Adding resume 'interests'? Better make them interesting -- Career Center Blog

July 19, 2012

Adding resume 'interests'? Better make them interesting

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By Randy Woods
NWjobs

During a recent chat via Facebook with a friend of mine, an acquaintance happened to mention how much his experience in the Boy Scouts of America has meant to him, even into his adult years. He even said that his advanced status in the organization led to his current stable job. In his interview, the unimpressed HR rep initially scanned the man's resume and muttered, "Why did I even call you back?" Then he noticed something at the end of the document. "Oh yeah," the rep added. "Eagle Scout." He eventually got the job.

This story is a perfect example of why people still include an old-fashioned "interests" section in their resumes. In our current age of keyword searches, expanding skill sets and the relentless pursuit of real-world results, a list of tangential interests and activities seems a bit anachronistic. But every now and then, a hiring manager who is on the fence about several equally qualified candidates might spot some hobby that ignites a spark: "Hey, she likes quilting as much as I do!"

But can it also hurt your chances to include these little character references? It's certainly not out of the realm of possibility. Think about how arbitrary the above scenario is. Sure, being an Eagle Scout is an impressive feat that requires discipline, endurance, resourcefulness and intelligence, and also demonstrates leadership skills at an early age. But what if the hiring manager was not familiar with the Scouting world? Would he have thought it silly to include a reference to childhood pursuits in a professional CV? Or, even worse, what if the HR guy had been a Scout but absolutely loathed the experience? Perhaps the Eagle Scout sitting across from him might dredge up the wrong kind of memories.

Such is the danger of trying to make a personal connection with a hiring manager with limited information. You're running a risk that the hobbies and activities you include might seem like frivolous filler to those interviewers who don't have a similar passion. A resume is supposed to be the ultimate statement about how your particular skills and experience make you a perfect match for a specific employer, so it's important that every word is chosen precisely to put you in the best light.

To make sure your interests and activities enhance, rather than hinder, your chances of getting hired, here are a few tips about interests to give your resume the right kind of personal touch:

Make them relevant -- Put yourself in the place of the hiring manager and ask yourself which activities would impress you if you were making the same decision. If you're looking for a doctor, for instance, would you really care if he or she enjoys antiquing? However, you might be more intrigued to find out that the doctor regularly practices yoga or organic gardening. Always try to describe your interests in a manner that relates to the job description and adds a new dimension to your skills. Perhaps one hiring manager in 1,000 will be extremely interested in hearing about your collection of mint-condition Star Wars action figures or My Little Pony dolls, but do you really want to play those odds?

Back it up -- It's easy to put down something innocuous like "wilderness camping" or "playing golf" under this category. But if you do, be sure to have an anecdote ready about the last time you took part in these activities. I remember almost being tripped up once in an interview for an editor job when they started asking questions about which cameras and film stock I preferred; I had almost forgotten that I'd included "amateur photography" as one of my interests.

Focus on volunteerism -- If you are just starting out and don't have much work experience, be sure to include any efforts you made while volunteering or doing school projects. If you've donated your time or earned school credit for helping out at organizations such as the American Red Cross, the local YMCA or Northwest Harvest, describe what you did for them in some detail. If you led any efforts there, like coordinated a food drive or coached a youth basketball team, emphasize the leadership skills you developed in those roles.

Be selective -- Don't turn this section into a personals ad; you don't want a comprehensive list of turn-ons and turn-offs. Avoid overly general interests, such as "the outdoors" or "reading," which can apply to so many people that it no longer has meaning. Instead, focus on a few specifics, such as mountain biking, scuba diving, crossword puzzles or historical nonfiction. And again, make sure the interests are easily translatable for the job being sought. I happen to have what may be one of the largest collections of oversized novelty pencils in the free world, but I have yet to find a way to use it in my job search activities.

As the old saying goes: "When in doubt, leave it out."

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.