A TopResume survey found that 26% of employers said a candidate's hobbies and interests have influenced their hiring decision. That's roughly one in four hiring managers forming opinions about you based on whether you play rugby, volunteer at a food bank, or build mechanical keyboards in your spare time.
And yet, most resume advice either tells you to skip hobbies entirely or gives you a generic list without explaining why any of it matters.
The truth is more nuanced. A well-chosen hobbies section can humanise your application, demonstrate transferable skills, and give you a memorable talking point in interviews. A poorly chosen one wastes space, looks unprofessional, or actively damages your chances.
This guide covers exactly when to include hobbies, which ones strengthen your application, which ones to avoid, and how to write them so they actually do something useful.
Hobbies vs Interests: Is There a Difference?
You'll see both terms used interchangeably, and for resume purposes, the distinction barely matters. But if you want to be precise:
| Term | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hobbies | Activities you actively and regularly participate in | Playing football, painting, coding side projects |
| Interests | Broader topics you're passionate about or follow closely | Behavioural psychology, sustainable architecture, space exploration |
On a resume, the most effective entries combine both: an active hobby connected to a broader interest. "Landscape photography with a focus on urban decay and architectural preservation" is stronger than either "photography" or "architecture" alone.
For the rest of this guide, we'll use both terms interchangeably, as most employers do.
Should You Include Hobbies on Your Resume?
This isn't a yes-or-no question. It depends on your situation.
When hobbies help
| Scenario | Why hobbies help |
|---|---|
| You're early in your career | With limited work experience, hobbies demonstrate transferable skills and show who you are beyond your grades |
| You're changing careers | Hobbies can bridge the gap between your old industry and your target role, showing genuine interest |
| The company values culture fit | Startups, creative agencies, and smaller companies often care about personality as much as skills |
| Your hobbies are directly relevant | If you're applying for a sports marketing role and you captain a local football team, that's gold |
| You have space on your resume | If your resume has a gap at the bottom, a concise hobbies line is better than white space |
| The job description mentions values | "Team player," "community-minded," or "creative thinker" in a job ad are invitations to back those claims up |
When to leave them off
| Scenario | Why to skip hobbies |
|---|---|
| You're a senior professional with extensive experience | Your 15 years of leadership experience speaks louder than your weekend hiking |
| Your resume is already full | Never sacrifice work experience, skills, or education for hobbies |
| Your hobbies aren't relevant or interesting | "Watching TV" and "socialising" add nothing |
| You're applying to very formal industries | Some corporate law firms and investment banks won't care about your pottery class |
| You can't describe them specifically | Vague hobbies are worse than no hobbies |
The general rule: if your hobbies add something that the rest of your resume doesn't already communicate, include them. If they're just filler, leave them off.
For a broader look at how every section of your resume fits together, see our complete guide to writing a resume.
Hobbies That Strengthen Your Application
Not all hobbies carry the same weight. The best ones signal specific qualities that employers value. Here's a breakdown of hobby categories, what they communicate, and which roles they're strongest for.
Sports and fitness
| Hobby | What it signals | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Team sports (football, basketball, rugby) | Teamwork, communication, handling pressure | Sales, management, any collaborative role |
| Marathon running or triathlon | Discipline, goal-setting, resilience | Any role requiring sustained effort and self-motivation |
| Competitive sports (tennis, swimming) | Drive, competitiveness, performance under pressure | Finance, sales, consulting |
| Coaching or refereeing | Leadership, decision-making, conflict resolution | Management, HR, education |
| Rock climbing or mountaineering | Problem-solving, risk assessment, physical resilience | Engineering, project management |
| Yoga or meditation | Stress management, mindfulness, wellbeing focus | Healthcare, high-pressure roles, people management |
Team sports are particularly strong for early-career candidates. If you captained a university team or organised training sessions, that demonstrates real leadership before you've held a management title.
Creative pursuits
| Hobby | What it signals | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Writing (blogging, fiction, journalism) | Communication, creativity, attention to detail | Marketing, content, PR, any writing-heavy role |
| Music (playing instruments, performing) | Discipline, pattern recognition, performance | Creative industries, education |
| Photography or videography | Visual thinking, technical skill, attention to detail | Design, marketing, media |
| Drawing, painting, or illustration | Creativity, patience, visual communication | Design, UX, architecture |
| Woodworking or crafting | Precision, planning, hands-on problem-solving | Engineering, manufacturing, product design |
| Podcasting | Communication, project management, technical production | Media, marketing, community roles |
Creative hobbies work especially well when they produce something tangible. Saying you write a blog with 5,000 monthly readers is far more impressive than saying you "enjoy writing."
Volunteering and community
| Hobby | What it signals | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Charity volunteering | Empathy, social responsibility, teamwork | Non-profit, healthcare, CSR roles, any values-driven company |
| Mentoring | Leadership, communication, patience | Management, education, HR |
| Community organising | Project management, stakeholder engagement, initiative | Local government, community roles, event management |
| Fundraising | Persuasion, goal orientation, financial awareness | Sales, marketing, development roles |
| Board membership (charity or community group) | Governance, strategic thinking, commitment | Senior roles, non-profit sector |
| Teaching or tutoring | Communication, subject expertise, patience | Education, training, consulting |
Volunteering is one of the safest and most universally positive hobbies you can list. It shows character without being controversial, and it often involves transferable skills that employers genuinely value.
Technology and coding
| Hobby | What it signals | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Open source contributions | Collaboration, technical skill, initiative | Software engineering, DevOps |
| Personal coding projects | Self-motivation, problem-solving, continuous learning | Any technical role |
| 3D printing or electronics | Hands-on technical ability, design thinking | Engineering, product development |
| Cybersecurity CTFs (capture the flag) | Security awareness, analytical thinking | InfoSec, IT, engineering |
| Game development | Creativity, systems thinking, full-stack ability | Game industry, software development |
| Data analysis projects | Analytical thinking, curiosity, technical skill | Data science, analytics, research |
For technical roles, side projects can be almost as valuable as professional experience, especially early in your career. A portfolio of GitHub contributions or a personal app with real users tells a hiring manager far more than a hobbies section normally could.
Languages and travel
| Hobby | What it signals | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Learning foreign languages | Cognitive flexibility, cultural awareness, dedication | International roles, translation, diplomacy, customer-facing positions |
| Extensive travel | Adaptability, cultural intelligence, independence | International business, consulting, NGOs |
| Living abroad | Resilience, cross-cultural communication | Global companies, expat roles |
| Cultural exchange programmes | Open-mindedness, community engagement | Education, international development |
Languages are particularly valuable if the company operates internationally or serves diverse markets. Always state your proficiency level, as "conversational Spanish" is much more useful information than "Spanish."
Professional organisations and clubs
| Hobby | What it signals | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Industry association membership | Professional commitment, networking | Any role in that industry |
| Debate club or Toastmasters | Public speaking, argumentation, confidence | Law, consulting, sales, leadership |
| Investment club | Financial literacy, analytical thinking | Finance, business roles |
| Book club (professional or niche) | Intellectual curiosity, continuous learning | Research, academia, knowledge-heavy roles |
| Hackathons or startup weekends | Innovation, speed, collaboration | Tech, product, entrepreneurial environments |
These are especially effective because they blur the line between hobby and professional development. A Toastmasters membership tells a hiring manager you're actively working on your communication skills, which is more credible than simply claiming "excellent communication" in your skills section.
Hobbies to Avoid (or at Least Think Twice About)
Some hobbies can hurt more than they help. This doesn't mean they're bad hobbies, just that they're bad choices for a resume.
Controversial or polarising hobbies
Political activism, religious activities, and anything that could trigger unconscious bias should generally stay off your resume. This isn't about hiding who you are. It's about controlling the narrative in a context where you can't explain nuance. A hiring manager who disagrees with your political views might unconsciously rank you lower, and you'll never know it happened.
Exceptions: If you're applying to an organisation that explicitly shares those values (a faith-based charity, a political party, an advocacy group), then include them. Context matters.
Generic hobbies that say nothing
These are the resume equivalent of white noise:
| Hobby | Why it's weak |
|---|---|
| "Reading" | Everyone reads. This tells the employer nothing about you |
| "Socialising" | This is just being a human. Not a differentiator |
| "Watching films" | Passive consumption doesn't demonstrate any skills |
| "Listening to music" | Same problem, this is universal and passive |
| "Cooking" | Too vague to be meaningful (unless you can be specific) |
| "Travelling" | Without specifics, this is meaningless |
| "Gaming" | Carries stereotypes in many industries, and is too vague on its own |
The issue isn't that these are bad hobbies. It's that they're described too vaguely to communicate anything useful. As we'll cover in the next section, most of these can be rescued with better writing.
Hobbies that raise red flags
Some hobbies, fairly or unfairly, can make hiring managers question your judgement or availability:
- Extreme risk-taking hobbies (base jumping, street racing) may raise concerns about insurance costs or time off for injuries, particularly in physically demanding or safety-critical roles
- Hobbies that suggest excessive time commitment (competitive gaming at a professional level, training for ultra-endurance events) can make employers worry about your availability
- Anything illegal or borderline should obviously be left off entirely
Use common sense. If describing a hobby to a stranger at a professional networking event would make them pause, it probably doesn't belong on your resume.
How to Write Hobbies (Specific vs Vague)
This is where most people go wrong. They list hobbies as single words, which strips away all the information that would actually make them impressive.
The rule is simple: be specific enough that the reader learns something about you.
Here are examples across different categories:
Weak: "Reading" Strong: "Non-fiction reading, particularly behavioural economics and leadership development"
Weak: "Sports" Strong: "Captain of a local five-a-side football team, organising weekly matches for 14 players"
Weak: "Volunteering" Strong: "Weekly volunteer at Hackney Food Bank, coordinating deliveries to 30+ households"
Weak: "Travel" Strong: "Independent travel across Southeast Asia, including a three-month solo trip through Vietnam and Cambodia"
Weak: "Cooking" Strong: "Home cooking with a focus on Japanese cuisine, completed an online patisserie course with Le Cordon Bleu"
Weak: "Music" Strong: "Grade 7 pianist, performed at three charity fundraising events in 2025"
Weak: "Gaming" Strong: "Competitive Valorant player (Diamond rank), team captain in amateur league with 12 members"
Weak: "Photography" Strong: "Landscape photography, work published in two regional exhibitions and a personal portfolio with 8,000 Instagram followers"
Weak: "Running" Strong: "Long-distance runner, completed the 2025 London Marathon in 3:42 and raised £2,400 for Cancer Research UK"
Weak: "Blogging" Strong: "Run a personal finance blog averaging 12,000 monthly readers, covering budgeting strategies for young professionals"
Weak: "Languages" Strong: "Conversational Mandarin (HSK 3), currently studying through weekly classes and language exchange sessions"
Weak: "Volunteering" Strong: "Monthly coding workshops for underprivileged teenagers through Code Your Future, teaching HTML, CSS, and JavaScript basics"
Weak: "Crafts" Strong: "Furniture restoration and upcycling, completed 15 projects in 2025 and sell through a small Etsy shop"
Notice the pattern. Every strong example includes at least one of the following: a specific detail, a measurable result, a demonstration of skill, or a connection to something larger than the hobby itself.
You don't need to write a paragraph. One well-crafted line per hobby is enough. The goal is to give the reader a clear picture of who you are, not to fill space.
This is the same principle that applies to every other section of your resume. Specificity beats vagueness, always. If you're making similar mistakes in other areas, our guide on common resume mistakes covers the most frequent ones.
Industry-Specific Guidance
The hobbies that impress vary significantly by industry. What works for a creative agency will fall flat at a management consultancy, and vice versa.
| Industry | Hobbies that help | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Open source contributions, hackathons, personal projects, CTFs | Demonstrates passion for the craft beyond 9-to-5 |
| Finance and banking | Competitive sports, investment clubs, chess, marathon running | Signals discipline, analytical thinking, and performance under pressure |
| Creative and media | Photography, writing, podcasting, illustration, film-making | Directly relevant skills and shows creative range |
| Healthcare | Volunteering, first aid certification, yoga, mindfulness | Empathy, community orientation, stress management |
| Consulting | Debate, Toastmasters, team sports, travel | Communication, teamwork, adaptability |
| Education | Tutoring, mentoring, community theatre, music | Teaching ability, patience, communication |
| Non-profit | Volunteering, fundraising, community organising, board memberships | Mission alignment, community involvement |
| Engineering | 3D printing, robotics, DIY projects, electronics | Hands-on problem-solving, technical curiosity |
| Law | Mooting, debate, pro bono work, writing | Argumentation, public speaking, social responsibility |
| Retail and hospitality | Team sports, languages, event organising, customer-facing volunteering | Teamwork, communication, cultural awareness |
| Marketing | Blogging, social media projects, photography, event planning | Content creation, audience building, creative thinking |
| Public sector | Community volunteering, board membership, local politics, charity work | Public service orientation, governance experience |
If you're unsure whether your hobbies fit, ask yourself: "Would this hobby give me something to talk about in an interview for this specific role?" If the answer is yes, include it. If it would lead to an awkward silence, leave it out.
Where to Put Hobbies on Your Resume
Placement matters more than most people realise. The wrong placement can make your hobbies look more important than they are, or bury them so deep that nobody reads them.
The standard placement
For most candidates, hobbies belong at the very bottom of your resume, after Education, Skills, and any other substantive sections. This is the conventional position and the one recruiters expect.
Your resume should follow this general hierarchy:
- Contact information and professional summary
- Work experience
- Education
- Skills
- Certifications (if applicable)
- Hobbies and interests
How much space to give it
Keep your hobbies section to two to four lines maximum. This is not a section that should dominate your resume. A concise, well-written line or two is far more effective than a sprawling list.
Good example:
Interests: Captain of Brixton FC (five-a-side), weekly volunteer coordinator at Hackney Food Bank, non-fiction reading (behavioural economics), Grade 7 piano.
That's four hobbies in two lines, each one specific enough to be meaningful. No wasted space.
Section naming
You have a few options for the section heading:
| Heading | Best for |
|---|---|
| Interests | Clean and professional, works in most contexts |
| Hobbies & Interests | Slightly more casual, good for creative industries |
| Activities & Interests | Works well if your hobbies include volunteering or organisational roles |
| Extracurricular Activities | Best for students and recent graduates |
Avoid headings like "About Me" or "Personal" as they sound informal and aren't what recruiters are scanning for.
Formatting tips
- Use a single line or short list. Don't use bullet points for each individual hobby unless you're providing substantial detail for each one.
- Be consistent with the rest of your resume. If your other sections use bullet points, use them here too. If you use a comma-separated list elsewhere, do the same.
- Don't use icons or emojis. These can cause ATS parsing issues and look unprofessional on most templates.
If you're building your resume with JobSprout, you can add a clean hobbies section that stays consistent with the formatting of your chosen template, so you don't need to worry about spacing or alignment.
Common Questions
How many hobbies should I list?
Three to five is the sweet spot. Fewer than three looks thin, and more than five starts to feel like padding. Quality over quantity, always.
Should I include hobbies if I'm a senior professional?
Generally, no. If you have 10+ years of experience, your career history should be doing the heavy lifting. The exception is if you hold a notable position (charity board member, published author, sports coach) that adds genuine credibility.
Can hobbies compensate for a lack of experience?
To a degree, yes. If you're a recent graduate or teenager writing their first resume, leading a university society or school club shows organisational skills. If you're switching to marketing, running a blog with real traffic demonstrates relevant ability. But hobbies supplement experience, they don't replace it.
Should I tailor my hobbies to each job application?
You don't need to rewrite the section for every application, but you should consider which hobbies to highlight. If you have five hobbies and two are particularly relevant to a specific role, lead with those. The same tailoring principle that applies to your skills section applies here, just with lighter effort.
Do ATS systems read the hobbies section?
Most ATS platforms parse the full text of your resume, including hobbies. While hobbies aren't typically used for keyword filtering, relevant terms (like specific software, languages, or certifications mentioned in your hobbies) can sometimes contribute to your overall match score.
What if I don't have any impressive hobbies?
You don't need to climb Kilimanjaro or run an open-source framework. Everyday hobbies become impressive when described with specificity and genuine enthusiasm. "Cooking" is forgettable. "Home cooking with a focus on fermentation, currently maintaining three active sourdough starters and a batch of homemade kimchi" is memorable, specific, and shows dedication.
If you truly can't think of anything that would add value, that's fine. Leave the section off entirely. An honest resume with no hobbies section is always better than one padded with generic filler. Focus your energy on strengthening the sections that carry more weight, like your experience and skills.
Should I mention hobbies in my cover letter instead?
Sometimes, yes. If a specific hobby directly relates to the role or company culture, weaving it into a cover letter can feel more natural than listing it on your resume. For example, mentioning your marathon training in a cover letter for a role at a fitness brand creates a narrative connection that a resume line can't match. But this is supplementary. If you mention a hobby in your cover letter, you can still list it on your resume too.
Final Thoughts
The hobbies section is optional, but it's not unimportant. When used well, it gives recruiters a glimpse of who you are beyond your job titles and qualifications. It can be the thing that makes you memorable in a stack of 200 near-identical applications.
The key principles are straightforward:
- Include hobbies only when they add something your resume doesn't already communicate
- Be specific. One well-described hobby is worth five vague ones
- Match your hobbies to the role and industry where possible
- Keep it short. Two to four lines at the bottom of your resume
- Avoid anything controversial, passive, or generic without further detail
If you're unsure whether your hobbies section is working, try reading it out loud as if you were introducing yourself to a hiring manager. If it sounds interesting and relevant, keep it. If it sounds like something everyone would say, rewrite it or remove it.
Your resume has limited space. Make every line earn its place.
