How to Write Hobbies in a Resume: For Different Jobs & Professions

Your resume is more than a list of your skills and experience. It’s an opportunity to show who you are as a person. Your hobbies can give you an advantage over others by showcasing unique skills and passions. In this blog, we’ll show you how to write hobbies in a resume strategically and transform them into lively works of art. We’ll also explore mistakes to avoid when adding hobbies to your resume.

When is it Necessary to Include Hobbies in Your Resume?

Adding hobbies to your resume can be advantageous if they contribute value or relevance to the position you are seeking. Here are some situations where including hobbies could be beneficial:

• To Demonstrate Job Relevant Proficiencies, Skills, and Abilities: For example, including creative writing as a hobby would be more impressive when applying for a writing role. 
• If the Company Directs You to Do So: When specifically asked by the company to include additional hobbies and interests. This becomes your chance to let your personality shine through.
• If the Company is Interested to Know: If the company places significance on its employees’ personalities and individual traits. In this case, showcasing some of your hobbies can give them a glimpse into who you are as an individual.
• Limited Work Experience: When you have limited work experience or education. In such cases, mentioning any related interests or hobbies could make you stand out.

Hobbies for Different Job Profiles & Domains

Engaging in certain hobbies can cultivate valuable skills and critical thinking beneficial for professional settings. Here are some hobbies that go well with certain job roles:

Content Writer

Hobbies for writers come in many forms, each offering a unique way to enhance your craft. Here’s how to include hobbies in a resume as a writer: 

• Traveling: This expands your perspective and improves your storytelling skills.
• Journaling: It promotes self-reflection, reduces stress, and organizes thoughts.
• Copywriting: This helps you prepare marketable stories for different platforms.
• Reading: Reading a variety of genres enhances your storytelling abilities beyond just enjoying tales.
• Creative Writing: This helps you express yourself creatively.
• Letter Writing: This allows for a realistic and meaningful way to communicate.
• Blogging: This lets you share your thoughts with people around the world and build connections.

 You can also check out this creative writing course to sharpen your skills.

Professor/Teacher

Here are some of the hobbies you can include in your resume while applying for teaching jobs.

• Reading: Helps you learn about the different perspectives of life, inspiring students.
• Writing: This sharpens your communication skills to enhance lesson plans and convey expertise successfully through articles.
• Public Speaking: This helps you captivate students with engaging storytelling and confident communication.
• Traveling: This expands viewpoints and enhances teaching by incorporating global experiences into lessons.
• Blogging: This helps showcase expertise and reach students effectively, amplifying teaching impact.

Web Developer

Here are some of the hobbies you should add to your resume as a web developer: 

• Writing/Journaling: This helps develop important thinking abilities needed for coding, boosts creativity and communication skills, and assists in solving problems. 
• Animation Creation: Creating animations helps you practice how to add dynamic elements to websites.
• Board Games: Playing games helps you think smarter, solve problems better, be more creative, and remember things easier. It also lets you make social connections and relax.
• Game Development: This sharpens your problem-solving abilities.

Artist

If you are applying for the role of an artist, here are some of the hobbies you should include in your resume:

• Painting: Shows the ability to tell a story and convey emotions through art.
• Photography: Highlights your attention to detail and visual storytelling.
• Writing: Displays talent for creating engaging narratives and effective communication.
• Knitting/Crocheting: Demonstrates patience, attention to detail, and ability to create complex designs. 
• Jewelry Making: Showcases design skills with precision.

Executive Manager

If you are applying for a leadership/manager position, you should include hobbies that show people management skills. These include:

• Traveling: Exposes you to different cultures, which enriches your leadership capabilities through diverse experiences.
• Reading: Expands knowledge in areas such as leadership to gain valuable insights.
• Yoga: Cultivates a calm mindset needed for critical decision-making.
• Exercising: Demonstrates the importance of maintaining efficiency and well-being.

10 Best Hobbies to Put On Your Resume

When deciding what hobbies to include in your resume, there are some excellent choices that stand out from the rest. Below is a list of some of the best hobbies you can put in your resume.

• Writing & Blogging: Being able to write in different styles, such as novels, scientific papers, or blogs, demonstrates strong communication abilities important for any company. It is also highly appreciated by employers.
• Podcasting: Hosting a podcast shows off what you know, how good you are at getting people to listen, and how organized you are.
• Composing Music: Music composition requires both imagination and dedication, as well as endurance. Additionally, research suggests that playing an instrument can enhance your ability to remember things and concentrate better.
• Learning Different Languages: Learning different languages is a great hobby to have on your resume. It shows that you’re good at solving problems and that you’re open to learning.
• Photography: Photography is a great hobby for your resume as it helps you look more creative. It also shows your attention to detail and ability to capture stories.
• Traveling: Travel is a great hobby to put on your resume as it shows that you’re open-minded and love trying new things. It suggests that you’re exposed to different cultures and experiences.
• Sports: It helps you learn how to be disciplined and resilient in a team. These are all valuable skills for any job.
• Yoga: Yoga is another great hobby to have on your resume as it shows that you’re mindful of relaxing your body and mind, which can really improve how well you do at work.
• Reading: Having reading as a hobby on your resume shows that you are focused, constantly learning, have good communication skills, and can handle stress well.
• Volunteering: It shows employers that you take initiative, have strong values, and possess important organizational and leadership skills. In fact, 82% of managers actually prefer candidates with volunteer experience.

Tips While Adding Hobbies to Your Resume

Picking the best hobbies for your resume can make a big impact. Here are some tips for how to write hobbies in a resume successfully.

• Match Your Hobbies with What the Company Wants: Let your hobbies reflect what the company wants and stands for. Begin by checking out their website, social media, and reviews to get an idea of their style. Pay attention to any qualities or values that match yours. Then, create a resume that highlights how your hobbies line up with their requirements, showing why you’re just right for the role.
• Make a List of Most Important Hobbies: Create a list of 5 to 10 hobbies that reflect your personality. Choose the best 3 to 5 from this list and feature them in your hobbies section using bullet points or short sentences, separated by commas.
• Move Them to the Bottom: Hobbies can add a personal touch, allowing potential employers to connect with you on a different level. They’re important, but not the main focus. Keep them at the bottom so the attention is on your top qualities, i.e., education, experience, achievements, and skills.
• If There’s No Space, Leave it Out: When deciding whether or not to include your hobbies, remember that they should flow naturally and not look forced. If there’s no space left on your resume, think of your online portfolio as an alternative to showcase all of your hobbies. You can place them in an engaging “About” section without overcrowding the professional appearance of your actual resume.
• Keep it Honest: Be honest about your hobbies on your resume, just like with your job experience or cover letter. Don’t exaggerate or make up interests to seem impressive. Keep it real and genuine for better connections in interviews.

Things to Avoid While Adding Hobbies to Your Resume

When deciding how to put hobbies on a resume and what to include, it is important to think about how they may affect the way others see you professionally. Here are some things that should be avoided:

• Avoid Personal Affiliations: Be careful not to mention your political, religious, or extreme sports connections. For example, talking about supporting certain politicians may not be wise.
• Skip Risky or Time-Consuming Hobbies: Don’t talk about hobbies that are dangerous, take up too much time, or could put you at risk. Things like rock climbing and bungee jumping can make employers worried about how healthy and available for work you will be.
• Don’t Lie About Your Interests: Don’t pretend to have interests just to impress potential employers. They might find out the truth later and think less of your honesty.
• Don’t Overload: Keep the number of hobbies you list on your resume to a reasonable amount so it’s not too cluttered. Too many hobbies might give the idea that you can’t focus or don’t have time for work responsibilities. Therefore, stick to relevant interests only.

Conclusion

Adding hobbies to your resume can be helpful if they relate to the job or highlight useful skills or aspects of yourself. When deciding how to write hobbies in a resume, make sure your hobbies fit with what the company values. However, remember to be careful with your choices so that they don’t distract from important parts of your resume, such as education and work experience.

What’s your most interesting hobby and how do you think it can impact your career positively? Share your answers with us in the comments. Also, check out how to make a resume for any job profile.