Do The Recruiters Have to Know You Personally?

Some people believe a professional resume is no place to mention your interests and hobbies, or an eligible candidate does not waste his/her time on trivial info and jibber-jabber! Technically, such an opinion may sound reasonable at first, but if you think about it, recruiters in each company are not hiring robots to do the preplanned roles. They are hiring people, and people have different personalities that come with the knowledge, skills and experiences a person might withhold. 

Based on a recent study in Human Resource Management, the average cost of hiring a new recruit is over $4,000. Assume there is no HR department to oversee the recruitment process. In that case, the company may employ a few people before finding the right person for the job. This is highly inconvenient considering how expensive and time-consuming the process would be. As a result, companies have developed a standard protocol for hiring new recruits based on their own specific values and needs. 

The recruiters need to know that your experience and skills are aligned with the company, but it is also vital for them to see that you match their workplace culture. Hence, they want to know you on a personal level and a professional level. For that reason, it would be a good idea to include some of your interests and hobbies.

What to Include in Your Resume?

Now, you might think you can write about your personal info, easy peasy! That’s not how it works. Surely, you cannot list everything you do in your leisure time on your resume. On the other hand, it is not advisable to lie either because it could be revealed in the future, and your reputation will suffer turbulence. It might also make the recruiters think about what other things on your resume were false. 

You might wonder: “What qualities are recruiters looking for in a candidate?”

That’s an important question. You need to understand that the recruiters look for the qualities behind your hobbies and interests. For example, suppose you have been a basketball player for years. In that case, it could show that you have experience working as a team member and understand how important it is for every member to function separately and together. 

So, let’s read about 5 interests and hobbies to put on your resume. 

1. Volunteer Work

Choosing to do something without gaining any financial benefits goes a long way. It also shines brightly on your CV. It shows you have integrity and care about other people. Companies look for someone they can rely on a human level, trusting that each staff member is moving like a living organism within the company and keeping it alive.  Helping the community can be an excellent start.

Suggested Activities: Charity, mentoring programs, fundraising, community services, and environmental work.

2. Sports

Perusing a sport can develop certain personality traits, such as teamwork, resilience, determination, hard work and concentration. Such qualities are valuable to prospective employers. 

Suggested Activities: Swimming, yoga, baseball, and personal fitness.

3. Artistic Activity

Artistic work develops strong cognitive abilities, such as decision-making, problem-solving, creativity in developing ideas, finding innovative ways to execute ideas, etc. Talking about your artistic pursuits reflects well on your resume, especially for the roles that require creativity, agility, and vision. 

Suggested Activities: Painting, drawing, photography, design, and sculpting.

4. Technology 

The ever-changing world of technology is an inevitable part of our lives now and, consequently, an undeniable part of any profession and industry. Having a technology-related experience or skill can attract high-achieving opportunities towards you. 

Suggested Skills: Coding, stock trading, and artificial intelligence. 

5. Music 

Going on a path to becoming a musician requires years and years of dedication and discipline. Such attributes are not easy to find in everyone. This actively demonstrates the importance of mentioning your excellent skills in playing musical instruments, providing you have such skills. Besides, other musical activities can shine on your personality and attitudes toward learning a new skill and teamwork. 

Suggested activities: Being a band member, being a member of a choir or orchestra, songwriting, and singing. 

Bonus Tip

Activities in the field of entertainment like acting and theater stand for the ability to captivate crowds in the recruiters’ minds, which comes with at least a few behavioral features beneficial in the workplace, such as the ability to speak in front of people, being sociable, and having a great sense of humor. 

Be Careful Not to Mention

• Activities that are dangerous or illegal.
• Activities related to politics and religion. Keep your opinions to yourself.
• Activities that are unusual or difficult to explain. 
• Activities that can be interpreted as offensive or inappropriate.

Remember to keep the list short and to the point. Don’t exaggerate your proficiency level anywhere in your resume. Last but not least, avoid sounding like a braggart because nobody likes a no-it-all! Incorporate the mentioned info in your CV, and you’re good to go. Good Luck!