How to List Interests on Your Resume

There are several instances in which you should include interests on your resume. More and more companies want to find candidates that fit within their company culture, so portraying your interests will help the hiring manager better determine if you’re a good fit. Other situations in which including your interests on your resume is a good idea include:

• When the job listing specifically asks candidates to include their interests on their resume
• If you have little to no work experience or education related to the position
• If the job description directly aligns with your interests
• If the hiring manager or employer is seeking unique individuals for the job

It’s important to understand the difference between interests and hobbies before including interests on your resume. An interest is a particular subject that intrigues you and that you want to learn more about in some capacity. For example, if you are interested in learning more about killer whales, you may read a book about killer whales or visit a local aquarium to discover more about them. On the other hand, a hobby is any activity you regularly do for fun in your spare time. For example, solving crossword puzzles and reading crime novels are two examples of hobbies. While both of these things are typically done in a person’s spare time and out of curiosity or interest, they are different and should not be considered one and the same on a resume.

Here are a few ways to choose the best interests to include on your resume:

1. Study the job listing. Rather than including any interests that come to mind, it’s best to tailor your interests to the specific job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a graphic design position, you may consider including creative interests on your resume that are related to drawing or coloring.
2. Research the organization. You can also spend some time getting to know the organization to see what kind of qualities they seek in employees. Looking at a company’s social media account and their employee profiles on the organization’s website will help you better understand the company’s culture and the types of employees they hire.
3. Include several different interests. Try to include a few different interests that are unrelated to one another. For example, you could include an interest in killer whales as well as an interest in reading comic books. This will help you relate to more people and show that you are mentally flexible.

Learn more: How to Customize Your Resume for Each Job You Apply to

The following are steps to take when listing interests on your professional resume:

1. Create a separate section for interests. The best way to include interests on your resume is to do so in a separate section titled Interests at the bottom of the resume. This ensures that the Interests section doesn’t take away from your experience and skills, but that it’s there if the reader is interested.
2. Include up to five different interests. You can include up to five different interests on your resume, but try not to include any more than this. Ensure that each interest is related to the job you’re applying for or that it portrays something unique to the reader about your personality.
3. Keep your interests short and concise. Most interests can be described in one or two words. Naming your interest and providing a brief description of it is sufficient when including interests on your resume.
4. Avoid generic interests. If the interests you include have a generic feel, the reader will not learn anything unique about you and may even skip over your interest section entirely. Include interests that are uncommon or set you apart from the other candidates to pique the interest of hiring managers.
5. Incorporate interests that are relevant to the job. You should already be tailoring each resume you submit to the particular job you’re applying for, and the interests section on your resume is no different. Try to include interests that correlate with the position to help your resume stand out.
6. Don’t lie about your interests. Even if a particular interest is especially relevant to the job or you think it will really help you stand out, you should not include it if you aren’t actually interested in it. This avoids an awkward situation where you could be asked about your interest during an interview and come up short because you don’t know much about it.

Learn more: 7 Resume Points That Immediately Grab a Recruiter’s Attention

The following are examples of interests on a resume: Interests

• Piano — Played the piano for 17 years and regularly teach lessons to high school students
• Drawing — Take monthly drawing classes to learn as a new hobby
• Traveling — Have traveled to all 50 states and 21 countries

  Interests

• Video games
• Meditation
• Artificial intelligence
• Coding

  Interests

• Theater — Have acted in 10 different plays and currently teach a theater class to high school students once a week
• Mindfulness — Meditate twice daily and participate in monthly meditation classes
• Basketball — Founded a local basketball group for kids who need after-school care