The Best Hobbies and Interests to Put on a Resume to Stand Out

Does your resume feel a bit robotic? You aren’t alone. Most candidates focus intensely on their education and work experience, stripping away any sign of personality. But here is a data-driven reality check: Cultural fit helps drive hiring decisions. Recruiters spend an average of 6 to 7 seconds scanning a document, and a well-placed hobbies and interests section can be the "pattern interrupt" that stops their scroll.

Before we dive in, let's clarify a common confusion for the sake of your resume layout:

• Hobbies: Activities you actively participate in for pleasure (e.g., Photography, Hiking, Volunteering).
• Interests: Subjects you are intellectually curious about but may not actively practice (e.g., Art History, Space Exploration).

Why bother adding this section? Because it humanizes you. It transforms you from "Candidate #42" into "The project manager who runs marathons."

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover exactly what hobbies and interests relevant to the job you should choose, how to map them to transferable skills, and how to format them for maximum impact in 2025. This isn't just about filling space; it's about strategically proving your soft skills and character traits. For a complete overview of resume best practices, check out our 10 essential resume tips.

Deciding what hobbies and interests should I include on my resume is not about picking what you like most; it’s about picking what sells you best. This section is marketing real estate. Every line must earn its place.

The golden rule is relevance. Your interests on a resume must act as supporting evidence for the qualities required in the role — in short, they must be relevant to the job.

Start With the Job Description

Before you type a single word, open the job description. Be a detective. You are looking for keywords related to company culture and soft values.

• Does the ad mention "teamwork" and "collaboration"? Look for group sports or community activities.
• Does it ask for "creativity" and "innovation"? Highlights like graphic design, painting, or creative writing are perfect.
• Is "analytical thinking" a priority? Chess, coding, or strategy games fit the bill.

By aligning your interests to put on the page with the employer's needs, you subtly prove you are the right fit before you even enter the interview room.

Relevance Test: 3 Quick Questions

Not sure if a specific hobby makes the cut? if you are wondering "what interests could work," run it through this 3-step filter:

1. Does it showcase a skill mentioned in the posting? (e.g., Does your role as a localized treasurer demonstrate financial integrity?)
2. Can it spark a conversation in an interview? (Is it interesting enough that a recruiter might say, "Tell me more about that"?)
3. Is it appropriate for the company culture? (Does it align with their values, or is it too controversial?)

Mapping Hobbies to Transferable Skills

The best way to validate interests on a resume is to translate them into transferable skills. This shows the recruiter that your leisure time adds value to your professional life.

You are looking for examples of hobbies and interests that are safe, professional, and universally respected. When you list hobbies, they should paint a picture of a well-rounded individual. Here are the good hobbies that consistently perform well.

12 Universal, Employer-Friendly Examples

These are the heavy hitters. These hobbies could suggest positive traits without being controversial.

• Volunteering: Shows altruism and community involvement.
• Photography: Highlights creativity, patience, and technical aptitude.
• strategic Gaming (Chess/Go): Demonstrates critical thinking and problem solving.
• Endurance Sports (Running/Cycling): signals discipline, goal-setting, and drive.
• Hiking / Mountaineering: Suggests resilience and a love for challenges.
• Playing a Musical Instrument: Proven link to cognitive ability and dedication (practice).
• Learning Languages: Shows cultural awareness and cognitive flexibility.
• Public Speaking (Toastmasters): Direct proof of communication and leadership potential.
• Cooking / Baking: Can demonstrate creativity and following precise instructions.
• Gardening: Implies patience, planning, and nurturing.
• Creative Writing / Journaling: showcasing strong communication skills.
• Mentoring / Coaching: Proves leadership and the ability to develop others.

Industry-Specific Picks

To truly tailor your resume, match the interest section to the industry vibe.

Unique or Niche Interests That Can Make You Memorable

Sometimes, generic is boring. If you put on a resume something niche, you risk being misunderstood, but you also gain the chance to be memorable.

Use unique hobbies and interests examples carefully. Ideally, they should still require discipline or skill.

• Instead of "Collecting," try "Restoring Vintage Watches" (Shows extreme attention to detail).
• Instead of "Outdoors," try "Mushroom Foraging" (Implies research skills and observational awareness).
• Instead of "Music," try "Constructor of Custom Synthesizers" (Shows engineering and creativity).

Tip: If the hobby is very obscure, add a brief parenthesis explaining it so the recruiter doesn't have to Google it.

This is the most debated question: should you include hobbies and interests on your resume? In the past, traditional corporate advice said "no." Today, the answer is generally "yes, but..."

Benefits Backed by Recruiter Insights

Recruiting has humanized. Nolan Church, a former Google recruiter, has publicly stated that he loves seeing an interests section because he’s "not looking to hire robots." He notes that passionate people tend to be higher performers.

Furthermore, eye-tracking studies on resumes suggest that while the Experience section gets the most focus, recruiters often glance at the bottom of the page (where interests usually sit) to get a "feel" for the person. It breaks the ice. If your interviewer also loves hiking, you have instantly built rapport before the first formal question is asked.

When It’s Better to Skip the Section

You should not include hobbies and interests if:

1. You lack space: If your resume is spilling onto a third page, cut the hobbies first. Experience and skills take priority.
2. They are controversial: Avoid politics, religious activities (unless applying to a specific religious organization), or anything NSFW.
3. They are passive or generic: "Watching Netflix," "Sleep," or "Socializing" are not good hobbies for a professional document. They imply laziness rather than engagement.
4. They are dangerous/time-consuming: If your hobby is "Base Jumping," a conservative employer might worry about your safety or insurance risk. If you are an "Active CEO of a Side Business," they might worry you won't focus on their job.

Alternatives: Where Else to Showcase Personal Interests

If you decide not to put hobbies on the resume itself, you can still leverage them:

• LinkedIn Profile: The "About" section is perfect for weaving in personal interests to tell your story.
• Online Portfolio: If you are a creative, showcase your photography or writing here.
• Cover Letter: Use a hobby to explain a soft skill. "My discipline trained through competitive swimming helps me manage tight project deadlines..."

As the workplace evolves, so do the qualities employers value. The best hobbies and interests to list now reflect modern values like sustainability, digital adaptability, and mental resilience.

Trending in 2025

1. Urban Gardening / Sustainability projects: Shows a "Green" mindset, patience, and care for the environment (high value in Corporate Social Responsibility).
2. Generative AI Tinkering / Prompt Engineering: Even for non-tech roles, showing curiosity about AI tools suggests adaptability and future-proof technical skills.
3. Mindfulness & Meditation: Signals emotional regulation and the ability to handle burnout in high-stress environments.
4. Content Creation (TikTok/Reels/Podcasting): Demonstrates digital literacy, video editing, and modern communication skills.
5. Virtual Community Management: Organizing Discord servers or online guilds shows remote leadership and digital organization.

Evergreen Classics Recruiters Love

Some hobbies to put never go out of style because the underlying traits are timeless:

• Team Sports: Always equals collaboration.
• Volunteering: Always equals character.
• Travel: Always equals adaptability and cultural competence.
• Reading (Non-fiction): Always equals a hunger for knowledge.

Data-Driven Ranking Method (How We Curated the List)

To determine these best hobbies and interests, CVtoWork.com analyzed thousands of job descriptions from 2023-2024 to identify the most requested soft skills. We then cross-referenced these with recruiter interviews to see which personal activities are perceived as strong indicators of those skills. The result is a list designed to maximize your hireability.

It is not enough to just list a word. Context is king. You need to show how you engage with the interest or hobby.

Mini-Case Study #1 – From “Reading” to “Reading Non-Fiction on Behavioral Economics”

• Weak: "Reading." (Too vague, could mean comic books or tabloids).
• Strong: "Reading: Avid reader of behavioral economics and psychology (e.g., Kahneman, Ariely)."
• Why it works: It turns a passive activity into an intellectual pursuit. It shows the recruiter you are self-educated in topics that help with marketing, management, and negotiation. The interest section becomes a display of intellectual curiosity.

Mini-Case Study #2 – Turning “Sports” into “Trail Running (15K)”

• Weak: "Running."
• Strong: "Trail Running: Completed three 15K mountain races in 2024; training for first half-marathon."
• Why it works: It includes numbers. It shows goal setting, consistency, and the ability to push through difficulty. Interests could be the proof of your work ethic.

Listing them is step one. Step two is talking about them. "What are your hobbies?" is a common interview question designed to test your communication skills and passion.

STAR-Formatted Examples

Refining your answer using the Situation-Task-Action-Result (STAR) method makes you sound professional even when talking about fun.

Hobby: Hiking

• Situation: "I organize monthly hikes for a group of 10 friends."
• Task: "We wanted to tackle a difficult peak that required logistical planning."
• Action: "I mapped the route, checked safety gear for everyone, and led the pace."
• Result: "We reached the summit safely. It taught me the importance of preparation and team morale."

Linking Your Interest to the Role in 30 Seconds

Use this script to connect any hobby to the job:

"I’m really passionate about [Hobby]. It pushes me to develop my [Skill, e.g., patience/strategic thinking], which I find translates directly to my work in [Job Function], especially when I need to [Job Requirement]."

The weight you give this section depends on where you are in your career journey.

Career Stage Considerations

Industry Culture & Geographic Norms

• USA/Canada: Resumes focus heavily on achievements, but culture fit is huge. Include hobbies if they make you look active and interesting.
• Europe (UK/DE/FR): Varies. The UK likes well-rounded candidates. German CVs are often more factual/formal, so keep personal interests subtle unless relevant.
• Startups vs. Corporate: Startups often hire for personality first; go bold with your interests. Banks and Law firms prefer safe, traditional examples of hobbies.

Gap-Filling Strategy

Do you have an employment gap? A robust interests section can explain it. If you took a year off to travel, list "International Travel" and mention the planning, budgeting, and language skills acquired. It turns a "gap" into a "sabbatical of growth."

You know the what and the why. Here is the how. Proper formatting ensures the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) reads your resume correctly and the recruiter spots the info quickly.

Placement: Top, Middle, or Bottom of Your Resume?

• Chronological Resume (Most common): Place the "Interests" section at the very bottom, after Experience and Education. It is the closer. Learn more about this format in our reverse chronological resume guide.
• Functional/Hybrid Resume: If the hobby is crucial (e.g., a portfolio link or relevant volunteering), it can move higher, perhaps under a "Skills & Activities" header.
• Sidebar: Modern templates often use a side column. Listing hobbies and interests in the bottom left sidebar is an efficient use of space.

Formatting Rules Recruiters Scan For

1. Keep it concise: No paragraphs. Use bullet points or a single comma-separated line.
2. Limit the number: Select 2 to 5 strong items. No more.
3. Avoid Jargon: Unless applying for a technical role, explain the hobby efficiently.
4. Be Consistent: If you capitalize one hobby, capitalize them all.
5. Use Action Verbs: "Organized local league" beats "Playing sports."

Bullet Formula = Hobby + Context + Outcome

To make your hobbies on a resume distinct, use this formula:

• Volunteer Coding Mentor – Taught 50+ hours of Python basics, boosting local teens’ tech literacy.
• Captain of Amateur Rugby Team – Managed schedule for 15 players and organized regional fundraising events.
• Chess Player – Rated 1800 ELO; focused on strategic analysis and pattern recognition.

Including the right hobbies and interests on your resume is not just about filling white space. It is a strategic move to differentiate yourself, offer concrete proof of your soft skills, and give the interviewer a reason to smile. Whether it's the leadership shown in sports or the creativity in photography, these details make you a three-dimensional human being rather than a sheet of paper.

Don't let your resume be dry and forgettable. Be relevant, be authentic, and use this section to spark a connection. Before submitting, use our perfect resume checklist to ensure every section is optimized.

Ready to update your application? Pick two hobbies right now that align with your target job and add them to your profile. If you need help with the layout, try the CVtoWork.com resume builder today to create a perfectly formatted, professional CV in minutes.