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Interests and Your Resume
Penny Maybloom, Senior Consultant, Petrie Management Services, Sydney. AACC Member

INTRODUCTION
Whether you are applying for full time, part time or casual employment, you will often be required to use your resume to “sell” your work-related skills and qualifications to an employer. Remember that the main purpose of the resume is to interest the employer so they will give you an interview.

So if you’re just starting your career and don’t have a lot of work experience, listing details of your interests on your resume can give employers additional information about you, the prospective employee. If your interests make a positive impression, you may get an interview. But watch out! interests considered “controversial” could cost you the interview. The hard part for the job seeker is deciding what is “controversial”. Interests some employers like may not be liked by others. You will have to use your judgement to decide how to best sell yourself. Here are some ideas about listing interests that will help you when considering which interests to include in your resume.

WHAT YOUR INTERESTS MAY TELL AN EMPLOYER ABOUT YOU
Employers may look to your interests to find out what sort of person you are. For example, an employer may be impressed by your volunteer work and consider that if you have taken on voluntary work you are likely to have a positive attitude to taking on additional responsibilities in the workplace. Or perhaps your dream company has a touch footy team, and the employer views your football skills as a valuable addition to your work-related abilities. Employers prefer positive team players happy to work beyond the basic job description.
Employers also value interest-related skills that are transferable to the workplace. If you’ve coached a sporting team, you’ve acquired teaching and training abilities that may indicate to the employer that you have potential to be a leader in the workplace. If you’ve worked on a committee, you may be able to run a meeting. Your interests may indicate your potential in the workplace, which is why employers pay attention to them.

HANDY HINTS
Make sure you list some interests. Interests give an indication of the type of person you are outside your workplace. Not listing any interests may mean you are underselling your skills and aptitudes. List a minimum of two to a maximum of eight interests.
Tell the truth, and be prepared to discuss your interests in an interview. Often during an interview an employer will ask you about the interests they are also interested in, so it is important that you can talk in an informed way about the interests you have listed.
List, for example, an interest showing that you’re likeable and sociable, one demonstrating that you’re a team player, and one proving that you use your brain – these are qualities many employers find attractive.

'APPROPRIATE' INTERESTS MIGHT GAIN YOU AN INTERVIEW
Following are examples of “appropriate” interests. Remember, however, that employers are all different and that employers will also consider your skills and experience.

'LIKEABLE/SOCIABLE' INTERESTS
a Seeing movies with friends
a Picnics with friends
a Dining out with friends
a Going to the beach with friends
a Holding/attending dinner parties
a Spending time with family

'TEAMWORK' INTERESTS
a Playing or coaching a team sport
a Singing in a choir
a Singing or playing in a band
a Working as a volunteer
a Going camping with friends

'BRAIN' INTERESTS
a Reading science fiction
a Playing chess
a Collecting stamps
a Learning a language
a Photography
a Creative writing
a Public speaking

OTHER 'ACCEPTABLE' INTERESTS
a Arts and crafts
a Individual sports
a Computer games
a Hobbies

INTERESTS MIGHT LOSE YOU AN INTERVIEW
There are no definite rules about what interests are acceptable and which ones are best left out because employers’ opinions differ. However, some interests are more “controversial” than others so think carefully about what image your interests will portray. For example, some employers could have concerns if they see you’ve listed your interests as rave parties, body piercing and street car racing.
If some of your interests relate to your politics, religion and sexual preference, consider omitting them from your list unless they’re relevant to the job. Although anti-discrimination legislation aims to protect against unfair discrimination, prejudice does still exist, and you may not get an interview.

Of course, you have the right to list any interests you feel strongly about regardless of how employers may feel about them.

CONCLUSION
So as you can see, you need to tread carefully when listing interests on your resume. Choose wisely, and by combining interests with your skills and experience, you will give yourself the best chance to land that interview!

CHECKLIST
Have you done the following:
a Thought about and listed your interests on your resume?
a Thought about what employers might think about your interests?
a Asked for feedback from friends and family?
a Considered a “likeable” interest, a “teamwork” interest and a “brain” interest?

ONLINE RESOURCES
Australian WorkPlace Career and Job Search Tips
Careers OnLine - Resumes
CareerOne – Getting the Job – New Year, New Resume
My Future – Activities and Interests
seek.com.au – Job Search Strategies – My First Resume – a Guide to Starting Out

HARD COPY RESOURCES
Bolles, Richard Nelson, 2002, What Colour is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers, 10 Speed Press, Simon and Schuster Australia
Stevens, Paul, The Australian Resume Guide
Bright, Jim & Earl, Joanne, 2000, Resumes That Get Shortlisted