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Should You Include Hobbies On Your Resume?

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Career Coach Sonal Bahl recently shared a controversial opinion: that you should absolutely include hobbies on your resume! While she was undoubtedly met with the expected backlash, such as “this is not Facebook,” there were also many people who were open to setting yourself apart by highlighting your passions. In fact, according to a LinkedIn poll, 45% of respondents think you should always include your hobbies on your resume, and 33% believe you should add them if they are relevant to the job. Our opinion? It depends!

When You Shouldn’t Include Hobbies On Your Resume

If you work in a straight-laced industry such as banking, law, or professional services, you want to exercise discretion. Typically, these industries will be looking for a more professional overview of your career. If you choose to include hobbies, keep them achievement-focused. Feature hobbies such as marathons, interest in languages, or business-related podcasts you follow.

When You Should Include Hobbies On Your Resume

If you are in a more sales-oriented or creative role, it can be extremely beneficial to highlight a few of your hobbies. Let your personality shine to set you apart from the competition. Choose something that speaks to your identity and how you will perform on the job. Sonal mentioned clients who included “enjoy baking. Probably bake the world’s most delicious brownie,” or “Absolutely devoted to my daily 10k run since 2006. Come rain, shine, or snow.” Those candidates both got called for interviews, and the hiring manager specifically mentioned the hobbies that they had included.

Things To Keep In Mind

Now, just because hiring managers are interested in hearing about your hobbies doesn’t mean you should include everything that interests you. Carefully select the hobbies you want to include. Do not list things that won’t add to your marketability like binge-watching Netflix, hanging out at clubs, or expert nap-taker. Also, be sure that the activities you include are things you’re actually passionate about! The purpose of adding hobbies to your resume is to stand out and establish a connection with the hiring manager. So, chances are that they will mention it during your interview with the expectation that you will speak thoughtfully on the topic.

In the end, it’s entirely up to you and what you feel comfortable with. Don’t feel pressured to include hobbies on your resume if it doesn’t feel natural to you. And on the other side, make sure the hobbies you do list contribute to your professional persona.

Interested in more resume tips? Click here to get your resume up to par.

Is Now The Time To Pivot Your Career?

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You have probably heard the word “pivot” a lot lately (and no, not just because you’re binge-watching Friends again). Between furloughs, layoffs, and general economic uncertainty, many people are starting to rethink their careers. They are going out searching for something more fulfilling, something that matches their desired work-life balance, and something stable and sustainable. If you find yourself wanting to pivot your career, here are a few things you need to consider.

What Can You Pivot To?

If you’re feeling ready to take the leap to something else, you want to make a deliberate decision that will last long-term. It is your entire future, after all! In most cases, people pick new jobs where many of their old skills are still valid. This only makes sense. When you choose a similar career path, you can build on your previous experiences to launch your new journey. For example, retail sales associates often migrate to careers such as inside sales or business development. According to LinkedIn, such existing skills deliver about 70% to 80% of relevant expertise. This overlap results in more natural and successful transitions without having to start over completely.

What Does a Career Pivot Entail?

When you pivot your career, it’s unfortunately not as simple as just deciding to do something else. Once you’ve chosen your new desired career path, you’ll need to take a few steps in that direction. First and foremost, you’ll need to update your resume. When crafting your new resume, keep it honest but focus on the skills and experiences that are transferable to your new career. Next, you’ll want to boost your marketability by adding new accomplishments. Explore LinkedIn Learning to find courses that will help you learn more about your future position! Finally, dive right in! Start applying to jobs right away to get your feet wet.

How Do You Sell Your Career Pivot?

It can be intimidating to go into an interview knowing that you have little to no experience in an industry or specific role. However, keep in mind that you do have relatable experience for the role! Since you strategically chose a career pivot that complements your previous experiences, you have a whole host of skills connected with this new path. Make a list of transferrable skills. Anything from customer service and sales operations, to empathy and communication. Then, as you apply for jobs, write cover letters, and participate in interviews – reiterate these transferrable skills repeatedly.

It’s essential to keep in mind that a career pivot does not mean you are giving up! On the contrary, it shows that you are resilient, adaptable, and a go-getter. As you embark on this new journey, explore our candidate resources for advice on everything from refreshing your resume to how to answer elusive interview questions.

How To Improve Your Soft Skills During Quarantine

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If you are like so many other professionals throughout North America, you probably have found yourself with some extra time on your hands lately. As such, it is the perfect opportunity to beef up your resume and add some in-demand soft skills to your repertoire. Today we’re covering the five most in-demand soft skills in 2020 and how you can develop and nurture them during this time of growth.

Creativity

When all of this is over, you can almost be certain that employers will ask how you spent your free time during quarantine. Make sure you have a great answer! Get in touch with your creative side, whether or not it’s “professional” or not is up to you! Consider taking a course in Photoshop, or engineer a creative marble course with your kids. Expressing your creativity will tap into previously uncovered soft skills and widen your horizon.

Persuasion

You may already be working on this skill more than you think. Have you convinced yourself to resist the temptation of the “Are you still watching?” prompt on Netflix? Have you argued with your kid about finishing their online schoolwork? There you have it; you’re an expert in persuasion. Professionally, consider creating a plan for yourself and what you want out of your career during this time. That way, in the future, you’ll have a clear guide of your desired direction and the steps it will take to get there.

Collaboration

Believe it or not, isolation is a great time to work on your social skills. Take this opportunity to expand your virtual professional network. Post frequently on social media sites, follow companies you admire, and craft custom connection requests to leaders and peers in your industry. With stay at home orders in place throughout the world, people are craving connection and will be more willing to collaborate than ever before.

Adaptability

Of all the soft skills, adaptability is arguably the most important. And COVID-19 wielded unbelievable power in forcing the whole world to adapt at once. Almost every single person throughout the globe has been affected. Whether you were laid off, forced to work from home, or suddenly found yourself overhauling your day-to-day procedures to ensure the utmost safety, you most certainly showed adaptability during this time.

Emotional Intelligence

There has truly never been a better time to work on your emotional intelligence. Empathy is a necessary skill in today’s climate, so look around you for opportunities to act with compassion and respect. If you take a step back from almost any obstacle you witness or face, you’ll be able to better assess the big picture.

Soft skills are an important part of your resume and what you bring to the table as an employee. If you are lacking in any of these five areas, take this time filled with so much unknown as an opportunity for growth.