Should you put interests on a resume? If done right, it can add a human touch that makes your resume more memorable. On the other hand, I’ve seen many self-written resumes with an Interests section that looks fluffy or inappropriate. Putting interests on a resume should be done strategically, if at all.
For example, I recently saw an Interests section that mentioned (only) the job seeker’s saxophone-playing talents. She was good–she had even won contests. But coming at the end of the resume, as such sections often do, her Interests section could leave the hiring team with the impression that music is her only passion, or that she is more accomplished in her off-hours pursuits than in her work.
(We didn’t cut the sax from her resume, by the way. We improved it. See the “Isabel” example below.)
Let’s consider the pros and cons. Then you can decide whether including interests on your resume will work for you.
Downsides of putting interests on a resume:
- Irrelevance: At least some of the items under “Interests” should be relevant to the job; otherwise the information just adds clutter.
- Bias risk: Certain interests might reveal cultural, political or religious factors that could lead to either conscious or unconscious discrimination.
- Limited space: There’s a lot your resume needs to include. The most powerful aspect of a resume is often the accomplishments, which show how the job seeker solved problems and made a difference. Don’t let interests crowd out accomplishments, experience or skills.
Benefits of including interests on a resume:
- Transferable skills: Many hobbies build or demonstrate skills. For example, volunteering can demonstrate interpersonal and organizational skills, empathy, and a strong work ethic. Gaming involves strategy and sometimes the ability to pick up new technology. Sports build persistence and can demonstrate a competitive spirit or youthful energy.
- Personality and culture fit: Putting interests on your resume can be a conversation-starter, building rapport with the hiring team members.
- Making your resume memorable: Interests give insights into who you are as a person. If they’re a bit unusual (without being controversial), that can be an asset.
Examples of interests on a resume:
Here are a few examples of Interests sections that could add value to a resume. Notice how they include some highly work-relevant items that balance the more purely leisure-oriented interests.
- Isabel, an IT professional: “Tech expos (recently attended QCon San Francisco and Technology & Innovation North America), playing strategy games like Factorio and Minecraft, saxophone (winner, Tri-Cities Jazzmasters).”
- Sam, a solar installer: “Home renovation projects and coaching Little League football.”
- Todd, a software engineer: “Developing music software, playing keyboards and backpacking.”
- Amanda, a physician assistant at a children’s hospital: “Yoga, meditation and tutoring high school students in math.”
