Tag: a chronological resume

Listing Hobbies and Interests on a Resume?


Recognized resume styles

As was indicated in one of our earlier posts, there are two types of resumes; one identified as a chronological resume and the other a functional resume. A chronological resume is structured by listing past employers and education in order, starting with the most recent jobs and/or achievements, and proceeding in reverse order with the previous of such listings until a reasonable number (5 recommended), or the very first event is reached. This type of resume is also – at times – referred to as a reverse chronological resume because of the order in which the listings starts and ends.

Chronological Resume Template: Resume Solution, What you Need to Creat your US and Canadian Resume (Template, Resume, Functional, Jobs, Opportunities)

Functional resumes, on the other hand, focus on an individual’s qualifications instead of his/her career timeline, in the sense that it highlights the skills s/he possesses rather than where and when s/he acquired or utilized them. In other words, instead of listing the job applicant’s experiences and job titles, a functional resume will contain sections titled as they relate to that applicant’s skills; such as verbal and written communication, customer satisfaction and project management, among others.

Best uses of a functional resume

The functional resume style is recommended for college students seeking internships or their first jobs out of college; for job seekers with little or no professional experience, or for career changers. This resume style allows job seekers to reference their hobbies and interests in a way that apply to their career objectives only; but the listing of hobbies and interests outside of the job seeker’s career objective is not recommended as such outside listings do not promote that individual as a professional in any way.

Consider for a moment that you are a job seeker composing your resume and you would like to prepare it in the most professional way you possibly can. The important you must do to accomplish this is to keep your career objective uppermost in your mind. You want to present yourself in a best possible light to your potential employer, so the information on your resume must answer one very important question:

Why are you the best candidate for the job? And the bet way you can prepare yourself to answer this question is to maintain constant focus on your career objective while composing your resume.

Resume mistakes to be avoided

The biggest mistake some job seekers make on their resumes is including information that is not related to their professional experience. Facts pertaining to your volunteer positions, community work, interests and hobbies that disclose your race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, religious beliefs or other personal descriptors that do not directly impact professional performance must be excluded from your resume.

Understanding that the functional resume does not require you to list names or organizations you have worked or volunteered for allows you to list any experience you have acquired at a given company or organization without potentially disclosing any demographic information.

Additionally, you should not create a separate section on your resume for hobbies and interests since this is typically seen as amateur, thereby detracting from your resume by rendering it less credible. Listing hobbies and interests as they apply to the position you are applying for should be done under specific functional sections.

Use hobbies & interests ONLY to enhance resume

For example, if you are seeking a position in graphic design, and have samples of related work that you have done as a hobby, indicate this fact on your resume or in your cover letter. In fact, any of your hobby activities that are related to the type of work you are seeking should be listed on your resume, but only such a listing will be advantageous to you

And if you’ve read books or completed seminars at the local community center that are applicable to your chosen job, make mention of them and many potential employers will welcome the opportunity to have you demonstrate those qualifications that make you a perfect candidate for the job or position they’re offering.

As a final step, have a friend review your resume, or if you are a college student, seek assistance from a career center at your school. Having another person review your resume will help uncover any items that may raise questions about your experience or education, as well as point out whether or not the inclusion of your hobbies and interests works to support your career objective. Perfecting your resume will go a long way to assure your potential employer that you are the best candidate for the s/he is offering job.

Customizing Your Resume to the Ideal Job




Similar look, different resume

While the look of most resumes appear similar to each other on the surface, there are key areas that differentiate well-written, winning resumes from those that never make it into the hands of hiring managers. To customize your resume for that ideal job you want, it is important to direct your attention to the following three elements:

  • Resume Style
  • Career Objective, and;
  • Personal Profile.

The layout and style of your resume are as important as the information you include about your experience and qualifications. The two most commonly used resume styles are chronological and functional. A chronological resume requires you to list your professional expertise in order – much like the name implies – and is used by those applicants with extensive professional experience. Functional resumes showcase an applicant’s experience based on the type of qualifications s/he has, and is typically used by those lacking professional experience or those changing careers.

While there are no set rules in determining the best resume style to use, it is important to keep in mind that the resume format can help or hurt your chances when attempting to put your best foot forward. It is therefore of the utmost importance to pick the format that will best highlight your qualifications and your experience. It is also important to understand the difference between the two; which is why a little research into which format is more preferred in the field of your choice is something that should be done.

Career objective

Career objective of the professional resume – This is a very important component in the preparation of your resume; and while there have been extensive debate about the need for listing your objective on any resume you prepare, choosing to include this goal statement shows that you have given your professional growth some serious thought. Consider your career objective as the first impression you make on your potential employer. Make sure your goals are specific and directional in terms of industry, position title, and future professional achievements.

Most people make a mistake of including generic statements under their career objective; but you should make every effort to avoid this mistake. To be effective your statement must tell a potential employer that you know what kind of job you want and what experience you have in order to get the position, as well as what you are willing to do in order to become a successful professional with the company.

While the career objective section tells your potential employer why you are applying for the job at their organization, the professional profile section sells your expertise and convinces the employer that you are the best candidate for that job. Your professional summary/profile gives you the opportunity to differentiate yourself, and give your employer an insight into you. Two frequently repeated mistakes for this section of the resume are poor writing and inclusion of personal information.

Not personal, but impressive

Note that your age, ethnicity, gender, religious affiliations and such personal information do not make a difference on how you handle yourself as a business professional. Such information should never be included in a resume, or any job application materials (even when asked on a job application, such information is optional and is for demographics study only). Make sure this section is well written and error-free, since strong positive statements about your expertise will give a good first impression to your employer.

Make sure to proofread the whole resume, with emphasis to this section, as it appears at the start of your resume. An effective personal statement must leave your employer with an impression that you are confident, credible, and professional. But keep in mind that– any resume you prepare is your sales pitch which demonstrates your qualifications and experience to a potential employer; so seize the opportunity to put your best foot forward and you will reap the excellent rewards you aspire to.