3 Keys To Listing Your Hobbies on Your Resume

It’s a pretty steep job market out there. And in recent times, it’s only becoming more competitive. With the changing landscape of the employment market, businesses are getting more rigorous about what they are looking for during their hiring process.

For candidates looking to get their foot in the door, the first step to landing their dream job is by crafting the perfect resume or CV. Many candidates already know that it’s necessary to list the ways that they are a great fit for the position in question by embedding helpful keywords into the text of their resume.

But what’s one way to set your resume apart and land a job interview? Making yourself stand out by including a list of interests on your resume. While it’s obvious that companies are looking to hire the best candidate for a competitive position, another crucial element to their hiring practice is making sure that those candidates are a culture fit within the company.

The key is to not only show that you’re the best candidate for the job, but you also want to make your resume stand out by showing that you can add value and variety to the team by adding your own unique value.

Our Top 3 Tips?

1. Stay Relevant – While it’s great that you have a penchant for entomology, saying as much won’t necessarily help you if you are looking to become a call-center operator. If your list of interests doesn’t relate in some way to the job you are applying for then it’s probably best to leave it out. The key is to showcase your interests while simultaneously disclosing how those interests can help you be an asset to the job.
2. Stay Original – Having an unusual hobby could add more impact and keep your resume at the top of the list. Most companies are hiring not only for an individual who can do the job, but also for an individual who will be a culture fit to the company in the long term. So if you are into Dungeons & Dragons cosplay, be honest about it! It might give your interviewer a great conversation point in your interview, and you never know–you might even find your tribe.
3. Stay Honest – Ultimately, the list of hobbies and interests on your resume or CV should serve to round out what makes you unique, not just include a bullet pointed list of everything you have ever done. If you find yourself getting stuck, stay honest! If you are going for a job that values logical skills, don’t state that you enjoy Sudoku puzzles if it’s not your thing. It could come back to haunt you if you have to talk about it later. Part of marketing yourself for a job means you are selling the truest version of yourself that is relevant to that position. Don’t sell a false product.

…And Other Considerations

Remember that just like anything else, listing your hobbies on your resume should provide a snapshot of the whole person you are. You don’t want to go overboard listing your hobbies. Just select a few relevant, interesting and strategic ones. And while it’s important to be yourself, make sure to use your best judgement, so you don’t add anything that could come back to haunt you later. (We’re looking at you, Sunday Night Whiskey-Tasting Club).

Ultimately, a great resume is the key document that gets your foot in the door, so it’s pretty important that you do your best to get it right. Once you’re there? It’s the interview that is going to be the ultimate determining factor that demonstrates whether you are the best fit for the team. So how do you make sure that you are best prepared? Check out our Mockmate tool, to make sure that you are prepared for any possible questions that could come your way during the interview.

You’ll thank us once you are at Comic Con with your new coworkers.

Ready to prep for that interview?