Some people believe in putting interests on your resume. The objective is to make yourself more attractive to a recruiter or employer. Interests can make a person stand out from the pack. But this only works if you use the right wording and don’t list off putting areas.
While some recruiters will tell you that interests are useless, that is not truly the case. The right kind of interests can make someone really stand out to a recruiter.
The reason why interests on a resume are a good thing is because it can make the person reading the resume connect with you. That’s an important trick to have because anytime you can make the person reading your resume connect with you, it’s a good way to get them interested in you.
Not All Interests Belong on a Resume
Before we move forward with discussing the different interest that you can put on a resume, it’s a good idea to discuss what sort of interests don’t belong on a resume. There are some things better kept personnel and which should never be listed on a resume.
The reasons to include some interests and not include others is not an arbitrary one. It all has to do with appearance. Some interests might make you appear to be a less than desirable candidate for employment.
Therefore it’s a good idea to avoid talking about these particular areas of interest.
Some Interests Not to List
- Gambling
- Video Games
- Fighting (MMA)
These sorts of things should not be on your resume. If you like to play poker, for instance, that might suggest to a hiring manager that you’re a degenerative gambler. While some people might understand that there’s logic and strategy to a game like Poker, most employers will view it as simple gambling. That's why I advise you never list poker as an interest, and certainly don't list working as a professioanl poker player.
Likewise, video games are considered juvenile or a waste of time. And unless you’re a game developer or applying for a tech role in a company that operates in the tech industry.
What Are Things You Should List?
So, now that we’ve briefly skimmed over some of the things that you shouldn’t list on a resume, what are some things that you should list?
There are quite a few things that you could list as an interest. The important thing is to consider how the interest will make you look to a potential employer. Is the activity something that has positive connotations, or is it something that people view negatively?
Mental vs Physical Interests
Before we jump into some of the interests that you can use in your resume, we should review some of the differences between mental interests and physical interests.
Mental interests might be something like reading poetry, listening to classical music, or playing chess. These are interests that show that you are a contemplative person.
Physical interests are just that, things that require physical activity. These might be things such as rock climbing, outdoors activities, and other sprots. They will show an employer that you are someone who is a healthy person who isn’t sitting around on your couch watching television or playing video games.
Some Good Interests To List on Your Resume
If you’re running into a wall and can’t think of what to list on a resume, here are some good ones to get started. And make sure that you’re not just listing things that you really have no interest in. That can be problematic in the event that the person interviewing you happens to have a real interest in it themselves.
Yoga
One of the most common things to list on a resume is an interest in Yoga. The reason people love to say that they are interested in Yoga is that it hits two points. First, you’re saying that you are someone who is in shape and exercises. That’s good for employers because no one wants to hire someone who is sedentary and unhealthy. There's quite a lot of study that shows that Yoga is good for mental health and well being.
Yoga also is a great interest to list on your resume because it shows that you are someone who takes time to relax and spend mindful time resetting their attitude. It’s a combination of mental and physical activities which employers like.
Hiking
Another popular interest to list on a resume is hiking. This is a big one because it shows that you’re interested in nature and also like to stay fit. Many people like to hike because it’s also a social activity. You go with a group of people and get into nature. This shows that you’re someone who likes to be involved in group settings and also likes to get exercise. Two things that employers like to see.
Birdwatching
Birdwatching is a unique interest that is going to capture the readers attention. It shows that you’re detail oriented and also like to be active and outside in nature. Most large urban cities have bird watching clubs. Not only that, but you also have people who like to travel to national parks around the country to bird watch, so it’s something that can be a topic of discussion even with people who don’t like near local bird watching destinations.
Tennis
Tennis is a all time popular interest to list on resumes. It’s almost as popular as Golf in the business world when it comes to sports. Tennis is played at country clubs and private gyms. It is therefore perfect for conveying the sense that you’re someone who is physically fit but also likes to network.
Chess
Chess is perhaps the most impressive interest you can list on a resume. It’s a game which requires a lot of mental effort, strategy and planning. Employers who see that you like chess will see in you someone who spends time thinking about your actions. This is a big positive when it comes to hiring an employee. Your employer might even want to play you an online game. So make sure you're aware of the online options before telling them your chess rating.
Gardening
Gardening is a very relaxing pastime. It shows that you’re someone who likes to make things grow, which is a positive for employers. It also shows that you are someone who takes care of things. Gardening is a hobby which requires constant care for living plants. It also involves design and planning, which are also things that employers appreciate. As an added bonus Gardening can help with relaxation, which most employers value.
Opera
Opera is a popular interest to list on resumes because it shows that you have a cultured side. People who like the Opera also tend to be people who are in possession of higher degrees of education. Opera requires study, and in most cases it’s important to have a grasp on foreign languages. These are all things that companies like to have in their employees.
Even though Opera was not always considered a high culture pursit, it's now something that is a sign of someone who is educated and cultured.
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