hobbies and interests on a resume
How to Put Hobbies and Interests on a Resume
The section containing the hobbies and interests on a resumé can be the most confusing one to compose. Read this article to clear some of the doubts that you may have regarding it.
- Get a Hobby: Many candidates worry because they feel they do not have any concrete hobbies that they can list down. My advice to such people would be to get one!
- Keep Them Real: For heaven's sake, do not include a hobby or interest that you do not actually have. There are quite a few chances that the employer is going to ask you to elaborate on the interests that you put down. For instance, if you don't read, don't put it down. The interviewer is very likely to ask you what you're currently reading the minute he sees the 'reading' in your hobbies section. You don't want to in that situation if you don't actually read!
- Keep it Simple: Agreed that you can use this section to highlight some achievements, but don't go overboard. Keep it plain and simple, stressing on only the relevant achievements and not unnecessary ones. Like, if you're applying for a job as a Math teacher, listing the awards you've won at cooking competitions does not really help. You can mention it as a hobby and if asked to elaborate, you can verbally tell the interviewer about your achievements.
- Complement: Another tip is, write down those hobbies and interests that you know will be an asset to your resumé. It should enhance the value of your resumé. For instance, while applying for a job as an art teacher, you can mention if you enjoy photography. Since it's an art job, there's a high possibility that the interviewer may also be interested in photography. It'll help build an easy rapport.
- Be Prepared: This point will tell you why you cannot fake having a hobby. Example, an interviewer will be able to gauge immediately if you're actually a follower of a genre of music or not, when he asks you to recite the lyrics of your favorite song from that music genre. Or if you've put down swimming, he may ask you some questions related to swimming moves. If you say singing, he may ask you to sing something for him. Imagine if you can't sing and end up croaking like a frog!
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