Should I Include My Hobbies on My Resume?

by Vanisankar
(Bangalore)

In resumes, is notification of hobbies important?
If so, what kind of hobbies can we enter?

ANSWER: I'd be cautious in including personal information on your resume. The resume should really be about your work history. The only reason to include hobbies would be if they somehow directly related to the work you want to do or the place you want to work, or if doing your hobby would demonstrate some skill that is not evident from your work experience.

For instance, maybe you want to get into web design, without formal education or on the job experience, but you have designed websites for yourself, friends, or as a volunteer for a community organization. This would be important information to include then on the resume.

Or, maybe you want to go to work for an organization that has some kind of outdoor connection. In that case, the fact that you bicycle to work each day might be relevant. Or that you take a backpacking trip into the mountains each summer.

Do you see?

To your success,

Kathi