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Disclosing leisure activities enhanced perceptions of professional competence.

Employers and consumers are positively influenced by personal pursuits.

Activities such as cooking and hiking are viewed more positively than watching television.

In a competitive economy, consumers and potential employers are faced with a variety of choices. When selecting a product, service, or potential new employee, they look for more than experience; they also value credibility and competence. In perceiving these traits, all of us consider more than credentials; we are influenced by someone’s leisure activities and hobbies as well. Research explains.

Reading Beyond the Resume

Michelle E. Daniels et al. (2025) investigated the value of accessing and evaluating holistic information about service providers in a piece entitled “What Do You Do Outside of Work?”[i] They found that disclosing leisure activities enhanced perceptions of competence, positively impacting potential consumers.

Daniels et al. begin by recognizing that consumers today have access to more holistic........

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