Most applicants know where they were born, what they did, their education, information about parents etc.
Somehow when they get to the hobbies and interests part it all seems pointless.
Most have hobbies & Interests on the resume, because it came with the format they were copying . Some of them, choose to copy the interests and hobbies of friends or worse, what the college placement cell advised!
Be honest. Do you have one of the following listed under your hobbies and interests section?
Reading
Traveling
Music
Internet Browsing
If you do, you are only one of the 96% candidates out there.
Hobbies and Interests are something to talk about.
It’s a window into your personality, that is beyond the standard work stuff. These are things you are supposed to be passionate about.
You should be using this extensively to not just market yourself, but also to steer the direction the interview takes.
Here are the rules:
Make them true
Have something you are passionate about. Something no one needs you to work upon, or do. Something that excites you, something that makes your eyes sparkle when you talk about it.
Make them Unique
As far as possible mention your hobby in a way that sounds unique.
Use this as a lever for the interviewer to remember you.
Don’t say reading, when you can say ‘classics’ or ‘Indian art history’ or something more specific.
If it is music talk about genre, artist or just a decade!
Make them demonstrable
You may like to think, but really that is not a hobby.
If you put something like singing, be ready to sing in the interview.
If you put something like dramatics, be ready to emote.
Put something that can give the interviewers a little break from the monotony of taking interviews.
If you say coin collection, carry a unique coin with you!
Make them relatable
Be honest at all times, but if you have more than one hobby, choose the one that the interviewers may be able to relate to.
Yes, you read that right.
This like all other parts of your resume needs to be customized according to the people you are sending it out to.
Get a life!
If you don’t have a hobby or interest, get one!
It’s not just something to talk about in an interview, it is something to treasure and add value to yourself as an individual.
There you have it.
The Rules to make sure you Ace The Interview with your Hobbies & Interests.
p.s. To all my readers, you are more than welcome to leave your hobbies & Interests in the comments and I will tell you how you can make them Winning ones!
Prabhjot Bedi
Personal Success Coach
www.prabhjotbedi.com
This is greeeaaattt!!
ReplyDeleteActually it's so true that people say my hobby is singing but when you request them to sing they hesitate.
Great article.
Dear Richiecj,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your positive comments!
Keep reading and commenting!
Cheers,
Editor.
I was Amazing it helps me alot
ReplyDeleteI will update my resume today!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Dear Priya,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your wonderful comments.
Editor
Dear Aakash,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you have choosen to take some action!
Cheers!
ravi,
ReplyDeletethts true..u know what i am amongst the 1 who is also suffering frm this,,if u can help me out with an example or a short format how it looks like..so atleast i can get an idea...
indeed a very good article.
grttt..
Dear Ravi,
ReplyDeletesend me your interests on editor@hospemag.com
-Editor
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHai
ReplyDeleteIts a good thing and a topic too...
Its true that some people make resume bt they dont know how to clarify that.
ur doing a great job and keep doing this .it definitely helps alot during interviews.
and i need the favour that there r so many people who r in sevice industry. if u really talk abut that .it will be a great
thanx
best of luck
Dear Anon,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your wonderful and encouraging comments.
I didn't understand the last part...
let me know.
Cheers!
Editor
editor@hospemag.com
hello
ReplyDeleteI'm Manpreet n working with Jaypee Siddharth Hotel but wanna go for an aviation ind.
its really wow to say that u r helping evry one so i'm really gladful to hv u as mine adviser
whn i used to go for mine interview people ovr there love to asked me abt my hobbies
i always replied them as :
my favorait pass time r listening punjabi pop music n playing out-door games (if asked: like volly-ball, bad-mintain etc)
well it ur turn to suggest me the right way to face these kind of simple-difficulties
hope for the earliest reply
my hobby is traveling & driving . i love to travel on bike
ReplyDeletejayant patil
mumbai
jayant_patilin@indiatimes.com
my hobby is traveling & driving . i love to travel on bike
ReplyDeletejayant patil
mumbai
jayant_patilin@indiatimes.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehi
ReplyDeletemy name is lisa ahuja . i have written my hobies as interenet browsing and listening to music and i have written my interest as travellingand knowing different cultures and places.
do tell me what changes should i make in my hobies and interest to make my resume more effective on interviewrs.
hi dear, i am almas malik. i am working in hotel with food & beverage department , here i too shame to let u know that i am one of them who says hobbys such like music, reading which is not real. please help me out to create hobby & how to relate thame to my career. would seeking ur help..........
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI love travelling.
List the places you have been to.
For e.g. Interests - Travelling - My visit to ..... was an eye opener. The time I spent with the people from ... left a lasting impression on me.
Music - Please specify genre, artiste or era. make it more specific
Internet Browsing is an activity. If you say its your hobby or interest, please create a blog or personal web-site.
want help, let me know!!
Cheers!
Prabhjot Bedi
President & Founder
Eclat Hospitality
Dear Manpreet,
ReplyDeletePunjabi Music is amazing! I love it too!!
You have to remember that hobbies & interests are just a way for the interviewer to talk to you, to break the ice and know a little more about the kind of person you are.
Try this.
"I enjoy listening to Punjabi Music. The beats help me smile and put me into an energetic state of mind"
of course, please know some songs and the names of prominent musicians, and be ready to sing!!
-----
Outdoor games again show a person like physical activity.
Talk about those where you can also show some achievement. so please mention in the interview that you played for (school/college/state etc)
You can also start a small neighbourhood game club and write about that!
Cheers!
I love reading..
ReplyDeleteespecially fiction books..
my favorite authors are JK Rowling and John Grisham..
I love to read their books because I cannot expect the upcoming events in their stories...
It makes me excited and I just can't stop myself from continue my reading..
but,I'm not so sure what should i write for my interests in mu resume..
please help me...
mahira_001@yahoo.com.my
Bhawna
ReplyDeletehi...ur comments r gud as it helps to make our resume presentable as well as positive.
my hobbies r shopping and chatting wd ma frends..
so is it right to write in my resume for the aviation sector or not???
thanking you.
bhawnaangel@yahoo.co.in
hi your article was really very helpful. my hobbies are surfing, reading books not of a specific genre but dat interest ne the most. like i have read books on the life of P.R.S. Oberoi and his road to success, and a book on osama bin laden talking about whta led him to walk on the road to terrorism and also a book on the spat between the Ambani bros. so basically i like reading books dat have some real substance.
ReplyDeleteThanking you
ankit.ssilentwarrior@gmail.com
MY HOBBY IS TO ENJOY WITH FREINDS,HOW CAN I MAKE IT SOUND INTERESTING
ReplyDeleteoashshandilya@yahoo.com
My Suggestion
ReplyDelete'debates, conversations & thought exchange with people!'
Cheers!
Hey
ReplyDeletethis is a greta idea
My interest an hobbies are netball i have been playing for 8 years now and represnted woy woy peninsulla for 5 years and i love to read expecially bryce courtenay books how do i make that sound interesting?
Thanx
reply@Brittany
ReplyDeleteI think all games lend themselves well to interviews. All team games show you are a team player and that you can achieve success by playing within the rules of the game.
Books, specifically a perticular author can demonstrate your inner persona. We generally do not read to please others...hence, talk about what it is that makes you pick up one of those books and mention a thought that touched you or proded you towards a goal/action.
Cheers!
my hobbie is surfing net and cooking punjabi dishes................pls give me views on it
ReplyDeletemy hobby is to play sports like cricket ,basket ball ,table tennis,
ReplyDeleteswimming
@deepu said...
ReplyDeletemy hobbie is surfing net and cooking punjabi dishes................pls give me views on it
Prabhjot Bedi| The Coach
I think the punjabi cooking is a delicious and worthy hobby!
@ashish said...
my hobby is to play sports like cricket ,basket ball ,table tennis, swimming
@deepu said...
my hobbie is surfing net and cooking punjabi dishes................pls give me views on it
Prabhjot Bedi| The Coach
My suggestion is to keep only two- those that you have excelled in.
my interest is in socialising,travelling and reading
ReplyDeleteHey.. this is a good section.
ReplyDeleteMy hobby is playing guitar. listening to music. reading books , watching wrestling and having practice sessions with my band..
hii... your post is really helpful.
ReplyDeleteAs i am from IT field, i have to sit in front of computer maximum time.
So i prefer doing eyesight improvement and focus concentration exercise in between.
i want to mention this in my resume as i found it unique.
Please suggest me the way i should mention it in my resume.
Thank You.
Neha
retro_isle@yahoo.co.in
hi its really interesting and helpful.
ReplyDeleteMy Hobby is listening music and going on a long
drive.
Please suggest me how i should mention this on my resume.
Thanks and Regards,
Gagandeep Singh
gagandeepsingh06@yahoo.co.in
Sounds very sensible, a lot of people including me would have a lot of these hobbies and not on the resume and what we have on the resume might just be there because something has to be there
ReplyDeleteDoes Working out counts as an Hobby a lot of interviewers kind of take it in a negetive sense
ReplyDelete@Gagan Please detail listening to music. Think of a specific genre or type of music etc. Also, know a little detail about this music..
ReplyDeletelong drives - that is nice. what do you do on long drives? watch the countryside? listen to your fav music? take time to think about your action plan for the next week? maybe that can be an angle...
Cheers!
@anon working out is a healthy pursuit and a very good one at that. unfortunately there are stereo-types that work against people who bulk up. general perception is 'if he works out so much, he must be slow'
ReplyDeletehere is my tip, dont even think about it. put it on your resume. I know many a brilliant people who love to work out and are proud of it.
All the best.
Prabhjot Bedi
The Coach
I like playing basketball and I have represented my city, medical school.
ReplyDeleteI used to do a lot of stamp collection but I lost them when I came from India. Can I mention this in my resume and if so how do I mention this.
@Anon
ReplyDeletebasketball is brilliant. its a team sport, a sport that also rewards individual effort.
regarding the stamp collection, did you have something extra ordinary? if you can talk about it, you should mention it
cheers!
'm very much happy to be a member of hospemag.com
ReplyDeleteVery informative article.
Could u do me a favor?
Is it possible for u to update my resume in a perfect formate if I send it to u?
Please reply me to sooskutty@yahoo.com
Warm Regards,
Abu.
heey im re doing my resume so i can get a job over the xmas holidays..
ReplyDeletemy hobbies and interests are:
cooking, shopping, magazines, hanging out with friends, talking ...
LOL please help me and let me know ASAP !!! thanks ! :-)
@ANON
ReplyDeleteWhat are you applying for? You should look at "customizing" your hobbies...
hello =]my names Haley. I need some help with the hobbies and interest part of my resume to sound more interesting, heres my email. thanks coach.
ReplyDeletecjay_o1@live.com
I am doing B.E. Mech.. I ve interview on Monday- IT Company.. So Can u pls suggest me a best hobby and also the best way to sound it more interesting and unique in my Resume. My hobbies are Playing Cricket and Listening to Melody Songs.
ReplyDeletePls help me......
Eagerly awaiting your suggestion.
I am doing B.E. Mech.. I ve interview on Monday- IT Company.. So Can u pls suggest me a best hobby and also the best way to sound it more interesting and unique in my Resume. My hobbies are Playing Cricket and Listening to Melody Songs.
ReplyDeletePls help me......
Eagerly awaiting your suggestion.
@vivek
ReplyDeleteas I have mentioned choose something you are passionate about. If however you feel you must have something ready specifically for the interview, today tech creates an astounding number of hobbies.
you could be a gamer, a reviewer, a gadget freak. you could cultivate a habit to follow tech gurus online or venture capitalists or new technologies. you could even be a social media specialists etc...
All the best!
Prabhjot Bedi
The Coach
my hobbies are drawing,listening soothing music,practicing yogan dancing.i also like internet surfing,going on xcursions n tours.plz tell me wat i must add to resume to make it an effective one.
ReplyDelete@arpita
ReplyDeleteI think the xcursions bit is exotic. most people in offices only dream or wanting to do something like this.
ensure you know a couple of good trips/places/hikes/trails etc and go with that on your resume. Adding Yoga will complete the nature lover in you.
GREEN is IN!
this is fasihul haque
ReplyDeletehay this is really interesting section.
"I enjoy listening to Classical Music.Mohammad Rafi and Kishor Da was one of my favorite singer but recently I also like to listen Aatif Aslam’s song . The beats help me smile and put me into an energetic state of mind"
how is this if i mention my hobby like this..
plz suggest me.
@Fasihul haque
ReplyDeleteIts perfect!
very inspirational article
ReplyDeleteInteresting article. How about Horse Riding as a Hobby?
ReplyDeletehlp me sir............i m samir nd i hve interests in mobiles....i know a lot of things abt it ..mainly s40 mobiles.plz hlp me to present it nicely in my resume so that it sound goods.......
ReplyDeletesam94344@gmail.com
hello sir.....i am samir ..i have an interest in mobiles mainly s40 mobiles .........plz help me to present it nicely in my resume ...........
ReplyDeleteand ya this site is superb .....it is helpful for a lots of students like me.....
@Gurmeet Kaur Thank you!
ReplyDelete@Gaurav Sengupta I think horse riding is a wonderful hobby!
ReplyDeleteHorses are both powerful and sensitive and each rider develops a personal bond with the horse. It surely works according to me.
put it in!
@Anon - Sam
ReplyDeleteTech is in, and if you are not interested in it very soon there would be nothing left for one to do.
i would suggest expanding your scope a little bit though!
i like reading books on leadership..and i browse the net to look on articles on leadership...how do i need to put it on my resume?
ReplyDelete@Reena
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned, reading is too general. Writing 'Reading - Non fiction, Business, Management' would be a better interest.
You could also expand that to say 'Amateur research on leadership literature'
This would pique the interviewers interest to ask you more.
p.s. please remember to know this subject well. Choose a couple of theories or books and be well versed with them.
All the best!
i need examples of what i can write on my cv asap! i have no hobbies!? haha
ReplyDeleteI enjoy spending time with and helping out my elderly neighbours, how would I word this and do you think it is a relevant interest? Your advice would be greatly appreciated thankyou.
ReplyDeletesangita,
ReplyDeletecan i give "cooking", "tasting foods from different restaurants", "coding" as general activities in my CV. plz reply
hello ...
ReplyDeletemy hobbies are singing and listening music...
i love 2 shop...can i add shopping as my hobby in my resume...?
m doin my btech and m a fresher...
thnk u
I don't have any hobbies but what can i mention in my cv.please i need some examples asap...
ReplyDeletehello..
ReplyDeletemy hobbies are to play computer games,excursions t0 places,music but how can i make these interesting please help me out.....
This is great!
ReplyDeletebut when you say: 'make it something they can relate to', how do you know what they can or cannot relate to?
i mean, i put, "photography, design, painting/drawing and youth group" how do i know they can relate to that or not? i havent even met them until the interview.
how would i even demonstrate that i like those things? carry the photos, a picture of a painting, or some design sketches with me? or would that seem strange?
and how do i know these things are even relevant to the job i want? i want a job in retail. but i just can't find hobbies that have anything to do with working in a fashion shop. RAWR, how is finding a decent hobby even that hard? O.o
i have no interesting hobbies, and barely have time to find any.
thanks so much for this, I do appreciate your work on this one. It really helped me.
ReplyDeletewhat do you think of mine !
photography i like capturing natural landscape،City life and still life.
also i like meditation towards nature I'm deep thinking in nature.Also, Design but i don't know if i write it or not
sorry but how can i paraphrase it if you could please help me in this and tell me i would be thankful so much :)
my hobby is playing video games.
ReplyDeletecan i mention it? does it make the interviewer think that i don't have any passion to work rather than playing games??
----phani
hi...i ve my interview in next 6 days bt m confused wit my hobbies wat to mention as i don ve specific so pls help me out in dis
ReplyDeletehello sir the article of urs is of great help to me . My hobbies are listening to music ,mohit chauhan is my favorite singer. how can i mention it in more presentable way???
ReplyDeleteI also like reading insiprational, philosiphical and spirtiual articles and books . And I also believe in astrology so when i find time i also like reading and finding more about it .
SIR can i put it all in my CV?? And if i can how can i put it all in a more presentable way.
SIR Please reply as soon as possible.ur comments would be of great help for me .
Thanking you
Shristi
Ӏ go to see eaсh day some web pagеs and blogs
ReplyDeletetо read aгtiсles or reѵіews, but this ωеbѕіte giνeѕ quality based writing.
My hοmepagе Roofers okc
can i mention my hobby or interest as shoppping?
ReplyDelete