or literature courses, this shows that you like to help others solve problems. This type of character is always a great addition to a team.

#how-to-connect-with-a-recruiter

Connecting with a recruiter is always imperative, but it's not an easy task. The worst thing you can do during an interview (well, besides having a meltdown under pressure), is bore the recruiter to death.

While it’s their job to talk about your professional portfolio and the tasks that the job requires, recruiters are people too - they get tired of formalities. This is why it’s a great idea to do research on the person interviewing you and prepare your most suitable interests and hobbies for your conversation.

LinkedIn is an invaluable resource when it comes to finding out information about someone’s professional history and personal interests. There is even a special section dedicated to it, so do your homework.

If you see that the recruiter shares updates on fishing or hiking, that means that they are an outdoors person. If you can identify with these hobbies, the recruiter will realize you share something in common. AT that moment, you'll stop being a piece of paper, and start being human.

You can casually slip in your love for the mountains when asked how your weekend was. Simply reply that it was great and that you went hiking.

Recruiters like to talk about interests outside of the work place because otherwise, their days can get very boring.

If you see that the recruiter shared a book review on LinkedIn, it may be worth it to read a quick synopsis of the book and mention it. Sometimes, recruiters would ask what book you are currently reading.

This is meant to be something of a “smart” test. Successful people typically read a lot and can always recall what’s on their radar at any given moment. If you admit that you haven’t read books since college, your honesty is more likely to hurt you than not.

Check out what the recruiter likes to read and learn a few things. If they follow magazines and news sites like The Economist, Bloomberg or Entrepreneur, give them a follow and see what updates come up. Chances are that you will find a topic to bond over.

Taking it a step further than LinkedIn, Twitter is the key to your recruiter’s hobbies and interests. This platform is easy to use and lets you send out frequent updates on your activities, as well as share things from the web that are interesting to you.

If the recruiter is interested in travel and constantly shares beautiful photos from England or the Bahamas, talk about your last trip and mention your passion for globetrotting.

Chances are that if you are seriously considered for the job, recruiters will also check out your social media.

Interviews and resumes don’t have to be all work and no play. Don't be shy and talk about your hobbies and interests on your resume. You still should, however, do so strategically.

Begin by finding out the values and mission of your desired company. Then tailor your own interests to theirs.

A key factor here is to keep it genuine . If you say that you love to read but can’t recall the name of the last book you've picked up, this will look bad. If on the other hand, you say that you enjoy travel and you’ve got a great story to pull out of your sleeve, this can bring you major points.

Remember that the hobbies and interests on your resume communicate a message about your character.

If you say that you volunteer to coach your children’s baseball team, this shows leadership and patience. It is much more valuable than you saying “I’m a patient leader.”

Connect with recruiters based on your common interests. Remember that recruiters are people like you and anyone else. They get bored talking about job duties and personality tests all day. Bond with them over your shared love for media, sports or art.

Make sure that your social media reflects your personality by mentioning your interests in hobbies . The best way to see if someone is really into running is to go on their Twitter and see whether they post any 5K race updates or have a bunch of Usain Bolt motivational quotes reposted.

Remember that companies want well-rounded individuals, so take your resume to the next level by adding your hobbies and interests.

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Resume builder

Hobbies and interests on resume. List of 40+ good examples.

When it comes to adding hobbies and interests to your resume, there are two distinct schools of thought. Some people are firmly against mixing business with pleasure and believe that your resume should only include professional information. Others think that there are instances when adding hobbies and interests on a resume can actually strengthen your application.

The reasoning behind adding hobbies and interests on a resume is simple. Resumes tend to be very “dry” and adding a bit of personal information can help you show your “human” side and reveal more of who you are.

Today, we are going with the second school of thought. And if you decide to add the hobbies and interests section to your resume, here’s what you should take into account.

Table of Contents

How to choose what hobbies and interests to include in a resume?

So, how do you choose the hobbies and interests that should make it on your resume?

To give the right answer to this question, we first need to establish that the hobbies and interests section on a resume is not just a space filler — it serves a purpose. Your hobbies and interests can reveal a lot about you as a job candidate. This is why it’s essential to put in some thought into what you choose to include on your resume.

What you may want to include as hobbies and interests on a resume directly depends on what type of job you are applying for and what specific qualities you want to highlight. However, if you are looking for some general examples of hobbies and interests that you can add to a resume, here they are.

Here are some good interests to put on a resume:

• Sports (jogging, team sports, yoga, etc.). Including sports as an interest on your resume can show that you are disciplined, goal driven and lead a healthy lifestyle.
• Traveling. This can show your potential employer that you are worldly, adventurous and open-minded.
• Learning foreign languages. This probably needs little explanation, but speaking a foreign language is always a plus when looking for a job.
• Public speaking. This will show the hiring manager that you are a potentially good communicator and have confidence in social situations.
• Blogging. This is another useful hobby to include on your resume as it speaks to your written communication skills . And most employers value writing proficiency. According to LiveAbout.com, there are actually several ways in which blogging can benefit your career.
• Volunteering. If you have volunteering experience, it can often count as work experience. This means you know how to work in a team, achieve common goals, organize the working process — and that you are a proactive member of society. In fact, according to Monster.com , collaboration is one of the top skills valued by hiring managers.
• Club membership. Just like volunteering, being a member of a club is a favorable thing to include on a resume. It shows that you have interests outside of work and are a team player.

List of good hobbies and interests

Here are more examples of interests and hobbies that you can include on your resume:

Team sports (show that you are a good team player and comfortable working with others):

Individual sports (show that you are disciplined, independent and committed):

• Marathon running/jogging
• Martial arts
• Snowboarding,

Creative hobbies (emphasize creativity, mindfulness and imagination):

• Photography
• Meditation,

Social hobbies (showcase your communication and collaboration skills ):

• Board games
• Public speaking
• Language classes
• Club membership
• Volunteering
• Learning about other cultures,

Related: How To Use Your People Person Skills to Land a Dream Job

Job specific hobbies and interests (these could be particularly helpful when applying for a specific position)

• Learning foreign languages
• Video editing
• Programming
• On-going education,

Now that we’ve covered what type of interests are good to include on a resume, let’s take a look at what you shouldn’t add to your resume hobbies section.

Here are some things you shouldn’t include in your resume:

• Controversial interests. Just like you should avoid certain topics at a dinner party, it’s best not to mention certain interests on a resume. The biggest topics to avoid would be politics and religion.
• Hobbies that are irrelevant to the job you are applying for. Once again, make sure that every interest you add to your resume “adds value” and makes you a stronger candidate in the eyes of your employer.
• Interests that may interfere with your work . If you have hobbies that may be considered too risky or time-consuming, it may be best to leave them off your resume. For instance, if you are into extreme sports, your employer may think that this would cause a lot of work absences or make you less reliable.
• Lies. It’s not a good idea to invent hobbies and interests that might make you a more interesting candidate but are simply untrue. These things generally tend to come out — and you may end up feeling nervous and unfocused as you try to keep up the lie.

Where do I put hobbies and interests on my resume?

Hobbies and interests are an optional section on your resume. This means that you can decide whether you want to add this particular section or not. What’s more, you can also edit this section of your resume depending on the job you are applying for.

Generally, the hobbies and interests section should come at the end of your resume, after the Education section. You can also put your hobbies and interests under Additional Information at the end of your resume.

Why are hobbies and interests important on a resume?

There are a number of reasons why you may want to include hobbies and interests on your resume. Your hobbies and interests section can set you apart from the competition and also let some of your personality shine through the otherwise dry and fact-based resume page. The key here would be to include personal interests that showcase your best qualities or make you a more desirable candidate for this particular job.

For instance, saying that you like to watch Netflix shows will probably provide very little additional information about you to your employer — especially if you are applying for a position of a sales manager. On the other hand, mentioning that you are into team sports can hint at your leadership and team playing abilities.

Let’s see when it is generally a good idea to add hobbies and interests on a resume.

• Limited work experience. If you are applying for your first job, you can use the hobbies and interests section to fill in the gaps in your resume. You can use this section to show your potential employer that you are active, curious, easy-going, resourceful and more.
• Your hobbies are relevant to the role. If you have hobbies that are relevant to the position you are applying for, it’s a good idea to include them on your resume. For instance, if you like to work on developing video games in your free time, this would definitely be a welcome skill in a lot of technical positions. Or, if you are a part of a public speaking club, this may look good on a teacher’s resume.
• You are using the functional resume format. There are three main resume formats: the reverse-chronological format, the functional format and the combination format. Learn more about each resume format here . If you go with the functional resume format, you will be focusing on the skills relevant to the position you are applying for. In this case, hobbies and interests may fit very well with your resume as they can complement your skills and abilities relevant to the job you want to get. You can also use this section to emphasize your expertise and passion for the job.
• There is extra room on your resume. A resume should be between one and two pages, depending on how much experience you have. If you feel like there is a lot of empty space left in your resume, you may want to add the hobbies and interests section to have it look more complete.

Related: Detail-Oriented: What It Means and Why It Matters

Hobbies and interests on resume: key takeaways

When properly planned and well written, the hobbies and interest section on your resume can be a powerful tool. It can help you stand out as a candidate and help highlight valuable skills and experience.

The key thing to keep in mind is that each hobby and interest you include should add value to your application and highlight a useful quality that you possess.

As we’ve mentioned above, the best categories of hobbies to add to your resume include the following:

• Team sports
• Creative hobbies (writing, design, etc.)
• Volunteering, mentoring, coaching
• Programming/coding
• Meditation and mindfulness

Make sure to go over the hobbies you’ve included in your resume and ask yourself whether each item you’ve added makes you a better job candidate. If it doesn’t, consider removing it from your application.

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100 Top Hobbies and Interests to Put on Your Resume

Resume hobbies and interests can get confusing, especially for job seekers. For example, an interest could be enjoying trying different cuisines, while a hobby may be participating in cooking classes in your spare time. What are the best hobbies and interests to put on your resume?

Let’s dig right in with some “do’s” and “don’ts,” and then look at 100 great examples of hobbies and interests. These examples will help you choose a few that will enhance your social skills and give you a chance of getting that interview in the next step of the hiring process.

5 Tips on How to Choose the Right Hobby or Interest

• Read the job description for an indication of which relevant interests would complement the position
• Research the company’s culture for a sign of their values and which good hobbies would exemplify those characteristics
• Try to select an interest that will create an instant connection with the company, such as volunteering at your local animal shelter when applying for a job role in a vet clinic
• Include a specific list of hobbies rather than generic items like reading or traveling
• Include a separate section which you label as “Hobbies” or “Hobbies & Interests,” depending on what you will be putting in that section

5 Things to Avoid

• Refrain from common vague answers like watching movies
• Do not include anything that is not relevant to the position, for example, coaching a basketball team for a janitor position where you work alone
• Avoid examples of hobbies that may not mesh with the company culture, like being an avid hunter while applying for a job at PETA
• Refrain from listing political, religious, or other controversial hobbies
• Do not exaggerate your interests section to make a good impression

Top Hobbies and Interests to Enhance Your Resume

Finding the best hobbies or interests to include on your resume can be tricky. The rule of thumb is you do not want to show too much, but the items on there should be relevant and help to enhance your application so you stand out.

Volunteering Interests

Many volunteering activities can be an integral part of your job application if relevant to the position. Others will show a recruiter some of your personality. Remember to be specific when listing volunteering. Otherwise, it will not look genuine.

1. Volunteering at an Animal Shelter If you volunteer your free time anywhere, it can show how you give back to your community and what you may be passionate about. For example, someone who volunteers at an animal shelter may stand out when applying for a vet clinic position against other similar candidates.

2. Holding a Volunteer Position in Your Child’s PTA While volunteering for your child’s PTA may not be avoidable, you can still include relevant activities that can integrate with your employment opportunity. For example, helping to organize fundraising drives or running the hot lunch program are terrific examples of organizational structure and prioritizing.

3. Donating Blood While donating blood is not considered a hobby, it can be a tremendous interest that many employers find ethical. This interest shows that you care about others and find ways to help when possible.

4. Charity Fundraising Activities If you have a local charity that you are passionate about and work with on a regular basis, it can be helpful to include it on your resume templates. Charitable organizations depend on volunteers to help with fundraising and other community involvement programs to keep operating costs low. Contributing your time for a cause that you believe in shows recruiters that you are passionate and have outside interests.

5. Contributing Time to a Local Soup Kitchen Do you take time out of your busy schedule to go down to the local shelter and help feed the homeless? Maybe you give support by doing the monthly food prep for the kitchen’s upcoming weekly lunches. Time spent helping others gives employers a look into your integrity and selflessness as a person. So often, recruiters like to see the human being side of their candidates rather than just a profile on an application.

6. Helping Friends and Family with Their Yearly Taxes If you are hoping to obtain a job in an accounting firm or as a bookkeeper, you may want to include your pastime of helping your friends and family members with their personal income taxes each year. Not only do you help others without any pay or recognition, but you are keeping your professional skills sharp each year, ensuring that your knowledge remains current in the field of your choice.

7. Teaching the Local Sunday School Class at Church Although it may not be your first pick to include religious affiliation with your interests on your resume, volunteer work like this could help. For example, if you are one of many job applicants at a daycare center or school, including your previous volunteering as a teacher for the Sunday School kids can help give you an advantage over other candidates without any prior years of work experience.

8. Volunteer Firefighter Volunteering is a noble act, especially when you dedicate your time as a firefighter. This interest shows dedication to remaining healthy and active and being selfless in helping others in need. In addition, you exhibit exceptional ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions when necessary.

Sports and Outdoor Activity Hobbies

Keeping active and healthy is essential for a long and happy life. In addition, these common interests can show an employer your dedication to focusing on your mental and physical well-being.

9. Coaching a Sports Team If you want a management position, coaching a local sports team could show recruiters your supervisory skills. Effectively coordinating a group of individuals for a common goal is an essential attribute beneficial for your resume.

10. Participating in Endurance Sports If you have recently taken up running races, joining triathlons, or other endurance sports, this is a terrific way to shine on your resume. These activities take the dedication and commitment that employers may want in a potential employee. Alternatively, some extreme sports are individual, while others require a team. Both circumstances are excellent indicators of how you can carry yourself in a work environment.

11. Sailing You can sail alone or with a team, showing your dynamic ability to adapt when necessary. For some people, not only is sailing the best way to spend an afternoon, but it can demonstrate your skills to think under pressure and solve problems quickly as they arise. These extra skills are ideal for a leadership position.

12. Hiking or Exploring Trails Anyone can say they are an avid hiker, but it may be worth including if you enjoy getting out in nature and exploring trails off the beaten path. You want to be specific, though. For example, you can state how you enjoy hiking in particular areas more than others or what you get from spending time outside in a hiking group or on your own.

13. Mountain Biking or Cycling Someone who mountain bikes or loves to cycle as a hobby usually does these activities for their health and wellness. Many bikers keep in shape to cycle long distances or through rough terrain, which can be challenging. This hobby can show how you continually train to become better at the task and prepare all your equipment and necessities that you require for long trips.

14. Gym Memberships or Fitness Classes Although many people will hold a gym membership and never use it, a handful of people do. Listing your participation in fitness classes or at the gym can show a prospective employer how you effectively handle stress and burn off negative energy each day.

15. Participating in Team Sports Being part of a sports team is a great way to show your camaraderie and team player skills to a potential employer. Even if you are not the best baseball player and strike out every weekend, participating in the group games shows that you are reliable, and others can count on you.

16. Captain of Your Local Soccer Team Are you the current captain of your local soccer team? Being the person who the team looks to for guidance during practices and games shows your leadership qualities and how well you can motivate others. This role can benefit your chances at a supervisory position when you include it on your resume.

17. Mountain Climbing Mountain climbing is one hobby that can show recruiters your perseverance, determination, and patience with an activity. In addition, many individuals who participate in climbing also practice gratitude and self-reflection, giving them more peace of mind in their life and work balance.

18. Horseshoe Pitching This fun outdoor activity can bring people together while keeping them active. This game requires hand-eye coordination, teamwork, and communication. While it may not be as physically demanding as other sports and outdoor activities, the game of horseshoes can be challenging and requires planning and strategy.

19. Personal Trainer Many individuals at one time or another have completed a personal trainer course online or in-person as part of their journey to better health and a part-time job. If you help others learn how to be more active and healthier, it can give recruiters a splash of insight into how vital physical activities and mental health are to you.

20. Dancing Do you enjoy going out dancing on the weekends? Have you taken any dance classes for fun? Not only is dancing a terrific form of exercise and stress release, but it can show a hiring manager how open you are to learning new things and using a creative outlet for stress.

21. Martial Arts Many potential employers see a candidate that participates in martial arts as someone who has discipline and focus. Often, active individuals in some forms of martial arts are continuously learning new skills and have a personal drive to succeed.

22. Dragon Boat Racing This team sport can keep you in top physical condition while helping to tune your communication skills. Dragon Boat racing requires a large team of individuals working together while each person has their part in contributing to the end goal. Building camaraderie and enhancing work dynamics are just a few of the benefits of this hobby.

23. Yoga or Mediation More and more individuals are realizing the benefits of yoga and meditation practices. If you avidly partake in yoga classes or mediation routines, this could be worth mentioning on your resume. Employers like to see that their staff can handle stress and continuously work on becoming better and more well-rounded in their mindfulness.

24. Camping Avid camping enthusiasts can easily put this hobby on their resumes. Individuals who love to camp can be more adventurous, are open to new experiences, and are adaptable when things do not go as planned. All these attributes are fantastic to have in employees, especially in areas where flexibility is required.

25. Croquet This long-lost hobby is still a favorite for many individuals. You can play this game as a single-player against others or as part of a team. It requires strategic planning and communication with other players. An employer may see how these soft skills will help organizational management in the workplace.

26. Gardening Gardening enthusiasts love to spend time outdoors while making the environment around them more appealing and fruitful. Many hobbyists who love to garden use careful planning and organization to arrange companion plants that complement each other. Continuous care and weeding are essential factors in maintenance, showing how systematic you can be to a potential employer.

27. Bowling or Lawn Bowling Indoor lane bowling or lawn bowling is a favorite for many people. However, it requires you to be physically active and often work with a team, enhancing your communication skills and adapting to changing scenarios.

28. Hunting or Fishing Hunting or fishing hobbyists are everywhere. This interest will show that you love to be outdoors, enjoying nature while doing something productive. Hunting and fishing both require planning and preparation for supplies and gear, and you may need to be adaptive if the weather changes or you are not finding any results in the location you first choose.

29. Golf This popular outdoor hobby is a social activity that helps build communication and teamwork while keeping active. It is well-known in businesses that golfers can make solid and long-lasting relationships in the workplace and is a terrific ice breaker for client relations.

30. Fencing Fencing is a terrific hobby for anyone who wants to challenge their mind and body. This sport requires hand-eye coordination as well as quick thinking and strategic planning. Recruiters can see how fencers have exceptional focus and attention to detail in the workplace.

31. Swimming Swimming is a great hobby to help build self-discipline, increase self-esteem, and enhance your time management skills. Not only is it a good way to keep active and healthy, but swimming is a mental workout as well, which many employers find beneficial.

32. Highland Games Participating in the Highland Games is not only an extremely physical sport that will keep you healthy, but it builds strong relationships and helps strengthen teamwork and leadership skills. These interpersonal skills can be a good fit in the workplace, especially for supervisors or managers.

33. Horseback Riding Horseback riding is a favorite hobby for many animal lovers. This activity keeps you healthy and active outdoors but can also enhance many workplace skills. This hobby can transfer essential skills to the workplace, from critical thinking and planning to improved concentration and focus.

Out-of-the-Box Thinking Hobbies

What you do in your spare time can speak volumes about your mental sharpness.  Many relevant interests sections will focus on critical thinking and intuitive skills. Potential employers love to see how applicants think on their feet and look for new and exciting ways to solve problems.

34. Chess Club Member If you are active in your local chess club or hold a membership for the organizational team of the annual chess tournament, it is worth mentioning. In addition, regularly participating in extra-curricular groups shows discipline and dedication to a future employer.

35. Trivia Games Do you participate in a local trivia night each week? Have you always found useless facts fascinating? If you can learn and retain information well to play trivia games with friends, these cognitive skills can also benefit the workplace.

36. Card Games If you get together often to play cribbage or bridge with friends on the weekends, this could enhance your resume. Card games require strategic thinking and planning, attributes that many recruiters look for in some positions. While some games require you to play as a single participant, others need a team to reach an objective. This element can show how you work together with someone for a common goal.

37. Games Like Sudoku Partaking in a solitary activity like puzzle games is not always a bad thing. Games like Sudoku indicate your aptitude for continuous learning and engaging your mind. Number games show recruiters that you can solve problems and focus on the task at hand.

38. Word Puzzle Games Like Crosswords Some potential employers love to see candidates who enjoy solving complex issues in their spare time. Crossword games rely on memory retention and language skills. Communication and language are essential for many management positions, and some recruiters prefer candidates who are proficient in these areas.

39. Jigsaw Puzzles Jigsaw puzzles are making a comeback, and they can help you land an interview for that dream job. Future employers see someone enthusiastic about jigsaw puzzles with reasoning and deduction skills, critical and analytical thinking, an improved sense of reasoning, and an aptitude for logical thinking. So be sure to include this hobby in your hobbies section of your resume if your dream job has these attributes in the description.

40. Board Games Have you always loved playing board games? This interest is not only a fun pastime, but it can show a potential employer that you can set goals and use patience and planning. These games also help improve your brain function and critical thinking skills.

41. Stocks and Investments Do you participate in the stock market or dabble in investing part-time? This hobby shows recruiters that you have the analytical skills to monitor trends and predict potential outcomes. An interest in stocks and other investments is an easy way to show an employer that you use strategic thinking every day.

42. Cooking or Baking Some people love to host dinner parties or bake for others for fun. As others enjoy the spoils of your hard work, this activity can give a recruiter insight into your personality. Having frequent dinner parties can show how personable you are with a group of people. If you cook or bake for others often, your selfless nature shines through with this gift of food.

43. Stamp Collecting or Coin Collecting If your pastime includes collecting stamps or coins, you could show it on your resume. Often, this type of interest requires planning and research to categorize each item and catalog them accordingly. Alternatively, this hobby can also give you a better grasp of the value of rare items and expand your worldly knowledge of different countries.

44. Hobby Mechanic If your dream job is to work as an automotive salesman or for a large automotive company as office staff, putting hobby mechanics in the hobbies section of your resume can help you strike up small talk and bond with the interviewer or hiring manager. In addition, your avid interest in mechanics can give you the edge you need to get a job interview in the first place.

45. Model Trains Do you love playing with trains? For any interviewer who has a hobby with model trains, listing this interest is a terrific way to show recruiters how you are always trying to improve any situation. This interest allows them to see your patience, sense of gratification, and a job well done with large projects.

46. Juggling If you know how to juggle, this can be a terrific hobby to include on your resume. Juggling builds self-awareness, improves your strategic thinking and concentration, as well as keeping you active. It is as much a mental workout as an upper-body activity.

Art and Culture Interests

Participating in the arts and local culture can be a great way to show employers how creative and dynamic you can be in the workplace.

47. Playing a Musical Instrument While you may not think that plucking away at your guitar for a pastime is something engaging for your resume, it could be. Depending on the job you are applying for, the discipline and dedication for learning how to play a musical instrument show a potential employer that you can commit to a task and be successful.

48. Teaching Music Lessons If you use your evenings or weekends to help other people learn how to play a guitar or piano, this is ideal for showing an employer how skilled you are at leading. In addition, this part-time hobby job gives recruiters a good idea of how you can perform one-on-one teaching and coaching in the workplace.

49. Drawing or Painting Do you love to draw or paint in your spare time? This simple hobby can be a terrific addition to your resume when you add it. Drawing or painting helps improve concentration and improve your self-confidence. Often, this pastime will enhance your fine motor skills and aid in critical thinking, especially when your end-product does not turn out the way you intended.

50. Clay or Other Sculpture Classes Many people who enjoy working with clay or other materials for sculptures will have a keen sense of detail. Working manually with different mediums shows a recruiter your creative side and adaptability when things do not go as planned. It can also indicate your ability to take your time and finish a project without rushing.

51. Learning a New Language It can be impressive to a recruiter when you are bilingual or attempting to learn a new language. Conversing in another language builds your memory, recall functions, and problem-solving skills. Often, individuals who know more than one language are good multi-taskers and proficient observers.

52. Local Historical Society Member Being a history buff can give your resume a boost. In addition, if you belong to your local historical society, recruiters may see your memory recall skills and how you can build relationships with others through connections.

53. Wine Tasting Clubs Do you think of yourself as a wine connoisseur? If you enjoy gathering with friends or family to partake in wine tastings, these clubs can be a great addition to a resume. This group activity shows that you are open to enhancing your knowledge of wines and meeting new people with similar interests.

54. Book Club Member Book clubs are still around and can help your resume look better when compared to other candidates. Book club members typically read a book within a specific timeframe and discuss the elements with other group members. This hobby shows recruiters that you can adhere to deadlines and use open communication with others on a similar topic.

55. Live Music Buff If you enjoy attending live music displays, you can show a potential employer your taste for culture and the arts. Not only is music a terrific form of entertainment, but some types of music can help expand your horizons into other cultures. Enjoying live performances by local or famous musicians is a great pastime but also can give you a personal connection to the recruiter if you have similar interests.

56. Acting in Community Theatre or Improv Groups Someone that is continuously involved in the local community theatre or improv groups can show recruiters their flair for the arts. Individuals who act or participate in local theatre are highly creative and enjoy coming together to perform in front of crowds. They will typically have higher self-esteem and self-confidence than other candidates.

57. Photography For anyone who loves to take pictures, this hobby can give a potential employer the chance to see your creative side. Photography is so much more than just clicking a button. Many enthusiasts will play around with lighting and angles to find alternative ways to capture a subject. This interest can also show how you learn new things and advance your talents.

58. Woodworking If you like to work with your hands in the shop to create unique furniture pieces or trinkets with wood, you should include this hobby on your resume. Woodworking is a terrific hobby to demonstrate your problem-solving and planning skills as you create various objects and overcome obstacles in the creation process.

59. Writing Movie Reviews If you are an avid movie buff and love to write movie reviews, this hobby can be beneficial to include on your resume. Creating engaging written pieces for others to read shows your attention to detail, memory recall aptitude, and communication and language skills. In addition, if the job you are applying for requires written communication, consider adding this hobby to your resume.

Work-Related Hobbies

People often talk about some of their hobbies and interests with colleagues during work. If you can find a job that combines your strengths and passions, your overall personal satisfaction will be higher. You will move from talking about what you love to doing what you love.

60. Blogging Many employers love candidates who can communicate effectively. If you have a hobby blog that you contribute to and maintain, it could be beneficial, especially if the job you want is a writing or communication-based role. Blogs can showcase your personality and your writing style, helping to give a recruiter a sneak-peak at what you are capable of in the workplace.

61. Video Blogging or Editing Do you create and maintain a Vlog (video blog) or use your video editing skills to create entertaining social media posts? This activity can be a beneficial hobby when applying for a technical position. In addition, including your technical skills for editing or video production skills is a terrific way to stand out for a job that will require someone with knowledge of the industry.

62. Helping at the Local Library Do you love to books and enjoy spending time with other like-minded people? For example, suppose you are applying for a job at a publishing company and spend your Saturdays helping at your local library cataloging new books. In that case, it may pique the interest of a potential employer.

63. Graphic Design This interest can boost your resume if you enjoy messing around with graphic design in your spare time. Have you helped a friend organize and publish their website? While this skill may seem simple to you, others find these tasks tedious and overwhelming. If you are the person everyone goes to for help with making posters for the school play, consider adding graphic designer to your resume.

64. Reading Although reading may be a common hobby for many people, you want to ensure that you make it a specific hobby to the job posting for your application. For example, suppose you love to read historical accounts of actual events and apply for a museum job. In that case, your potential employer may want to see how passionate you are about continuously learning facts.

65. Online Learning or Other Educational Activities Do you love to learn new things and are constantly signing up for free online classes? Have you taken a course to brush up on your computer skills lately? Recruiters are interested in seeing potential candidates who can continuously learn and adapt to a changing environment.

66. Mentoring Many individuals will mentor another person sometime throughout their career. If you have experience mentoring a colleague or someone close to you, this can be a tremendous interest to include on your resume. This feature will show your desire to pass along your strengths and ideas to help another person grow and advance.

67. Networking Events There is always a need for individuals of similar interests to gather for conversation and network with others in the same industry. If you help organize or participate in networking events in the niche where you seek employment, this can be terrific to add to your resume. Recruiters can see how you are willing to make connections in the industry and listen to others with their experiences.

68. Traveling If you want to include travel as one of your passions on your resume, you should have some traveling experience under your belt. Employers may find someone who has seen different cultures and places more flexible and accommodating when there is a diverse staff group. In addition, it can give you an advantage when applying for a job as a travel agent or working in the travel industry with your life experience from this hobby.

69. Wikipedia Editing Suppose you participate in helping to keep all the information on Wikipedia accurate and up to date. In that case, this interest can allow recruiters the chance to see how detail orientated you are. Often, comprehensive research is required to ensure that facts and data are correct, making you look very thorough and meticulous with this interest.

70. Geocaching Geocaching is a relatively new hobby that involves a mobile device to track and locate items in an outdoor scavenger hunt. This activity can be done alone or with friends and is quickly becoming popular. If you caught the Geocaching bug, recruiters could see your analytical and deduction skills since you have to track down and catalog any items you find in your travels.

71. Programming or Coding If you have any previous programming or coding hobbies, they can help make your resume stand out. Any positions that require technical expertise and an aptitude for computer programming or coding prefer candidates with the education and experience. If you have no previous work experience but do hobby coding, this can still help you secure an employment position.

72. Robot Combat If you dabble in robot mechanics, robot combat is a hobby that can be educational and entertaining and help make your resume more appealing. In addition, robotics requires a great deal of ingenuity and creativity, two skills that are attractive to potential employers.

73. Drones and RC Plane Flying Drones and remote-control airplanes are fantastic ways to get outdoors and converse with others of similar interests. This hobby builds strong communication with others and boosts intellectual abilities and a sense of responsibility that are terrific attributes for the workplace.

74. Scale Model Building This activity is great to include on your resume for anyone who enjoys scale model building as a hobby. In addition, recruiters will see your attention to detail and job satisfaction with small and large projects in the workplace.

75. Scrapbooking If you enjoy scrapbooking in your spare time, this interest can be a way to show hiring managers some of your attributes that can benefit your job performance. From focus and concentration to creativity and organizational skills, this solitary hobby can be terrific for anyone applying for a job that requires meticulous planning and organization skills.

76. Journaling Putting down your thoughts on paper is not only therapeutic, but it can also help boost your vocabulary and communication skills. In addition, if you want a job where writing and correspondence will be a large part of your daily activities, your journaling hobby can be beneficial to have on your cover letter or resume.

77. Card Making Do you enjoy making homemade cards as gifts for others? This meditative hobby can show potential employers your meticulous attention to detail, patience, and satisfaction for a job well done. In addition, it is a creative activity that helps boost your focus and concentration that can benefit you in the workplace.

78. Creative Writing Creative writing is a favored interest for many people as a pastime. Constructing engaging and entertaining stories is creative and can show an employer how you think on your feet. If you want a job that requires you to write but no previous work experience, including this hobby, it can help your chances of an interview later.

Unique Hobbies

Unique or remarkable hobbies that are not mainstream can give a hiring manager the chance to see some of your personality outside the office. Remember to include interests that will pertain to the workplace and not make you seem odd or peculiar.

79. Needlepoint or Other Knitting Craftwork The act of creating a project with your hands is satisfying, but it can also help your resume stand out. If you participate in needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, or another similar craftwork, a potential employer will see how meticulous you can be with a task. There is a great deal of planning involved in these hobbies, and it helps to improve memory and cognitive functions like focus.

80. Video Gaming Unless you are applying to a video game company, this hobby may not seem relevant, but it can be. Depending on the genre of games you enjoy, strategic planning and memory recall functions from playing video games can be transferable skills to the workplace. In addition, many technical companies may see video gamers as people who have optimal problem-solving skills.

81. Sorority Memberships Did you belong to a fraternity or sorority in college? This interest can help make your resume stand out when there are many applicants for the same position. Not only will this fact create conversation starters, but it could also build a personal connection with the recruiter if you both went to the same school. Also, do not be afraid to include any events where you helped organize or even clean up after. Employers love to see people who take the initiative and responsibility in a group.

82. Calligraphy This interest is one that many individuals prefer when they want to slow down, relax, and take their time to create something. Calligraphy shows recruiters how you take the time to perform a task with precision and emulates dedication to mastering a skill.

83. Public Speaking Do you like to speak in front of people or enjoy MC’ing all your friends’ weddings? Having the confidence to stand up and talk to a crowd of people is a trait that many individuals do not have. If you are entirely comfortable running the floor at your cousin’s anniversary dinner party, include public speaking on your resume and show a recruiter how much you enjoy talking to people in public.

84. Antiquing If you love to spend your weekends visiting flea markets for your next specialty item, this interest can benefit your resume. Antiquing requires you to research historical information and retain facts that can be beneficial for increasing memory and cognitive recognition.

85. Furniture Restoration Some people love to take an old piece of furniture and make it new again as a hobby. Furniture restoration is an excellent skill to include on your resume, especially if the job you are applying for requires you to be creative somehow. Finding new ways to make an item look fresh is a skill that is useful in many workplace situations.

86. Focus Groups Do you belong to a focus group that collects information about your purchases or daily habits for advertising? If you participate in groups that require your input or opinions about community services or business practices, you can add this to your resume. Potential employers will see how you like to contribute to a group and communicate effectively for change or analytical purposes.

87. Providing Hair and Makeup or Creating Tutorials If you have a knack for styling hair and makeup for your friends and family or create YouTube video tutorials, this hobby can give employers a chance to see how great you are at teaching others a new task. It can often be challenging to show someone in the workplace how to do a job, so this hobby gives you a better chance to showcase your teaching skills.

88. Candle Making Some individuals like to learn new hobbies like candle making. This interest shows how you can adapt to learn a new task and take time to relax when creating candles. Candle making is another hobby of creative expression, showing employers how productive you can be on your own.

89. Soap Making This hobby can be a meditative activity for many individuals, but it is also a great way to show employers how good you are at planning and executing a task. In addition, soap making requires patience and creativity that can be ideal attributes for some jobs.

90. Creating Homemade Jewelry Creative expression is a vital element in many workplace environments. If you create homemade jewelry, be sure to include this hobby in your job application. It can show a recruiter how expressive and creative you can be. You use attention to detail, planning, focus, and concentration for this activity, enhancing these skills for the workplace.

91. Hobby Farming Do you have a hobby farm that you enjoy spending time after work? Maintaining this type of hobby requires a great deal of responsibility, planning, and patience. These attributes can be items that employers look for in a potential employee.

92. Amateur Radio Host If you own a ham radio and like to host a program, this hobby can showcase your outgoing personality and how you easily interact with people whom you do not know. In addition, it is educational as you learn how to talk to people all around the world, making personal connections.

93. Genealogy Digging deep into your family’s history and ancestry is a tremendous interest that can show an employer your enthusiasm for research and analytical aptitude. Alternatively, it may require a great deal of memory recall while you dive into your family tree.

94. Singing or Karaoke Whether you sing at church or enjoy participating in karaoke with friends on the weekends, this hobby is ideal to add to your job application. Singing emulates your outgoing nature and your willingness to be vulnerable to others in public. This self-confidence is a terrific skill for many managerial and supervisor positions.

95. Bonsai Tree Crafting The process of growing and maintaining these miniature trees takes patience and perseverance. An employer may see your attention to detail and meticulousness with tasks if you enjoy cultivating bonsai trees.

96. Ice Sculpting Ice sculpting is not your ordinary hobby, but it can help you land a job. This activity requires patience, planning, creativity, and meticulous attention as you construct beautiful pieces out of blocks of ice. A potential employer may see your perseverance and strategic planning skills with this hobby.

97. Dog Trainer Do you enjoy spending time with dogs and ensuring that they are safe and behaved for everyone to enjoy? If you help train dogs in your spare time, this interest can show a recruiter your patience for long-term tasks, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to read non-verbal signals.

98. Stand-Up Comedian Everyone loves to laugh, and if you enjoy being a stand-up comedian as a hobby on the weekends, this interest is a terrific interest to add to your resume. In addition, a potential employer may see how personable you can be and how you can connect with others easily in the workplace.

99. Homemade Brewing Homemade brewing is a favorite hobby for many individuals today. Adding this interest to your job application will show recruiters your patience and creativity as you can modify and adjust different brews. In addition, this hobby is a terrific social activity, allowing someone to see how easily you can make connections with others.

100. Bird Watching Bird watching can be a solitary hobby or one that you enjoy with a group. This activity includes extensive research and cataloging, which can be excellent skills to take to a new job. In addition, you can build new relationships quickly and know how to relax and keep calm when necessary.

Your personal interests can be integral in the hiring process for a new job. So when you have a list of interests, it can help make your application more intriguing to a hiring manager and get you to the next step for an interview. If you do not have a lot of professional experience or a significant gap in your similar work experience, these items can showcase a bit of your personality and help you stand out among other potential candidates.

Remember the general rule to keep these items short and relevant to the job position, and you may be surprised at how beneficial it can be to include them.