What are the best "interests" to list on resume?
What are the best 'interests' to list on resume (the ones most desired by recruiters) ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trending Content
Career Resources
WSO Free Modeling Series - Now Open Through
May 31, 2024
9 Free Financial Modeling Lessons
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
+Bonus: Get 27 financial modeling templates in swipe file
Interests as in what, hobbies? No one cares. I'm not going to hire someone because he or she enjoys kayaking.
Are you a robot?
Idk if this is a troll or not but I'll bite. There are no best interests. What are you interested in? List it. The only time it's useful is the 1/100 chance that they did the same thing. I was on the rowing team at my college. One time during an interview I got asked about teamwork. I mentioned being on the rowing team and the dude turned out to be a rower. It was an instant connection and we started talking about that more than banking. So it went very well.
That being said, the chance of you talking to someone with a shared interest is pretty low because we all did relatively different things in school. Don't start playing squash because you heard it's relatively common amongst bankers.
Any interests to avoid having on resume?
It is probably best to avoid listing politics or something really generic (e.g. watching movies, listening to music)
Reading and travel are ubiquitous. If you say 18th century British literature, or travel in South America, yes, it's a little pretentious, but at least not so boilerplate. Everyone likes reading and traveling. If you bother to list it, needs a catch. I've seen hip hop dance on guys' resumes multiple times - I love asking about that - been surprised with some very cool answers. An instrument is great, anything a bit unique. I've seen Chinese Zither - no shame in that Ok, we can make jokes about the Interests section, yet it's the bottom of the resume. People read it - they like to ask about it. A resume is intended to spark a 2-way conversation. Anything that might catch an interviewer's interest that you speak to with enthusiasm/excitement/passion that shows your personality and creates a CONNECTION is great. No, classical piano is not going to get you hired. But for someone who loves it to ask you your favorite composer, and you both love Chopin, it's something in common that sticks in that interviewer's mind. It's also about "do I want to work with this person?"
I once had a kid put "flying drones" on his resume - our entire group cracked up reading the resume - until we spoke to him. It became a fun and engaging piece of the conversation that gave an insight into the personality. He ranked well in our review. Sometimes many candidates in a large interview pool run together - anything memorable in a positive way is helpful.
+1.
anime
Maybe for Jane Street but what about IB?
Magic
performing or as in the gathering
Financial Modeling, WSJ, Pulling all nighters on WSO
If you wanted to be disingenuous, think of the typical banker (old money East Coast) and then think of what that person would do (golf, for example)
The old adage applies here: If you have to ask...
Girls, sports and dogs are generally the best interests
Hookers & cocaine.
How else would you do this job
This one should be ranked "Funniest"
List your interests.
If that's really hard, a good scapegoat one is podcasts. listen to a few before your interview, and you come off as decently intelligent and curious. an actual interest in podcasts isnt a bad thing either
I don’t disagree but isn’t that very general? Akin to listing television, music, books...
I can’t believe people are seriously responding to this guys question.. the entire question shows such social ineptitude and misunderstanding of how recruiting / social interaction works that it’s laughable
Could you explain further?
On a serious note, any impressive or unique hobbies that you have (ie. running marathons, riding unicycles, BMX'ing, famous tik tok influencer, etc.) are actually kind of helpful to make you a more attractive candidate. I had one of them on my resume, and over half of my interviewers would ask me about it. They just make you a more interesting person.
Honestly, I don't even think it's a bad thing to start a new hobby just because you think it's going to look cool on your resume. I'm all for people bettering themselves and trying new things. Worst case scenario, you find out you don't like it, feel like a massive tool for about 5 minutes, and you stop doing it. Best case scenario, you find something you are passionate about, you make a whole bunch of new friends, your life becomes more fun, and you become a more interesting person.
That being said, DO NOT list something on your interests if it's not something you have an actual interest in. If you list "NBA", expect people to bring it up. Some people will be very passionate about it. If one of them starts talking to you about it, and you just go "uhhh", you're going to look like a fucking idiot. Huge, huge red flag.
Has someone actually done the last part of your response? That would be so funny to watch lol.
In a nutshell, listing interests has a larger downside than upside so just be honest
Pls don’t list tik tok influencer
Unless you’re applying to Deloitte.
mate if you got 5 million followers by all means list it, at least you wrote something besides ‘traveling’
Be honest and upfront, but appropriate. Try to not focus in one area (i.e. only mentioning different sports you play).
I've kicked off past interviews really well because among my hobbies, music production and sailing were listed. During one round, both interviewers could relate and a good 15 minutes of our conversation was shooting the shit (and I got the job).
Just don't list simping, anime, or Minecraft as your hobby and you will be okay. Use the WSO resume template as a guide of how to structure.
I've received a lot of resumes thus far in my career and the interest section always makes me laugh. The point of the interests is to find common ground with your interviewer or make yourself stand out; not make yourself look stupid. I get it that its IB and there are a lot of BSDs that like to talk about their lavish hobbies, but if you're sending me a resume for an internship, don't put "island hopping", "boating", "watch collecting". You will automatically be put in the no category. Put stuff that is relatable; remember we will have to spend hours with you.
If your reviewer is also affluent though wouldn't that be a common bond?
So what would you want to see instead? Drinking, sports, poker?
Sports and poker could be good; generally you want something that makes you seem interesting. I like when people put specific sports, volunteering, any unique interests that are good talking points etc. If you are dealing with someone who is more pretentious then yeah they'll bang with other stuff.
I think a common activity with a twist would be appropriate. For example, "travel" could be listed if you have traveled over 30 countries.
I wouldn't think that's interesting rather that they just lucked out and came from a wealthy family
The basics. LBO modeling, DCFs, comps. analysis etc
Are you sure you replied to the correct thread?
I’d hate to see the lamo interviewer impressed by someone listing these as “interests”
“Shredding gnar” that is all
Van Halen.. nuff said
Reading, history, golf, video games, etc
None
I’m an idiot, so I listed interest in an NSFW acrostic: Travel, Improv, Tennis, Surfing = TITS
History is good
Something Prestigious: Archery, Painting, Sailing, Running, Etc.
Assumenda cumque quis vitae ab sit ut quia. Quia fuga perferendis ex animi debitis asperiores. Molestiae voluptas ipsam et non tempora molestias quis et. Facere eaque maxime error voluptatem ipsa sit.
Officiis numquam hic modi ab sed. Beatae rem doloribus id vitae.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...
Et sunt totam aut. Quia provident ad nam neque. Ab adipisci culpa quas quo nesciunt numquam alias. Rerum ducimus facilis delectus.
Necessitatibus enim qui quaerat veritatis quia cum recusandae. Fugit maiores sequi est earum doloremque sit. Vero iure consequatur harum sed sit culpa. Excepturi odio corporis qui eligendi. Aut qui consectetur quam sequi consequuntur. Itaque ducimus dolores ipsum optio dolor sapiente. Consequatur error et voluptatibus cupiditate.
Illo qui dignissimos laudantium facere magni doloribus magnam reiciendis. Quaerat nesciunt illo aliquam maxime quo aut culpa. Tempore sed veritatis cum repellendus quia sit aut.