by Kevin Donlin - Guaranteed Resumes - Click for Info

How personal should you get in your resume? Should you include a list of hobbies, associations and other activities? Or skip that information altogether? It depends!

Some career professionals advise that personal details are inappropriate for any resume. I disagree. I believe you should include or omit personal data on a case-by-case basis.

I agree with the reader who writes: "If you have room for an 'Interests' section, it can add some color to your resume. In over half my interviews, employers discussed my interests -- football, sports, etc. They can relate to you and see you more as a person."

Now. Everyone is different.

Should your resume mention football and sports if you're applying for a job as a summer camp counselor or customer service rep at a department store?

I'd say yes, IF you don't have to delete more-valuable information to make it fit.

But what if you're applying for a job as an accountant, lawyer, or something equally conservative? Proceed with caution regarding hobbies and other personal data. When in doubt, leave it out.

Here's the question I've asked myself while writing/editing more than 2,000 resumes: "Does THIS personal data make THIS candidate more attractive for THIS job?" If so, I include relevant interests, associations, etc.

An obvious word of caution -- be 100% truthful when including personal interests in your resume.

Back when I used to work for other people, I wrote on my resume that I spoke intermediate Japanese. After one interview, a blonde woman walked up and said: "Konnichi wa!" We had a nice conversation in Japanese, because I wasn't fibbing. Can you imagine my horror (and non-employment) if I had lied about that? DON'T!

Another point to remember -- it's never a good idea to mention activities related to politics or religion, unless you're applying to a political or religious institution. Otherwise, you run the risk of offending readers who don't share your views. Again, when in doubt, leave it out.

Best of luck to you!

Kevin Donlin is President of Guaranteed Resumes.

Since 1996, he and his team have provided resumes, cover letters and online job-search assistance to clients in all 50 states and 23 countries. Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, CBS MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal's National Business Employment Weekly, CBS Radio, and many others.

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