[marklbucla]

I think we've already settled that it's not a good idea to put down your "hobbies" on a resume, but what if it's for a LEO or military related position?

Edit: I'm asking because I've read that some Orgs. like the LAPD specifically were anti's.

I also mentioned my hobby with the CZ-75B and Witness .45 when I applied to the FBI honors internship program last summer and was denied a spot. Granted, the FBI is super competitive, but I know that it wasn't my recommendation and most likely not my grades that would have kept me out. I always wondered if it was the mention of the guns (or that they weren't American guns) or just that I wasn't the most qualified for the spot.

[Nightcrawler]

I applied for an overseas security job that would require me to carry an M16 rifle and a 9mm pistol.

I put that I had qualified expert with the M16A1 in the Guards, and that I was competent with the carrying, maintenance, and use of handguns, as well as other assorted small arms.

*shrug*

[vmi93]

i don't see the point in lisitng hobbies on a resume'. The porential employer wants to know what work-related skills you have and where you have worked in the past. I can't imagine why they would want to know what you do in your spare time.

I also think that listing any controversial hobby on a resume' is a bad idea. A resume' shopuld give the employer reasons to hire you, not reasons to exclude you. Let the employer hire you, impress them with your good work, integrity, level-headednes, etc., then reveal that you are a gun-nut (skydiver, rock-climber, martial artist, vintage porno collector) when you're comfortable.

[cracked butt]

Yup, do not include hobbies on a resume. Where I work, I take a role in hiring new employees, including picking through resumes and interviewing candidates. I'm looking for competant or trainable candidates and hobbies have nothing to do with anything. At worst, if the hiring officials have a staunch political stance, that information will disqualify you immediately.
You would be amazed at what somewhat seemingly insignificant items on resumes can raise red flags to hiring officials.:eek:

[squibload]

If I got a resume for a potential employee that listed hobbies, I'd think to myself, "OK, so there wasn't enough work experience to fill up the page?"

Better to leave the shooting stuff off the resume, lest a low-level HR administrator who's an anti "loses" the resume in the pile.

[Big_R]

I think the only hobbies that should be placed on a resume are somewhat job related. For example, I hire people to repair manufacturing equipment. If someone has a hobby (electronics, auto repair, etc.) that applies, it can show up. Whether someone hunts or camps really doesn't matter to me.

As to the question about LE and guns, they probably don't want anyone who knows how to shoot. That way, they can "educate them" on their own.

Ryan

[Andrew Rothman]

I think most are ignoring what the quetion asks: If the job is gun-related (law enforrcement or military), should he list the gun hobby?

For law enforcement, no. Remember that most (not all, but most!) police executives would prefer that only the cops are armed. Your gun experience challenges their world view.

They might also wonder whether you are a bit too gung-ho and think that law enforcement is all about shooting. (You know that it isn't, right? :))

(I just read Tony Bouza's book, "The Police Mystique." He is so, so wrong about many things, but he got this right: "To protect and serve" is about 80% serve and 20% protect.)

They would prefer to teach you to shoot for themselves.

My advice: Keep the hobby quiet, then amaze them with how fast you "learn" to shoot when you get hired.

[Legionnaire]

I'm not sure "hobbies" is ever an important element in a résumé. However, "community service" might be. Mentioning that you are an officer in a local shooting club, or a certified firearms or hunter safety instructor, or a Red Cross certified first aid instructor might be relevant and show you have a life outside work. But generally speaking, keep the résumé to the point, and let other items come out during interviews ... if you get that far.

The only exception to this I can think of is when you want to bait a response. At one point in my career, I put a lot of international experience (more than needed) on my résumé. This was intentional, as it was still an interest of mine and I didn't want to find myself working for an organization that would find this problematic. There were probably a couple of organizations that deep-sixed my résumé on that section alone ... but I got at least two interviews because of my international interests.

Bottom line: résumés are not "one size fits all." You have to tailor them to the organization and the position. But even then, make the entry job related. Nightcrawler has the right idea by listing his "qualification" with the M16 rather than his "hobby."

YMMV

[Dave Markowitz]

If I got a resume for a potential employee that listed hobbies, I'd think to myself, "OK, so there wasn't enough work experience to fill up the page?"

That's been my exact reaction when reviewing resumes.

Remember folks, the purpose of a resume is to get you an interview. In general the way it does this is by showing the potential employer that you have qualitifications which make you worthy of consideration for the position. Anything else is a distraction.