One of the hardest parts of a job application is getting started with your CV. This is your chance to shine. Your CV shows hiring managers what you’re capable of, what you’ve achieved and what you can bring to the company. But how relevant are your hobbies and interests?
Job seekers might be tempted to use CV templates to show off their experience and soft skills. But it’s important to remember that this is not a cookie cutter exercise. Like a well-written cover letter, CVs should be tailored to the needs of your prospective employer. Where appropriate, this does leave room for relevant hobbies.
WHICH HOBBIES SHALL I INCLUDE IN A CV?
Your hobbies and interests are any kind of extracurricular activities that you carry out in your spare time. They could be a passion project, or something you do to bring in extra income. Some examples of hobbies include:
- Creative pursuits: – such as writing, reading, music or arts
- Sports: from solo activities like running or swimming to team sports like football
- Volunteering or organizing events for causes close to your heart
When it comes to writing a CV, the best hobbies to include are those that represent transferable skills.
For example, if you write blogs or short stories, this might demonstrate your copywriting or proofreading skills. If you’re into theatre, this could translate to successful public speaking. Hobby painters may be inclined towards graphic design, and so on. Make sure that everything you include on your CV caters to your employers’ needs.
REASONS TO INCLUDE HOBBIES AND INTERESTS ON A CV
With sometimes hundreds of candidates to sift through, you might be wondering if hiring managers are interested in your pastimes. The simple answer is yes. Here are some reasons why adding your hobbies to your CV could make a difference.
You’re a recent graduate or have little professional experience
Everybody starts somewhere, and there’s no shame if you don’t have years of experience behind you. Good hobbies that can show off your personality traits or working styles may very well impress your employer. Let’s say you play a musical instrument, for example. That shows you’re dedicated to practising and open to learning.
You can find out if you’re the right fit for the company culture
You will for sure enjoy better working for a company which is in line with your life style and supports values which are close to your personal preferences. This goes beyond the job description – it’s about the goals and values of a business. If your hobbies involve teamwork, for example, you’ll fit right in at a company that promotes collaboration and supportive mentoring.
REASONS NOT TO INCLUDE YOUR HOBBIES ON A CV
Hobbies are a great way to show off your personality, but they’re only one part of who you are. Remember that recruiters are looking for the best candidates with transferable skills. You don’t want to lose out on the next steps if you’ve focused too heavily on a list of hobbies. You might want to skip the hobbies and interests CV section if:
Your interests don’t bring any relevant skills to the table
By all means, fire eating and archery might make for great dinner party conversations – but are they helpful for project management? Don’t feel you have to pad out your CV with unnecessary fluff if there’s no way the skills you’ve learnt apply to the business.
You don’t have a lot of hobbies and interests
Not everybody jumps out of planes, and that’s fine. Many of us love common activities like socialising, going to the cinema, traveling or playing video games. If that’s the case and there’s little value to your employer, focus on other achievements instead – such as self education.
You need to cut your CV down
As you already know from our articles, recruiters only have a limited amount of time to study your CV. Your employer isn’t looking for the expression “reading books” or "scuba diving" in your CV. They’re looking for succinct examples of how you can benefit their company. If you can offer your employer interesting experience and work results, consider whether it's still worth listing your hobbies. This less informal topic may also come up naturally during your face-to-face interview.
HOW TO INCLUDE HOBBIES IN YOUR CV
If you’ve got the space and transferable skills, by all means feel free to include a hobbies and interests section. The structure of your CV should look something like this:
1. Personal summary and contact details – your chance to include a concise round-up of your skills and experience, with clear phone number and email address details.
2. Skills – these are best as a bulleted list, highlighting both soft skills (like problem-solving) and tangible skills (like software knowledge).
3. Work experience – talk about previous jobs, work experience, discussing how they can be applied to new roles.
4. Education and qualifications – you should state your highest level of education and any professional qualifications or certifications.
5. Hobbies and interests – note how far down these are on the CV. While they can enhance a CV, they should be kept brief and relevant.
You can then round off by telling your employer that references are available on request.
WHAT ARE GOOD EXAMPLES OF HOBBIES TO INCLUDE IN MY CV?
Always remembering that your goal is to impress your employer, you can group your hobbies by transferable skills. For example:
Problem-solving skills
These skills are best lent to intellectual hobbies, like chess and literature. You can also demonstrate problem-solving ability by referencing fun activities, like escape rooms.
Communication skills
Demonstrate these skills through hobbies such as drama, educating others or coaching a sports or other team.
Project management skills
Again, you emphasise coaching or some organisational activities, such as organising events or various social occasions.
Teamwork skills
To show that you’re a team player, you could talk about your participation in local sports teams, as well as theatre groups or arts classes.
Creative skills
Any chance to showcase your art is an investment in your creative skills. Here the range of possibilities is very wide. Do you draw, paint, write, are you a musician or a photographer, do you enjoy finding interesting ways to use artificial intelligence?
