Highlighting Your Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume: Tips and Tricks
As the job market continues to become more competitive, it’s important to set yourself apart from other candidates. While your professional experience and education should always take the spotlight on your resume, you may want to consider highlighting your hobbies and interests as well. Here are some tips and tricks to help you do so effectively.
Why Highlighting Your Hobbies and Interests is Important
Many job seekers overlook the importance of including hobbies and interests on their resume, but it can actually help you stand out in the hiring process. It gives hiring managers a glimpse into who you are beyond your professional experience and can show that you’re a well-rounded individual with diverse interests and skills.
Choosing the Right Hobbies and Interests to Highlight
When deciding which hobbies and interests to include on your resume, it’s important to choose ones that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a marketing position, highlighting your experience with social media or blog writing could demonstrate your digital marketing skills.
It’s also important to choose hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and character. Avoid bland or generic interests like “reading” and instead choose ones that illustrate your uniqueness, such as “competitive chess player” or “avid traveler.”
Where to Include Your Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume
While there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to where to include your hobbies and interests on your resume, there are a few guidelines to follow. Consider including them in a separate section at the bottom of your resume, after your education and professional experience. Alternatively, you could include them briefly in your professional summary or in the bullet points under a relevant job experience.
How to Talk About Your Hobbies and Interests in an Interview
If you include hobbies and interests on your resume and are asked about them in an interview, be prepared to talk about them in detail. This is your opportunity to show hiring managers how your hobbies and interests have helped you develop skills that can be applied to the job you’re applying for.
For example, if you’re an avid hiker and the job requires teamwork, you could explain how hiking has taught you the importance of working together toward a common goal.
Conclusion
In summary, including your hobbies and interests on your resume can help set you apart from other candidates and provide a more well-rounded picture of who you are. When deciding which hobbies and interests to highlight, choose ones that are relevant to the job and demonstrate your personality and unique skills. And if asked about them in an interview, be ready to talk about how they’ve helped you develop valuable professional skills.
