---
title: A Good Idea to Include Activities & Interests on Your Resume?
description: New research sheds light on whether to add an activities / interests section to your resume.
---

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# Executive Resumes, Personal Branding & Executive Job Search

## [A Good Idea to Include Activities & Interests on Your Resume? ](https://www.aresumefortoday.com/high-tech-resumes/bid/45730/A-Good-Idea-to-Include-Activities-Interests-on-Your-Resume)

Posted by [Tyrone Norwood](https://www.aresumefortoday.com/high-tech-resumes/author/tyrone-norwood)

Find me on:

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tnorwood/)

 Nov 9, 2010 11:00:00 AM

![Add "sailing" to your sales resume?](https://www.aresumefortoday.com/hs-fs/file-13780492-jpg/images/image-sailing1-resized-600.jpg?width=278&height=208&name=image-sailing1-resized-600.jpg)

There's been a trend in resume writing - particularly executive resume writing - to leave off interests and activities unrelated to the person's profession. The thinking was that it's not a good idea to distract readers from the person's consistent career brand as described in the resume. Those extras have been considered simply irrelevant.

But I was struck to read about some research that has implications for what a job seeker should do about this matter. Craig Lambert, in a [Harvard Magazine article](http://harvardmagazine.com/2010/11/the-psyche-on-automatic) about Harvard researcher Amy Cuddy, discusses the finding that competence in one area generalizes to overall competence. So, if a job seeker lists "sailing" as an interest, the reader will be more likely to think that that person is competent in his/her job.

My new advice? It doesn't matter how removed the interest or activity is from your profession, **include it** if it demonstrates an ability or skill that you have. Cello playing for a CFO. Competitive swimming for an IT manager. Sled dog racing for a construction manager.

You get the idea. You'll be considered better at what you do for a living than a comparable competitor with no interests / activities.

 

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