Honestly? Yes, without a doubt.
Incorporating hobbies and interests in your CV allows you to display a wide range of essential professional abilities while also demonstrating to employers that you would be a good cultural fit.
However, in other circumstances, including an interests section on your CV is deemed unsuitable. Make sure you know when it is OK to include interests and hobbies on your CV before you begin.
Should you include hobbies and interests in your CV?
Suppose you do not have any professional experience and want to offer employers a better understanding of who you are outside of work. In that case, you could include your hobbies and interests in your CV.
Interests and hobbies can assist you in demonstrating that you are a well-rounded candidate by demonstrating crucial hard and soft abilities.
What do you mean by "hard skills"?
Practical experience, training, and education are all ways to acquire hard skills. Including chess as a hobby, for example, demonstrates to hiring employers that you are comfortable with strategy and can stay focused on challenging work.
What exactly are soft skills?
In a professional situation, soft skills refer to your capacity to interact with others.
Participating in an amateur football league, for example, demonstrates your commitment and ability to operate as part of a team.
Suppose you have a few years of job experience and can complete a one-page resume with relevant professional abilities and qualifications. In that case, however, hobbies and interests should not be included in your CV.
Here are some more instances of when and when not to include hobbies and interests in your CV:
If you have any of the following interests or hobbies, include them on your CV:
- They have something to do with the company or position
- You do not have enough schooling or professional experience to fill a one-page CV
- They help you to highlight abilities that are relevant to the job
- You have been asked to include this information by the organisation
- You are aware that the company places a premium on personalised applications.
If you have any of the following hobbies or interests, do not list them:
- Implying antisocial or isolated conduct
- Has the potential to be deadly or violent
- Clashes with a company's beliefs or culture
- Could be construed as insensitive or discriminating
- Divulge personal details such as political or religious affiliations
Job related interests and hobbies in CV
When you have decided the hobbies for CV that will benefit your application, the next step is deciding which examples to include.
Here are some professional interests and examples for your resume that reflect favourably on you as a candidate to help you get started.
1.Sporting events
Playing sports is the best hobby for a CV because it demonstrates that you are active and healthy.
A single sport like jogging, for example, demonstrates that you are self-motivated and disciplined. Additionally, group sports show employers that you are capable of functioning as part of a team.
Captaining an amateur sports team also exhibits leadership and interpersonal abilities, which are highly essential in any professional situation.
2. Participate in outdoor activities
Including outdoor hobbies for CV, such as hiking or camping, is a terrific way to demonstrate to employers that you live a balanced life and stay healthy.
Not only that, but spending time in nature in your spare time is beneficial to your mental health and can help you prevent workplace burnout.
Here are a few examples of outdoor activities to include in your CV:
• Camping
• Fishing
• Gardening
• Hiking
• Climbing in the mountains
• Trekking
3. Activities involving technology
COVID-19 has caused more companies to operate remotely than ever before. As a result, having technological interests demonstrates to employers that you are a good communicator who is up to date on current technology.
Mentioning your blog, podcast, or YouTube channel on your resume, for example, is a terrific opportunity to demonstrate your creativity, organisational skills, and technological skills.
Blogging and vlogging are beneficial for marketing and advertising careers.
However, only discuss these hobbies if your media is suitable for work.
Other technology-related interests to include in your CV:
• Coding
• Creating content
• Troubleshooting and repairing computers
• Editing photos and videos
• Podcasting
• Writing
4. Artistry
A passion for art demonstrates to the hiring manager that you are imaginative and have a strong eye for detail.
If you wish to work in a creative or design-focused sector like UX/UI, cinematography, or art curation, artistic hobbies are beneficial to include on your CV.
The following are some examples of artistic hobbies for CV:
• Dance
• Drawing
• Illustration and design
• Painting
• Pottery
• Photography
• Sculpting
• Sewing and clothing
• Woodworking
5. Participate in volunteer work
Volunteer work is an excellent method to demonstrate your commitment to the community, generosity, and time management abilities.
Volunteer experience is excellent for your CV if you are searching for a position at a not-for-profit organisation or a corporation that emphasises social responsibility.
6. Take a trip
Employers will see that you are open-minded, adventurous, and tolerant if you consider travel one of your hobbies and interests.
If you are applying for employment that needs you to travel, travel is a great interest to add to your CV.
• Go on international trips
• Be familiar with a variety of cultures and business practices
• Include working as part of a multicultural team
5. Languages other than English
Having foreign language skills in your CV demonstrates commitment, initiative, and communication abilities.
If you are applying for employment that requires international travel, global sales, or tourism, a desire to study foreign languages is very advantageous.
6. Computer and video games
Many organisations have recently realised that playing video games indicates problem-solving skills and demonstrates your ability to fulfil goals.
However, before mentioning your passion for video games, keep in mind the position you are looking for.
Suppose you are applying for a job in the computer business. In that case, mentioning gaming as a personal interest is likely to get you a favourable response — and it might even be relevant to the job.
When applying to a legal firm, though, admitting your passion for gaming can be unprofessional.
7. Activities involving music
Self-discipline and dedication are required when playing or making music. Being a member of a band also necessitates collaboration and interpersonal skills.
Music as a pastime is a safe bet for any sector, and it exhibits a range of key soft skills, including confidence, openness to feedback, and patience.
For your resume, some specific musical preferences include:
• Beatboxing
• Guitar
• Piano
• Composition of music
• Singing
• Songwriting
• Trumpet
8. Club or social activities number ten
Being a member of a social club or association demonstrates hiring managers that you are an active member of your community who enjoys socialising.
On your resume, listing your membership in local sports, social, or academic organisations as a hobby is a terrific way to show your interpersonal abilities to potential employers.
How do you list your interests and hobbies in your CV?
Now that you have compiled a shortlist, here's how to correctly list extracurricular activities in your CV.
Include a section on your CV for your interests and hobbies
Interests should be listed in a section in your CV named "Interests & Hobbies" or "Personal Interests."
Employers will be able to easily distinguish your interests and hobbies from your professional experience if you include them in a separate section.
Then, in a bulleted list, list 3–5 interests or hobbies, similar to how you would organise your CV's skills section.
List up to five interests and hobbies in your CV
If you do not have any work experience, expand on your CV's interests area. For example, give a one-line explanation for each passion that outlines what you do or how it connects to the role.
Add complex numbers to each point, such as percentages or time.
These summaries can compensate for lack of professional experience by highlighting some of your best achievements.
At the bottom of your CV, including a list of your hobbies
Put your interests section at the bottom or to the side of your CV (depending on your CV layout).
While including passions on your CV can help you stand out as a candidate, they are ultimately the least significant piece of information to provide.
Such information should be listed at the bottom of the page to keep employers' attention away from the essential information in your CV, such as your school history, work experience, accomplishments, and top abilities.
Tailor your list of interests to the job posting
Ensure your interests will be well-received by the organisation you want to work for and demonstrate that you are a strong cultural fit before listing them on your CV.
To keep your hobbies and interests relevant, follow these steps.
How to match your interests and hobbies to a firm
- Look up the company's website or social media pages to learn more about it.
- Make a mental note of anything you can about the company's culture and any previous work retreats or team-building trips. These data can give you a better idea of the company's values and what its present employees are passionate about.
- Tailor your resume interests section to highlight the interests or activities that are most relevant to that specific office once you have learnt more about the corporate culture.
Two cents worth of suggestions
- Act professionally. Avoid discussing delicate topics like politics, contentious issues, religion, or sex.
- Do not bring up dangerous or time-consuming activities. Your potential employer wants you to be physically fit and capable of working. Any acts that jeopardise your life or take too much time may frighten them.
- Avoid using buzzwords: football, reading, travelling, music, and social networking are my favourite pastimes. Nope. If you genuinely enjoy reading and want to mention it, at the very least, be precise. Reading is not a one-of-a-kind pastime. Instead, it is reading 55 books in a year.
- Do not go overboard. It is not good to cram too many hobbies and interests into a small space. Please keep it simple by listing only the best and save the rest of your CV for more important information.
Photo by Ayo Ogunseinde on Unsplash
