Hobbies and Interests in Your Resume? Yes or No?
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 8:25 am
I’m often asked if you should include hobbies and interests in your resume. There really is no right or wrong answer, but I don’t recommend it.
The reason I always advise my clients not to include them is that I don’t believe they add any weight to your resume and quite frankly, are a waste of valuable resume space.
Remember, employers review resumes because they are looking for a person who can meet their needs.
How do your leisure interests and hobbies demonstrate your ability to do a job?
They don’t.
Some employers look at hobbies as mere ‘padding’, something to include to make the resume look weightier than it actually is … not a good look.
Another reason I don’t recommend including hobbies is because of the judgements sri lanka phone number library potential employers can make. For example, you might include physical activities like abseiling or hiking, thinking you are making a good impression because you are obviously fit and healthy. Sure, some employers might look at it that way; others, however, will look it as a risky activity: ‘Ok, so he/she takes a tumble on the weekend, what is going to happen come Monday morning?’
Similarly employers can scratch their heads at the things you include. What would they think about a person applying for work in a remote location who lists attending the theatre as a hobby? Not too many ‘theatre’ productions make it to regional areas and some employers might question your ability to stay long term.
The reason I always advise my clients not to include them is that I don’t believe they add any weight to your resume and quite frankly, are a waste of valuable resume space.
Remember, employers review resumes because they are looking for a person who can meet their needs.
How do your leisure interests and hobbies demonstrate your ability to do a job?
They don’t.
Some employers look at hobbies as mere ‘padding’, something to include to make the resume look weightier than it actually is … not a good look.
Another reason I don’t recommend including hobbies is because of the judgements sri lanka phone number library potential employers can make. For example, you might include physical activities like abseiling or hiking, thinking you are making a good impression because you are obviously fit and healthy. Sure, some employers might look at it that way; others, however, will look it as a risky activity: ‘Ok, so he/she takes a tumble on the weekend, what is going to happen come Monday morning?’
Similarly employers can scratch their heads at the things you include. What would they think about a person applying for work in a remote location who lists attending the theatre as a hobby? Not too many ‘theatre’ productions make it to regional areas and some employers might question your ability to stay long term.