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What are acceptable hobbies to put on your resume? Sports, reading, video games, card games, exercising, and writing are all things I do
I'm in high school hoping to go into either a health or law profession after college. I am currently undecided about which university I want to go to and what my major will be.
#resume #college
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24 answers
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Hi Harry,
Should you include hobbies and interests on a resume?
Ask yourself these questions first, if the answer is no, then you you are better leaving this section off.
√ Would someone looking at my resume be impressed by reading, video games, card games or exercising?
√ Are my hobbies or interests relevant in anyway to the position I'm applying for?
√ Are my hobbies or interests going to help you succeed if you land this job position?
A well-written resume should provide a potential employer with a solid idea of which SKILLS and ABILITIES you’d bring to the work force not your hobbies. Beyond that, there are ways to add some personality to your resume, and show how you’d be a candidate for the position. You do that by working personal interests into your resume. Below are some common personal interests that you could consider adding to your resume the would show leadership and people skills. Keep this section small and towards the very end of your resume. You can put in two or three of the ones you feel are most relevant. Avoid too many words or overcrowding this section. This should be just a small piece that helps the overall message you’re conveying to the employer: that you’re a good fit for the role and the company.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Many companies are actively involved in their local communities, so any community involvement or volunteer work you reference could easily be considered relevant.
CLUB MEMBERSHIPS
If you’re a member of any professional clubs or associations, you should consider including them. Even if the club memberships are hobby-oriented, your role in the club can speak volumes about you. If the job you’re applying for is highly people-oriented, whether it be dealing with customers or interacting with co-workers, club memberships can really show off your abilities with working well with others.
SPORTS
A reference to the sports you play on a regular basis can be a great way to enhance some of the soft skills listed on your resume, such as being a team player, being able to work well with others, or having leadership abilities. Plus, maybe the employer has a sports team, or supports a local one, and would be interested in a sports-knowledgeable employee.
The personal interests that you work into a resume should be relevant in some way to the skills and abilities you’ll need to perform your new job. That can’t be emphasized enough! Leveraging the right interests and activities can give you a leg up over the rest of the candidates.0
Harry here a list of Do's to create a winning resume
Resume Objective – Use this section as a introduction to your career goals (tailor this section for each employer).
Work Experience – For this format you'll to have a consistent work history (one that isn’t too patchy).
Additional Skills – Use this section to highlight personal attributes you’re proud of (tailor this for each employer).
Education – Your degree(s) and certifications (if relevant) should be prominent.
Accomplishments – Be sure to mention your most impressive awards and honors.
Should you include hobbies and interests on a resume?
Ask yourself these questions first, if the answer is no, then you you are better leaving this section off.
√ Would someone looking at my resume be impressed by reading, video games, card games or exercising?
√ Are my hobbies or interests relevant in anyway to the position I'm applying for?
√ Are my hobbies or interests going to help you succeed if you land this job position?
A well-written resume should provide a potential employer with a solid idea of which SKILLS and ABILITIES you’d bring to the work force not your hobbies. Beyond that, there are ways to add some personality to your resume, and show how you’d be a candidate for the position. You do that by working personal interests into your resume. Below are some common personal interests that you could consider adding to your resume the would show leadership and people skills. Keep this section small and towards the very end of your resume. You can put in two or three of the ones you feel are most relevant. Avoid too many words or overcrowding this section. This should be just a small piece that helps the overall message you’re conveying to the employer: that you’re a good fit for the role and the company.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Many companies are actively involved in their local communities, so any community involvement or volunteer work you reference could easily be considered relevant.
CLUB MEMBERSHIPS
If you’re a member of any professional clubs or associations, you should consider including them. Even if the club memberships are hobby-oriented, your role in the club can speak volumes about you. If the job you’re applying for is highly people-oriented, whether it be dealing with customers or interacting with co-workers, club memberships can really show off your abilities with working well with others.
SPORTS
A reference to the sports you play on a regular basis can be a great way to enhance some of the soft skills listed on your resume, such as being a team player, being able to work well with others, or having leadership abilities. Plus, maybe the employer has a sports team, or supports a local one, and would be interested in a sports-knowledgeable employee.
The personal interests that you work into a resume should be relevant in some way to the skills and abilities you’ll need to perform your new job. That can’t be emphasized enough! Leveraging the right interests and activities can give you a leg up over the rest of the candidates.0
Harry here a list of Do's to create a winning resume
Doc recommends the following next steps:
Thank You Again Dexter, “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” ― H. Jackson Brown Jr.
Doc Frick
Thank You Nikki. “Our generation has the ability and the responsibility to make our ever-more connected world a more hopeful, stable and peaceful place.” — Natalie Portman
Doc Frick
Thank You Jessica. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Doc Frick
Thank You Celeste. “The broadest, and maybe the most meaningful definition of volunteering: Doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good. ” – Ivan Scheier
Doc Frick
Updated
Savannah’s Answer
You should always tailor your resume to the job you are applying for or in your case the college or degree! You may have multiple copies of your resume that should be tailored to different jobs/companies or in your case colleges. Hobbies (if listed) should be at the end of the resume.
Different jobs or colleges may be looking for different skill sets so hobbies you choose to include may need to be updated accordingly. See examples below.
A team sport such as lacrosse shows that you are good at teamwork. If you are a captain , it shows that you have strong leadership qualities.
Card games/puzzles shows that you have strong analysis skills.
Volunteering/mentoring shows that you care about other people and have strong social skills.
Painting/drawing shows that you are creative.
Reading/writing shows that you are knowledgeable and a good communicator.
You can't go wrong with any of the above hobbies for a college resume as they are looking for well rounded individuals! Good luck!
Different jobs or colleges may be looking for different skill sets so hobbies you choose to include may need to be updated accordingly. See examples below.
A team sport such as lacrosse shows that you are good at teamwork. If you are a captain , it shows that you have strong leadership qualities.
Card games/puzzles shows that you have strong analysis skills.
Volunteering/mentoring shows that you care about other people and have strong social skills.
Painting/drawing shows that you are creative.
Reading/writing shows that you are knowledgeable and a good communicator.
You can't go wrong with any of the above hobbies for a college resume as they are looking for well rounded individuals! Good luck!
Updated
Matthew C.’s Answer
Hobbies that are directly applicable to the job you are applying for may have a place on a cover letter. If you do this though, you should be able to say specifically why your hobby makes you a better employee. For example, if you were applying to a job where you build robots and for the last five years you had been competing in robotics competitions and winning as a hobby. I would not put hobbies or anything unrelated to the job on your resume or cover letter as the hiring company likely doesn't care. When you are in an interview your hobbies will likely come up as companies will try to evaluate the potential hires soft skills and ability to be friendly.
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Zainee’s Answer
It's important to think about relevancy to what you are applying to while maintaining authenticity to what is being shared. It's also important to be able to speak to how your hobby may impact your growth mindset, development, positive impact on yourself or others, and ability to bring some of these skills to what you do.
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Gizel’s Answer
I think it is important to show on your resume that you were involved in sports and other activities besides academics. You should include hobbies that are somehow related to the position you are applying for. You should also add any volunteer activities as well.
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Daniel’s Answer
Sports are definitely resume friendly, especially if there are any sort of achievements or leadership roles taken in said sports. For instance, if your a captain, or a 3 sport athlete, or a member of the fundraising committee etc. Other hobbies that you do at home, aren't as intriguing to the admissions workers. Try to join a club based on your hobbies, for instance if you decided to join a book club to fulfill your love of reading, that would look great to colleges.
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Estelle’s Answer
My son juggles, and he put this on his resume....At first I thought it was a joke. He explained that he was working on hand-eye coordination to become a better surgeon. It was fabulous and gave him an interesting thing to discuss at his interview. My other son listed classical guitar. Who would guess that his interviewer was a classical guitarist? You should list hobbies and interests that make for interesting conversation to show you are well rounded and fascinating.
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Riley’s Answer
I would generally not include hobbies in your resume, just stick to academic history, professional history, and extracurricular history. For example, if you enjoy playing sports with friends on the weekends I would not include that; but if you have been a part of your high school sports team for several years I would include it, especially if you do something like coach elementary school students as well. The difference between including these two is that being on the team for several years or holding some position of leadership shows dedication and well-roundedness, but something you enjoy doing for fun really is not going to be of much interest to a college admissions office.
Updated
Richard’s Answer
Regarding a future application to medical school, it is ok to list those things. During the interview process it may give you and your interviewer something to talk about if the interviewer shares your interest.
However they also want to see research, relevant volunteering, and clinical shadowing.
However they also want to see research, relevant volunteering, and clinical shadowing.
Updated
Gina’s Answer
Anything relevant to the job you're applying for-- but some extra additions would be sports, volunteer work/philanthropic efforts. Things that show you're energetic, motivated and willing to go the extra mile
Updated
Fred’s Answer
You should have a reason for each item you put on your resume, and be able to defend it if someone asks why. I agree with Savannah
that you should rewrite your resume for every single job you apply to, tailoring it to their requirements.
If you were going to work for a video game development company, then playing video games as a hobby makes sense. However, if applying to
a law firm, probably not.
that you should rewrite your resume for every single job you apply to, tailoring it to their requirements.
If you were going to work for a video game development company, then playing video games as a hobby makes sense. However, if applying to
a law firm, probably not.
Updated
Teresa’s Answer
You should be able to write down hobbies that are related to your interests or passions, give the employer a broader understanding of who you are as a person, that would inform the employer about how well - rounded you are and how your hobbies would work in their favor. Make sure that your hobbies speak true to who you are as a person, how you've grown all the while ensuring that your character will promise something that not all applicants can offer.
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Bharat’s Answer
Well, you should not write about just any random thing just to add some points to your résumé.
Writing about the hobby in a CV means you are sharing a part of your personal information with the interviewer that has nothing to do with academics or your qualifications. So just writing about anything may lead you into trouble if you are not able to answer questions regarding your hobby.
Look into yourself. Ask yourself what's your hobby? It can be anything like playing cricket, football, reading novels, traveling, etc.
But just remember whatever you write, you can answer questions regarding that particular field. Like if you are writing that your hobby is photography then you should know about things like ISO, aperture, and Shutter speed.
But at the same time do remember that your hobby must be productive or of some interest over which some discussion can take place. If you say that your hobby is sleeping, then it will have a negative impact on your interview.
Writing about the hobby in a CV means you are sharing a part of your personal information with the interviewer that has nothing to do with academics or your qualifications. So just writing about anything may lead you into trouble if you are not able to answer questions regarding your hobby.
Look into yourself. Ask yourself what's your hobby? It can be anything like playing cricket, football, reading novels, traveling, etc.
But just remember whatever you write, you can answer questions regarding that particular field. Like if you are writing that your hobby is photography then you should know about things like ISO, aperture, and Shutter speed.
But at the same time do remember that your hobby must be productive or of some interest over which some discussion can take place. If you say that your hobby is sleeping, then it will have a negative impact on your interview.
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Simeon’s Answer
I wouldn't be that worried about what to put on your resume. Most recruiters, whether for a college or a company, spend about eight seconds per resume, so it's very unlikely they will look over your hobbies in the first place. Hobbies should be near the end of the resume at the bottom anyway. I'd just list the ones you did here as it may get seen every once in a while, but I also wouldn't overthink it either.
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Jamie’s Answer
If you could highlight your soft skills or any trait that can be relevant to your job while doing your hobbies, then it's okay to put in your resume. It helps to give another view of you to the interviewer and shows how you apply certain attributes of yourself to actual life.
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Matthew’s Answer
Great question, Harry. Everyone has a different theory of what does and does not belong on a resume. For someone as young as yourself, I think it is most important to create a resume that gives a story of the person you are. Putting hobbies on your resume is a great idea as long as they are a true passion of yours. These hobbies should paint a picture of you that shows someone who is dedicated. For example, if you play video games competitively I think adding that to your resume is a great idea, whereas if you play video games on an occasional night I don't think that would belong on your resume.
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Deena’s Answer
I believe in addition to good works such as visiting the elderly put hobbies that you already pursue or plan to start.A hobby like painting is great but if you wanted to learn how to trapeze
Or become a caring clown in a hospital make you stand out from the crowd
Or become a caring clown in a hospital make you stand out from the crowd
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Jessica’s Answer
In addition to the recommendations from John, travel experience can be a good hobby to list as it is an interesting conversation starter but also shows that you're willing to step outside your comfort zone and be open to new ways of doing things or learning about a different culture in more depth than you might otherwise be able to appreciate.
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Richard’s Answer
Yes! As a rule of thumb, anything that you could talk about for more than 2 minutes belongs on a resume. If it seems too unrelated to the current position, put it under 'interests and hobbies'. It is always good to appear human and balanced!
Updated
Samuel’s Answer
Hi Harry,
I think its acceptable to put any of those activities on your resume. I might not put them all, so as not to take up too much space, but whichever ones your most passionate about I would definitely include. As others have noted it could be useful to include something that is relevant to a job you're applying for. However, I tend to think of the hobbies section of a resume as a way to show who you are as a person. Your professional experience area will speak plenty to you as a professional. If you're you're going to be spending 40 hours a week with someone, they're going to want to talk to you about topics other than the job you guys are working on. Including hobbies that you're most passionate about could help to spark a connection that separates you from other candidates during your interview and help to land you in a place that's a great fit for you as a person.
I think its acceptable to put any of those activities on your resume. I might not put them all, so as not to take up too much space, but whichever ones your most passionate about I would definitely include. As others have noted it could be useful to include something that is relevant to a job you're applying for. However, I tend to think of the hobbies section of a resume as a way to show who you are as a person. Your professional experience area will speak plenty to you as a professional. If you're you're going to be spending 40 hours a week with someone, they're going to want to talk to you about topics other than the job you guys are working on. Including hobbies that you're most passionate about could help to spark a connection that separates you from other candidates during your interview and help to land you in a place that's a great fit for you as a person.
Updated
Fiona’s Answer
I would suggest including things that are (1) relevant to the type of study/work you are looking to do; (2) some active activities e.g. sports; and (3) some non-active activities (so that you can show that you are a well rounded individual). No need to include too many hobbies – choose ones that you are good (and have some level of achievement) at or are very passionate about.
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Sarah’s Answer
Hi Harry!
Acceptable hobbies would be if you are involved in types of sports where it can showcase your leadership skills (if you are team captain for example) and your ability to work in a team. Many companies are looking for candidates to be able to work well in a team and to have leadership skills.
I hope this helps!
Acceptable hobbies would be if you are involved in types of sports where it can showcase your leadership skills (if you are team captain for example) and your ability to work in a team. Many companies are looking for candidates to be able to work well in a team and to have leadership skills.
I hope this helps!
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Cody’s Answer
I would recommend looking at the job/interships that you are applying for and seeing if these hobbies or interests would help you get that position. If you are applying for a videogame creator, then maybe videogame playing could help. However, if you are applying for a corporate job, then most likely I would leave that off, for example.
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Samantha’s Answer
I would put the hobbies that are related to what u want to do.