Cover Letters 101 – What Hobbies and Interests Should I Include in My Job Application Cover Letter?
When you are writing a cover letter, you are essentially introducing yourself to your potential employer and showing them what makes you the best person for the job. But you don’t want to share your whole life history, either. Cover letters should be no longer than one page in length, longer only in certain circumstances. So when it comes to including your favorite hobbies or personal interests…should you? Yes and no. There is no real black and white answer for this question. But there are some general rules to follow. If the hobbies you engage in outside of work do not apply to the job you are applying for, it may not make much sense to include them. If you are applying for a job as a marketing manager, your interest in building model cars is not going to be too impressive. But if you are applying for a marketing manager position at, say, Nintendo, the ever-growing interest in video games you have had ever since you were 3 years old, might be worth shouting out in your cover letter.
