The time has come to dust off your resume and start applying for new jobs. But, it’s probably been a few years since you’ve made the appropriate updates to your professional list of accolades and accomplishments. As such, it’s important to understand some key components of your resume and whether you should include other aspects of your life, like hobbies.
Let’s examine when it’s appropriate to include hobbies on your resume and some activities or interests that may make you a better candidate for the job.
Should You Put Hobbies and Interests on a Resume?
There’s a lot of debate about whether or not you should include hobbies on your resume, but the general guidance is to include them when they’re applicable to the duties of the job for which you’re applying.
A major reason you may need to include hobbies on your resume is when switching fields or you happen to be fresh out of school. In these instances, you likely won’t have much work or experience to showcase to a potential employer. Or, you may even be trying to turn your hobby into a career. At this point, you’d definitely want to include any relevant activities or interests.
Many times, however, your hobbies might revolve around your given profession if you’re moving up the ladder. In this case, your hobbies will naturally shine through on a resume in the form of positions, schooling or associations. Here, you’d likely leave them off, but may bring them up in the interview.
Even though certain hobbies may communicate some predetermined qualities that employers find desirable, remember that relevance is key. For example, a law firm may not be interested in your knitting hobby, but they could care about your writing abilities, and how they landed you in a specific legal publication.
1) Utilitarian & Creative Writing
When putting together a resume, realize that experience matters most to a potential employer. In almost every job, you’ll have to be competent in reading comprehension and writing. Even jotting down accurate and succinct notes, and being able to communicate information amongst team members is a necessary professional skill. Whether you’ve had journalistic pieces featured in a publication, short stories published in magazines, or run a small blog, there’s no drawback to showing off your writing abilities across industries.
2) Intelligent Computer Programming
Almost every field needs computer programmers. Even if it’s just a side hobby, it comes across as a pretty impressive talent. It showcases your ability to think critically, learn patterns and memorize complex information. Impress the interviewer with a small app or program that you’ve developed and watch your chances of getting hired increase dramatically.
3) Devoted Community Involvement
Getting involved in your community shows that you’re empathetic, generous and have the ability to juggle multiple things at once. This is particularly important when applying for roles in the non-profit sector, such as a charity, fundraising event, political organizations or religious entities. Regardless of position or industry, any philanthropic efforts are a great thing to call out on your resume.
4) Impressive Multilingual Abilities
As globalization spreads, being multilingual is becoming a more important skill than ever in the working world. It also shows potential employers that you have dedication, good interpersonal skills and an in-depth knowledge of other cultures. Translators and international employers are hiring in large numbers right now, and you can increase your job prospects by bragging about this hobby of speaking a different language.
5) Sporting Accomplishments
Participating in sports, both individual and team-based, shows that you’re self-motivated and can stick to a rigorous schedule. Solo sports, like completing a road race in an impressive time shows a high level of discipline, wherheas team sports, such as being part of an amateur league, show that you work well with others.
6) A Pressure-Proven Licensed Pilot
Being a pilot is one of the most respected professions in the world. And that will extend to anyone who’s gone through the process of being licensed to fly. In many professions, your qualifications as a pilot will help you land a job, but particularly in STEM fields, emergency services, the military, airlines and other large industries. As a pilot, you’re sure to work well under pressure, make quick decisions, and memorize processes and protocols instantaneously.
Do you want to become a licensed pilot? Get in touch with Inflight today.
We are the premier pilot training company in Minneapolis and St. Paul. With a highly reputable training program and deep roster of skilled, professional, certified flight instructors. It’s our goal to help those who’ve dreamed of flying conquer the skies. We can help you pursue a career that your passionate about – get in touch with our team to find out more.
For additional information on Inflight training programs, contact us today or call (952) 698-3000.