NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 24 Apr 2024, 12:26 It is currently 24 Apr 2024, 12:26
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

Including "personal interests" section on resume

SORT BY:
Date
Kudos
avatar
brosnan6
Manager
Manager
Joined: 10 Dec 2012
Posts: 56
Own Kudos [?]: 10 [0]
Given Kudos: 6
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, Technology
Schools: McCombs '15 (D) Tuck '15 (D) Darden '15 (S) Ross '15 (WL)
GPA: 3.5
WE:Accounting (Consulting)
Send PM
Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink] New post   30 Dec 2012, 19:37
Wanted to get opinions from the community on whether or not it's worthwhile or recommended to include a one-liner related to "personal interests" at the bottom of the resume I'll be using in b-school apps. I've already applied to a couple schools without the section as it only occurred to me recently to include, but I still have a couple apps that are due in the coming weeks that I could include it with.

Thoughts? If worthwhile/appropriate, is it best to keep it somewhat generic/easily relatable interests (travel, fine dining, etc) or is it better to add some unique things in there that might pop to a reader's eye and spark further interest, conversation (if at interview stage), etc?

I just don't want to end up doing something too crazy and have it end up hurting me in the end.
User avatar
kingfalcon
Director
Director
Joined: 26 May 2010
Posts: 719
Own Kudos [?]: 215 [0]
Given Kudos: 642
Location: United States (MA)
Concentration: Strategy
Schools: MIT Sloan - Class of 2015
WE:Consulting (Mutual Funds and Brokerage)
Send PM
Re: Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink] New post   30 Dec 2012, 19:43
I included an "interests" line and was invited to interview by MIT and Columbia, but I seriously doubt that line made a difference one way or another. Honestly, I chose to include it for the reasons you mentioned (i.e., potential to spark a conversation) and will do so for my final three applications. As long as you use common sense and don't list anything that could reflect poorly on your judgement, I'm sure you'll be fine. That said, don't leave something important off because you feel like you need to have an "interests" line.
avatar
brosnan6
Manager
Manager
Joined: 10 Dec 2012
Posts: 56
Own Kudos [?]: 10 [0]
Given Kudos: 6
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, Technology
Schools: McCombs '15 (D) Tuck '15 (D) Darden '15 (S) Ross '15 (WL)
GPA: 3.5
WE:Accounting (Consulting)
Send PM
Re: Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink] New post   30 Dec 2012, 19:48
kingfalcon wrote:
I included an "interests" line and was invited to interview by MIT and Columbia, but I seriously doubt that line made a difference one way or another. Honestly, I chose to include it for the reasons you mentioned (i.e., potential to spark a conversation) and will do so for my final three applications. As long as you use common sense and don't list anything that could reflect poorly on your judgement, I'm sure you'll be fine. That said, don't leave something important off because you feel like you need to have an "interests" line.


Yeah, that's basically what I'm thinking as well. I have space for exactly one line at the bottom so I figured might as well make use of it. Thanks

Well, it's one more nit to worry about :lol:
User avatar
kingfalcon
Director
Director
Joined: 26 May 2010
Posts: 719
Own Kudos [?]: 215 [0]
Given Kudos: 642
Location: United States (MA)
Concentration: Strategy
Schools: MIT Sloan - Class of 2015
WE:Consulting (Mutual Funds and Brokerage)
Send PM
Re: Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink] New post   30 Dec 2012, 19:58
brosnan6 wrote:
kingfalcon wrote:
I included an "interests" line and was invited to interview by MIT and Columbia, but I seriously doubt that line made a difference one way or another. Honestly, I chose to include it for the reasons you mentioned (i.e., potential to spark a conversation) and will do so for my final three applications. As long as you use common sense and don't list anything that could reflect poorly on your judgement, I'm sure you'll be fine. That said, don't leave something important off because you feel like you need to have an "interests" line.


Yeah, that's basically what I'm thinking as well. I have space for exactly one line at the bottom so I figured might as well make use of it. Thanks

Well, it's one more nit to worry about :lol:

Then yeah, I say go for it. The only thing I'd be wary of is including interests which are not socially acceptable in some professional circles (i.e., gambling, video games, getting tattoos). :-D
avatar
bigcountry
Intern
Intern
Joined: 01 Dec 2012
Posts: 43
Own Kudos [?]: 21 [0]
Given Kudos: 11
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship
Schools: Sloan '15 (D) Tuck '15 (D) Darden '15 (WA) Georgia Tech '15 (M$)
GMAT 1: 710 Q46 V41
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Send PM
Re: Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink] New post   30 Dec 2012, 22:03
kingfalcon wrote:
brosnan6 wrote:
kingfalcon wrote:
I included an "interests" line and was invited to interview by MIT and Columbia, but I seriously doubt that line made a difference one way or another. Honestly, I chose to include it for the reasons you mentioned (i.e., potential to spark a conversation) and will do so for my final three applications. As long as you use common sense and don't list anything that could reflect poorly on your judgement, I'm sure you'll be fine. That said, don't leave something important off because you feel like you need to have an "interests" line.


Yeah, that's basically what I'm thinking as well. I have space for exactly one line at the bottom so I figured might as well make use of it. Thanks

Well, it's one more nit to worry about :lol:

Then yeah, I say go for it. The only thing I'd be wary of is including interests which are not socially acceptable in some professional circles (i.e., gambling, video games, getting tattoos). :-D


I would agree for sure. Three words in the "Personal" line of my resume led to my best interview thus far; you never know!!!
User avatar
cheetarah1980
VP
VP
Joined: 24 Aug 2010
Status:Current Student
Posts: 1332
Own Kudos [?]: 447 [0]
Given Kudos: 74
Location: United States
Schools: Kellogg '14 (A) Wharton '14 (A) Stanford '14 (D) Booth '14 (M)
GMAT 1: 710 Q48 V40
WE:Sales (Consumer Products)
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink] New post   30 Dec 2012, 22:31
Definitely add it. The personal section of my resume sparked a lot of discussion during my bschool interviews. Now that I'm in school it's also helping me with recruiting.
User avatar
pike
Current Student
Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Posts: 245
Own Kudos [?]: 441 [0]
Given Kudos: 7
GMAT 1: 770 Q50 V46
Send PM
Re: Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink] New post   01 Jan 2013, 00:21
A couple of lines to humanize your application in a completely acceptable and normal way... Why would you not do this?

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
B
thevenus
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Status:Final Countdown
Posts: 320
Own Kudos [?]: 1305 [0]
Given Kudos: 76
Location: United States (NY)
GPA: 3.82
WE:Account Management (Retail Banking)
Send PM
Re: Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink] New post   03 Jan 2013, 22:22
I found this link extremely helpful https://mba.tuck.dartmouth.edu/tuckcdo/a ... eGuide.pdf
User avatar
L
Admissionado
Admissionado
Joined: 30 Nov 2009
Posts: 9216
Own Kudos [?]: 2061 [0]
Given Kudos: 69
Location: Chicago, IL
Schools:Brown University, Harvard Business School
Send PM
Re: Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink] New post   04 Jan 2013, 04:42
Expert Reply
Most people will skip over it when they read through it. But sometimes you hit a common point. "Oh, this guy is also a big fan of medieval Italian music??!! Wow! Let's call him for an interview!!"

It's can't hurt, and you can always squeeze in an extra line or two.
User avatar
HinConsulting
Intern
Intern
Joined: 03 Oct 2012
Posts: 46
Own Kudos [?]: 42 [0]
Given Kudos: 9
Location: United States
Concentration: Healthcare, Strategy
Schools: Booth '15 (A$) Sloan '15 (WL) HBS '15 (D) Duke '15 (A$) Cnsrtm-Hass '15 (WL) Cnsrtm-Tuck '15 (M$) Cnsrtm-Stern '15 (A$) Stanford '15 (D) CBS '15 (WL)
GMAT 1: 750 Q47 V46
GRE 1: Q790 V750
GPA: 3.65
WE:Consulting (Consulting)
Send PM
Re: Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink] New post   04 Jan 2013, 07:57
I would keep the section in. When I was going through job interviews, my interest in baking desserts sparked a lot of conversations. A lot of people have a sweet tooth and you'd be amazed how many people fancy themselves amateur pasty chefs.
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: Including "personal interests" section on resume [#permalink]
04 Jan 2013, 07:57

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions