Overview
When crafting a resume, most job seekers focus on skills, experience, and education. However, one section that often gets overlooked—but can add real value—is the area of interest in the resume. This section highlights your passions, professional focus, and the topics or industries that drive your career goals. Done correctly, it gives employers insights into your personality, motivation, and how you might fit into their organization. In this guide, we’ll explain how to write the area of interest for a resume, share examples tailored for freshers and professionals, and provide tips to make this section meaningful.
Key Point:
Adding an Area of Interest section helps show your personality, focus, and cultural fit.
Place it at the end for freshers or after skills/summary for experienced professionals.
Keep interests relevant, specific, and professional avoid casual or vague terms.
List 3–5 interests in bullet points or a short line.
Freshers can use this section to show curiosity and direction even with limited experience.
Areas of interest are career-focused, unlike hobbies, which are personal activities.
Always tailor your interests to match the job you’re applying for.
Stay honest and ready to discuss your listed interests in interviews.
Why Add Area of Interest in Resume?
Employers want candidates who aren’t just qualified but also motivated by the work they do. Listing area of interest in resume helps you:
- Show Personality: It reflects your enthusiasm and values.
- Stand Out: Differentiates you from candidates who only list technical skills.
- Demonstrate Focus: Shows recruiters your long-term career vision.
- Cultural Fit: Helps hiring managers assess if your interests align with the company’s mission.
Where to Place Area of Interest in Resume
The placement depends on your career stage:
- For Freshers: Put the section toward the end of the resume, after education and skills. Recruiters know you have limited experience, so areas of interest add depth. You can also check our guide on Best CV Format for Freshers for examples.
- For Experienced Candidates: If directly related to your career, place it after your skills or summary. Otherwise, keep it near the bottom.
How to Write Area of Interest in Resume
Here are some guidelines to write it effectively:
- Keep It Relevant
Align your interests with the job role or industry. For instance, if applying for a marketing job, interests like “digital advertising” or “brand development” work better than “painting.”
- Be Specific
Instead of writing “technology,” say “artificial intelligence and cloud computing.” Specificity makes your resume more engaging.
- Use Professional Language
Avoid casual terms like “hanging out with friends.” Stick to career-oriented or industry-related phrases.
- Keep It Short
List 3–5 interests in bullet points or a single line.
- Mix Professional & Personal Interests (if relevant)
Include interests that highlight transferable skills, such as leadership or teamwork, without going off-topic.
Area of Interest in Resume for Freshers
Freshers often struggle to fill their resumes with experience. Adding areas of interest provides recruiters with additional context. You can also review our guide on What Is the Difference Between CV and Resume to better understand which format suits you.
Examples:
- Digital marketing and brand promotion
- Data analytics and problem-solving
- Web development and UI/UX design
- Finance and investment strategies
- Human resource management and employee engagement
Sample Fresher Resume Section:
Areas of Interest
- Digital Marketing Campaigns
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Social Media Engagement Strategies
This way, even without much work history, you show curiosity and focus in your chosen field.
Area of Interest Examples for Resume
Here are tailored area of interest examples for different industries:
For IT Professionals
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Cybersecurity and Cloud Computing
- Mobile App Development
- Data Science and Big Data Analytics
For Finance Professionals
- Investment Banking and Portfolio Management
- Risk Analysis and Compliance
- Taxation and Auditing
- Corporate Financial Planning
For Marketing Professionals
- Digital Advertising and SEO
- Consumer Behavior Research
- Brand Strategy and Storytelling
- Social Media Analytics
For Human Resources
- Employee Training and Development
- Talent Acquisition and Retention
- Workplace Diversity and Inclusion
- Organizational Behavior
For Engineers
- Robotics and Automation
- Sustainable Energy Systems
- Product Design and Development
- Structural Analysis and CAD Modeling
Area of Interest for Resume vs Hobbies
Many candidates confuse areas of interest with hobbies, but they are not the same:
- Areas of Interest: Career-oriented topics, professional fields, or subjects you want to specialize in.
- Hobbies: Personal activities you enjoy in your free time, like painting, cycling, or music.
For example:
- Interest: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
- Hobby: Reading about emerging healthcare technologies
Both can be included in a resume, but areas of interest are more relevant for professional contexts.
Sample Resume Format with Areas of Interest
John Doe
Phone: 123-456-7890 | Email: john.doe@email.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johndoe
Career Objective
Motivated Computer Science graduate seeking an entry-level role in software development to apply coding skills and contribute to innovative projects.
Education
Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science – XYZ University (2022)
Skills
- Java, Python, and SQL
- Problem-Solving and Debugging
- Team Collaboration
Areas of Interest
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Cloud Computing
- Data Security
Tips for Writing the Area of Interest Section
- Tailor to Each Job
If applying for a finance role, focus on financial interests rather than general hobbies.
- Avoid Overused Phrases
Words like “technology” or “management” are too broad. Narrow them down.
- Stay Honest
Don’t write interests just to impress; be ready to discuss them in interviews.
- Balance Creativity with Professionalism
Creative roles can include slightly broader interests (e.g., “visual storytelling”), but still keep them job-relevant.
Conclusion
Adding an area of interest in your resume is a simple yet effective way to show employers more about your professional focus. At CV Circle, we encourage candidates to use this section to express both skill and passion. For freshers, it adds depth and demonstrates curiosity. For experienced professionals, it highlights specific passions and career directions.
When writing the area of interest for a resume, keep it professional, specific, and relevant to the job role. Use the area of interest examples shared above as inspiration, but always tailor them to match your goals and the position you’re applying for.
At CV Circle, we believe your resume is more than a list of qualifications it’s a reflection of your personality and aspirations. Show recruiters not just what you can do, but also what excites you in your career journey.
