Listing Interests in your Resume Forum

GiantsFan · Post by **GiantsFan** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 12:18 pm

First post! Finishing up my resume and included an interests section. I'm 5 years removed from undergrad and have a successful career in Technology Consulting so I'm not too concerned with any of the other sections.

My questions is around listing Beer Brewing

. I really enjoy brewing beer (among several other interests) and have always had fun conversations with employers and friends when they hear this. I imagine it would be similar with a law school interviewer but wanted to check and see if this seemed inappropriate to include in my resume (in a small section at the end). Certainly don't want to come off as a binging alcoholic which I am not.

benwyatt · Post by **benwyatt** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 12:30 pm

Post removed.

MistakenGenius · Post by **MistakenGenius** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 12:41 pm

Post removed.

TheSpanishMain · Post by **TheSpanishMain** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 12:52 pm

I personally think interest sections are dumb as shit and completely unnecessary, but if you want to have one I don't think there's anything wrong with putting beer brewing.

GiantsFan · Post by **GiantsFan** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 1:50 pm

benwyatt wrote:Just call it Zymology.

Don't want to seem too highfalutin

MistakenGenius wrote:This is obviously anecdotal, but I listed beer-brewing in my resume for both law school applications and OCI. I had no problems with it and actually had a few adcomms ask me questions about it. I believe the Columbia interviewer was trying to make some himself and we discussed a graff I was working on for 90% of the interview. Unless you're applying to BYU, Liberty, or Regent (don't apply to BYU, Liberty, or Regent), I think it's fine to list it as one of your 3-4 interests. Won't help you or hurt you.

This is what I figured. Great information. Thank you.

TheSpanishMain wrote:I personally think interest sections are dumb as shit and completely unnecessary, but if you want to have one I don't think there's anything wrong with putting beer brewing.

You never know. I interview about 5-10 people a year and I enjoy reading their interests sections. If I have two close candidates, I am always going to choose the one I feel I have more in common with. But thanks for your opinion!

libertttarian · Post by **libertttarian** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 2:09 pm

TheSpanishMain wrote:I personally think interest sections are dumb as shit and completely unnecessary, but if you want to have one I don't think there's anything wrong with putting beer brewing.

I totally agree with this, although I do have an interest section because it's common and helps me pass myself off as normal and well-adjusted.

BizBro · Post by **BizBro** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 4:36 pm

Made for some chill discussion during OCI interviews. Only thing I can recommend is to remove any languages that you only have basic skills in. Apparently its a pet peeve of many interviewers,.

SplitMyPants · Post by **SplitMyPants** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 4:52 pm

BizBro wrote:Made for some chill discussion during OCI interviews.

Leonardo DiCaprio · Post by **Leonardo DiCaprio** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 5:04 pm

BizBro wrote:Made for some chill discussion during OCI interviews. Only thing I can recommend is to remove any languages that you only have basic skills in. Apparently its a pet peeve of many interviewers,.

what are the skill levels bro? native, fluent, proficient, basic?

TheSpanishMain · Post by **TheSpanishMain** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 5:26 pm

I get what it's supposed to do in theory, but I think that A) it comes off as kind of childish. Like it's the first day of high school and we're playing that "Tell me three interesting facts about you!" game. I realize that's probably just my personal thing and I'm in the minority. and B) A good interviewee can get a natural conversation flowing without having to pretend they're really into running and foreign films or whatever.

rpupkin · Post by **rpupkin** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 5:32 pm

TheSpanishMain wrote:I personally think interest sections are dumb as shit and completely unnecessary, but if you want to have one I don't think there's anything wrong with putting beer brewing.

You should change your mind, at least when it comes to applying for jobs. I've participated in associate hiring at law firms, and I've participated in clerkship hiring for a federal judge. I'd say that your "Interests" section is probably the third most important thing in your application, after law school and GPA. (Yes, I actually think it's more important than work experience.) You'd be shocked at how many people get selected for interviews because of their interesting hobbies.

A. Nony Mouse · Post by **A. Nony Mouse** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 5:34 pm

TheSpanishMain wrote:I get what it's supposed to do in theory, but I think that A) it comes off as kind of childish. Like it's the first day of high school and we're playing that "Tell me three interesting facts about you!" I realize that's probably just my personal thing and I'm in the minority. and B) A good interviewee can get a natural conversation flowing without having to pretend they're really into running and foreign films or whatever.

Different strokes for different professions (in my previous life the "personal" section appearing on a c.v. was roundly mocked). I've had great legal interviews based on stuff in my interests section, and it's not about the interviewee getting a natural conversation flowing, it's what the interviewer wants to talk about. I've never brought up the interests (that would be weird), it's something interviewers mention. Sure, it's not necessary for a decent conversation, but there's nothing wrong with it (especially when OCI interviewers are interviewing large numbers of very similar candidates).

Besides, law students are kids, work-wise, no matter how previously experienced they are.

071816 · Post by **071816** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 5:52 pm

please refer to the following thread for definitive answers and engaging discussion regarding this topic: http://top-law-schools.com/forums/viewt ... 3&t=252778

TheSpanishMain · Post by **TheSpanishMain** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 7:22 pm

rpupkin wrote:
TheSpanishMain wrote:I personally think interest sections are dumb as shit and completely unnecessary, but if you want to have one I don't think there's anything wrong with putting beer brewing.
You should change your mind, at least when it comes to applying for jobs. I've participated in associate hiring at law firms, and I've participated in clerkship hiring for a federal judge. I'd say that your "Interests" section is probably the third most important thing in your application, after law school and GPA. (Yes, I actually think it's more important than work experience.) You'd be shocked at how many people get selected for interviews because of their interesting hobbies.

A. Nony Mouse wrote:
TheSpanishMain wrote:I get what it's supposed to do in theory, but I think that A) it comes off as kind of childish. Like it's the first day of high school and we're playing that "Tell me three interesting facts about you!" I realize that's probably just my personal thing and I'm in the minority. and B) A good interviewee can get a natural conversation flowing without having to pretend they're really into running and foreign films or whatever.
Different strokes for different professions (in my previous life the "personal" section appearing on a c.v. was roundly mocked). I've had great legal interviews based on stuff in my interests section, and it's not about the interviewee getting a natural conversation flowing, it's what the interviewer wants to talk about. I've never brought up the interests (that would be weird), it's something interviewers mention. Sure, it's not necessary for a decent conversation, but there's nothing wrong with it (especially when OCI interviewers are interviewing large numbers of very similar candidates).

Besides, law students are kids, work-wise, no matter how previously experienced they are.

Yeah, I may be wrong when I say they're completely unnecessary (although I just went through OCI and did just fine/outperformed my GPA without an interests section), but I still think they're dumb. But yeah, gotta deal with the reality that a lot of people expect them, I suppose.

BizBro · Post by **BizBro** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:12 pm

Leonardo DiCaprio wrote:
BizBro wrote:Made for some chill discussion during OCI interviews. Only thing I can recommend is to remove any languages that you only have basic skills in. Apparently its a pet peeve of many interviewers,.
what are the skill levels bro? native, fluent, proficient, basic?

I pretty much would not put it at all unless you can use it comfortably in a business setting. No one wants to hear that you can order a meal in X language.

SplitMyPants · Post by **SplitMyPants** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 10:43 am

If you think an interests section is dumb, you need more interesting interests.

TheSpanishMain · Post by **TheSpanishMain** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 1:46 pm

SplitMyPants wrote:If you think an interests section is dumb, you need more interesting interests.

I'd rather use the space for interesting work/professional stuff. I'll take the loss in the sense that some legal employers seem to expect it, but as I said I outperformed my grades handily despite the lack of an interests section.

Maybe I made a huge gamble and got lucky. Ymmv. Somehow I think I would have suffered if I deleted substantive experience to make room for running, travel, and seasons 1 and 2 of Veep.

BigZuck · Post by **BigZuck** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:15 pm

Aren't you former military or old or something though Spanish Main? For some reason I thought you were nontrad which potentially means that the normal rules don't apply.

I think interest sections are dumb too but considering the best thing a lot of law students have on their resume is undergrad or internship "work experience" it would be a mistake to leave off something that an interviewer can actually latch on to IMO.

TheSpanishMain · Post by **TheSpanishMain** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:18 pm

BigZuck wrote:Aren't you former military or old or something though Spanish Main? For some reason I thought you were nontrad which potentially means that the normal rules don't apply.

Both.

BigZuck · Post by **BigZuck** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 2:21 pm

TheSpanishMain wrote:
BigZuck wrote:Aren't you former military or old or something though Spanish Main? For some reason I thought you were nontrad which potentially means that the normal rules don't apply.

Both.

Well yeah, that's why you outperformed your grades and why you think it's childish to have an interests section

Liking the Yankees might be the only reason some 22 year old gets the big kid job, he's gotta go for it. Being the Vice Secretary of his frat isn't gonna get him there.

A. Nony Mouse · Post by **A. Nony Mouse** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 3:53 pm

Yeah, I was going to suggest that the interests section probably makes a bigger difference for the largely-interchangeable K-JDs at OCI. As I've said, I included one (despite being old), but if you do have a lot of substantive stuff on your resume they'll find plenty to talk about. (I think just by being nontrad I avoided a lot of the generic questions people talk about getting because there was lots to talk about on my resume. Not saying that makes it a great resume, but lots of conversational hooks.)