Sorry I am sure this was asked before but I wasnt really paying attention but now I am looking for a job.
Do you put your interests like triathlon on your resume? does it depend what you are looking for? to me it seems a bit ‘braggy’, but if I were screening resumes I think Id be interested in someone who is ‘well rounded’ and has hobbies. But then again, if I were ‘well rounded’ myself I might be resentful.
And what do you include if you do? Qualifying for Boston was major for me, but I dont think most people would care…I am not looking in fitness/athletic industry.
Yes, put hobbies/interest on your resume (low on the resume totem pole, though). You become more 3-dimensional, not just a robot. A healthy and happy employee is a good employee.
Indicating finishing times is a bit “braggy.” Not a whole lot of people will care about the specifics, or even know what goes into qualifying for Boston.
I put my interests and hobbies on any resume I put together. Generally it’s just a one or two line list of interests. It helps to show that you are more than your jobs.
Now, for athletic/sport specific jobs, I will list titles won, top rankings, relevant past performances, etc. much I would a job.
That really depends on what kind of job you’re applying for and the culture of the company.
If you’re trying to get a Project Manager position at large corporation for example, I wouldn’t list hobbies at all. I’d filter out all the fluff and make sure that every single line on the resume pertains to the job requirements.
For a smaller company or one that fosters creativity, hobbies would be acceptable. But personally, it’s a turn off when I see a resume with too much unnecessary information.
I think you ought to put on your resume the information that presents the best image given the amount of space you want to use (1 page is pretty standard unless you are in academia). If you’ve got a ton of revelant experience that you need space for, you might want to omit race results. If you’ve got the space, I think you should certainly include your results. I wouldn’t include times, as that won’t mean anything to most people, but I would include the fact that you qualified for Boston. It says a lot about your work ethic, ability to follow through, etc.
Also, you have to consider that they are not just hiring you to do a job – they have to work with you too. Including race results (or hobbies in general) gives you a little more to talk about during an interview and an extra chance to form some sort of bond with an interviewer. If your interviewer happens to be some sort of athlete, it could totally change your interview. I would actually go so far as to say that including race results is a conservative way of achieving this result. One of my good friends used to include “finding the perfect steak” on his resume. Sure enough, EVERY interviewer asked him about the best steak he had ever eaten. It transformed the formal atmosphere into a relatively lax one and allowed him to connect with the interviewer as though they were already co-workers.
I think that it’s good to put them on, but keep it very general. As others have said, it shows that you are “well rounded”. I would go into a bit more detail, if being involved in that hobby/rec-activity would be a benefit to the job or the skill-set associated with that hobby/rec-activity, would be key for the job.
For example - if you Coach kids soccer, you could spin that, you are good with kids and are a good teacher/communicator and leader, or it could be interpreted that way. That would obviosuly look good if applying for a job that you where working with kids or where communications and leadership skills were important.
You are right, for the most part employers are looking at your work performance, and what you do in the your spare time, is of little concern to them. My sense is that it could back-fire as well, if they see a long list of hobbies/rec-activities/volunteer stuff, they may interprete that as, “Does this person even have time for work?” or “How distracted by all these things will the person be?” . . and so on. You need to be careful.
If it is a non-sports related position, it would be OK to list as a hobby in one line that you do endurance sports or running or triathlon you might even mention Ironman in that as well if you did an Ironman. I wouldn’t put anything more then that though or you risk giving the impression to the person doing the hiring that the job is just something to pay the bills but the rest of the stuff is your passion. Which may be the case, but not something that is going to get you the job. Finishing times, qualifying for something etc, bares absolutely no relevance to the job most likely. If you do get the interview though, and they bring up your hobbies or interests, then it might be a good conversation piece to bring up.
**One of my good friends used to include “finding the perfect steak” on his resume. Sure enough, EVERY interviewer asked him about the best steak he had ever eaten. It transformed the formal atmosphere into a relatively lax one and allowed him to connect with the interviewer as though they were already co-workers. **
Absolutely brilliant! Having those icebreaker and bonding things going for you in an interview is HUGE, will definately set you apart from many other applicants, who will be totally and only focussed on their performance - which is important, but having that personal and interactive communication with your manager, is also very important as well.
i have both reviewed resumes as well as submitted them. including personal activities and interests is a great way to show who you are in addition to your career aspirations.
i would be hesitant though to designate multisport training and racing, or long distance/endurance running as a “hobbies”. collecting old fishing lures to me is a hobby. multisport or endurance event participation is a lifestyle indicator. employers who have at least some sense of awareness will understand and more than likely appreciate the discipline and personality tendencies that those generally indicate. hold the details for if…and more than likely…when they ask.
First off, I’ve NEVER send a resume. It’s like sending junk mail…it’s gets thrown away. If it’s a large employer that uses scan technology, it makes your chances even worse.
But, I WOULD include it in a “resu-letter” that is strategically written to show you have good “work-life” balance. Meaning, you kick ass at work…and at having a life.
The resume should simply be your “brag book” of how you’ve performed your jobs and can excel in the position in which you’re applying, the resu-letter is stating your interest in the position.
So…
Don’t apply online…cold call the company until you’ve found the hiring manager
Send the resu-letter mapping your capabilities to the position.
If they want a resume, then re-write the resume based upon the job position.
I’ve made $5000 this year (last 2.5 months in referral bonuses) helping friends get jobs at my company…If I were a recruiter I could probably take the year off with all the placement commission. 100k each x 20%, right?
Unless you are looking for a job in the fitness or tri area, I would lay low on the commitment to sports. I know that we are all proud of our achievements and proud of all the work it takes to get to Ironman never mind to finish the thing, but your employer is hiring you to work not to rest after all the training you did before and after work. What will he think after you explain the 20 to 25 hour training weeks or the time it takes to get to the big races. I think he’ll be thinking that that fat guy he’s going to interview next might just be better for the job.
First off, I’ve NEVER send a resume. It’s like sending junk mail…it’s gets thrown away. If it’s a large employer that uses scan technology, it makes your chances even worse.
Bingo!
Not a complete waste of time, but close. General calls or advertisments for resumes usually result in hundreds of resumes showing up.
I agree with Diesel. You need to set yourself apart, by either making contact with the hiring manager or HR person who will be doing the initial interviews or via networking get someone inside the company or outside with contacts inside to refer you or forward on your resume. This is the ONLY way in general calls for resumes will you ever stand-out or get an interview.
To the OP, remember this is all about getting the interview. Nothing happens until you get in front of the person that is going to screen you for the next phase or will be doing the hiring.
I handle recruiting for my law firm and I always like to see something different on that last line of the resume. I can’t speak for other fields but there are way too many lawyers who don’t have lives. If someone says he or she enjoys salsa dancing, rock climbing, 24, or triathlon, that’s a plus in my book.
Also some of the older guys here have mentioned that they think running marathons shows commitment and perseverance, which are good qualities to project in a resume.
Obviously, if you’re looking for a job at La-Z-Boy, you may want to rethink things.
I know from experience…if you’re in the IT industry and looking at the big old-school companies (eye-bee-eMM or ay-tee-N-tee), then don’t bother. Leave that stuff off…they won’t appreciate it. Corporate training info requests you to “refrain” from it. (isn’t ‘refrain’ a word from a church hymnal?)
I’m in charge of hiring attorneys, summer clerks, and high-level admin folks for my Division of the my law firm, so, I have seen many, many resumes. Couple comments and responses to others.
Regarding advice NOT to send a resume, well, that depends on the job. We (and many, if not most) law firms require them. Many, many of my corporate clients do as well. So, you may HAVE to send a resume.
Regarding putting tri on the resume, you bet, but, keep it very general and very, very low key. A more appropriate location to elaborate on it is in your cover letter, which is a lot more important than your resume anyway. You may say, “In my spare time I enjoy training for and participating in Ironman (or whatever) triathlons.” Or something to that effect.
Watch length. Many places limit you to 1 page. If you are limited to 1 page and it is full already, drop the tri stuff. You can mention it in the cover letter and during the interview. Do not substitute substance for your personal interests. Do not reduce font size, margins, etc. to make it fit.
It will make you stand out. For example, last summer, I interviewed a woman from Marquette Law School who was on the U.S. National Open Water Swim Team and competed in the world championship a few years ago in Australia. That certainly got my attention and made her stand out. She was also toward the top of her class and interviewed very well, but, so did a lot of other candidates. That being said, she actually talked about something other than her life long desire to be a lawyer and her love, passion, dedication, and undying devotion to the law (gag!).
Unless you are not looking for a job in the industry… ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Resume has one purpose. To get you an interview and resume has to be as short as possible. What you tell in the interview is up to the way of things going, if you see running shoes, a race flyer etc. on the interviewers desk it is a nice ice breaker.
First off, I’ve NEVER send a resume. It’s like sending junk mail…it’s gets thrown away. If it’s a large employer that uses scan technology, it makes your chances even worse.
But, I WOULD include it in a “resu-letter” that is strategically written to show you have good “work-life” balance. Meaning, you kick ass at work…and at having a life.
The resume should simply be your “brag book” of how you’ve performed your jobs and can excel in the position in which you’re applying, the resu-letter is stating your interest in the position.
So…
Don’t apply online…cold call the company until you’ve found the hiring manager
Send the resu-letter mapping your capabilities to the position.
If they want a resume, then re-write the resume based upon the job position.
I’ve made $5000 this year (last 2.5 months in referral bonuses) helping friends get jobs at my company…If I were a recruiter I could probably take the year off with all the placement commission. 100k each x 20%, right?
This guy knows it, listen his advice.
I just used a professional resume writer and she used the personal interests in the executive bio that will accompany the resume, but not in the actual resume. Seemed like a good approach to let people know more about me but keep the resume to the professional & educational information only.
thanks for all the replies…but to the guy saying not to send a resume, I have to ask its required for this specific position and that is why I am fixing up the one I have. It is hard to keep it to one page, as in the past I have used it for teaching positions where they want to see everything, including the sports, etc. as it shows what else you can bring to the school. So in the interest of space I may have to cut it anyway…