When a résumé crosses your desk, you most likely don’t hire that candidate based on the list of hobbies included, if there even are hobbies included. Showing your interests on a résumé has sort of become taboo. It wastes space when that area can be used for showcasing valuable skills. Depending on the job, listing hobbies may be beneficial, as long as that hobby isn’t reading!
 |
Alyssa Gelbard, the founder and president of the career consulting and personal-branding firm Résumé Strategists, recently sat down with Business Insider to discuss 12 hobbies that look great on a résumé, and why reading is not one of them! Next time you receive a résumé that features one of these (if not all) hobbies, you may want to give that candidate a second glance!
- Yoga—Yoga displays a candidate’s ability to stay calm and in control and makes him or her more attractive to potential employers because it shows that person can handle pressure.
- Extreme adventure sports—Extreme sports like skydiving or mountain bike racing shows employers that this person is comfortable pushing boundaries and is a calculated risk-taker.
- Video production—This hobby makes potential candidates more desirable in career fields related to production and event planning, and it shows that this person is precise, detail-oriented, and focused.
- Endurance sports—Running a marathon or cycling cross-country shows drive, tenacity, and dedication—all three components are desirable for many types of jobs.
- Captain of a team sport—Needless to say, this shows great leadership skills and shows employers that this candidate is a great team player.
- Blogging—Blogging is great for jobs in the communication or marketing fields. However, you want to make sure the candidate’s blog is current, the entries are well-written and mistake-free, and the topic is a positive reflection of the candidate’s personal brand.
- Mountain climbing—This hobby shows employers that the candidate has strong personality traits. This hobby is also a great way for candidates to get their foot in the door for careers related to the industry, especially when there is no prior work experience in the field.
- Gardening—Candidates who list gardening as a hobby show employers that they care about nature and the environment. This hobby is also great for roles related to sustainability and clean energy.
- Fantasy football—While this may not be good for employers that are trying to engage an unproductive workforce, when a potential candidate lists this as a hobby, it shows employers that he or she is willing to take a gamble or risk. If you’re an employer that specializes in venture capital or banking, you may want to seek out these candidates.
- Photography—Photography showcases a candidate’s creativity, positioning, and patience. All of these traits can be helpful when filling roles related to creative directors or digital marketing.
- Playing an instrument—Candidates who list this as their hobby are showing you that they have laser focus, dedication, and discipline.
- “Anything unusual (in a good way)”—Any unusual hobby is an automatic conversation starter, which is a good way to stand out among the rest. Vicky Oliver, the author of Live Like a Millionaire (Without Having to Be One), says, “Whether you create your own perfume or practice jujitsu, hobbies that might lead to an interesting conversation may be worth including [on your résumé].”
All these hobbies show great skill sets to potential employers; however, there is one hobby that should always be avoided! While reading shows employers that a candidate is smart, thoughtful, and knowledgeable, it can also be a red flag! Oliver cautions that candidates who say they spend a lot of time reading can also be seen as loners, and if the role requires a team player, that isn’t exactly a good fit.