The best hobbies and interests to put on your CV

When it comes to writing a standout CV, you need to put some thought into your hobbies section. Lots of people think the hobbies section is irrelevant. But actually, employers like to read your hobbies section to get a feel for your personality. So don’t overlook this part of your CV!

Today, we’re giving you the best examples of hobbies and interests for your CV.

What are hobbies?

Hobbies are the things you like to do in your free time. Usually, it’s the things you do for fun. Or just things that you’re really interested in. Some of the most common hobbies are sports, music and travel.

Why include them?

There’s a few reasons why you should include hobbies in your CV:

• Tells the interviewer about your personality
• Makes your CV more interesting
• Helps the interviewer decide if you’ll be a good cultural fit for the company
• Make you stand out from others
• Gives you an opportunity to show relevant skills
• Can be a good conversation starter for your interview

How to write your hobbies on your CV

• Use a heading – always use a heading that clearly states ‘Hobbies’. This helps to keep the information easy to find and presentable!

• Use bullet points – don’t write about your hobbies in a long paragraph. Use short bullet points. This makes it easier for the interviewer to read.

• Choose two three – it’s best to include 2-3 hobbies on your CV. This will really give the interviewer a better taste of your personality.

• Be honest – never lie about your hobbies. Always pick things that really happen in your life.

• Include hobbies relevant to your role – where possible, include some hobbies that are relevant to the role you’re applying to. For example, it’s always good to include some competitive sports when you’re applying for sales positions.

• Give a bit of detail – don’t just list your hobbies in one word. Always give a bit of detail to bring the information to life and add more personality. It should be completely unique to you.

• Write them towards the bottom of your CV – place your hobbies at the bottom of your CV after your work experience. Hobbies are important, but your career history and CV skills are more important. 

Best hobbies for your CV with examples

Sports

Sports tell the interviewer that you’re a team player and competitive. This is great to include for jobs that require teamwork or sales positions.

“Football – playing football as a centre-back for a Sunday league team”

Travel

Travel shows you’re adventurous. It shows you’ve experienced different cultures. This will tell employers that you’re able to communicate with different people. This is particularly useful for customer-facing jobs, like in hospitality or retail.

“Travel – previously spent 6 months solo backpacking in Asia”

Reading

Reading shows you’re intelligent. But always mention the kinds of books you like to read to make it more personal to you.

“Reading – enjoy reading personal development books that are motivational”

Painting

Painting shows you’re creative and artistic. Many painters have great imaginations.

“Painting – taught myself to use water-colours to paint landscapes”

Music

Music shows you have perseverance since it’s not easy to learn a new instrument.

“Music – self-taught guitarist writing my own songs since I was 15”

Skincare

Skincare shows you enjoy keeping up your appearance and looking after your body.

“Skincare – experimenting with skincare recipes to create my own products at home”

Yoga

Yoga tells the interviewer you’re a calm person who has developed a good level of mental strength.

“Yoga – attending yoga classes since 2015 and running my own blog with wellness tips”

Photography

Photography is for creative people and shows you have patience too.

“Photography – capturing photos of animals, like birds and foxes, in their natural habitats”

Be you!

Hobbies is the fun part of your CV where you get to showcase your personality. Just remember, the key is to keep them brief but detailed! 

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