Hobbies and interests

Only if they add something useful: a relevant skill, evidence of a quality the job needs, or a genuine talking point. If they do not, leave them out and use the space for experience or skills.

When hobbies help:

• You are a student or graduate with little work experience.
• The hobby is related to the job, such as coding projects for a developer or photography for a marketing role.
• It shows commitment or leadership, such as captaining a team or organising community events.
• The employer's culture or advert suggests they value personality.

When to skip them:

• Your resume is already full with relevant experience.
• The hobbies are very common and generic, such as "reading" or "travelling", with no detail.
• They could cause controversy or distract from your application.

A short, specific interests line is enough when you include one.

Hobbies that show useful skills or qualities, and that you can talk about with real enthusiasm.

Examples and what they can show:

• Team sports: teamwork, discipline, competitiveness.
• Running, cycling or endurance events: persistence and goal setting.
• Volunteering or community work: responsibility and care for others.
• Coding, electronics or building things: technical curiosity.
• Writing, blogging or photography: creativity and communication.
• Chess or strategy games: analytical thinking.
• Learning a language or instrument: commitment over time.

The best hobby to list is the one that is true and specific. "Completed three half-marathons in 2025" tells the reader far more than "sports".

There is no list of hobbies that every employer prefers. A modest interest you can describe with enthusiasm and a concrete detail usually makes a better impression than an impressive-sounding hobby you rarely do. Pick two to four that feel true to you.

Add one specific detail to each hobby: what you do, how often, or something you achieved.

Generic versus specific:

• "Reading" becomes "Reading business biographies; run a monthly book club with colleagues".
• "Travelling" becomes "Travelled to 15 countries, often planning budget trips for groups of friends".
• "Football" becomes "Play five-a-side football weekly; organise the office league".
• "Cooking" becomes "Cooking South Indian and Lebanese dishes; host monthly dinners".

Specific details make hobbies believable and give interviewers easy conversation starters. Keep each one to a short phrase, and list two to four at most.

Avoid hobbies that could be controversial, raise safety concerns, seem unprofessional or reveal personal information the employer does not need.

Usually best left out:

• Political activity or campaigning, unless relevant to the job.
• Religious activities, unless relevant to the role.
• Gambling or anything associated with risky behaviour.
• Activities that suggest a lot of time off or injury risk, if not relevant.
• Passive hobbies with no detail, such as "watching TV" or "socialising".
• Anything you would not be comfortable discussing in an interview.

In many countries, employers should not make decisions based on things such as religion or political opinion, but keeping these details off your resume avoids the issue entirely. Choose interests that are neutral and show positive qualities.

If you are unsure about a hobby, ask whether it helps your application.

At the end. Interests are the least important section for most employers, so place them after experience, education, skills and languages.

Format options:

• A one-line list: "Interests: Long-distance running, Arabic calligraphy, volunteering at a food bank".
• Two or three short bullets with a detail each.

Keep the heading simple, such as "Interests" or "Hobbies and Interests". If you need space for more important content, this section is usually the first to cut.

Two to four is usually enough. More than that takes space without adding value and can look like filler.

Choose ones that:

• You genuinely do now, not years ago.
• Show different qualities, such as one active, one creative and one community-focused.
• You could talk about for a few minutes if asked.

Example: "Interests: Cricket (club league player), photography (wildlife and street), volunteering with a beach clean-up group."

If you have only one meaningful interest, one is fine. Quality matters more than quantity.

Often yes. With limited work experience, interests can show skills, character and commitment that the rest of your resume cannot yet show.

Good examples for graduates:

• Leadership in a club or society.
• Sport at a competitive level.
• Personal projects, such as an app, blog or YouTube channel.
• Volunteering or fundraising.
• Learning a language or instrument seriously.

Add a detail to each: "Captain of the university basketball team, 2023–2024" or "Built a budgeting app in Flutter as a personal project". Substantial activities can go in a separate section, such as Activities or Projects, rather than a short interests line.

It is optional. Many experienced resumes leave them out, but one short line can add personality and a conversation starter if space allows.

When it helps:

• The hobby is notable, such as running ultramarathons or chairing a professional association.
• It links to the role, such as mentoring young people for a leadership position.
• The company culture values well-rounded people.

When to leave them out:

• Your resume is already two full pages of relevant experience.
• The hobbies are generic.

If included, keep it to one line at the very end.

They can help a little, by showing skills, giving you a talking point or showing that you fit a team. They will rarely be the main reason you are hired.

Ways hobbies can help:

• They fill gaps in a thin resume with evidence of skills.
• They give the interviewer an easy, friendly question.
• They can connect you to the company, for example a running club applicant at a sportswear company.
• Some roles relate directly to the hobby, such as photography for content creation.

Spend most of your effort on experience, skills and achievements. Treat hobbies as a small finishing touch.

Not on its own. They are very common, so they do not tell the reader anything new. Add a specific detail or leave them out.

Make them meaningful:

• "Reading" becomes "Reading on behavioural economics; write short book reviews on a personal blog".
• "Travelling" becomes "Backpacked through Southeast Asia, planning routes and budgets for a group of four".

Specific versions show curiosity, planning or writing skills. If you cannot add a detail, choose a different interest or skip the section.

You can, if it is relevant or shows real skills, and if you describe it professionally. For many jobs, it is better left out.

When it can help:

• Jobs in gaming, esports, game design or streaming.
• Technical roles, if you build mods, servers or tools.
• Leadership, if you run a large community or team.

Example: "Run a 2,000-member Discord gaming community; manage moderators and events."

Avoid simply writing "video games", which reads as passive leisure. Focus on what you create, organise or achieve.

Usually no, unless it relates directly to the job, such as roles in faith-based organisations. Religion is personal, and listing it is not needed for most applications.

If an activity built useful skills, describe the skill rather than the religious context, where honest:

• "Organised weekly community meals for 100 people" instead of naming the place of worship.
• "Coordinated volunteers for a charity fundraising event".

In many countries, hiring decisions must not be based on religion, and leaving it off avoids the question entirely. The choice is yours, but keep it relevant.

Generally no, unless the job is in politics, policy, campaigning or public affairs, where it may be directly relevant.

If you have relevant skills from political work, describe them neutrally:

• "Coordinated a team of 30 volunteers for a local election campaign" shows organisation.
• "Wrote policy briefs on transport for a councillor's office" shows research and writing.

For most jobs, political views are unrelated and could distract. In some countries, laws protect people from discrimination based on political opinion, but it is still simpler not to include it.

It can, but substantial volunteering is usually better in its own Volunteer Work section, with a short description of what you did.

Choose by size:

• Occasional: "Interests: Volunteering at beach clean-ups".
• Regular or with responsibility: a separate section, for example "Volunteer Coordinator, Community Food Bank, 2023–present. Schedule 30 volunteers for weekly food drives."

Volunteering often shows real skills, such as organisation, leadership and teamwork, so it deserves more than a word in a list when it is significant.

Choose hobbies that show skills or qualities from the job advert, and describe them so the link is obvious without stating it.

Examples:

• Sales role: "Organise charity football tournaments; secured sponsorship from five local businesses" shows persuasion.
• Data role: "Track and analyse my running data in Python" shows analytical habits.
• Hospitality role: "Host supper clubs for 20 guests" shows service and planning.
• Teaching role: "Coach under-12 basketball on weekends" shows patience and coaching.

Do not invent or exaggerate hobbies to fit the job. An interviewer may ask about them in detail.

Yes, if you play regularly or have achieved something, as sports can show teamwork, discipline and resilience.

How to describe them:

• "Club cricket player, Sharjah league"
• "Completed a 100 km charity cycle ride"
• "Captain, university volleyball team (2023)"
• "Regular padel player; organise weekly games for colleagues"

Avoid just "sports" or "gym", which say little. Competitive achievements, leadership or organising roles add the most value.

Yes. Creative hobbies can show patience, attention to detail and commitment, and they are directly relevant for creative roles.

Examples:

• "Oil painting; exhibited in a community art show in 2025"
• "Play the oud; perform at community events"
• "Calligraphy in Arabic and English"
• "Amateur photography; work featured on a local tourism page"

For design, marketing or content roles, link to a portfolio if your creative work is relevant. For other roles, a short line is enough to add personality.

It is optional. Some resumes in the region include a short interests line, and it can help early-career candidates, but experienced professionals often leave it out.

Tips for the region:

• Choose neutral, positive interests such as sports, volunteering, reading on a specific topic or learning languages.
• Avoid anything that could be culturally sensitive or controversial.
• Keep it to one line at the end.

As anywhere, specific details are more useful than generic words.

They are optional. Some UK CVs include a short "Interests" section, especially for graduates, but it is not required, and many experienced candidates leave it out.

If you include it:

• Keep it brief and specific.
• Choose interests that show positive qualities or are relevant to the job.
• Avoid personal information, such as religion or political views, which is not needed.

For graduate schemes and first jobs, an interests section with real activities, such as society roles or sports, can be useful evidence of skills.

Rarely. Most US resumes focus on experience, education and skills, and leave out hobbies unless they are relevant or notable.

When a US resume might include them:

• Students and new graduates with limited experience.
• Roles where the hobby is directly relevant.
• Notable achievements, such as competing nationally in a sport.

If you include them, use a short "Interests" line at the end. Avoid personal details such as age, religion or family status, which US employers generally do not expect.

It can, but a significant personal project is often stronger in its own Projects section, where you can describe what you built and the result.

Examples:

• Small: "Interests: Building small Arduino gadgets".
• Significant: "Projects: Built a mobile app for tracking prayer times and fasting, with 1,000 downloads on the Play Store."

Projects are especially valuable for technical, creative and early-career resumes, because they show applied skills. Use the interests line for lighter activities and the Projects section for work you could show an employer.

Sometimes, especially early in an interview to help you relax, or when the interviewer shares the same interest. Be ready to talk about anything you list.

Prepare:

• One or two sentences on why you enjoy each hobby.
• A specific example or recent experience.
• What it has taught you, if relevant.

Example answer: "I run with a club twice a week. Training for my first half-marathon taught me to set a plan and stick to it, even with a busy work schedule."

If you would struggle to talk about a hobby, remove it.

No. List only current interests, or ones you still actively do from time to time. An old hobby can lead to an awkward conversation if the interviewer asks about it.

Exceptions:

• A past achievement that still matters, such as "Former national-level swimmer". Describe it in the past tense and keep it brief.
• A hobby you are returning to and can discuss honestly.

Your resume should reflect who you are now.

Keep it to one line or two to four short bullets, with a simple heading.

One-line format:
"Interests: Padel (club league), landscape photography, volunteering with a reading programme for children."

Bullet format:
"Interests

• Padel: play in a weekly club league
• Landscape photography: shared on a personal Instagram portfolio
• Volunteer reader at a children's library programme"

Use the same font and style as the rest of your resume. Avoid icons or images for hobbies, which add little and may not be read by software.

It is better not to. Icons take space, can look informal and may not be read by applicant tracking systems, so the information could be lost.

Use plain text instead:
"Interests: Rock climbing, chess, Arabic calligraphy"

If you use a creative design for a creative role, keep the text label next to any icon so both people and software can read it. For most resumes, simple text is cleaner and more professional.