Should You Include Hobbies in Your CV?

In the latest careers article from kilimanjaroyetu.com Jobs we provide advice on whether you should include information on hobbies and interests in your CV.

Should you include hobbies and interests?

There are 2 reasons why you might include hobbies and interests in your CV:

• They demonstrate skills and experience relevant to the job
• They showcase personality and character traits relevant to the job and/or organisation

The key is ONLY to include information that is relevant to the job and/or organisation to whom you are submitting your CV. If they are relevant to the job and/or organisation they have the potential to help distinguish your CV from other candidates.

What are examples of relevant hobbies and interests?

Here are some examples of how hobbies and interests can be relevant in your CV include:

• President of a society or club (for those looking for management positions)
• Writing and blogging (for those looking to become journalists)
• Sports and fitness (for those looking to work as a sports coach)
• Cooking or baking (for those looking for jobs in restaurants)
• Volunteering (for those looking to work in charity/development)

Socialising with friends, eating out, going to the cinema and other hobbies and interests are unlikely to add value to your CV (unless they are relevant to the particular job and/or organisation).

Who should include information on hobbies and interests?

Information on hobbies and interests can be particularly useful for:

• School leavers, graduates and those lacking work experience
• Those applying for roles which are directly related to their hobbies and interests

If you are an experienced professional such as a medical doctor it is unlikely that an interest in travel writing will secure you a new job in a hospital. However, if you are a recent school leaver or graduate looking for a job in journalism, marketing or public relations, then an interest in travel writing would be relevant.

Where should you include information on hobbies and interests?

In the majority of cases information on hobbies and interests should be included towards the end of a CV before references. The amount of information you provide on hobbies and interests should be based on how relevant it is to the job and/or organisation.