3 Hobbies That Will Make You Stand Out to Employers

There are a few standard principles that all employers demand from a new employee, like a positive attitude and a healthy work ethic, but how do you share your values with employers before landing an interview? By adding a single positive hobby to your resume, employers will glean that you are a well-balanced individual who is dedicated to self-growth.

Traditionally, hobbies are omitted from the resume; and for good reason. Employers can get bogged down in too many irrelevant details. Instead of listing your hobbies and interests on your resume, dedicate a single sentence to your hobby within your cover letter.

Research the values and community service projects of the company for which you are applying. Consider which of your hobbies will make you seem like a natural fit for the company. Making a direct connection between your personal interests and the goals of the company is a subtle way to promote yourself and to let employers know that you’ve done your research.

Blogging

Because a blog is essentially a mini-publication, it is a great platform for writers, graphic designers, photographers and marketers. For those whose talents are directly related to publishing or art, the blog serves as a living portfolio. If you are writing your cover letter in e-mail format (instead of an attachment) you can include a link to your blog as an example of your work. 

A blog works just as well for professionals who are interested in becoming authorities in their fields. Members of academia, business and technology fields commonly blog on their niches. For these bloggers, the goal is to establish a reliable source of information that attracts a following and guides people’s decisions and thoughts.

Blogging is a way to show employers that you don’t go brain dead as soon as you clock out. You are a creative and passionate individual who enjoys promoting a dialogue and sharing information concerning topics in your field. Jobacle already has some great tips for starting a blog. Just remember to keep your content clean. You don’t want your blog to backfire on you by offending a potential employer.  If you are  a freelance blogger, be sure to be prepared to explain to a potential employer how you balance your time.

Learning

Today’s job market is becoming increasingly competitive and is asking more from its applicants in terms of education and experience. At some point, you may have even considered returning to college to take some courses or to earn a second degree.

Before you sign up for a college course, cruise the Web for free courses. There are hundreds of free courses offered by some of the top universities in the United States that cover a variety of topics. Although you won’t get credit for taking the course, you can include applicable skills on your resume. Website building and other computer science knowledge are great assets right now and are applicable in almost any field.

Learning a foreign language can also give you a competitive edge. If you are interested in learning a foreign language, communities like Busuu can help you learn for free.

Taking an independent approach to education will show employers that you are a self-motivated learner who is committed to personal growth. You are a disciplined student who knows how to juggle work, life and education to stand at the forefront of trends in your field. Like blogging, independent study requires focus and self-discipline outside of work.

Volunteering

By donating your time and energy to strengthen your community or to help those in need, you will show employers that you have a positive sense of community involvement. One of the most important aspects of a successful business is a healthy working dynamic between its employees.

Volunteering shows that you are capable of working with others for a common goal, and it also speaks volumes about your personal energy and ability to balance work and life. Also, volunteering benefits you by expanding your personal network.

You are a passionate individual who approaches team goals with energy and resolve. You know the importance of being a member of a team, but you also have the creative problem-solving skills and social finesse of a leader.

Author Bio: Lauren Bailey is a freelance blogger who loves writing about education, new technology, lifestyle and health. As an education writer, she works to research and provide sound online education advice and welcomes comments and questions via email at blauren 99 @gmail.com.

Comments

[Alexis Anderson]

This topic is often overlooked or ignored completely. From getting a degree to perfecting your resume, Westwood College's students often feel there isn't a spare moment in the day to pursue additional hobbies. We know it can be difficult to balance everything but the hobbies you suggest, especially volunteering and blogging, can be done in a way that isn't totally overwhelming or time consuming. And we agree that extracurricular activities are extremely important on a resume. We will share this post with our blog readers on Friday in our weekly industry roundup. Thank you!

[David Duncan]

All of these tips are great for the first time job applicants. They show productivity and the desire to complete a job. The blog also will showcase their writing skills and that will help them to pull ahead of the competition.