Do My Hobbies Belong On My Resume?

iStock | dorian2013

A hobby is "an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure" or "a small horse or pony." We are working on a valid business reason to do a series of posts about small horses, but meanwhile, let's discuss this whole "activity done… in one's leisure time" situation.

 Should you put your hobbies on your resume? Recruiters and human resources professionals do not universally agree on the answer. Some favor it, and some don't, which doesn't help the job seeker make an informed decision. There is no standard rule for or against including hobbies on your resume, but you may want to consider the following if you want to include them:

• A resume is a professional tool to get a job. It is not a one-sheet for a dating site. It's great that you love Piña Coladas and getting caught in the rain, but Acme, Inc. is looking for a full-stack engineer. Acme does not care that you knit or if you're a ranking member of your regional off-roading club. They want to know if you can engineer full stacks.

•  Is your hobby related to your work? Some people ooze their skill sets all over the place, and the wall between their professional activities and their leisure time crumbles like Jericho. If you employ the same talents in your hobby as you do at work, it may be appropriate to include them on your resume. Here are some examples --  an engineer who restores classic cars, a sommelier who cooks, or a doctor who grows flowers.

• Are you the best at something? Do you have a large trophy with your name on it that says "G.O.A.T."? Even if it is not related to your work, if you're the best at something, flaunt it, baby, flaunt it! For example, let's say you're an architect and your hobby is windsurfing. Maybe leave windsurfing off the resume. But if you're the state windsurfing champion three years running, maybe include it. That shows perseverance, commitment, and a competitive spirit.

•  Does your hobby show creativity? Creativity is a transferable skill that is always in high demand. A creative hobby such as drawing or photography is beneficial to share as creative work elicits an immediate reaction from the viewer or reader and instantly shows a different dimension to your personality. For example, let's say you're a psychologist and your hobby is underwater photography. Nobody earned their Ph.D. in psychology by defending a thesis filled with photos of prawns and coral reefs. However, producing great underwater photography is not easy. The dive alone takes skill and focus. Then you take out your camera and shine a light on to the teeming life that lives in the darkness. Can you think of a better metaphor for a psychologist? I can't. You're hired!

•  Will your hobby help you do your job? Lots of deals are made on the golf course. If you want a hobby that is both work and leisure, golf may be the quintessential choice. There is a fine line here, but you get the point. Many people have pleasurable hobbies that also happen to be a great way to accelerate their professional goals. If your hobby falls into this category, it may be worth including on your resume.

• Is it professional? Collecting garden gnomes and displaying them in suggestive poses may be a great hobby, but in the battle between the professional vs. the personal, it’s firmly in the personal camp. If you include a hobby on your resume, it should have a modicum of relevance and it should not damage your professional reputation.

• Your resume has limited real estate. Every word and space on a resume are precious. You have limited space to make a great case. If you include your hobbies on your resume, it should be the very best version of your resume possible. Remember your goal – get the interview so you can win the job in the room.

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Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.

Should I List My Hobbies On My Resume?

Look at those fish! I recommend pairing them with a fine chardonnay. (iStockphoto.com/mel-nik)

You have many talents! You can pull off the triple axel during your weekend figure skating meets. During last month's lunker competition, you used your well-honed fishing strategies to snag an 18-pound bass. And your mixology skills are to die for – just wait until people try your latest invention, the Double Cranberry Tom Collins!

No question, your mother's proud of you. And she should be, Bubbelah! You're amazing!

But would a potential employer be equally impressed to see your hobbies on your resume?

Hobbies and resumes can be a tricky combination. The purpose of a resume is to sell to a hiring manager and recruiter your ability to do a job, and to highlight your ability to stand above the crowd.

So, before including your championship Tiddlywinks credentials on your CV, ask yourself a few questions:

1. Will my hobbies help me highlight my skills and abilities to a potential employer?

I have a friend who was a competed in Scrabble tournaments (if you don't know Scrabble, it's a board game where you use tiles to build words for points; the most points at the end of the game wins) - he was nationally ranked, and he traveled the country to match skills and play the game against the best players. Think about the skills involved in playing Scrabble - it's highly analytical, requires both verbal and mathematical skills, and makes you think on your feet to solve problems, and I'd consider including it on the resume for this reason. Likewise, an engineer who competes in robotics tournaments shows that he or she is inventive, analytical, and driven.

2. Did I attain substantial achievements in my hobby?

It can help an employer's perception of you if you achieved the pinnacle of your pastime. Let's say you were selected for your country's Olympic curling team – even if you chose not to participate due to other life obligations, you can demonstrate that you exercised the discipline to be ranked "world-class" in something. This isn't limited to athletics, either. Perhaps you won a creative writing contest. It can count.

3. Did I hold any nonprofit leadership roles?

Maybe you sit on the board of a local charity. Or you're a Boy Scout Troop Leader helping youths develop themselves. Perhaps you give seminars to unemployed professionals on dressing for success. These all demonstrate a commitment to the community at large, but also show opportunities to hold leadership and management positions.

4. Could my hobby be potentially applicable to my line of work?

I've heard of situations where people have hobbies which weren't officially in a job description but helped a job seeker get a job. Salespeople who indicated they play golf or tennis come to mind - many deals get done on the course or court. Likewise, I know of an individual who listed photography on their resume, and received an offer for an engineering role because they had a VERY niche position available which involved photographic equipment. Or experience as a mixologist (i.e., bartender) might be of help if you're applying for any position in the food, hospitality, or alcohol beverage industry.

5. Would listing your hobby work for you - or against you?

Remember, an employer reading a resume can be judgmental – fairly or unfairly – and including a hobby which a hiring manager or recruiter might find objectionable (or just plain silly) can be a risk. Try to be conscious of potentially controversial hobbies; for example, some individuals might find mentioning bartending objectionable if they're teetotalers. And while it's impressive that you own the largest collection of Pez dispensers, an employer might view it as frivolous and a waste of space on the resume.

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Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, and career coaching services, including a free resume review. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.