A hobby is an activity you engage in, an interest is an topic you enjoy
What are your hobbies and interests?
Do you have a hobby or interest? Have you achieved something special? Do you say you have a particular talent?
If you’re a dedicated person and spend lots of time on a hobby or interest, you could get good at it. Being good at something is a skill and worth noting on your CV. The talent may be helpful in your career, or maybe it just proves you're willing to learn new things.
Skills on Your CV
Obviously, your CV needs to include 'Skills' and 'Experience'. But have you included a section about your hobbies and interests? Although it may seem cheesy, adding these could improve your CV. By adding things that extend beyond your work and education history, it could help support and highlight your skills. Or it could just be added to help you to connect on a personal level.
Skills at Interview
You may be asked to elaborate on your skills during an interview, so don’t lie. Identify your hobbies and interests that are relevant to the role and add these to your CV. If you are unsure as to whether to include a hobby on your CV, ask yourself "Will it boost my CV in any way?" But don’t overpower your CV with a long list of hobbies and interests.
Professional Advice
Indeed say that you should consider putting hobbies and interests on your resume when:
- You have limited work and educational experience
- The employer values uniqueness and personality among applicants
- You have limited skills related to the job to which you’re applying
- The employer asks for additional hobbies or interests from applicants
- The job posting lists responsibilities or duties that align with your hobbies and interests
Examples of Hobbies and Interests
Music
I am not a musical person at all. Although I use to play the recorder as a child (didn’t we all?) none of these lessons could help me play a tune today. If you can play a musical instrument or have a voice of an angel (or anything remotely awesome) add it to your CV! Being dedicated enough to learn how to read music, play an instrument, or sing in the right key is enough to impress any employer.
Art
I am also not creative. I can’t paint or draw, nor knit or sew, or create anything remotely pretty. Do you have the patience to design and create something? Do you do it regularly, for fun? Add it to your CV! The fact that you can see things differently from people and have the skills to produce some artwork should prove to the employer you can think outside the box and have a flair for design.
Cooking/Baking
I can cook! Just not particularly well. I manage to keep myself alive and can follow a recipe quite well. But I only cook to survive and that’s about it. If you asked me to bake you a cake, I’d have to have hours of planning and at least 5 attempts to get it right. Maybe you spend your weekends creating masterpieces with just some flour and a rolling pin. Make sure to include this in your CV if you want to show the employer you have great attention to detail.
Sport
I am not particularly sporty; I can’t run for miles, I can’t race a bike, I can swim, but I’m not a strong swimmer and I get out of breath incredibly quickly for someone with a gym membership. Should I include this on my CV? Probably not. However, if you’re an avid runner or have achieved a fitness transformation, add details about this. It requires a lot of hard work and dedication to keep up a fitness regime and your employer will note this.
Puzzles & Games
Apart from playing with a deck of cards occasionally, I can honestly say I haven’t played a game in years (I don’t count playing Monopoly with the family at Christmas as a game, it’s more of a chore). But if you are an avid gamer, online or offline, adding this to your CV could really help to show off your skills. All games require specific skills and knowledge and letting your employer know this shows you’re willing to accept a challenge.
Techy Stuff
Have you heard of Unbox Therapy? No? Check out his YouTube channel where he literally unboxes (and reviews) the latest technological devices. I enjoy watching these short videos in my spare time to learn about new technology that’s out there, but I am definitely no expert. Depending on the role you’re applying for you may want to include something related to your industry. You could be a developer that has a passion for rebuilding computers. If it’s relevant, add it to your CV.
Hobbies and Interests on Your CV
Personally, for me, my hobby is writing. I have a blog which I update regularly with things that interest me.
“How is that a hobby or interest?” I hear you ask. Well, in my CV I included a link to this blog. My blogging hobby gave my employers enough proof of my written communication skills they wanted to invite me into interview.
So, when writing your CV, have a good, hard think about your skills and interests. Do they add anything to your CV? Are they relevant? Will the employer care?