How to add hobbies and interests to your resume in 4 steps

Hiring managers are more likely to hire people who they find interesting. This may not seem fair but they will probably have to work with you every day, potentially for years to come. Adding hobbies and interests to your resume can help showcase your personality and catch the hiring manager’s eye. If you have limited work experience, they can help give employers an insight into your character.

When to include hobbies and interests

• Entry-level candidates can use hobbies to compensate for a lack of work experience

• Experienced professionals can include them to demonstrate cultural fit and personality

• Any candidate can use them to show relevant skills and qualities employers value

Step 1: Create a dedicated section

• Place the section at the bottom of your resume or on the side depending on your layout

• Use clear headers such as “Hobbies and Interests”, “Personal Interests”, or “Interests”

• Keep it separate from other resume sections

Step 2: Select 3-5 strategic or interesting hobbies

• Choose carefully to emphasize the best parts of your personality

• Use a bulleted list format for clean presentation

• Focus on quality over quantity when choosing interests to include

Step 3: Tailor to the company and role

• Study the job description thoroughly to understand the employer’s desired qualities

• Research company social media to learn about their work culture and values

• Match relevant interests to what the employer is seeking

• Always tell the truth to avoid awkward interview situations

Examples of strategic interest selection

• Community clubs or group sports demonstrate teamwork skills and the ability to work with others

• Hiking shows you’re adventurous and active

• Foreign language study appeals to multinational companies with a global workforce or customer base

• Industry-specific hobbies like video gaming work if you’re applying for a job in the gaming industry but avoid for unrelated positions (unless you’ve won video game tournaments as that demonstrates commitment)

Step 4: Add brief descriptions (this is optional)

• Include one-line descriptions explaining how each interest relates to your target job

• Highlight qualities and achievements even when they're outside work experience

• Especially valuable for candidates with limited professional experience

When to include vs. avoid

Include when:

• You lack work experience and need to demonstrate skills and qualities

• The company values cultural fit and personality

• Your interests directly relate to the role or industry

Avoid when:

• You have extensive relevant work experience that fills your resume

• Your hobbies are irrelevant to the position or industry

• Space is limited and professional experience and education takes priority