How to list hobbies and interests on your CV.

These days, companies are focusing more and more on recruiting people who will fit into their culture and align with their values.  

By listing hobbies and interests on your CV, you give the recruiter the opportunity to see you as a human, rather than an employee. They can give an indirect insight into the kind of person you are, so use these few lines to your best advantage.  

Here are a few things we will go over on this page:

• When to include hobbies and interests on your CV.
• Which hobbies and interests to list.
• Where to list them.

On this page, we take hobbies and interests to include any leisure activity that you enjoy. Extracurricular activities such as volunteering can be incorporated into this section or listed separately in a dedicated section.

Hobbies to include.

As so often, this question is answered by looking at your CV from the perspective of the recruiter. They’re looking for certain ’soft skills’ such as team focus, attention to detail, or creative thinking etc. 

They’re also looking for clues about your values: What’s important to you? This is a short section of your CV, so ensure it provides the recruiter with information that’s useful.

• Select a maximum of 2 or 3 hobbies and interests.
• Choose ones which show soft skills relating to the role.
• Choose ones which highlight your energy and personality.
• Avoid ones that are too bland: ‘going to the cinema’; ‘socialising’, ‘walking’ ‘going to the beach’.

How to relate hobbies and interests to a role.

At first, this might seem a bit of a stretch. Let’s imagine you’re applying for a high-pressured role with tight deadlines in a competitive global industry. How could various hobbies and interests support your application? 

What soft skills might they demonstrate that would be valued in this kind of role?  Some examples:

• Football: Communication, competitive spirit, goal orientation, resilience, energy, strategic thinking, team spirit.
• Cooking: Attention to detail, creativity, nurturing others.
• Marathon running: Determination, overcoming hurdles, self-discipline, courage.
• Interior design: Creativity, planning, visual flair, flexibility.
• Meditation: Calmness under pressure, resilience, ability to concentrate.
• Surfing: Energy, risk-taking, competitive spirit, ready to take on new challenges.
• Travelling: Cultural awareness, diversity, openness, language skills.
• Metal-detecting: Patience, systematic approach, long-term focus.

So, although at first some of these hobbies and interests may seem unrelated to the role, each one demonstrates skills or qualities that could bring something useful.

To decide which to include on your CV:

• Make a list of all your hobbies and interests. 
• Brainstorm the skills that each one requires or develops.
• Choose the ones which demonstrate the skills most likely to be valued in the role you’re applying for.

Where to list hobbies and interests on your CV.

Your hobbies and interests should be listed at or near the end of your CV, after your employment history, education and languages. They will capture the attention of the recruiter as they will be the last details that they read.