The Weirdest Things People Actually Put On Their Resumes

The Strangest Things People Actually Include on Their Resumes in 2026

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Nothing strikes fear into the heart of a job hunter quite like that ambiguous “Additional Interests” section on their resume.

Even more daunting, employers often specifically request this information to gauge a candidate’s potential “cultural fit.” You might find yourself scrambling to list interests that will pique the hiring manager‘s attention.

You want them to see that you have passions! That you’re creative! That you contribute positively to team dynamics! Or at the very least, you don’t want them to think, “Wow, I hope we don’t have to call this person.”

This curiosity led us to wonder—what are the strangest, most unconventional terms that applicants are putting on their resumes? We analyzed 3,543,017 resumes from individuals just like you to discover the most surprising adjectives, nouns, and hobbies listed. The conclusion? Job seekers should leverage resume templates more and rely on their instincts less.

What we uncovered was bizarre, to say the least. In today’s article, we will showcase just how quirky the resume landscape is across various states.

Our Oddest Findings

Resumes from Hawaii are often described as “awesome,” a sentiment echoed by the “dudes” in Wyoming. Perhaps they should consider more HR-friendly adjectives.
If you list rapping as a skill, be prepared to deliver some impressive verses about Microsoft Word in the interview.
New Yorkers are most likely to reference “arguing” on their resumes—not typically a trait that warms the hearts of hiring managers.
While being bilingual can enhance your job prospects, mentioning Klingon may not provide the edge you think it does.
Montana applicants appear to be most inclined to mention their spouse.
In New Mexico, the term “alien” is commonly used, perhaps hinting at a belief in extraterrestrial life or work experience at quirky tourist destinations.
This might be surpassed by Texas resumes that reference Bigfoot.
0.000000784% of Alabama resumes mention Wookiees. That seems like just a bit too many.
Ohioans’ admiration for LeBron James leads to frequent mentions, while New Jersey job seekers with experience at Trump properties may want to tread lightly with their work history.
Some hobbies such as beekeeping (Vermont), genealogy (Utah), and acrobatics (Rhode Island) are indeed quite cool.

Continue reading to discover how we unearthed these gems, along with some context for the more bizarre resume mentions.

How We Did It

We compiled the most disproportionately common interests found on resumes from each state nationwide by analyzing a staggering 3,543,017 resumes. We examined which keywords appeared most frequently under applicants’ additional interests and created a map to visualize this fascinating data.

Next, we’ll explore some real-life resume examples. Because terms like “Kardashians” definitely need some clarification.

Kardashians

It’s astonishing that “Kardashians” was mentioned at least once in about 100,000 resumes. Seriously—avoid including the Kardashians on your resume at all costs.

Here’s the context in which it appeared: “-One of less than 15 companies included in several backstage swag/celebrity events such as MTV, BET, The GRAMMYs, Emmy Awards, and Steve Harvey Neighborhood Awards for eight consecutive years. -Designed and worked for many TV networks and celebrities, including The Kardashians, Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Paris Hilton, and other industry favorites.”

While it makes sense in this context, do you really want to boast about your connection to the Kardashians?

UFOs

The term “UFO” is most commonly found in Alaskan resumes. Unfortunately, it seems many users are not discussing their beliefs but are instead describing previous job responsibilities. Here’s an example: “Familiar with various satellite types, including DSCS, MILSTAR, UFO, Intel Sat, and Pan Am Sat.”

Interesting, nonetheless.

Porn

Yes, “porn” made an appearance. While not the most common term in any state, its inclusion is remarkable. It begins innocuously but spirals from there:

“Full lifecycle EMR implementation consulting in the ambulatory environment * Project coordination, change management, and training * Technology proficient—Office products, eLearning/CBT?, illegally downloading porn, hating on UK on Facebook * Interpersonal skills spanning all ages and levels of learning, from all walks of life.”

You can’t just drop that in and continue as if nothing happened! WHAT IS GOING ON?

Redneck

The term “redneck” surprisingly appeared quite frequently (not enough to be the top mention in any state, but notable nonetheless). Here’s a context where it actually makes sense:

“Interacted with festival attendees, helping them navigate the festival as well as assisting them in signing up for the National Taco Association Arizona Barbecue Festival. Oversaw and maintained order of the horseshoe toss in the Redneck Arena.”

The Takeaway

The key takeaway is to be mindful of the language you use on your resume. Most companies scan for keywords, much like we did in this analysis. If you casually mention “porn” or “Kardashians,” trust us, it will be noticed—and likely not in a favorable light.

If a company requests additional interests, consider sharing ones that wouldn’t embarrass you in front of your mom—or highlighting skills that may not shine through in your professional experience, such as volunteer work.

While you are free to mention religion, race, disabilities, and political affiliations, be aware that you are protected by law from disclosing these attributes.

Most Common Weird Resume Interest

State	Interest
Alabama	Wookie
Arizona	Origami
Alaska	Klingon
Arkansas	Clothesmaking
California	Kardashian
Colorado	Cardistry
Connecticut	Ford
Delaware	Christian
Florida	Magic
Georgia	Peaches
Hawaii	Awesome
Idaho	Bodybuilding
Illinois	Couponing
Indiana	Drones
Iowa	Pizza
Kansas	Embroidery
Kentucky	Bowling
Louisiana	Tigers
Maine	Leather
Maryland	Electronic
Massachusetts	Witchcraft
Michigan	Ford
Minnesota	Dinosaurs
Mississippi	Tennis
Missouri	Hotdog
Montana	Wife
Nebraska	Hooping
Nevada	Arson
New Hampshire	Gymnastics
New Jersey	Trump
New Mexico	Alien
New York	Arguing
North Carolina	Weaving
North Dakota	Thrifting
Ohio	Lebron
Oklahoma	Computers
Oregon	Volunteer
Pennsylvania	Chocolate
Rhode Island	Acrobatics
South Carolina	Zeus
South Dakota	Ghosts
Tennessee	Gay
Texas	Bigfoot
Utah	Genealogy
Vermont	Beekeeping
Virginia	Cryptography
Washington	Space
West Virginia	Hunting
Wisconsin	Rapping
Wyoming	Dude

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Author

Kathy Morris

Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.

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