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Interests and hobbies

Adding hobbies and interests can support a resume with little to no professional experience or highlight important interests that extend beyond your work history and education. Some companies may look favorably on resumes that include hobbies and interests as they might help employers connect with you on a personal level.

Hobbies vs. interests

Hobbies and interests are closely related but may not always be the same. Hobbies are activities that you engage in, while interests are passive ideas or topics. For example, you might list “international travel” as a hobby if it’s something you do regularly. If the employer is interested to know more about that hobby, you may be asked to elaborate during an interview.

If you are interested in travel but have done very little of it, that would be considered an interest. You might include this on your resume to show potential employers that you’re open to jobs that require traveling to different countries, for example.

When to include hobbies and interests on your resume

Before adding hobbies and interests to your resume, consider what you’re trying to communicate to potential employers with this information. Hobbies you include gives employers an idea about how you spend your time and what additional skills you may have. Interests, on the other hand, may indicate topics you’re currently exploring or would like to explore and that might make you a good match for the company.

There are several situations in which including hobbies and interests add little value to your resume. If you’re applying to a job where you have considerable professional experience and skills, for example, an employer would find these qualifications more helpful than your hobbies and interests.

You should consider putting hobbies and interests on your resume when:

You have limited work and educational experience

You have limited skills related to the job to which you’re applying

The employer values uniqueness and personality among applicants

The employer asks for additional hobbies or interests from applicants