When wading in a sea of hopeful job applicants, handcrafting an attention-grabbing resume that helps you stand out from your competition is no small feat. You can only rearrange and tweak your resume's design for so many hours before it's time to shift your focus to the content itself.

Unbeknownst to most hopeful candidates, taking the time to jot down hobbies that pique your interest will give future employers a personal look into who you are, setting you apart from other matter-of-fact applicants plummeting to the bottom of the candidate pool.

By highlighting industry-related transferable skills that you can bring to the table, you can reassure prospective employers that you'll succeed in the position. If you are looking for new hobbies to take up that round out your otherwise one-dimensional resume, remember that the world is your oyster.

Historical Reenacting

For those unfamiliar, historical reenacting is the process of dressing up in time-period specific costumes, acting, and simulating the day-to-day life of periods past. This hobby is a must for any history buff looking to put their insider knowledge to the test. As a bonus, diving into historical reenacting will provide you with an incredible community of fellow reenactors. However, before you get started, you'll need to build a kit of historical reenactment must-haves.

For example, those 18th-century reenactors will need to splurge on dress accessories, handwork kits, and clay marbles to take their experience to the next level and fully immerse themselves in the historical period of choice.

Doing puzzles/crosswords

Keeping your brain sharp is vital to reap success in any industry. Taking the time to work on an intricate puzzle or doing daily crosswords will show employers that you're willing to invest in your intellectual growth. Remember, challenging your mind is a must and will keep you on your toes for those crunch-time professional crises.

Growing a Garden

Choosing a hobby that satisfies your fresh air cravings is a win/win situation. Not only will you get in touch with the great outdoors, but you'll push yourself out of your comfort zone and slowly acquire a new skill. Not to mention, maintaining a backyard garden can serve your local environment and slash your grocery bills with fresh produce within walking distance. Lastly, having the discipline to care for a garden will show future employers that you won't give up when the going gets tough, i.e., when pests ransack your flourishing tomato garden.

Arts & crafts

Get in touch with your creative side by indulging in a good old-fashioned arts & crafts session. By showing that you can be versatile and thrive in many different fields, your application will stand out amongst the stacks of resume cluttering your prospective employer's desk.

Try improv or stand-up comedy

Trying your hand at hobbies that slingshot you out of your comfort zone is an excellent way to challenge yourself and build self-confidence. Additionally, hobbies like stand-up comedy teach you to be comfortable in unfamiliar situations, which future employers will view as a marketable skill. That said, know your worth and continue trying new things.

Wrap up

Aside from a hobby enhancing the run-of-the-mill resume, finding an activity that awakens a sense of passion can benefit your mental and physical health. Add your hobbies to your resume, and you'll be sure to get a leg up on your competition.