List of Hobbies and Interests for Resume & CV

Have you ever used a resume template that suggested a Hobbies and Interests section?

If so, you may have wondered: Do I need to put my hobbies on my resume? How should I list them? Which ones should I include?

We’re here to answer all those questions.

Check out this article for more information on listing hobbies and interests on your resume with examples.

Hobbies and Interests in a Resume

It may be news to you that even your hobbies can help you get a job. When should you utilize this resume section?

When to Include Hobbies and Interests

There are two good reasons to include hobbies and interests on your resume. They are:

1. You have little or no work experience. When you are first entering the workforce, you may not be able to report work experience. But you may be able to communicate positive traits through your hobbies. Does a certain hobby show that you are willing to work hard, perhaps training for a long time in order to get certified? Does it show you care about people or get along well with them? Are patient? Give attention to detail?
2. Your hobbies relate directly to your career. Sometimes, your hobbies can let a hiring manager know that you possess a specific skill set. For example, if you are looking for an IT job, listing coding or building your own computers as a hobby can go a long way. Likewise, if you are looking for a marketing job, publishing your creative writing and acting as an Instagram influencer can show that you already have a grasp of the market.

The reverse is also true. You should omit the hobbies and interests section if:

1. Your resume is already crowded. Don’t put so much information on your resume that it becomes a solid wall of text. If other experiences are more important than your hobbies and space comes at a premium, sacrifice the hobbies section.
2. Your hobbies do not relate to your career or could be considered inappropriate or offensive. Depending on your career field and the company’s culture, including unrelated hobbies on your resume could make you seem immature or childish. And if your hobbies are generally questionable or go against the company culture (for example, if you enjoy hunting but are applying to a vegan product company), it’s best to leave them off.

How to List Hobbies on Your Resume

Give this resume section the title “Hobbies and Interests.” Group your hobbies in a bulleted list. You can include a brief explanation if needed. Usually, hobbies should be placed near the end of the resume or on a sidebar.

Hobbies and Interests on a CV

Listing hobbies and interests on a CV is even easier than doing so on a resume. This is because the CV is inherently a longer document. While you may need to omit your hobbies from your resume in order to save space, you will almost always have room in your curriculum vitae.

To list hobbies on your CV, simply follow the same steps as you would for a resume, above.

List of Good Resume Hobbies

Below, we’ve listed some of the best hobbies and interests you can include on your resume. Since any hobbies and interests you include should be relevant to your career, we’ve grouped them into 14 career field categories.

You’ll notice that some hobbies, such as reading and writing, appear over and over again. Many of the following hobbies lend themselves to transferable skills valuable in almost any job.

1.    Architecture and Engineering Career Hobbies

• Drawing
• Sketching
• 3-D Modeling
• History
• Woodworking
• Metalworking
• Recreational flight
• Car enthusiast

2.    Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Career Hobbies

• Creative writing
• Nonfiction writing
• Poetry
• Science fiction/fantasy
• Music
• Playing a musical instrument
• Videography
• Photography
• Social media influencer
• Movies
• Blogging
• Drawing
• Sketching
• Painting
• Sculpture
• Arts and crafts

3.    Business and Management Career Hobbies

• Marathon running
• Working out
• Art collecting
• Fine arts
• Sailing
• Mountain climbing
• Hiking
• Camping
• Board games
• Reading
• Volunteering

4.    Communications Career Hobbies

• Creative writing
• Nonfiction writing
• Blogging
• Videography
• Photography
• Social media influencer
• Fashion
• Reading
• Singing
• Acting
• Language learning

5.    Community and Social Services Career Hobbies

• Reading
• Volunteering
• Creative writing
• Nonfiction writing
• Blogging
• Music
• World cultures

6.    Education Career Hobbies

• Reading
• Volunteering
• Creative writing
• Nutrition

7.    Science and Technology Career Hobbies

• Coding
• Building computers
• Programming
• Creating YouTube videos
• Gaming
• Hiking
• Backpacking
• Camping
• Scuba diving
• Recreational flight
• Cooking
• Gardening
• Reading
• Creative writing
• Nonfiction writing
• Blogging

8.    Construction and Maintenance Career Hobbies

• Woodworking
• Carpentry
• Furniture making
• Metalworking
• Car enthusiast
• Drawing
• Sketching

9.    Agricultural and Conservation Career Hobbies

• Hiking
• Camping
• Backpacking
• Gardening
• Pets
• Horseback riding
• Swimming
• Boating
• Kayaking
• Fishing
• Scuba diving
• Eco-consciousness/green living

10.   Government Career Hobbies

• Reading
• Creative writing
• Nonfiction writing
• Volunteerism
• History

11.   Health and Medicine Career Hobbies

• Reading
• Fitness
• Jogging
• Sports
• Cooking
• Recipe creation
• Gardening
• Nutrition

12.   Law and Politics Career Hobbies

• Volunteerism
• History
• Creative writing
• Nonfiction writing
• Reading

13.   Sales and Retail Career Hobbies

• Shopping
• Fashion
• High fashion/coutoure
• Retail arbitrage
• Thrifting
• Antiques
• Fine arts

14.   Hospitality

• Cooking
• Recipe creation
• Travel
• International travel