Jobseekers often fill in the hobbies section of their resumé in haste, yet recruiters attach far more importance to the personal interests of potential new hires than you might imagine.
These leisure interests and activities can give recruiters as much insight into a candidate’s personality as their professional experience. This helps them to determine whether or not someone fits in with the culture of the company they hope to join.
In some cases, personal interests can even make the difference in the selection process.
But even then, it’s important that working people put forward hobbies that are related to skills in demand on the job market. The recruitment and talent management firm Morgan Philips has listed a few such pastimes that could help jobseekers stand out from the crowd.
Among them are yoga and extreme sports: these two activities demonstrate your ability to push your limits and show discipline. They also show that you know how to manage stress, which is a quality appreciated in many jobs.
Creative hobbies can also stand out on a resumé, especially if you’re seeking work in a position that requires artistic flair, critical thinking, or curiosity.
Keeping a blog, doing photography or making videos for YouTube or social networks is a sign of your uniqueness. This can be an asset, considering that recruitment professionals often complain about the uniformity of the applications they receive.
According to Morgan Philips, playing a musical instrument or a team sport should also be highlighted in the hobbies section of your resumé. These activities attest to your taste for effort and determination.
Don’t hesitate to mention your love of gardening, too: it shows that you know how to be patient and devoted.
In general, it’s encouraged to be authentic when listing your passions on your resumé. This will allow you to show several facets of your personality and highlight skills that may not be obvious from your previous job descriptions.
For example, if you’re applying for a managerial position, mentioning your position as captain of a sports team could help you convince the recruiter that you’re a good leader.
However, be careful not to be too vague. For example, many jobseekers mention a love of reading or movies on their resumés. You could, instead, be more specific about your love of the written word by mentioning specific authors or literary genres.
Finally, be careful not to invent your personal passions. It may be tempting to say you’re an expert scuba diver on your resumé, but you should be prepared to have to talk about this unusual hobby in an interview. Who knows? Your interviewer may well turn out to be a deep-sea-diving enthusiast!