Resume "Interests Section" Forum

[JCFindley]

OK, trimmed my resume to one page and left room for one line of interests.

Do you call it interests? (example below)

Interests: Photography, Martial Arts, College Sports, Mountaineering, Kayaking, NFL Football

And, anything on my list that is controversial or could be improved?

Thanks

[Gorki]

That is fine.

Take a look at this thread- http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=188515

[JCFindley]

That is fine.

Take a look at this thread- http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=188515

Thanks Gorki. That was the thread that convinced me to put one on there. I just couldn't find it to necro the thread and reread it.

Thanks again.

[shock259]

I think ~3 interests is the magic number. I'd take out a couple of yours.

If I was picking from your list, I'd probably choose Photography, Martial Arts, and Kayaking.

Also, I think specificity is good. Do you like a particular kind of photography? (I know nothing about photograph btw, so maybe this doesn't make sense).

Short, specific, and interesting are the keys. You just want something that someone will be comfortable asking you about and you can briefly explain in an enthusiastic way to show you are a real human being.

[JCFindley]

I think ~3 interests is the magic number. I'd take out a couple of yours.

Also, I think specificity is good. Do you like a particular kind of photography (I know nothing about btw, so maybe this doesn't make sense).

Short, specific, and interesting are the keys. You just want something that someone will be comfortable asking you about and you can briefly explain in an enthusiastic way to show you are a real human being.

Three? But I have a whole line to fill.....

Alright, three it is and can be easily done.

Fine Art Photography would work but it is also in the jobs on my resume so will probably go with martial arts, NCAA and NFL Football and mountaineering

[shock259]

I remember that's what my CSO insisted on. I thought that was the TLS consensus too but I could be wrong. Maybe you can do more.

[bk1]

I agree on being more specific. Kayaking/Mountaineering are fine. Photography probably too (though saying DSLR Photography might be better). I would specify which college team/sport and which NFL team (e.g. NY Giants, ND Football, OSU Basketball, Chicago Bears, etc), especially if they are nearby. Same with Martial Arts. Do you practice karate in your spare time? Do you watch MMA and follow a particular fighter?

I also agree on cutting it down. You can have 3-4 columns in a single line and it fills up the entire line, keeps the 3-4 interests equally spaced, and doesn't make it seem cluttered. Listing 6 all separated by a comma is just too much imo.

[JCFindley]

I agree on being more specific. Kayaking/Mountaineering are fine. Photography probably too (though saying DSLR Photography might be better). I would specify which college team/sport and which NFL team (e.g. NY Giants, ND Football, OSU Basketball, Chicago Bears, etc), especially if they are nearby. Same with Martial Arts. Do you practice karate in your spare time? Do you watch MMA and follow a particular fighter?

I also agree on cutting it down. You can have 3-4 columns in a single line and it fills up the entire line, keeps the 3-4 interests equally spaced, and doesn't make it seem cluttered. Listing 6 all separated by a comma is just too much imo.

Thanks.

Football wise it is SEC football and the Packers, neither of which has a big following here in NYC but I can be specific. Martial arts wise I practice Krav Maga and taught self defense. I figure most people have no idea what it is but can be specific. Is there any kind of photography besides DSLR?

Thanks again.

[erico]

Ding b/c he has 5 interests on his rezy? Don't think so.

[Anonymous User]

i have "avid runner, golfer and traveler" ... why is it better to be more specific? aren't you just narrowing the field of potential discussion topics for interviews?

[bk1]

i have "avid runner, golfer and traveler" ... why is it better to be more specific? aren't you just narrowing the field of potential discussion topics for interviews?

It's my suspicion that it doesn't look genuine (and secondarily more specificity makes it more likely that the topic will actually be brought up). If you just put "sports" nobody is going to bring that up since it is so broad. I think "NFL football" is still too broad. Whereas if you put "Philadelphia Eagles" someone can bring up something specific about the team.

[A. Nony Mouse]

i have "avid runner, golfer and traveler" ... why is it better to be more specific? aren't you just narrowing the field of potential discussion topics for interviews?

It's my suspicion that it doesn't look genuine (and secondarily more specificity makes it more likely that the topic will actually be brought up). If you just put "sports" nobody is going to bring that up since it is so broad. I think "NFL football" is still too broad. Whereas if you put "Philadelphia Eagles" someone can bring up something specific about the team.

Along these lines, instead of "traveler" I have "travel in

• ," and people have definitely brought that up in interviews - the specific countries, I mean, not just travel in general. I think more specific makes it more likely someone who comments on it isn't just bringing it up to fill time in the interview, they're genuinely interested, so you're making a connection. So, if you put down "sports" - lots of people like lots of sports, and the only question that really generates in an interview is "what kinds of sports do you like?," which is kind of boring, and isn't going to create much of a connection with an interviewer. But if you put "Philadelphia Eagles" to start with, say you're interviewing in LA and there's an Eagles fan, they can say, "man, wasn't that a dumb trade??" (or whatever the hell football fans talk about), and you're already having a more interesting conversation. Even if you run into someone who hates the Eagles with a passion and starts trash talking them, it's still a more interesting conversation.
  
  (Mind you, despite going into all that analysis, I think the interests section on a resume is way down there on job-application stuff to worry about. A bland one isn't going to *hurt* you, but sometimes the interests help.)

[JCFindley]

i have "avid runner, golfer and traveler" ... why is it better to be more specific? aren't you just narrowing the field of potential discussion topics for interviews?

It's my suspicion that it doesn't look genuine (and secondarily more specificity makes it more likely that the topic will actually be brought up). If you just put "sports" nobody is going to bring that up since it is so broad. I think "NFL football" is still too broad. Whereas if you put "Philadelphia Eagles" someone can bring up something specific about the team.

Along these lines, instead of "traveler" I have "travel in

• ," and people have definitely brought that up in interviews - the specific countries, I mean, not just travel in general. I think more specific makes it more likely someone who comments on it isn't just bringing it up to fill time in the interview, they're genuinely interested, so you're making a connection. So, if you put down "sports" - lots of people like lots of sports, and the only question that really generates in an interview is "what kinds of sports do you like?," which is kind of boring, and isn't going to create much of a connection with an interviewer. But if you put "Philadelphia Eagles" to start with, say you're interviewing in LA and there's an Eagles fan, they can say, "man, wasn't that a dumb trade??" (or whatever the hell football fans talk about), and you're already having a more interesting conversation. Even if you run into someone who hates the Eagles with a passion and starts trash talking them, it's still a more interesting conversation.
  
  (Mind you, despite going into all that analysis, I think the interests section on a resume is way down there on job-application stuff to worry about. A bland one isn't going to *hurt* you, but sometimes the interests help.)

It took me some convincing to put one on it at all but since I know NOTHING about legal hiring from my previous life, I listen to what people say here. And while it is a small piece of the resume it is the one spot I really have no clue about so I really do appreciate the help.

[bk1]

It took me some convincing to put one on it at all but since I know NOTHING about legal hiring from my previous life, I listen to what people say here. And while it is a small piece of the resume it is the one spot I really have no clue about so I really do appreciate the help.

I don't think it's a big deal whether you have it or not. I think my interests were referenced in less than 1/4 of my interviews. My opinion is that you might as well and you might hit it off with someone. It also makes you come across as more human rather than just a piece of paper. But in the end it is unlikely to make or break you whether you have one or not.

[Samara]

1L, so no experience with legal interviewing, but my interests section has been helpful with networking. It's a great way to get that personal hook and have something to maintain a line of communication about.

[kalvano]

It's mainly for the interviewer. No one is going to give you a job just because of your interests section (cue the poster who knows a guy who knows a girl who got a job because of her interests section and insists that that is a representative sample), but if you have something interesting to talk about, it makes you a better interview. Legal interviews are boring as hell, for everyone involved. Almost everyone's resume looks the same, so would you rather talk about law review or hockey or books or whatever? It helps if you can put something unique or memorable. I have something about cars, and when I interviewed at the USAO, the attorney interviewing me was really in to cars and racing. She and I talked about that for most of the interview. Was it solely because of that that I got the internship? Maybe. Probably not. But I'm sure being able to chat for a while about something completely unrelated to law and be a normal person didn't hurt at all.

[dingbat]

How does "Fusion Cooking, Scuba Diving, Pet Rescue and Electronic Music" sound?
This will be in addition to dual citizenship, bilingual and UG degree from a third country (which I'm hoping clearly indicates foreign travel)

[kalvano]

How does "Fusion Cooking, Scuba Diving, Pet Rescue and Electronic Music" sound?
This will be in addition to dual citizenship, bilingual and UG degree from a third country (which I'm hoping clearly indicates foreign travel)

[dingbat]

one day...

[JCFindley]

How does "Fusion Cooking, Scuba Diving, Pet Rescue and Electronic Music" sound?
This will be in addition to dual citizenship, bilingual and UG degree from a third country (which I'm hoping clearly indicates foreign travel)

Perfect!

OK, in order to put in the interests section I had to leave off that I went to Army Airborne School at and was the first 2LT selected to fly the B-1B supersonic bomber. My resume will most certainly have more than what I did 1L summer and why I didn't want to do LR.

[JCFindley]

It's mainly for the interviewer. No one is going to give you a job just because of your interests section (cue the poster who knows a guy who knows a girl who got a job because of her interests section and insists that that is a representative sample), but if you have something interesting to talk about, it makes you a better interview. Legal interviews are boring as hell, for everyone involved. Almost everyone's resume looks the same, so would you rather talk about law review or hockey or books or whatever? It helps if you can put something unique or memorable. I have something about cars, and when I interviewed at the USAO, the attorney interviewing me was really in to cars and racing. She and I talked about that for most of the interview. Was it solely because of that that I got the internship? Maybe. Probably not. But I'm sure being able to chat for a while about something completely unrelated to law and be a normal person didn't hurt at all.

Thanks.

[ChikaBoom]

How does "Fusion Cooking, Scuba Diving, Pet Rescue and Electronic Music" sound?
This will be in addition to dual citizenship, bilingual and UG degree from a third country (which I'm hoping clearly indicates foreign travel)

Perfect!

OK, in order to put in the interests section I had to leave off that I went to Army Airborne School at and was the first 2LT selected to fly the B-1B supersonic bomber. My resume will most certainly have more than what I did 1L summer and why I didn't want to do LR.

Yeah...I don't think you'll be hurting for talking points.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Perfect!

OK, in order to put in the interests section I had to leave off that I went to Army Airborne School at and was the first 2LT selected to fly the B-1B supersonic bomber. My resume will most certainly have more than what I did 1L summer and why I didn't want to do LR.

Um, forgive me if I'm missing a joke or something, but I would totally put this stuff on a resume over the interests section.

[dingbat]

Perfect!

OK, in order to put in the interests section I had to leave off that I went to Army Airborne School at and was the first 2LT selected to fly the B-1B supersonic bomber. My resume will most certainly have more than what I did 1L summer and why I didn't want to do LR.

Um, forgive me if I'm missing a joke or something, but I would totally put this stuff on a resume over the interests section.

His resume already screams military - leaving that off won't make a big difference (believe it or not)

[A. Nony Mouse]

Perfect!

OK, in order to put in the interests section I had to leave off that I went to Army Airborne School at and was the first 2LT selected to fly the B-1B supersonic bomber. My resume will most certainly have more than what I did 1L summer and why I didn't want to do LR.

Um, forgive me if I'm missing a joke or something, but I would totally put this stuff on a resume over the interests section.

His resume already screams military - leaving that off won't make a big difference (believe it or not)

Ah, I get it! never mind.