HOUSTON — Making yourself stand out a resume can be tough, but according to the Wall Street Journal, recruiters are seeing a new trend. Along with the normal stuff like past employment, education history and technical skills, people are now adding their fitness goals. We are talking about marathons, soccer leagues and fitness certifications.
So do these unusual additions help job applicants? Career coaches say it can highlight traits that would be useful in the workplace. Running a marathon at 60 can convey that you are still active and healthy. It can also indicate that you are willing to put in the hard work to achieve a goal.
But don’t take it too far. Hiring managers don’t really need to know your personal best time for a 10K. There could also be backlash if listing your fitness achievements comes off as bragging.
If the job you are applying for has nothing to do with health and fitness, mentions should be kept to a minimum. Some job seekers have pointed out another possible downside -- listing your marathons could indicate you are an overachiever, creating unfair expectations on the job.