How to Incorporate Your Hobbies and Interests Into Your Resume

October 7, 2011|How to find a job| No comments yet

Hobbies and Interest may seem like a pointless section in your resume, however, this portion is a great way to show how well rounded you are as a person. A potential future employer can get a better sense of who you are as a person and worker through reading this section. Let’s discuss some aspects of the Hobbies and Interests section of your resume.

First, keep in mind the hobbies and interests you enjoy that could possible pertain to the line of work you are applying for. You don’t want to list every single thing you are interested in, but be certain to streamline the selected hobbies or interests on your resume. For example, playing poker can be a positive hobby because it involves a great deal of thinking and strategy. Playing certain types sports is another great example for a hobby or interest, it shows the ability to work with a team and sportsmanship.

Second, do not leave this section blank on your resume. Leaving this section blank can possibly leave a negative impression on a potential employer. Not including a Hobbies and Interests section shows that you either are not the type of person to open up about who you are, which is a very negative impression, or that you are not a very well rounded person and not valuable to their team. Both of these impressions are not the ones you want to make.

Third, don’t be afraid to include specific aspects of the job you are applying for as an interest. For instance, a person applying to become a line cook or head chef at a restaurant should include their passion for food and cooking at home as an interest. The more you have to offer a potential employer the better chance you have to receive an interview or possibly the job position.

Lastly, keep it short and sweet. Your resume is your first impression and possibly your foot in the door of your desired job, so make it a good impression. Don’t be long winded, but certainly be informative in this section. Keep in mind all these tips when writing this part of your resume. You will really have the chance to sell your abilities at the interview, should you get one, so keep your potential employer interested in getting to know you better and you will surely get a call back.