Having hobbies on your resume is a great way to showcase some additional skills and personality. Plus, it can be very relevant for jobs that require some extra effort.
Some companies have started asking for social media accounts as well, so having a curated hobby page or profile is also a way to include your hobbies on your resume.
Whether it be reading, surfing, swimming, or knitting; there are plenty of ways to add hobbies onto your resume. Some even create new career focused hobbies like ‘curating’ or ‘researching’ depending on the job you are pursuing.
Having an extensive list of hobbies can also be helpful when trying to transition into another career path. Many times, people choose to pursue a new career when they have spent enough time in one and have acquired enough experience and knowledge in that field.
Having other interests outside of work can help you return to happiness and fulfillment in your life.
Match your hobbies with your work experience
If you are trying to add a hobby to your resume, make sure that it matches your work experience. If you are a teacher, add teaching hobby like creating educational games or doing projects with kids.
If you are a salesperson, add salesperson as a hobby and show how you sell in your projects or games. If you are an employee, add management as a hobby and show how you manage people or events.
People with artistic skills like drawing or painting can add that as a hobby. If you have skills in designing, crafts or DIY projects can be added as a hobby. You can show how your craft improves your work performance by adding them on your resume.
Having hobbies on your resume shows personality and depth. It shows people that you are not just an employee working for money, but that you have interests outside of work.
Explain how your hobbies improve your work performance
More importantly, however, is how hobbies can improve your work performance.
Everyone needs a break from work every now and then, but making time for hobbies can be difficult if you don’t have any away time scheduled.
Additionally, many people don’t know how to add hobbies in resume – they simply don’t consider it as important as other aspects of their life.
But including hobbies in your resume can prove that you are a well-rounded person and that you enjoy life. It can also give an employer insight into who you are as a person.
For example, if you are into sailing and fishing, an employer may realize that you are someone who spends time outside, taking risks (which could be a good thing). Or, they might realize that you like to catch and keep things – perhaps you are very productive when out on the water.
Include any awards you have received
Including awards or accolades on your resume is a great way to highlight your skills and strengths. Awards can be in the form of merit awards, like scholarships you have received or jobs you have earned through hard work, or they can be awards you have been given, like an award for the best sales person of the year.
Awards can come from many places. You can receive an award for something at work, from your community, or even from your family.
However, only include awards that are relevant to your field and that you have earned fairly. A prize for the best athlete in your town does not need to be included on your resume if you are applying for a desk job.
Awards are a great way to add some motivation into your resume. By displaying achievements that prove you are good at what you do, it shows potential employers that you deserve a job based on what you have accomplished before.
List any publications you have written
Having some writing experience is always a nice add-on to any resume. If you have written blogs, newsletter articles, or even short essays, include these as extra skills on your resume.
Although employers may not ask for a sample writing piece, it is always smart to include your own writing on your resume.
For example, include a blog post or two that you wrote and included an introduction, thesis statement, supporting points, and conclusion. This shows off your writing skills and gives an example of your work.
Your writing should show off your communication skills and should be professional and polished. Having these qualities on your resume will help add more skills to your profile.
If you are looking to add more hobbies to your resume, try picking common interests that are being done in your field and starting small projects in them. For example, if you are a teacher and want to add some teaching hobbies to your resume, try taking on some tutoring projects.
List any skills you have learned
Having skills is an important part of your career. Skills can be anything from programming languages, software applications, creative arts like drawing or writing, or community activities like volunteering or hobbies.
In fact, including hobbies in your resume is a great way to showcase your personality and creativity. Plus, depending on your career goal, your interests can be a nice addition to your work life.
But how do you add hobbies in resume? How much time should you devote to these interests? And how do you make them look professional? We’ve got the answers for you. Read on!
It is best to include hobbies that relate to your field or career. If you are not quite at the point where you have a career yet, then adding small hobbies can be helpful. Try choosing ones that are casual and cost-effective so you do not need to add them in your resume.
Add any online profiles you have created
Having an active presence online is a great way to add hobbies to your resume. Many people start with a LinkedIn profile, but there are many other sites you can add yourself on.
For example, if you have a hobby of bird watching, create a blog about birds and how to identify them and you’ll gain expertise in the field. Then, add yourself on LinkedIn, as well as other social media sites like it.
Putting in the time to develop your online presence shows off your interest in the hobby and adds another element of yourself to your resume.
If you have participated in any workshops or classes about your hobby, add that information as well. It shows that you are invested in learning more about it and that you take part in spreading the knowledge of it.
Having an online presence also makes it easy to include hobbies on your resume.
Put yourself in front of the camera for interviews
Having experience in front of the camera can be a great addition to your resume.
Many people love to watch interviews on TV and online, making this a growing field. Many YouTube channels have interviews on their channels as well.
With social media taking off, there is no doubt that videography will remain a growing field. With your college film skills, you can add this to your resume!
If you are not comfortable filming yourself, there are other ways to add this skill to your resume. You can take freelance photography jobs or shoot weddings if you have a good camera. Whether it is for an interview or a wedding, having knowledge of how to use a camera is a great addition to any career field. As well, taking pictures at events is a nice way to put this skill into use.
Always be improving yourself
Having hobbies listed on your resume shows the hiring manager that you are a well-rounded person with interests outside of work.
However, adding hobbies to your resume is also strategic. By including things you love to do in your resume, you can showcase another side of yourself that would be an asset to the company that hires you.
For example, if you are a swimmer, include times you set new records or awards you’ve received for improving your skill level. Or if you’re a chef, list the restaurants where you’ve worked and the number of years you’ve been there.
As we mentioned earlier, if your dream job requires some extra skills, then add them! Learning new things is a great way to boost your self-confidence and improve your standing on the job market.
Include any clubs or organizations you belong to, scholarships or awards you’ve received, and other accomplishments to prove your point.
