Everyone has hobbies and interests outside work, but including interests on your resume can take up valuable space and likely won’t help you get the job. During the initial hiring phase, managers only care about whether you’re qualified for the position. Having your hobbies on your resume likely won’t help you show this, so in most cases, omit the resume interests section. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t — or shouldn’t — include your interests in other ways.
1. Consider Alternative Sections
Apart from hobbies, there are various ways to augment your work history and show employers you’re a well-rounded candidate. The following are some alternatives to the resume interests section.
Volunteer experience
Instead of highlighting your interest in cinema, travel, or professional sports, create a volunteer experience section to include your skills and interests on your resume. This section is especially useful if you’re pursuing jobs in social work or a nonprofit, but it can be impactful regardless of your industry. Use the same format as your professional experience, and quantify your contributions and include keywords from the job description.
Examples of public service reveal who you are as a person and professional, distinguish you from other applicants, and show how you fit into the company’s culture. It also demonstrates that you value work-life balance and ensure you’re a well-rounded person outside of work.
Never prioritize hobbies on your resume over your relevant work experience or certifications, but if your document has room for volunteer experience, this can be a nice touch.
EXAMPLE
EXPERIENCE
Washington Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
Medical Assistant, May 2023 – present
- Schedule all patient appointments for a high-volume pediatrics office with six full-time physicians and two nurse practitioners, handling up to 40 appointments per day
- Interface effectively with diverse patient populations, communicate with empathy and understanding, and contribute to a 95% patient satisfaction rating for the practice
- Obtain patient vitals, including blood pressure, temperature, and diagnostic information, and maintain medical records using electronic health records (EHR) software
Big Brothers Big Sisters, Washington, D.C.
Mentor, May 2020 – present
- Connect with one youth weekly to discuss academic and personal issues
- Provide resources, guidance, and support
- Serve as a role model and introduce the mentee to other professionals in the field of education based on her interests
Maryland Medical Center, Potomac, MD
Medical Coordinator, March 2018 – March 2020
- Managed patient appointments and scheduling for a physician’s office with over 120 active patients, which included maintaining electronic medical records (EMR)
- Collected patient insurance information and authorized services, provided information on co-pays to new patients, and interfaced with insurance agencies to resolve issues
Independent projects
Including relevant independent projects is another way to improve your resume, especially if you lack hands-on industry experience. For example, if you’re just out of college and pursuing entry-level software developer jobs, you may want to display some projects you’ve worked on to show your knowledge of Python, JavaScript, or other programming languages.
Or if you’re after a role in copywriting, mention any blogs you’ve started or worked on to demonstrate your content development and writing skills while also including your interests on your resume. The key here is to ensure each project adds value to your document by highlighting one or more skills relevant to your target industry.
EXAMPLE
Personal Fitness Website, Self-Directed, Chicago, IL | June 2023 – August 2023
Position Title: Project Manager & Developer: Designed, developed, and managed a personal fitness website to provide customized workout plans and wellness resources.
- Created and implemented the website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, demonstrating front-end web development skills
- Developed interactive features, including a workout tracker and nutrition calculator, to enhance user engagement
- Designed the layout and user interface to ensure seamless navigation and a visually appealing experience
Professional associations and conferences
Citing your affiliations is another great way to emphasize your industry knowledge while indirectly including your skills and interests on the resume. Hiring managers value job seekers who are passionate about their field. By joining relevant associations and attending industry conferences, you’ll signal to employers that you’re a unique candidate interested in contributing to thought leadership.
EXAMPLE
National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) | Member | 2022 – Present
Actively participate in webinars and forums focused on advancements in strength training and conditioning. Engage with industry professionals to stay updated on the latest fitness research and trends.
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) | Attendee, Annual Conference | June 2023
Attended sessions on emerging technologies in fitness and education, learning about cutting-edge tools for online training programs and personalized fitness apps. Networked with professionals in fitness technology and education to explore collaboration opportunities.
Publications
If your work has been published in an academic journal, newspaper, or website, consider adding a publications section to your resume. Like independent projects, publications can speak to your written communication skills and industry expertise. Organize your publications using Modern Language Association (MLA) or American Psychological Association (APA) standards, as incorrect or inconsistent citations can detract from the professionalism of your achievements.
EXAMPLE
Anderson, J. (2023, June 15). How to Build Effective Fitness Plans for Beginners. Fitness Daily.
Anderson, J. (2022). AI-Powered Fitness: The Future of Personalized Workouts. Journal of Modern Fitness Technology, 12(3), 45-58.
2. Incorporate Relevant Hobbies on Resume
If you do decide to include your hobbies on a resume, there are two options: create a specific resume interests section or sprinkle them throughout your resume in other areas. For example, you could include your interests on a resume by adding relevant options to a technical or professional skills section. If you are involved with your local Rotary Club, this could translate to leadership, communication, and public speaking skills.
And if you choose to add skills and interests on your resume in their own section, keep it brief and put it at the bottom. The hiring manager should have an excellent idea of who you are as a candidate and whether you fit the role before learning about your out-of-office interests.
3. Remember What Employers Are Looking For
It’s normal to want to include details from your nonprofessional life or try to stand out from other candidates by injecting personality into your resume. But remember that hiring managers are sorting through hundreds of documents and prioritize efficiency. Only include interests on your resume if it helps solidify your candidacy in some way. Otherwise, leave that space for your professional skills and career accomplishments.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hobbies on Resumes
When is it OK to list hobbies on my resume?-
Although it's usually better not to include skills and interests on your resume, there are exceptions. When pursuing a position in a rare niche, evaluate what you’re applying for and determine whether your hobbies and interests add genuine value to your resume.
For instance, if you’re applying for a job as a fantasy football blog writer, you’d probably mention you’re a National Football League (NFL) and fantasy football enthusiast in your resume interests section. Those applying for an internship at a podcast may want to mention their own efforts at creating one. Or if you’re a professional musician, you could cite your influences and interest in certain genres.
If you could turn your hobby into a side hustle, you can also include it in your resume as a self-employment job instead of listing it under skills and interests on your resume.
Should I mention hobbies and interests in my cover letter?-
Every word in a cover letter should focus on why you’re a good fit for the job. Avoid mentioning your hobbies or interests unless doing so helps you account for a recent employment gap or is extremely relevant to the position.
Should I talk about hobbies in an interview?-
If an employer asks directly, it’s fine to mention your hobbies in the interview. Focus on interests related to the position or that have helped prepare you for the role, if possible. This can be a way to demonstrate competency in soft skills or show that you’re a good culture fit.
Can I add hobbies and interests to my LinkedIn profile?-
LinkedIn had a section dedicated to listing your personal hobbies, skills, and interests on your resume, but it has since removed it. However, as part of the "Additional" category of profile sections, you can cite causes you care about, such as poverty alleviation or veteran support.
You can also now add influencers, schools, groups, and associations that reflect your professional interests. Simply use the search bar at the top of your profile to find topics, people, or groups that match your interests and hit follow to add them to the section.
How many hobbies should I include?-
For a resume, limit hobbies to three to five at most, and only include those directly relevant to the position. There is no specific number for how many hobbies to add to your LinkedIn profile, but only include those you are truly passionate about or that give potential employers a better idea of who you are as a person.
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