The Hobbies and interests section is an important but optional section on your CV. Many candidates include it on their CVs while others do not.

Which approach should you take?

We recommend adding your personal interests to your resume because this is a great way to stand out from the crowd, show the potential employer a bit of your personality and create a foundation for transformation in the job interview.

David Littleford et al. (2004) are cited under “other interests” in their book Career Skills (pp. 14-15):

“You should include hobbies and other interests, especially if they involve social and community activities. These activities are important – of associations, sports clubs / teams etc. It includes their membership. All these activities and the scope of your involvement give the recruiter clues about the real you and your interests. ”

In this guide you will find:

1. What are his hobbies and interests;
2. Benefits of writing your personal interests on your resume and;
3. Many hobby examples + how to add them to your CV.

1. What are hobbies and interests?

Hobby is an activity that you follow regularly

, especially to have fun in your spare time. These are activities that usually relieve you of stress, tension or fatigue.

What are examples of hobbies for a CV?

1. Playing sports (football, tennis, etc.)
2. Playing chess and solving puzzle games
3. Reading and writing books and articles
4. Drawing, sketching and painting
5. Cooking and baking
6. Travelling

Interest is an activity that you want to do or that you are currently doing sporadically.

What are examples of personal interests for a CV?

1. Organizing events in the community
2. Being involved in charities
3. Volunteering in local companies, clubs and organizations
4. Participating in fundraising events
5. Participating in campaigns
6. Participating in social, environmental or animal rights groups

2. Should I add hobbies and interests to my CV?

Yes, adding personal hobbies to your CV can strengthen your job application and increase your chances of getting a job interview. This is because recruiters invest in people; They hire and work with people, not robots. Recruiters actively look for every clue in candidates’ resumes to learn about their interests, skills, and competencies.

The benefits of including your personal interests on your CV:

• Will give the recruiter a more complete and complete picture of you
• Extra-curricular interests tell the employer that you are a versatile person who just enjoys working as well as having a good time.
• They make a great basis to discuss during the interview phase
• Sports activities show that you are fit, healthy and extroverted
• Inclusion in society indicates good interpersonal skills

• School dropouts
• College and university students
• Candidates with little or no work experience
• Candidates with vacancies in their resumes

Remember that your CV is your personal marketing tool, and you need to make the most of your CV’s total, including the interests section, to “sell yourself” to the potential employer.

• Senior professionals, including executives and managers
• Candidates with a lot of work experience
• Candidates whose resumes exceed more than 2 A4 pages

Due to the lack of valuable space in these candidates’ resumes, their relevant work experience and qualifications have a higher priority than their personal interests.

3. What your hobbies “say” about you

“Playing football”, “solving puzzles” and “fixing computers” are not general terms that make no sense; they carry a deeper message.

Here are things that potential employers will subconsciously ask themselves when reading resumes of candidates:

What does “I play football regularly”, “I enjoy solving puzzles” or “I like to fix computers” tell me about this candidate?

Many people are unaware that the hobbies and interests they add to their resume can reveal a lot of information about them and their personalities.

Below is a list of some of his hobbies and interests and what he tells employers about the candidate: What is the best hobbies and interests to put on a CV?,#What interests should I put on my CV?,#Should I add hobbies to my CV?,#What are my hobbies and interests?,#What are your hobbies best answer?,#What should we write in hobbies?,#What are impressive hobbies?,#How do you introduce your hobbies?,#How long should your CV be?,#What are the 6 areas of interest?,#How do I talk about hobbies on my CV?,#How can I find my interests?,#What are professional interests?,#What is personal interest?,#What are personal skills?,#What are your top 3 skills?,#What are unique skills?,#How do I identify my personal skills?,#What are the most popular interests?,#How do I know what I’m good at?,#What are some unique hobbies?,#What should not be included in a CV?,#What does a good CV look like?,#What do I put on my CV if I have no qualifications?

List of hobbies and interests for a CV

Ask yourself: how do these interests add value to my application? Try to emphasize your ability to interact, help and / or communicate with others.

4. What kind of hobbies should I put on my CV?

Answer: Those that add value and are relevant to your application!

The rule of thumb is to include only those activities that contribute to and strengthen the practice. If you cannot establish this valid link, do not include these activities.

• Bain activities (like playing chess) are a good match for jobs that are technical or analytical in nature (eg jobs in IT or Science).
• Team sports (like playing soccer) are a good match for jobs that require working with people on a daily basis (for example, jobs in Business or Marketing).

Different activities can be interpreted differently depending on the job you are applying for. For example, “playing video games” as a hobby is unrelated to most jobs and can sometimes portray you as a self-absorbed individual living in your own little cyber world.

However, if you apply for a job as a video game developer, graphic designer or a store assistant at your local game store, the same hobby can add enormous weight to your CV!

How to match your interests with the job you are applying for:

• • Examine the specifics of the job and look for clues. For example, if the business owner “has excellent people skills,” you could talk about volunteering, team sports, or socializing activities – all of which improve your communication, interpersonal and people skills. Do not talk about playing chess or running, as this will be irrelevant.On the other hand, if the job description states that the person must have “extraordinary technical skills,” from playing chess, building computers, and upgrading computer networks – things that show you are technically proficient and analytically minded. Do not mention socializing events as this will be less relevant.
  • Exploring the culture of the company: Many companies have a “culture” in the way they work and the behavior of the employees of this organization. Google, for example, is now known for allowing employees to play, go for walks or exercise to reduce stress or be more productive during working hours. When applying for a job at a company like Google, it’s okay to show off your fun, playful and human side because it fits well with their corporate culture.
  • Make a list of your skills and abilities It’s always a good idea to write a list of your skills and abilities and see which of these add value to your CV. Skills and abilities are closely related to your hobbies and interests; therefore, you can include them in this section as well.

  5. How to write hobbies on a CV

  Let’s start writing now.

  There are thousands of hobbies and interests that people add to their resume. Choosing the right hobbies to include will depend on a number of factors including the business sector and job role / characteristics.

  • Choose work-related hobbies
  • 1-2 relevant personal attention would be ideal
  • Choose a variety of hobbies to show you are a versatile person
  Some additional guidelines for writing your CV interests section:
  • Keep it concise (one paragraph; 2-3 lines max)
  • Be specific (eg type “I like reading non-fiction and current affairs” instead of “I enjoy reading”.)
  • Don’t list your interests – describe them in sentences!
  • Be realistic and don’t overdo it

  6. What are some good hobbies to put on a CV? [Examples]

  Let’s get into the details!

  Best-selling career writer Martin Yate outlines three broad categories of leisure activities to be included in your resume in his book The Ultimate CV Book (P.35):

  1. Team sports (football, cricket, basketball, etc.)
  2. Determination activities (running, swimming, cycling, climbing, etc.)
  3. Brain activities (chess, reading, etc.)

  However, each of the above categories may not be suitable for your situation and the job you are applying for. Select only work-related hobbies and interests and add value to your practice.

  Below you will find lists of good hobbies / interests that you can put on your CV:

  10 Examples of good interests for a CV

  1. Joined local clubs, classes and groups
  2. Organizing events in the community
  3. Being involved in charities
  4. Volunteering in local companies, clubs and organizations
  5. Attending events, shows and exhibitions
  6. Participating in fundraising events
  7. Maintaining a personal blog
  8. Being a member of social, environmental or animal rights groups
  9. Participating in campaigns
  10. Preparing meals for events
  11. These interests improve your resume because they let the employer know that you have excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills that allow you to perform these activities. It also confirms that you are motivated and determined about the things you are passionate about.

  27 Examples of excellent hobbies to put on a CV

  1. Follow up business and financial news
  2. Reading business and finance magazines
  3. Being a member of a professional organization
  4. Playing chess and puzzle games
  5. Doing individual sports (running, swimming, cycling, etc.)
  6. Playing team sports (football, cricket, basketball, tennis, etc.)
  7. Mentoring or coaching
  8. Building and repairing computers
  9. Designing and developing websites
  10. Setting up computer networks
  11. Playing chess and puzzle games
  12. To follow the latest developments in technology
  13. Art design
  14. Hand drawing, sketching, painting etc.
  15. Using computer programs for design
  16. Complete DIY projects
  17. Photography
  18. Playing music
  19. Cooking and baking
  20. Going out and eating at restaurants
  21. Creating new dishes
  22. Watching Food Channel or other food-related TV shows (e.g. MasterChef)
  23. Reading (fiction and non-fiction books, magazines, etc.)
  24. Writing (blog posts, articles, poems, books, etc.)
  25. Learning a new skill
  26. Fishing
  27. Travel

  7. 5 Great examples of interests section of a CV

  Example 1 – Economist

  I enjoy meeting my friends and family in my spare time, and I am currently volunteering as a guest columnist for my local newspaper The Daily Herald. I also enjoy reading business and economics magazines such as The Economist and Financial Times. [Economist CV template]

  Example 2 – Teaching Assistant

  Note: The example below is a bit long because there was blank space in the candidate’s resume and she used it accordingly What is the best hobbies and interests to put on a CV?,#What interests should I put on my CV?,#Should I add hobbies to my CV?,#What are my hobbies and interests?,#What are your hobbies best answer?,#What should we write in hobbies?,#What are impressive hobbies?,#How do you introduce your hobbies?,#How long should your CV be?,#What are the 6 areas of interest?,#How do I talk about hobbies on my CV?,#How can I find my interests?,#What are professional interests?,#What is personal interest?,#What are personal skills?,#What are your top 3 skills?,#What are unique skills?,#How do I identify my personal skills?,#What are the most popular interests?,#How do I know what I’m good at?,#What are some unique hobbies?,#What should not be included in a CV?,#What does a good CV look like?,#What do I put on my CV if I have no qualifications?

  

  Example 3 – Civil Engineer

  Because of my constant passion for engineering, I enjoy improving my knowledge of various computer programs that I can use to advance my career in the industry. I also enjoy playing a range of sports including tennis and indoor hockey. [Civil engineer CV template]

  Example 4 – Credit Controller

  

  Example 5 – Journalist

  In my spare time, I enjoy going to the gym to help the community and to stay fit and healthy, and regularly participate in charity runs in the UK. I also enjoy following current events at both national and international events, which helps me to be inspired by the stories I produce while working.

  8. Location of the hobbies section on a CV

  The interests section should be placed at the end of the second page, just before the CV references section:

  

  Remember: This section is optional, so placing it higher on your CV will give the potential employer the impression that you don’t understand how to prioritize jobs. Think about how your personal interests might be more important to the employer than your work experience or qualifications?

  9. Things to avoid when writing your hobbies section

  Avoid falling victim to stereotypes

  It is best to avoid putting anything controversial or sensitive on your resume. People are very judgmental by nature, so be smart about what you reveal on your CV. For example, some recruiters may judge you negatively if you’ve included heavy metal as your favorite music style.

  Keep clear of exposing your political, religious or sporting affiliations

  Stating that you are an “active member of the local church” can hurt your chances of being invited to an interview, especially if the potential employer reading your CV is a strict atheist. Similarly, it is not a good idea to state that you “volunteer in a number of Labor Party election campaigns” or that you are “a big fan of Manchester United”.

  Avoid mentioning risky or time-consuming hobbies

  It is in the employer’s interest that you are healthy, fit and able to work. Any leisure activity that puts your life at risk (or takes a lot of time) will be viewed negatively. Therefore, please remove one of your hobbies, “regular rock climbing in the Himalayas” from your resume. Thank you.

  Irrelevant hobbies

  Mention your personal interests only if they add value to your application. What is the value of “collecting stamps and coins” as a hobby to an application for a Logistics Engineering Manager position? No answer. But stamp collecting will be an invaluable hobby to talk about when applying for a job as a Stamp Appraiser.

  Senior-level CVs

  Directors, directors, and directors should remove this part of their resume completely. Their personal interests must be clearly understood from their success and experience in the workforce.

  Including too many hobbies

  Adding too many hobbies to your CV fills up valuable space that can be used for more important information. Below is an example of the Hobbies section of a CV with a lot of hobbies:

  

  At this stage, the potential employer will likely wonder: “God, when will this person have time to do some work ?!”

  Lie

  Remember that anything you put on your CV, including your personal interests, can be asked and reviewed at the interview stage. Save yourself from embarrassment and don’t lie about your hobbies.

  Strange interests

  Witchcraft and frog dissection for fun, stop mentioning it in your professional resume, it shouldn’t be anyone’s hobby!

  

  Yes, believe it or not, people have used these hobbies in their resumes …

  Conclusion

  Adding a list of hobbies and interests to your resume is an excellent way to improve your resume and increase your chances of being invited to job interviews. Whatever your job or industry, you should only include hobbies or interests in your resume that are relevant and add value to your application.

  Good example list of personal interests and hobbies for a CV that will impress any employer:

  • Team sports (eg football, basketball, tennis, etc.)
    Solo sports (swimming, walking, running, etc.)
    Design, drawing and painting
    Building things (computers, product prototypes, etc.)
    Coaching and mentoring
    Volunteering and community involvement
    Organizing events or activities
    Attending social or business events
    Reading and writing
    Learning a new skill
    Solve puzzleThat’s it; This is the end of this guide. You should now have written an excellent CV hobbies and interests section – well done!Do you need help with other parts of your CV or are you looking for a template? Check out the Download CV templates (Word) and How to write a CV (guide) sections, where you can find more tips, information and examples.