Interest Section on Resume: How to Choose and Present Your Hobbies Effectively

The "interest" section of your resume is often overlooked, yet it can make the difference between an ordinary application and a profile that stands out. Well-chosen and presented, this section reveals your personality, your soft skills, and can create a valuable connection with the recruiter.

Why Are Interests Important?

Humanize Your Application

Behind technical skills lies a unique person. Your interests allow the recruiter to envision you in the team and assess your cultural fit with the company.

Reveal Your Soft Skills

Each hobby develops transferable skills. Team sports show your ability to collaborate, reading enhances your general knowledge, music reveals your creativity and discipline.

Create a Hook

An original interest or one shared with the recruiter can spark a relaxed conversation in the interview, creating a personal connection that sets you apart from other candidates.

Fill Experience Gaps

For recent graduates or during a career change, interests can compensate for a lack of experience by demonstrating professional qualities developed elsewhere.

How to Choose Your Interests

1. Analyze the Job Offer

Tailor your selection to the targeted position. For a digital marketing role, mention your blog or YouTube channel. For a finance job, highlight your participation in investment competitions.

2. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

3 to 5 interests are sufficient. It’s better to delve into a few passions than to list superficial ones. Each hobby mentioned should be expandable in an interview.

3. Show Your Commitment

Prefer activities where you have a notable level or involvement. "Tennis" is less impactful than "Tennis - Regional competition level 15/2".

4. Balance Your Domains

Vary between sports, culture, volunteering, and creative passions to show a balanced personality and diverse skills.

Interests by Industry

Finance and Banking

Recommended:

• Chess (strategy, anticipation)
• Golf (networking, patience)
• Economic reading (financial blogs, Warren Buffett books)
• Personal investment (stock portfolio, crypto)
• Precision sports (archery, golf)

Example: "Chess - Ranked 1600 ELO, participated in departmental championships"

Technology and Digital

Recommended:

• Personal development (GitHub projects, open source contributions)
• Competitive gaming (esports, managing virtual teams)
• Tech podcasts (technology monitoring)
• Maker/DIY (3D printing, electronics)
• Digital photography

Example: "Web development - 15 contributions on GitHub, creator of a React app with 500+ users"

Marketing and Communication

Recommended:

• Personal or professional blog
• Social media (volunteer community management)
• Photography/video
• Event planning (organizing association events)
• Stand-up comedy or improv theater

Example: "Lifestyle blog - 10k visitors/month, collaboration with 3 brands"

Human Resources

Recommended:

• Volunteering in associations
• Sports coaching or training
• Psychology/personal development
• Event organization
• Mediation or negotiation

Example: "First aid training - Volunteer trainer for the Red Cross, trained 50+ people"

Sales and Commercial

Recommended:

• Team sports (leadership, collaboration)
• Theater (ease in relationships, eloquence)
• Negotiation (poker, debates)
• Professional networking
• Travel (cultural openness)

Example: "Rugby - Senior team captain, managing 25 players"

Engineering and Technical

Recommended:

• DIY/mechanics
• Precision sports
• Chess/strategy games
• Maker projects (Arduino, Raspberry Pi)
• Model making

Example: "Car restoration - Complete renovation of a 1975 Citroën 2CV"

How to Present Your Interests

Optimal Structure

For each interest, use this formula:
Activity - Level/Commitment - Result or Achievement

Concrete Examples

❌ Poorly presented:

• Reading
• Sport
• Travel
• Music

✅ Well presented:

• Reading - 40 books/year in personal development and economics
• Marathon - 15 marathons completed, best time 3h42
• Travel - 25 countries visited, 6-month stays in Asia and South America
• Piano - 12 years of practice, accompanist for parish choir

Quantify When Possible

Numbers make your interests more credible and memorable:

• "Culinary blog - 5000 Instagram followers"
• "Running - 3 marathons, PB 3h15"
• "Volunteering - 200h/year at Restos du Cœur"

Interests to Avoid or Adapt

Too Common Activities Without Precision

• ❌ "Cinema" → ✅ "Art-house cinema - Amateur Cannes festival, 150 films/year"
• ❌ "Reading" → ✅ "Historical novels - Challenge 52 books/year, member of a book club"
• ❌ "Music" → ✅ "Classical guitar - 8 years at conservatory, charity concerts"

Controversial or Risky Activities

Avoid topics that can divide:

• Religion (unless relevant to the position)
• Partisan politics
• Extreme sports (may question your caution)
• Gambling

"Invented" Interests

Never mention a hobby you do not actually practice. In an interview, follow-up questions will quickly expose a lie.

Optimization for ATS

Even the interest section can be optimized for applicant tracking systems:

Use Industry Keywords

• For tech: "development", "innovation", "digital"
• For sales: "negotiation", "client relationship", "performance"
• For finance: "analysis", "strategy", "management"

Integrate Skills

Explicitly link your hobbies to soft skills:

• "Tennis - Developing perseverance and stress management"
• "Chess - Strengthening analytical and strategic skills"

Interests for Specific Profiles

Young Graduates