Wen a hobby in a resume helps to impress an employer, and when it harms

One such case was the "olive candidate," who listed "olive oil" as a hobby in their resume. A social media post about it garnered over 10 million views and sparked a discussion about whether it's appropriate to include such minor details in a resume.

"Companies are overwhelmed with resumes, many of which are created with the help of AI," he says in a comment. CNBC Glen Lovelace, a senior career coach at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, says, "Every resume is like the last one. Anyone who shows a bit of their personality, on their resume or during an interview, stands out from the rest."

Career counseling expert Erin Kennedy adds, "People want to be noticed, to stand out from the crowd, because the hiring process is very different now than it was three to five years ago." She notes that recently, candidates have started adding their hobbies to their resumes again — from collecting old Star Wars figurines to playing pickleball.

When your hobby works for you

Experts advise evaluating whether a hobby is relevant to a particular job and company. In conservative fields, unusual interests may seem inappropriate, whereas in creative or specific industries, they can make a candidate stand out.

You can also mention hobbies in a cover letter or on LinkedIn if they don't fit a formal resume. According to Jasmine Escalera, a career expert at MyPerfectResume, "an employer's reaction to your hobby can be a litmus test for the company's culture. If someone is put off by something neutral, like a passion for olive oil, it doesn't speak very well of the company."

First and foremost – experience and skills.

Experts emphasize that no matter what hobbies you add, the main thing is to showcase your experience and qualifications. "Number one is to get the job," Escalera stresses. Hobbies can help create a personal touch in a resume, but they should not distract from the main point.

Thus, an unusual hobby can be both a plus and a risk, and the key is to correctly assess the company's context, position, and how it is presented.