Including hobbies and interests on your CV can often be viewed as a bad idea. Many people think this information takes up valuable space on your CV and is irrelevant to your career.
That said, there are actually some solid reasons to include hobbies and interests on your CV, particularly if you lack work experience. The key is selecting the activities that will genuinely enhance your CV and add value to your application.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about adding hobbies and interests to your CV, including the pros and cons, expert tips, and 120 examples to give you some inspiration.
Keen to get started? Jump straight to our list of hobbies and interests examples.
Hobbies and interests can provide a glimpse into your personality and help you connect with a hiring manager, but they don’t fall into the category of essential information on your CV. Most employers will be focused on whether your work experience and skills will be a good fit for their company.
If you have a significant work history, this information is more important and should take priority on your CV. In that case, it’s best to place your “Hobbies and Interests” section toward the end of your CV, following your education section.
Here’s an example of how this could look:
Your CV is largely focused on your qualifications and professional experience, which can often make it a pretty dry and formal document that also doesn’t allow for a lack of work experience. One way you can address both of these issues is by including an engaging hobbies and interests section.
Here are some reasons why adding hobbies and interests for your CV is a good idea:
So, which hobbies and interests will impress a hiring manager? Here are 120 examples that will allow you to demonstrate in-demand skills and a sense of personality:
Including sports on your CV can demonstrate valuable skills like teamwork, resilience, adaptability, discipline, and leadership.
Aside from enjoying fun activities in the great outdoors, you can also show off your creativity, determination, and sound judgement by mentioning these on your CV.
Whether you're performing on stage, producing films, or learning an instrument, music and the performing arts can demonstrate your creativity, commitment, and strong work ethic.
Taking time out of your busy schedule to give back to others says a lot about your values. Let your volunteer work speak for itself on your CV.
Hiring managers are looking for imaginative people who have an eye for detail. What better way to show your creative outlook than by sharing artistic hobbies and interests on your CV.
If you’re a more seasoned professional, then including hobbies or interests on your CV is not as necessary. Your experience and skills are more important, and you should focus on keeping your CV as direct and succinct as possible, ideally no more than two pages long.
Almost every job requires strong writing skills, so it can be helpful to highlight your passion for the written word with these hobbies and interests for your CV.
Technology is constantly evolving, making it essential to stay up-to-date, especially as it relates to your industry. These CV hobbies and interests show that you’re tech-savvy in your spare time.
In today’s job market, social media skills and interests are essential to highlight, as businesses increasingly rely on digital platforms to engage with audiences, build brands, and drive growth.
Fancy yourself a foodie? Whether your target career is food-related or not, these CV hobbies and interests can show your creativity and attention to the finer details.
Demonstrate your problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and proactive mindset by sharing these intellectually challenging activities on your CV.
Sometimes a hobby or interest might not fit neatly into a box, but can still impress on a CV in the right context.
Choosing the right hobbies and interests for your CV can be tricky with so many options out there. The best approach is to consider your target job and the skills and experience that are required to excel in this role or industry. That way, you can include specific hobbies or interests that the role will benefit from or pursue in the future.
You’ll also want to keep your CV hobbies and interests section brief. While it can be tempting to include a long list of activities, this section should be short and sweet. The goal is to spark the hiring manager’s interest with a selection of recent and relevant activities to show your talents, without detracting from your core skills and experience.
Aligning your CV hobbies and interests with the job opening and prospective employer can make a great first impression. Below are a few examples of this in action:
Estate agents are talented communicators, who often need to convey the potential of a rundown property to become a dream home. Hobbies and interests in DIY, interior design, artistic endeavours, and communication skills can reinforce these capabilities.
Talented educators have strong communication skills, creativity, and are always looking for ways to enrich their knowledge and experience. Outlining hobbies that chime with these goals will make your teacher CV more appealing to prospective schools.
Budding engineers should include hobbies and interests that demonstrate problem-solving skills, creativity, and a keen interest in technology.
Retail employers will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate good customer service skills, a team-focused approach, and a strong work ethic. The above hobbies and interests can show your ability to engage with customers and be a team player.
Lawyers must be confident speakers and debaters, skilled at writing thorough and persuasive legal briefs, negotiating deals, and utilising critical and strategic thinking. These hobbies demonstrate your ability to excel in these areas.
When considering whether or not to include specific hobbies or interests in your CV, the acid test question to ask yourself is, “Does this hobby or interest benefit the job that I am applying for?”
This will often be a clear “yes” or “no” answer, but there are some grey areas to consider:
Here are some frequently asked questions on including hobbies and interests on your CV:
Hobbies and interests are subtly different:
Both give insight into what drives you outside of work.
Include around two to five hobbies or interests.
This keeps the section concise while still offering a glimpse into your personality. Choose ones that are relevant to the role or show transferable skills, but avoid listing too many to keep your CV focused and professional.
This will depend on your target role and industry. For example, if you’re targeting a tech role, you may want to highlight your skills in AI, coding, and programming. The job description is a great guide that you can use to identify the skills an employer is looking for, and then align them with your relevant hobbies and interests.