120+ Hobbies and Interests to Put on a Resume (With Examples and Tips)

Hiring managers don’t just hire skills. They hire people they can trust, collaborate with, and picture on the team. That’s why the “hobbies and interests” question keeps coming up in resume writing. Used well, a small, relevant hobbies section can make you more memorable in a stack of similar applications, add personality without sounding unprofessional, and even hint at strengths that don’t show up in job titles alone.

The tricky part is that this section is easy to get wrong. Many candidates either skip it entirely or list vague items like “reading” and “traveling” with no context, which can look like filler. Others include hobbies that raise unnecessary questions or invite bias. If you’re trying to stand out, especially when your experience is limited or your resume feels a little bare, you want interests that support your candidacy, not distract from it.

This matters even more right now because recruiting is faster, more competitive, and often filtered through ATS and quick human scans. You might have 10 to 20 seconds to make a strong first impression. A well-chosen interest can act like a shortcut, signaling traits such as leadership, discipline, curiosity, or communication. For example, “captain of a local soccer league” suggests teamwork and accountability, while “runs a niche newsletter on consumer tech” quietly communicates writing, consistency, and audience awareness.

It also helps to remember what this section is and what it is not. It’s not a place to prove you’re “well-rounded” with a long list, and it shouldn’t compete with your work experience or skills section. Think of it as supporting evidence: a few specific, job-relevant activities that reinforce your strengths, show how you spend your time, and give the interviewer an easy, natural conversation starter.

In this guide, you’ll learn when it actually makes sense to include hobbies and interests on a resume, how hobbies differ from interests, and how to choose options that align with the role and company culture. You’ll also get a large, practical list of resume-friendly examples across categories, plus tips on how to write them with just enough detail to be credible. By the end, you’ll be able to add a hobbies section that feels intentional, tailored, and genuinely helpful in an interview.

Resume Hobbies and Interests That Help You Get Hired

Yes, you can put hobbies and interests on a resume, and in the right situations they actively help you get hired. The key is to treat them like supporting evidence, not filler. Choose 2 to 5 relevant activities that reinforce job-related skills, culture fit, or standout traits, and write them with enough specificity that a recruiter can see the value in seconds.

Hobbies work best when you’re early in your career, changing fields, or have extra space after the core sections. They’re also useful when they naturally connect to the role, such as “running a photography side business” for a design job or “captaining a recreational soccer team” for a leadership-heavy position. If you’re already at two full pages of experience, or your hobbies could trigger bias, it’s usually smarter to leave this section out.

To make the section work, avoid vague one-word lists. Instead, add a short detail that signals skill, scope, or commitment. “Reading” is generic, but “member of a monthly business book club focused on leadership and negotiation” gives a recruiter something concrete and job-adjacent.

Key Takeaways: Resume Hobbies and Interests That Help You Get Hired

• Include hobbies and interests when they add evidence: They’re most helpful for students, recent grads, career changers, or anyone with limited experience who needs additional proof of skills and initiative.
• Keep it tight: List 2 to 5 items max, placed near the bottom of the resume in a dedicated section.
• Match the job and the culture: Pick activities that align with the job description and the company’s working style, such as teamwork, creativity, community involvement, or continuous learning.
• Write specific, not generic: “Volunteering twice a month coordinating food drives” beats “volunteering.” Specificity makes the activity credible and memorable.
• Use hobbies to spotlight transferable skills: Team sports can signal collaboration, blogging can signal writing and SEO awareness, and language learning can signal discipline and cognitive flexibility.
• Avoid risky or polarizing topics: Skip hobbies that could introduce bias or distract from your qualifications, including political activism, religious affiliations, or anything that could be read as controversial.
• Don’t use hobbies to fill space at all costs: If they don’t strengthen your candidacy, prioritize stronger sections like skills, projects, certifications, or volunteer experience.

Hobbies vs. Interests on a Resume: Definitions and Differences

On a resume, “hobbies” and “interests” are often grouped together, but they are not the same. Understanding the difference helps you choose items that actually strengthen your candidacy instead of reading like filler. Recruiters scan fast, so your goal is to include personal details that reinforce job-relevant skills, working style, or culture fit.

Hobbies are activities you actively do and practice. They usually involve time, routine, and measurable effort. Because hobbies are action-based, they can hint at transferable skills like discipline, teamwork, planning, or creativity. For example, “playing in a local basketball league” suggests collaboration and consistency, while “building custom keyboards” can signal patience, technical curiosity, and attention to detail.

Interests are topics you follow, explore, or learn about. They are more curiosity-driven than practice-driven, and they do not always require regular participation. Interests can still be valuable on a resume when they align with the role or industry. For instance, “behavioral economics” may support a marketing or product application by signaling how you think, even if you are not formally studying it.

The practical difference is simple: hobbies show what you do; interests show what you’re drawn to. Both can work, but hobbies tend to be stronger because they are easier to visualize and discuss in an interview. Interests become stronger when you add specificity that proves it is more than a passing curiosity.

Use this quick test to decide how to label something:

• If you can describe a routine (weekly practice, regular projects, competitions, volunteering shifts), it is likely a hobby.
• If you mostly read, watch, listen, or follow updates (without regular hands-on output), it is likely an interest.
• If it includes both, treat it as a hobby and add a concrete detail. Example: “Personal finance” becomes more compelling as “Personal finance: tracking a monthly budget and testing long-term index investing strategies.”

One more nuance: on a resume, the label matters less than the framing. “Photography” alone is vague, but “Event photography for community fundraisers (editing and delivery within 48 hours)” communicates reliability, time management, and client focus. Whether you call it a hobby or interest, specificity is what turns a personal detail into a professional advantage.

When to Include Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume

Hobbies and interests are not a “must-have” resume section, but in the right situation they can be a smart, strategic add. Recruiters often skim quickly, and a well-chosen interest can make you more memorable, add personality without being unprofessional, and provide an easy conversation starter in the interview. The key is relevance and timing. If your hobbies don’t strengthen your candidacy, they are just noise.

Include hobbies and interests when they help answer an unspoken hiring question: “What kind of colleague will this person be?” For early-career candidates, career changers, or anyone with limited professional experience, a short, targeted list can demonstrate transferable skills like discipline, curiosity, teamwork, or communication. For example, “captain of a local soccer team” signals leadership and collaboration, while “runs a small book review blog” hints at writing ability, consistency, and audience awareness.

They also matter when the role or company culture values community, creativity, or personal initiative. A nonprofit may appreciate volunteering; a startup might respond well to side projects like podcasting or building a niche newsletter; a client-facing role may benefit from interests that show social confidence, such as hosting trivia nights or participating in a debate club. In these cases, hobbies don’t replace qualifications, but they support your fit and help a hiring manager picture you in the environment.

On the other hand, skip this section when space is tight or your experience already tells a complete story. If you are a senior candidate with a dense two-page resume, hobbies can look like filler. Avoid interests that could trigger bias or distract from your strengths, such as political activism, religious affiliations, or anything that reads as controversial. A good rule: if you cannot explain in one sentence how an interest supports the job, leave it out.

Done well, this section adds real-world value: it rounds out your profile, reinforces relevant traits, and gives interviewers an easy, human way to engage with you beyond job titles and bullet points.

When to Include Hobbies and Interests on Your Resume

Include hobbies and interests on your resume when they actively improve your chances of getting an interview. This section works best as a supporting detail, not a centerpiece. Think of it as a small proof point that reinforces your fit, fills a gap, or makes you easier to remember in a stack of similar applications.

The most practical time to add hobbies is when you have room and a clear reason. If your resume is otherwise complete and you still have noticeable white space, a short, relevant list can make the page feel finished while adding useful context about your strengths. The same is true if you are early in your career, returning to work, or switching industries. In those cases, hobbies can demonstrate transferable skills that may not yet show up in your work history.

Relevance is what makes this section matter in the real world. A hobby is “resume-worthy” when it supports the role’s requirements or the company’s values. For example, if a job emphasizes collaboration, mentioning a team sport or organizing a community group can subtly back up that claim. If the role needs strong communication, interests like writing, blogging, public speaking clubs, or podcasting can reinforce your ability to express ideas clearly and consistently.

Hobbies and interests can also help with culture alignment, but only when you are careful and specific. If a company highlights community involvement, volunteering is a strong signal. If it values curiosity and learning, language study, self-directed courses, or participation in industry meetups can show you are engaged beyond the minimum. These details often become interview talking points, which is useful because interviews are not only about competence, but also about whether you will be a good colleague.

Leave hobbies off when they compete with more important content. If you have extensive experience, measurable achievements, certifications, or projects that need space, prioritize those. Also avoid interests that can introduce bias or distract from your qualifications, including political affiliations, religious activities, or anything that might be interpreted as polarizing. When in doubt, keep the section short, job-relevant, and easy to scan.

How to List Hobbies and Interests on a Resume (Step-by-Step)

Adding hobbies and interests to a resume works best when you treat the section like any other: targeted, specific, and designed to support your candidacy. The goal is not to prove you have a life outside work. It’s to reinforce skills, values, and traits that make you easier to hire.

Use the steps below to choose the right items, write them in a credible way, and place them where they help rather than distract.

How to List Hobbies and Interests on a Resume (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Decide whether the section will help you

Before you add anything, confirm there’s a real upside. A hobbies and interests section is most useful when you’re early-career, changing fields, have limited relevant experience, or you’re trying to show culture fit for a company that values personality and community involvement.

If your resume is already tight on space or you have strong, directly relevant experience, hobbies can become noise. In that case, prioritize achievements, skills, certifications, and projects first.

Step 2: Pull keywords and “signals” from the job description

Scan the posting for traits and behaviors, not just technical requirements. Words like “collaborative,” “client-facing,” “curious,” “detail-oriented,” “self-starter,” or “comfortable presenting” are clues about what the employer values day to day.

Then match hobbies that naturally demonstrate those traits. For example, “captain of a recreational soccer team” supports teamwork and leadership, while “hosting a monthly book club” can support facilitation and communication.

Step 3: Choose 2 to 5 items that are relevant and defensible

Pick a small set you can comfortably discuss in an interview. A good rule is quality over quantity: two strong, job-aligned items beat a long list of generic ones.

Avoid interests that can introduce bias or controversy, such as political activism, religious affiliations, or polarizing topics. Also skip anything that could raise safety or reliability questions for the role unless it’s clearly relevant and easy to explain.

• Best choices: activities that show transferable skills, consistency, responsibility, or community involvement.
• Weaker choices: vague items like “music,” “travel,” or “movies” with no context.

Step 4: Write each hobby with a specific detail that proves it’s real

Specifics make the section credible and useful. Instead of listing a single word, add a short qualifier that shows scope, frequency, or outcome. This turns a hobby into evidence.

• Too vague: “Volunteering”
• Stronger: “Volunteer tax preparer (VITA), 2 seasons, served 40+ filers”
• Too vague: “Photography”
• Stronger: “Event photography, occasional paid shoots, editing in Lightroom”
• Too vague: “Sports”
• Stronger: “Distance running, training plans and weekly mileage tracking”

Notice the pattern: role, commitment level, and a concrete detail. You don’t need to oversell it, just make it measurable or clearly defined.

Step 5: Place the section where it supports your strongest story

In most cases, put it near the bottom of the resume, after Work Experience, Education, and Skills. That keeps the focus on qualifications while still giving the recruiter a quick “human snapshot.”

If a hobby is highly relevant, you can elevate it by weaving it into another section. For example, if you run a niche newsletter related to the industry, it may fit better under Projects than under Interests.

Step 6: Format it cleanly and keep it scannable

Use a simple heading like “Hobbies & Interests” or “Interests.” A short bullet list is usually easiest to scan. Keep each bullet to one line when possible, and avoid long explanations that belong in a cover letter or interview.

As a final check, ask yourself: if you removed this section, would the resume be weaker? If the answer is yes, keep it. If not, cut it and use the space for a stronger accomplishment or skill.

120+ Resume Hobbies and Interests Examples by Category

Not sure what to list? Use the categories below to pick 2 to 5 items that genuinely fit you and support the role you’re targeting. The best resume hobbies and interests are specific enough to sound real, and relevant enough to reinforce a skill the employer cares about.

If you’re early-career, changing industries, or trying to stand out in a stack of similar resumes, this section can do real work for you. If you’re senior-level and already tight on space, treat this as optional and only include items that clearly strengthen your candidacy.

Tip for making these examples yours: add a detail that shows commitment (frequency, outcome, or scope). “Photography” is fine, but “Event photography for local nonprofits (monthly)” is memorable and signals reliability.

Quick templates you can copy

• Skill-forward: “Volunteer tax prep (VITA), focusing on first-time filers and clear client communication.”
• Consistency-forward: “Distance running, training 4x/week; use structured plans and track progress.”
• Leadership-forward: “Organize monthly board game nights for 10 to 15 people; coordinate schedules and rules.”
• Creativity-forward: “Product photography and basic editing; create consistent visuals for small sellers.”

120+ Resume Hobbies and Interests Examples by Category

Volunteering and community involvement

Great for showing initiative, empathy, reliability, and leadership. Especially useful for customer-facing roles, healthcare, education, HR, and early-career applicants.

• Food bank volunteer (sorting, packing, distribution)
• Animal shelter support (walking, fostering, adoption events)
• Mentoring students (career chats, mock interviews)
• Coaching youth sports
• Neighborhood clean-up organizer
• Community garden volunteer
• Fundraising for local causes
• Charity run/walk participation
• Volunteer event check-in and guest support
• Habitat for Humanity builds
• Library volunteer (program support, shelving)
• Crisis text line volunteer (if appropriate for role and you’re comfortable sharing)
• Senior center activities helper
• Nonprofit social media support
• Meal delivery volunteer

Creative and artistic

Useful for marketing, design, product, content, and roles that value originality and strong communication. Add a detail like “weekly,” “published,” or “commissioned” if true.

• Photography (portraits, events, street photography)
• Photo editing (Lightroom-style workflows)
• Drawing and sketching
• Digital illustration
• Painting (acrylic, watercolor)
• Calligraphy and hand lettering
• Creative writing (short stories, flash fiction)
• Poetry
• Blogging (personal or niche topics)
• Newsletter writing and curation
• Podcasting (research, scripting, hosting)
• Video editing
• Filmmaking (short-form)
• Graphic design practice projects
• DIY crafts (paper crafts, mixed media)
• Pottery and ceramics
• Sewing and garment alterations
• Knitting or crocheting
• Embroidery
• Woodworking
• Interior styling projects
• Music composition (basic)
• Acting or improv
• Dance (hip-hop, contemporary, ballroom)

Writing, communication, and public speaking

Strong for roles that require clarity, persuasion, teaching, sales, customer support, or stakeholder management.

• Public speaking (Toastmasters-style practice)
• Debate club participation
• Storytelling events
• Writing book reviews
• Editing and proofreading practice
• Technical writing practice (guides, how-tos)
• Copywriting practice (ads, landing pages)
• Grant writing volunteer support
• Language exchange meetups
• Hosting meetups or discussion groups
• Community workshop facilitation
• Interviewing people for a blog/podcast

Technology and digital projects

These work well for IT, data, product, operations, and many modern office roles. Keep it honest and avoid naming tools you can’t explain in an interview.

• Building small websites
• App prototyping (basic)
• Learning to code (structured courses)
• Open-source contributions (documentation or fixes)
• Home lab setup (networking basics)
• PC building and troubleshooting
• Automation projects (spreadsheets, scripts)
• Data visualization practice
• Personal finance tracking dashboards
• Cybersecurity learning labs
• UI/UX case studies (practice projects)
• 3D printing (designing and iterating prints)
• Digital note-taking systems (knowledge management)
• Online community moderation

Business, entrepreneurship, and professional interests

Best when you’re targeting business-facing roles and can connect the interest to real behaviors like planning, budgeting, or customer empathy.

• Personal investing education (long-term, fundamentals)
• Following market and industry news
• Case study reading (business strategy)
• Side project selling (handmade, digital products)
• Reselling with inventory tracking
• Freelance projects (design, writing, tutoring)
• Networking events and meetups
• Negotiation and communication books
• Productivity systems and planning
• Process improvement as a hobby (organizing, optimizing)
• Public company earnings calls (interest-based)
• Learning about branding and positioning

Sports and fitness

These can signal discipline, resilience, and teamwork. Choose what you actually do consistently, not what you tried once.

• Running (5K/10K training)
• Strength training
• Yoga
• Pilates
• Cycling
• Swimming
• Hiking
• Rock climbing
• Martial arts
• Boxing fitness
• 

  Resume Hobbies to Avoid: Bias, Irrelevance, and Red Flags

  Hobbies can make you memorable, but the wrong ones can quietly work against you. Recruiters scan fast, and a hobbies section is often read as a signal of judgment: what you chose to include, how you framed it, and whether it supports the role. If it introduces bias, feels off-topic, or raises questions about professionalism, it can distract from your qualifications.

  Avoid hobbies that trigger bias or invite assumptions about your beliefs, lifestyle, or protected characteristics. Political campaigning, partisan activism, religious affiliations, and controversial causes can shift attention away from your skills and toward personal views. Even if the intent is positive, you do not control how it lands with every reader. If you want to show community involvement, describe the work in neutral, skills-based terms, such as “Volunteer tax prep assistant (VITA program)” or “Weekly food pantry volunteer,” rather than naming polarizing organizations or ideologies.

  Another common mistake is listing hobbies that are irrelevant and empty. “Reading, music, travel” is so broad it tells the employer nothing, and it can look like filler. If a hobby is worth space, make it specific and job-adjacent. “Reading” becomes stronger as “Reading behavioral economics and summarizing takeaways for a peer study group.” “Travel” becomes “Planned two-week solo trip across Japan, budgeting and itinerary-building in Notion.” Specificity turns a vague interest into evidence of skills.

  Watch for red flags that can imply risk, poor judgment, or time conflicts. Anything that suggests unsafe behavior, illegal activity, or heavy partying is best left off. The same goes for hobbies that could raise reliability questions, like “day trading” for a finance role if you cannot discuss risk management responsibly, or “gaming all night” phrased in a way that hints at burnout. If you include a high-intensity commitment, clarify boundaries and professionalism, for example “Marathon training (4 days/week, early mornings)” rather than something that sounds like it dominates your schedule.

  Finally, avoid exaggeration and accidental misrepresentation. If you say you “speak Japanese” because you watch anime, you may get tested in an interview. If you claim “competitive chess” but cannot discuss your rating or tournament experience, it can undermine trust. Keep hobbies honest, measurable when possible, and aligned with the role’s priorities.

  • Skip bias-heavy topics: politics, religion, and polarizing activism. Reframe as neutral volunteering or community service when relevant.
  • Don’t use filler: replace generic hobbies with specific, skill-linked versions or remove them entirely.
  • Avoid risk signals: illegal, unsafe, or party-centered activities, and anything that suggests poor judgment.
  • Be interview-ready: only list hobbies you can explain with concrete examples, outcomes, or commitment level.
  • Keep it tight: 2 to 5 well-chosen items beat a long list that dilutes your message.

  Expert Tips: Match Hobbies to Job Skills and Company Culture

  The fastest way to make a hobbies section feel “resume-worthy” is to treat it like evidence, not decoration. Recruiters don’t need to know you enjoy music or travel in the abstract. They want signals that you’ll perform well in the role and fit the way the team works. The difference is specificity: a hobby becomes compelling when it implies a skill, a habit, and a level of commitment that mirrors the job.

  Start by translating the job description into 3–5 skill themes, then choose hobbies that naturally reinforce those themes. For example, if the role emphasizes stakeholder communication, “hosting a monthly book club” can be stronger than “reading” because it suggests facilitation, agenda-setting, and keeping a group engaged. If the role is operations-heavy, “building and maintaining a personal budget spreadsheet with quarterly reviews” communicates process discipline and comfort with data better than “finance.”

  Company culture matters just as much as skill match. Look for clues in tone and values: do they highlight experimentation, customer empathy, craftsmanship, community, or high ownership? Then select hobbies that align without trying too hard. A startup that talks about autonomy and iteration may respond well to “building small apps on weekends” or “running a newsletter and tracking open rates.” A mission-driven nonprofit might value “organizing donation drives” or “volunteering as a mentor,” especially if you can quantify consistency or impact.

  Use a “proof point” format to avoid vague one-word lists. Add a detail that shows scope, frequency, or outcome. This keeps the section credible and reduces the risk of sounding like you added hobbies to fill space.

  • Make it measurable: “Training for half-marathons (4 runs/week)” signals discipline and planning more clearly than “running.”
  • Show responsibility: “Treasurer for local sports club, managing annual dues and event budgets” supports trust and accuracy.
  • Highlight collaboration: “Co-leading a weekly D&D group, coordinating schedules and resolving conflicts” can reinforce facilitation and teamwork.
  • Demonstrate craft: “Photography, editing in Lightroom, delivering client galleries for small events” implies quality standards and deadlines.

  Finally, avoid hobbies that create unnecessary risk or confusion. If an activity could be interpreted as political, polarizing, or time-consuming in a way that raises doubts about availability, leave it off. When in doubt, choose hobbies that are easy to discuss professionally in an interview and that reinforce the story your resume already tells: you’re capable, consistent, and a natural fit for how this company works.

  FAQ and Conclusion: Final Checklist for Resume Interests

  FAQ: Hobbies and interests on a resume

  1) Should I include hobbies and interests on my resume at all?

  Include them when they add information the rest of your resume doesn’t. They’re most helpful if you’re early-career, changing fields, have limited experience, or you need to fill a small amount of white space without adding fluff. If you’re senior-level and already tight on space, hobbies are usually the first thing to cut.

  2) How many hobbies and interests should I list?

  For most resumes, 2 to 5 is the sweet spot. More than that starts to look like you’re padding the page. Pick a small set that supports the job you’re targeting and shows range, for example one community-oriented item (volunteering), one skills-adjacent item (blogging, photography), and one personal discipline item (running, chess).

  3) Where do hobbies and interests go on a resume?

  Place them near the bottom in a dedicated section titled “Interests” or “Hobbies & Interests.” That keeps the focus on experience and skills first, while still giving the recruiter a quick, memorable snapshot at the end. If an interest is highly relevant and includes measurable results, it can sometimes earn a place in a “Projects” section instead.

  4) What’s the best way to write them so they don’t look generic?

  Skip one-word lists and add a specific detail that signals commitment or skill. “Photography” becomes “Event photography (portraits and low-light shooting); occasional paid weekend gigs.” “Volunteering” becomes “Volunteer coordinator, monthly food pantry distribution (scheduling and intake flow).” Specifics make the entry credible and interview-worthy.

  5) Which hobbies and interests should I avoid?

  Avoid anything that can trigger bias, distract from your fit, or raise unnecessary questions. That often includes political affiliations, religious activities, and polarizing activism. Also avoid interests that suggest risk or poor judgment unless they’re directly relevant and professionally framed. When in doubt, choose neutral, skill-forward options.

  6) Can hobbies help with ATS, or are they only for humans?

  They’re mainly for humans, but they can support ATS indirectly if you use role-relevant keywords naturally. For example, “podcasting” can reinforce “content strategy,” “interviewing,” “audio editing,” or “community building.” Don’t keyword-stuff. The goal is to strengthen your story, not to game the system.

  7) What if my hobbies aren’t related to the job?

  They can still work if they communicate a trait the role needs, such as consistency, teamwork, or curiosity. For example, “distance running” can signal discipline and goal-setting; “book club” can suggest communication and listening. If you can’t connect the dots in a believable way, leave them out and use the space for skills, projects, or achievements.

  8) Should I label them as “Hobbies” or “Interests”?

  Either is fine, but “Interests” often reads more professional. Use “Hobbies & Interests” if you want clarity. The label matters less than the content. Keep it clean, brief, and aligned with the rest of your resume’s tone.

  Final checklist: make your interests section work for you

  • Relevance first: each item should support the role, the company culture, or a key trait in the job description.
  • Keep it short: aim for 2 to 5 items, with tight wording.
  • Add a proof point: include frequency, scope, or outcome when possible (organized, led, published, competed, built).
  • Stay bias-safe: avoid topics that can introduce stereotypes or controversy.
  • Be specific, not cute: skip vague entries like “music” or “travel” unless you add a meaningful angle.
  • Make it interview-friendly: choose items you can talk about confidently for 30 to 60 seconds.

  Conclusion and next steps

  Hobbies and interests aren’t mandatory, but used well, they can make you more memorable and round out your candidacy, especially when your experience is still growing or when you’re pivoting into a new field. The key is intention: every item should reinforce a skill, a value, or a story that supports the job you want.

  Next, scan the job description and pick two or three traits the employer clearly cares about, such as collaboration, creativity, or analytical thinking. Then choose interests that credibly signal those traits and write them with one concrete detail each. Finally, read your resume top to bottom and ask one simple question: does this section strengthen my fit, or does it just take up space? If it strengthens your fit, keep it. If not, cut it and use the room to highlight achievements that are harder to ignore.