Should You Put Hobbies on Your Resume? (When It Helps vs Hurts)

Let's settle this debate once and for all.

Some career advisors swear by the hobbies section: "It shows personality! Employers want to hire humans!"

Others dismiss it entirely: "Nobody cares that you like hiking. Focus on skills."

Here's the thing—they're both right. And both wrong.

The hobbies section isn't universally good or bad. It's a strategic tool. And like any tool, it works brilliantly in the right hands and creates disaster in the wrong ones.

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The Surprising Data Behind Hobbies on Resumes

But wait—here's the twist:

So what gives? Why the massive gap?

Context matters.

• Applying to a Silicon Valley startup run by millennials? Hobbies count.
• Applying to a buttoned-up investment bank? Less so.
• Entry-level with limited experience? Hobbies fill space and show personality.
• Senior executive with 20 years of achievements? Nobody cares that you golf.

The question isn't "should I include hobbies?" It's "what's the strategic value in my specific situation?"

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When to Include Hobbies (The Yes Scenarios)

1. You're Entry-Level or a Recent Graduate

When you lack work experience, hobbies serve as proxy evidence of skills and traits.

Captain of the debate team? That's leadership and communication.
Competitive chess player? Strategic thinking.
Marathon finisher? Discipline and long-term goal achievement.

For a new grad resume, hobbies can be the difference between a half-empty page and a compelling narrative.

2. The Hobby Directly Relates to the Role

When your hobby proves you live and breathe the industry, it's not fluff—it's evidence.

3. You're Targeting Culture-Focused Companies

Startups, creative agencies, and companies that emphasize "culture fit" often care deeply about who you are beyond your skills.

When two candidates have similar skills, I hire the one I'd want to grab a beer with. The hobbies section tells me who that is.

4. You Have Employment Gaps to Address

Strategic hobbies can explain gaps productively:

• Traveled Southeast Asia for 6 months → Cultural awareness, adaptability
• Completed marathons during career break → Discipline, goal-setting, self-improvement
• Volunteered at animal shelter → Compassion, time management, commitment

5. You Want to Create Interview Talking Points

The best hobbies create curiosity. Something unique that makes the interviewer ask, "Wait, tell me more about that."

"Competitive Scrabble player (ranked top 500 nationally)" is infinitely more interesting than "reading."

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When to Skip Hobbies (The No Scenarios)

1. You're Experienced (10+ Years)

When you have a decade of achievements, hobbies dilute your message. Your work speaks for itself.

Exception: If a hobby demonstrates executive-level skills (board membership, marathon fundraising, published author).

2. Space Is Tight

If you're struggling to fit your experience on one page, hobbies go first. Skills and achievements always trump interests.

Use our Resume Score tool to check if you're prioritizing the right sections.

3. Your Hobbies Are Generic

These hobbies say nothing:

• Reading
• Traveling
• Watching movies
• Listening to music
• Spending time with family

Everyone does these things. They're not interests—they're basic human activities.

4. Your Hobbies Are Controversial

Avoid anything that could trigger bias:

• Political activism
• Religious activities
• Extreme sports (risk perception)
• Hunting/firearms (industry-dependent)
• Gambling (even "poker tournaments")

Fair or not, you don't know the biases of your reader. Why risk it?

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What Makes a "Good" Hobby for Resumes?

The best hobbies pass three tests:

Examples: Generic vs Strategic

See the difference? Strategic hobbies include specifics and implied skills.

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How to Format the Hobbies Section

Section Title Options

Use whichever fits your resume's tone:

• Interests
• Hobbies & Interests
• Personal Interests
• Activities

Avoid: "Fun Facts" (too casual), "Other" (too vague)

Placement

For entry-level resumes: Near the top (after Summary, before or after Skills)

For experienced professionals: At the bottom (if included at all)

Formatting Examples

Simple List:

Interests: Marathon running (12 completed), open-source contributing, competitive chess (1800 ELO)

With Context:

Interests

• Ultramarathon Running: Completed 5 100-mile races; raised $25K for childhood cancer research
• Technical Writing: Maintain blog on software architecture with 5K monthly readers
• Board Games: Host weekly strategy game night; collection of 200+ games

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Hobbies That Impress, By Industry

Tech Industry

Finance & Consulting

Creative Industries

Healthcare

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The Volunteer Work Loophole

Here's a power move: frame volunteering as interests.

Volunteer work bridges the gap between hobbies and experience. It's active, skill-building, and shows values.

Instead of generic hobbies:

Interests: Hiking, reading, traveling

Try this:

Interests & Involvement:

• Volunteer English tutor for refugee families (3 years, 50+ students)
• Trail maintenance coordinator for local hiking club
• Book club organizer at community center (15+ members)

Same hobbies. But now they demonstrate initiative, consistency, and community impact.

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The Interview Strategy

Don't just list hobbies—prepare stories for each one.

If your resume says "marathon running," be ready to explain:

• Why you started
• What you've learned about discipline and goal-setting
• How training prepared you for high-pressure work situations

The hobbies section is interview ammunition. Use it.

I always ask about an interesting hobby. It tells me if the candidate has passion, commitment, and the ability to talk about something they care about. That translates directly to how they'll talk about their work.

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Quick Decision Flowchart

Not sure if your hobby belongs? Run through this:

1. Does it demonstrate a relevant skill? → If yes, include
2. Is it specific and active (not passive)? → If yes, consider including
3. Would it create interesting interview conversation? → If yes, consider including
4. Is it generic (reading, movies, music)? → Skip it
5. Could it trigger any negative bias? → Skip it
6. Is your resume already full? → Skip it unless it's exceptional

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Your Move

Here's your action plan:

1. Audit your current hobbies section (if you have one)
2. Apply the specificity test — can you make each hobby more concrete?
3. Check for strategic alignment — does each hobby serve your candidacy?
4. Consider the reader — corporate bank vs creative startup?
5. If in doubt, cut it — no hobbies is better than bad hobbies

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Related Resources

• Entry-Level Resume Guide — Make the most of limited experience
• Volunteer Work on Resume — Turn unpaid work into hired advantage
• Resume Summary Generator — Create compelling summaries that include personality
• AI Resume Builder — Build a complete resume in minutes
• Resume Templates — Professional designs with proper sections
• Skills Finder Tool — Discover high-value skills to highlight