Hobbies to hone your soft skills

‘Soft skills’ are all the rage in the employment world right now – but what are they? To put it simply, soft skills are all those things which can’t be quantified with numbers or university degrees. It’s all about empathy, time management, talking to people, even having a positive attitude! If you’re just leaving school or university, or don’t have much experience in the role you want, being able to describe your soft skills in your cover letter with examples of how you gained them can be the difference between your resume going to an interview... or going into the bin.

We’ve collated a list of 5 new hobbies you could take up and enjoy in the New Year, that have the added bonus of looking good on a resume too.

There’s no better feeling than tying up your sneakers, getting out there and hitting the court or field. You get to stay fit and healthy and get your weekly exercise in, you can make a bunch of new friends, and you can put teamwork as a soft skill into your cover letter to boot. Plus, if you captain or coach the team, or even play an important role like striker, you can add leadership on there too.

No, we’re not just talking about Monopoly or Scrabble. In recent years, board games have exploded into the hobby scene with games designed for everyone, whether you’re interested in cute puzzle cats, evolving dinosaurs, or putting little pigs into farms. Being a member of a regular meetup demonstrates your communication skills, your commitment and dedication, as well as developing your critical thinking – all vital skills an employer will be looking for in their next candidate.

The best thing about art is that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be worthwhile. Sure, it might seem like you need to be Picasso, but nothing shows off your ability to take constructive criticism, regulate your emotions, and keep a good attitude like creating something from the soul and letting people see it. It doesn’t have to be paintings, either – try joining a pottery club, or making polymer clay or resin designs. The possibilities are endless, and your creativity and resilience will look amazing in a cover letter!

If you’re interested in business, then being the Treasurer of the club can demonstrate your fiscal awareness (that means knowing about money). If you’re more of an office person, then putting your hand up to be the Secretary shows you’ve got typing skills as well as being able to follow rules and regulations. And if there isn’t a club you want to join – make one! You’d be surprised how many other people might share your opinions too, and that shows taking initiative and problem solving as well.

Alright, so this one isn’t as much of an active hobby as the others, but if you’re always on Tiktok you can use that to your advantage. If you can show that you’ve got knowledge of the business and technology trends that are happening in the field you want, your employer will be impressed – and you don’t even have to tell them it’s from Tiktok! Just follow a bunch of different brands and keep an eye on what they’re doing right and wrong, so you can show off your knowledge in the interview! If you think you could market Charli D'Amelio better than her family, and you've got a plan to prove it, then you might just have what it takes to succeed in the business world.

With these new soft skills under your belt, you're ready to get out there and conquer the working world!