Do you know that most employers spend around 3 minutes and 15 seconds looking at your resume? Where 2 out of every ten recruiters decide you in 60 seconds. It is one of the reasons why your resume should be a concrete description of who you are, where you can express your capabilities, interests, and hobbies. However, many recruiters get confused between interests and hobbies.
For example, the interest could be visiting multiple places and trying different food items, whereas a hobby could be participating in swimming classes in free time.
In many cases where candidates do not have much professional work experience, you can showcase your personality by presenting your interests and hobbies to stand out top among other potential applicants. In this article, we will talk about hobbies and interests, tips for choosing the right hobbies, things to avoid doing, and 60+ best hobbies in resume. These examples will help you choose the right ones to enhance your resume and social skills and give you a chance to get selected for the interview process.
Why Should You Put Hobbies in Resume?
Some people believe that a resume is the living and breathing document that creates the first impression from a professional front. Here are the top three reasons why putting hobbies in your resume is important for your career:
Highlight Transferable Skills
A successful candidate should be presentable, confident, and outgoing. If you choose hobbies that support your personality and job description, you will prove that you are perfect for this job profile. However, try not to go overboard by exaggerating it, so keep it short and straightforward.
Proves That You Are Culturally Fit
Extracurricular work will support your resume. However, be honest about what you enjoy, and always think about how it can relate to the work culturally. Hence, it is essential to research the company you are applying to and their missions and values so that you can add accordingly.
Can Start A Conversation
Sometimes, hobbies and interests act as an icebreaker during the conversation. If you have particular interests or passions, stick to them as they can help you communicate with people with similar interests. It can be digital illustration, sports activity, painting, learning different languages, etc.
Examples Of 60+ Hobbies in Resume
Writing the best hobbies in your resume can be tricky, but one thing you should keep in mind is not to show too much information about yourself; whatever you put there must be relevant and ethical from the professional front.
Art & Culture Hobbies
Art and culture are two prominent elements that connect work and creativity. Here are some top hobbies you can add to your resume based on your interests.
Drawing/painting
This simple hobby can enhance your creative skills and self-confidence. Art shows numerous ways to solve a problem, enabling you to build focus that can be highly useful throughout your life and career.
Playing musical instruments
Playing musical instruments has numerous benefits. It is a skill you can enjoy for the rest of your life, bringing endless learning opportunities and increased creativity.
Acting in theatre groups
Acting is a fun hobby that will enable you to explore many aspects and help you join numerous acting communities. It helps develop communication skills, problem-solving abilities, willingness to work in a team, and respect for deadlines.
Photography
It is one of the most fulfilling and inspiring hobbies. It will allow you to capture infinite memories, express yourself in multiple ways, and connect with people on a broader level. Besides, it is a skill where you can learn various technical applications related to photography.
Writing movie/TV series reviews
If you love watching movies, you can spend your leisure time writing movie and TV series reviews. It will help you enhance your knowledge about different films and TV series in terms of storyline, cinematography, casting directors, actors, special effects, and more.
Woodworking
It is one of the top satisfying hobbies since they create something useful, which can be used for multiple purposes. It will enhance your creative skills and help you build critical thinking.
Singing live music
Singing live music is at the top of the list of hobbies and interests. It can raise consciousness, lower stress, develop the brain, strengthen the heart, and decrease cardiac diseases. Besides, it also helps in shaping a career and emulates outgoing nature.
Learning a new language
Getting exposure to different languages is a fantastic hobby. It improves memory, problem-solving skills, and recall functions. It is said that people who are good at other languages are good observers and multi-taskers.
Attending sculpture classes
People who love making sculptures have a keen sense of detail. It helps in developing creativity skills, problem-solving skills, and more. This interest will also help you learn new sculpture-making techniques such as carving, polishing, modelling, sculpting, etc.
Teaching dance lessons
Do you love teaching dance lessons? If yes, it is one of the best ways to represent the employer that you are open to learning new things. It is one of the best activities you can indulge in where you can teach numerous forms of dancing such as ballet, freestyle, folk dance, contemporary, hip hop, etc.
Work-Related Hobbies
If you find interest in learning and acquiring new skills as your hobby highly connected to work, here are some of the best hobbies you can put in your resume.
Video editing
This hobby can be a beneficial hobby for you, where you can get a chance to learn numerous video editing tools and techniques. It can be rewarding for you from both a personal and professional front. Some top video editing tools are Adobe Premiere Pro, CyberLink PowerDirector 365, Apple Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Elements, etc.
Creative writing
If creative writing is your hobby, you will always want to explore more. It creates a different world for the writer, enabling them to live there. Other than that, it strengthens the work ethic and discipline.
Photo editing
Photo editing is one of the best work-related hobbies, allowing you to play with numerous editing techniques and effects. It is an enriching hobby that can help you build brands, increase sales, and more. Throughout the process, you will also get a chance to learn numerous photo editing software such as Photoshop, Corel PaintShop Pro, CyberLink PhotoDirector 365, Affinity Photo, and more.
Blogging
It gives you complete freedom to create whatever you want. It will permit you to create your online community and build trust among your audience. The best part is that you will thoroughly enhance your technical, writing, and communications skills.
Graphic designing
Graphic designing is nothing but a superior skill. It is the same as product designing and custom designing. It will help you strengthen your creative, artistic, and presentation skills. This hobby can help you get hired at some of the best companies.
Online learning
Learning is never limited as there is always more to learn. If you are one of those people who love online learning, there are numerous platforms available where you can enhance your knowledge. Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare, Udacity, and other top online learning platforms.
Programming & coding
Programming and coding can be one of the most rewarding hobbies. With this hobby, you can master multiple programming languages. Besides this, it will help you understand the technology and enhance your problem-solving skills.
Networking events
Networking is essential for professional growth. It can involve meeting new people, assisting them, attending recent events, etc. Its significant advantages are strengthening business relationships, enhancing your profile, advancing your career, offering new opportunities, etc.
Journaling
Journaling can be an excellent hobby for you. It has numerous positive impacts, such as improving mental health, lowering stress levels, etc. From a professional front, it will enhance your writing skills and boost your memory.
Scrapbooking
Scrapbooking is a process of arranging and crafting previous memories in document form. It has various benefits such as improving memories, giving your brain a workout, helping you relax, working as a social mechanism, and more.
Outdoor Activity Hobbies
Do you love outdoor activities? Here are some top outdoor adventure hobbies you can consider adding to your resume. It would not just make your resume unique but will also reflect your interests.
Gardening
Gardening is the process of cultivating plants, and the gardener is responsible for preparing the land and planting elements. It is an excellent physical activity, improves hand strength, boosts immunity, etc.
Fishing
Fishing is an outdoor activity of catching fish for different purposes such as trading and recreating. Some of the methods include trapping and hooking. The exercise improves your concentration, enhances self-esteem, and gives you a natural experience.
Hiking
Hiking is one of the favourite outdoor hobbies for many people. It involves walking across long distances, basically on trails and paths. It is an ideal way to engage in the culture and history of a place. It helps maintain fitness, improves blood pressure & sugar levels, boost bone density, and more.
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity, which is highly evident now. It is categorized in numerous forms, such as tent camping, glamping, backpacking, kayak camping, etc. It improves physical fitness, reduces stress, develops new skills, increases confidence, and more.
Swimming
Swimming is an outdoor activity involving moving through the water and building core strength. This hobby can be continued for a lifetime and burns many calories. With this hobby, you can apply for multiple job opportunities such as school swimming coach, sports writer, swimming instructor, etc.
Horseback riding
Horseback riding is an outdoor activity that involves riding a horse and controlling its movement and speed. However, to become a professional horseback rider, you need to gain training from experts. It suits mental health, builds core strength, improves breathing, etc.
Martial arts
Martial arts is the form of several combinations used for self-defence. Its primary purpose is physically defeating the opponent against any threat. It can help you develop mental stability, emotional intelligence, and self-confidence.
Dancing
Dancing is one of the most common hobbies involving sequences of movements. However, different forms of dancing help in weight management, strengthen muscles, build memory, and improve heart and lungs.
Bird watching
It is a great outdoor activity where you observe different species of birds. It keeps the mind active and healthy, offers a chance of scenery, connects you with nature, and improves psychological health.
Kayaking
It is a fun water sports activity that involves moving through the water in a small water vessel. It permits the boat driver to drive through waterways by sitting face-forward and propelling ahead by taking turns with side-to-side paddle strokes. It enhances cardiovascular fitness, increases muscle arms, helps in losing belly fat, etc.
Unique Hobbies
Here is a list of unique hobbies that will make your resume stand out in the crowd. You can add these hobbies to your resume based on your interests to impress your employer.
Baking
Baking is an excellent therapeutic hobby which consists of using the oven. You can bake multiple items such as cake, pies, cookies, muffins, and more. It improves appetite, reduces stress, etc.
Standup comedy
Standup comedies are short performances where a comedian shares humorous stories, one-liners, or rude jokes. Many standup comedians use props to support their activities. It reduces stress and blood pressure and builds good networking with the audience.
Calligraphy
Calligraphy is the art of creating beautiful symbols with hands. It is a great hobby that enhances creativity. It helps develop strong memory, enhances creativity and develops thinking skills.
Fencing
Fencing is a sport of swordplay, which people of any age can play. It is a physical and mental activity that fencers learn to strategize against their opponents. It builds physical endurance and increases coordination, flexibility, and strength.
Embroidery
Embroidery is a unique hobby involving applying designs to fabric using a needle and thread. The best part of this hobby is that it develops and enhances creativity. Besides this, you can also upcycle old items using embroidery.
Sewing
Sewing is a mindful activity, using a needle and thread to repair things. In simple words, it is attaching items using stitches. The significant advantages of this hobby are that it gives a sense of achievement, improves creativity, and reduces anxiety.
Quilling
It is an ancient crafting activity which involves preparing creative and minute paper designs. Quilling is cutting papers in different forms to paste them together to create a unique design.
Cooking
Cooking is a popular hobby which combats the feeling of loneliness and anxiety. It is one of the best stress-busters that helps explore creativity, enhance knowledge, and promote health. Besides this, you can also choose this as a profession.
Archery
Archery is the sport of using a bow to shoot arrows. It is a great hobby that keeps the mind sharp, improves upper body strength, develops discipline and focus, etc.
Graffiti
Graffiti is an expression of art written or drawn in public places, which shows ideological content or the social reality of the moment. It represents emotion, brings awareness, and develops creativity.
Sports Hobbies
If you love playing sports, why not add them to your resume? You can add your athletic hobbies to your resume and show your accomplishments to your potential employer.
Cricket
Cricket is a popular sport in different counties. It consists of eleven players in each team, and the game is played between two players. Some of its significant advantages are balance, coordination, and fitness.
Baseball
It is a popular game played with a baseball bat and ball. The players hit the ball and run around the four points, also known as bases. The players need to touch all the bases to score a run. It improves coordination, builds leadership skills, and promotes overall fitness.
Running
It is a versatile hobby which has multiple benefits from both professional and personal aspects. Its benefits include increased lung capacity, toned legs, and improved cardiovascular health. Besides this, you can also start your career in this as an athletic trainer, sports writer, shoe store sales associate, and more.
Cycling
It is a healthy hobby that improves numerous aspects of life. It helps develop mental well-being, helps lose weight, builds muscle, and strengthens the immune system.
Hockey
Hockey is a field game played by two teams of eleven players who hit and pass the ball into a goal to make a score. With this hobby, you can start your career as an international hockey player, coach, or sports writer. Its top advantages are coordination, teamwork, increased alertness, and improved resistance power of the hands.
Golf
Golf is a sport where players use multiple clubs to hit the balls in different holes throughout a few strokes. It benefits a core workout that builds character, enhances business relationships, and offers relaxation.
Weightlifting
It is one of the best hobbies that enhance multiple things such as greater muscle mass, good posture, better brain function, hand-eye coordination, etc. If you are experienced in this hobby, you can start your career as a gym trainer, fitness instructor, national or international player, etc.
Volleyball
Volleyball is a widely known sport played using a net and a ball. There are two teams on each side of the net, where the ball is hit across the net, ensuring it does not hit the ground. It tones muscles, improves teamwork, builds alertness, and increases aerobic activity.
Football
It is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players. It is played on a rectangular grass field, which has numerous benefits such as improving blood pressure, reducing body fat, increasing muscle, teamwork, and even boosting confidence.
Basketball
It is a game of two players with five players in each team. There is a net basket tied high up with a pole, where each team tries to throw the ball in the basket to make a score. It has numerous advantages such as improved balance and coordination, building endurance, burning calories, etc.
Volunteering Hobbies
If you actively participate in volunteering activities, you can use your hobbies section to list the work you have done. In addition, you can add the organization you worked for, the tasks you completed, and their duration.
Fostering animals
Animals fostering is a great hobby. Foster caregivers help animals by providing them with short-term safe home environments. Some beneficial aspects of fostering animals are: you will get a chance to improve your fostering skills, you will get to see if you can own another pet, you will be saving a life, etc.
Working for multiple communities or committees
It is one of the most responsible hobbies, where you indulge in various communities, be it business-related, social welfare-related, etc. With this hobby, you can enhance your communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving skills, time management skills, etc.
Volunteering with religious organizations
There are numerous charities and organizations where you can volunteer to create a social difference in society. Its primary advantage is enhancing your knowledge and developing teamwork and communication skills.
Work with NGOs for the homeless
Working with NGOs for the homeless is a different experience, which is highly different from working with a company. When you work with an NGO, you choose to work with something you believe in. Volunteering with NGOs will make your profile stand out, offer multiplied growth opportunities, develop your communication skills, increase networking, etc.
Environmental volunteering-related work
There are many ways to volunteer in environment-related work. You can participate in movements, grow a community garden, plant trees, protect public lands, etc. It improves society, strengthens community power, and increases the network.
Social impact volunteer work
Social volunteering helps connect people to social causes and creates a bigger and better community. It aims to lower the risk of depression and anxiety, and one can attain it by creating more and more networks with people.
Tourism volunteering
It is also known as voluntourism, in which travellers participate in voluntary work worldwide. It brings money to the community, increases funds, and improves tourism in the country.
Participate in the wildlife conservation project
Wildlife conservation is an act of protecting wildlife animals and their habitats. It is essential because it promotes tourism attraction, adds medicinal value, promotes pollination, promotes tourism, and offers aesthetic benefits.
Promoting hygiene among youth
Health and hygiene awareness among youth is one of the best ways to protect yourself and the community from infectious diseases. It prevents illnesses and builds higher confidence and self-esteem.
Work for women’s empowerment
Women empowerment means promoting women’s self-worth, equality, and other ability to make their own choices. It will make your resume stand out, and you will be able to make more networks. Besides, you will be able to enhance your communication skills and gain good social respect.
Volunteer at a holistic centre
Volunteering at a holistic centre is a great way to release stress and fight depression, anger and loneliness. It is one of the best ways to lead a healthy life. Besides, it also helps develop problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking skills.
Tips On How To add The Right Hobbies in Resume
Interests and hobbies are some points that most people do not consider while writing a resume. However, it supports your resume in multiple instances when you have no work experience, giving the hiring manager an idea of the candidate as a person. Therefore, you should mention interests and hobbies in your resume.
Here are a few tips you must remember while mentioning hobbies
- Research About The Company: The first thing you should do is research about the company and find out its work culture. It will help if you read the job description to find the relevant interest that would complement the position and form an instant connection with the company.
- Modify Your Hobbies: If you find that the company is looking for outgoing applicants, who are good socializers, you can tailor your hobbies accordingly. However, add a list of hobbies instead of generic items like travelling or reading that exhibit quality the company would like, such as photography, digital designing, 3D printing, and more.
- Write Varieties Of Hobbies: When you write interests and hobbies in resume, try adding various hobbies. By doing this, you would be letting the company know that you can relate to several people, work and are flexible to handle various situations.
Things To Avoid While adding Hobbies in Resume
While writing interests or hobbies in your resume, you must avoid some things. It will help you give the recruiter a fuller and complete picture of your personality and professional experience. Here are the five essential points that you should consider when writing hobbies in your resume:
- Do not write about vague hobbies like watching TV series or movies.
- Try not to exaggerate the hobbies section to create a good impression.
- Avoid writing hobbies that do not match the company culture and services.
- Do not write about any irrelevant hobbies that do not match the job profile you are applying for.
- Refrain yourself from writing about religious, political, or controversial interests.
Conclusion
These are some top hobbies and interests you can choose to add to your resume. Do not forget that your hobbies are for you, so you should not take up a hobby to please an employer. However, it would help if you always tried connecting it with the demands of the position you seek. We hope this article is helpful for you and will help you list your interests and hobbies in your resume accordingly.
