Hobbies and Interests for Your Resume: 40+ Examples and When to Include Them

Hobbies and Interests for Your Resume: 40+ Examples and When to Include Them

A hobbies and interests section won't get you a job on its own. But in the right situation, it can show skills your work history doesn't, give the interviewer something to talk about, and make you more memorable.

When to include hobbies and interests

Include them when:

• You're a student or graduate with limited work experience.
• The hobby shows a skill the job needs, like leadership, teamwork or creativity.
• The company culture values personality, such as startups or creative agencies.
• You have space left on a one-page resume.

Leave them out when:

• Your resume is already full of relevant experience.
• The hobby is very common and says little, like "reading" or "travelling" with no detail.
• The interest could be controversial or unprofessional.

Hobbies and interests examples by skill

Leadership

• Captain of a local football team
• Organising community events
• Mentoring students or junior developers
• Leading a volunteer group

Teamwork

• Team sports like basketball, volleyball or rowing
• Playing in a band or orchestra
• Group hiking or climbing
• Hackathons

Creativity

• Photography
• Graphic design or illustration
• Writing a blog or short stories
• Video editing or making short films
• Music production

Analytical thinking

• Chess
• Coding side projects
• Puzzles and strategy games
• Data visualisation projects
• Investing simulations

Discipline and resilience

• Marathon or long-distance running
• Martial arts
• Learning a new language
• Yoga or regular fitness training

Communication

• Public speaking clubs
• Podcasting
• Debating
• Teaching or tutoring

Community and values

• Volunteering at a food bank
• Environmental clean-ups
• Animal shelter volunteering
• Fundraising for charity

How to make hobbies more convincing

Add one specific detail:

• Instead of "Running", write "Completed three half marathons".
• Instead of "Photography", write "Run a photography Instagram account with 4,000 followers".
• Instead of "Languages", write "Learning Spanish (B1)".

How to list them on your resume

• Put the section at the end of your resume.
• Use a short line or 3 to 5 bullet points.
• Label it "Interests", "Hobbies and Interests" or "Activities".

Example:

Interests: Long-distance running (3 half marathons), mentoring at a coding bootcamp, landscape photography.

Regional differences

In Germany, hobbies are often included in a Lebenslauf, especially for younger applicants. Read our guide to writing a Lebenslauf. In the US and UK, they're more optional and usually short.

Frequently asked questions

Can hobbies hurt my resume?

Yes, if they're controversial, unprofessional or take space from more relevant information.

Should I include volunteering as a hobby?

If it's substantial, list it in a separate "Volunteering" section, since it can count as experience.

Will an ATS read my hobbies section?

Yes, but it usually won't affect your match. Focus on relevant skills elsewhere. See our ATS resume mistakes guide.

Build a resume that stands out

Add skills, interests and achievements with the free JobStacky Resume Builder.