How to list hobbies and interests on a CV (with examples)
If you're a student or recent grad, adding hobbies and interests to your CV can be a valuable way of showing your skills and personality. In this article, we'll show you which hobbies and interests are best to include and where to place them on your CV.
While hobbies and interests aren't the first thing that comes mind when crafting a CV, they can be used as a way for the hiring manager to get to know you better, especially if you're just starting out. However, it's important to choose the right activities and place them on your CV the correct way. This article is here to guide you.
We'll walk you through:
- The difference between hobbies and interests
- How to choose the right ones for your application
- The key mistakes to avoid when placing hobbies and interests on a CV
What are hobbies and interests?
Hobbies and interests are things you do or are interested in outside of work. They can be used to show more about your personality or even demonstrate certain skills that might be relevant to the role. They can also help compensate for lack of work experience if you're a student or just starting your career.
The following table breaks down the difference between hobbies and interests and gives a few examples.
Hobbies | Interests |
Hobbies are structured activities you participate in during your spare time for enjoyment and leisure. On your CV, they reflect your personality and tell employers more about your skills. | Interests are subjects that you follow outside of your job that don't necessarily have an activity attached to them. They're typically broader topics, but they can help to show your personality, priorities and attitudes on your CV. |
Examples:
| Examples:
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When should you add hobbies and interests to your CV?
Hobbies and interests can be a great way to showcase your skills and provide employers with a glimpse into your personality. However, this section is more valuable for some candidates than others.
Decide whether to include your hobbies and interests on your CV on a case-by-case basis. Research the company before you submit your application to find out if the employer emphasises supporting outside-of-work activities or if they prefer a strictly business approach.
Some situations when you might consider adding hobbies and interests to your CV include:
- You’re a recent graduate or a junior candidate: In these situations, you might not have very much relevant work experience. As such, it can be a challenge to prove to employers that you have the necessary skills for the job. In this case, relevant hobbies and interests are a valid way of showing your skills and demonstrating that you have what it takes to do the job.
- You’re changing careers: Changing careers can mean your previous work experience isn’t relevant anymore. In this case, hobbies and interests can be helpful for your CV. In a CV less focused on your work history, hobbies and interests is one of several sections that can plug gaps in your portfolio of skills and experience.
- The employer asks for them: Occasionally, the employer might ask candidates to list hobbies or interests, as they can help them decide if you're a good cultural fit for the role. Always check the job description and follow any explicit directions the employer gives.
- Your hobbies and interests match the job description: If you’ve carried out any activities featured in the job description during your leisure time, or you’ve gained experience through hobbies that you can apply to the role, these are all valid to include in your CV. Just make sure you always relate back to the job description and show how the hobbies demonstrate skills or experience the employer is seeking.
Examples of hobbies and interests to include in your CV
It’s important to be selective about the hobbies and interests you include on your CV. You wouldn’t list every single job you’ve ever had on your CV, so by the same token, you don’t need to mention every hobby you’ve ever pursued. Consider which of your hobbies are most appropriate for the job you’re applying for, and add details that show how they’ve helped you gain the skills and experience for the job.
First, let's look at some examples of hobbies to add to your CV.
Physical & Outdoor Activities | Creative & Performing Arts | Educational & Community |
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Don't forget that you can update your hobbies and interests for the role you're applying to. While you should never lie, certain activities will make more sense for some jobs. For example, your love of trail running is great for a position in a sporting goods store, but you might use the same space to talk about your knack for photography for a different job requiring content creation.
Now let's look at some examples of interests to place on your CV.
Personal development | Global affairs | Culture & knowledge |
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Good to know: According to Jobseeker's research, 7.9% of HR professionals look at hobbies and interests to assess cultural fit.
How to write hobbies and interests on your CV
How you include hobbies and interests on your CV is a key decision that can either impress the hiring manager or leave them with doubts about your professionalism. Here's a few tips for including hobbies and interests the correct way for maximum impact:
1. Choose the right hobbies and interests for the job
There are several things to consider when selecting the appropriate hobbies and interests for the job:
- Demonstrate your best skills and qualities: Only include hobbies and interests in your CV that show the best skills and personal qualities that you want to communicate to the employer or hiring manager.
- Relevant to the job description: Check the job description to understand the key skills employers are looking for and list hobbies and interests that help you show these.
- Fit the culture of the organisation: Research the company, its values and mission statement, and select hobbies and interests that show you align with the organisation.
- Showcase transferable skills: Especially if you're lacking work experience or specific technical skills, adding hobbies that show transferable skills can be valuable for your CV.
- Avoid unnecessary hobbies and interests: Omit any hobbies and interests that lack relevance to the job description or show skills and experience that you've already proved in other sections of your CV.
2. Decide where to put them on your CV
Hobbies and interests belong in a separate, dedicated section of your CV. The section will usually go towards the bottom of your CV, below the main components of CV header, CV summary, work experience, education and skills. Use an obvious title such as "Hobbies and Interests" for this section as this will make it easy for ATS software to scan.
TIP: If you're struggling to think of suitable hobbies and interests to list on your CV, Jobseeker's CV builder can help. When creating your CV, Jobseeker's app can provide AI suggestions for valuable and impactful hobbies to add to your CV, based on your target job title. Jobseeker's CV templates like the ones below make it easy to add hobbies and other additional sections to your CV.
3. Limit how many hobbies and interests you include
Hobbies and interests shouldn't be one of the more detailed or extensive sections of your CV, so you'll want to limit the number you include. Add a maximum of three to five hobbies and interests, depending on how prominent you want this section to be in your CV. If you're lacking work experience and need to showcase various skills, a larger hobbies and interests section can be valuable. However, in most cases, you'll want a short section highlighting one or two key skills.
4. Consider the best way to phrase your hobbies and interests
You'll want to do more than simply provide a list of your hobbies and interests on your CV, as this would tell the reader very little about your suitability for the job. Instead, it's important to include some information that reinforces your credentials for the position.
Here are some tips for phrasing your hobbies and interests to make the best impression with the reader:
Do
- Add details to show relevance
- Use keywords from the job description to show how you're a match for the role
- Focus on skills
- Structure with bullet points for greater impact
Don't
- Write a basic list of hobbies without context
- Add information that bears no relevance to the skills required for the role
- Focus on the activity
- Use long sentences and paragraphs
To understand how to best mention hobbies and interests, take a look at these CV example hobbies and interests entries:
- Volunteer youth club supervisor: Organising and delivering youth outreach sessions for girls aged 11 to 16. Coaching new skills, mentoring and carrying out everyday administrative tasks, including managing the club’s finances and ordering equipment.
- Blogging: Writing and curating a blog on local historical architecture, including managing social media channels to generate interest and followers. Researching local history and interviewing residents with architectural stories to write and publish weekly content to more than 1,000 followers.
- Cricket: Captaining the local cricket team in the Hampshire Village Cricket League Division 1, providing coaching support, delivering team talks, assisting management with selection and tactics, and organising match day logistics and team social events.
- Chess: Competing at Newbury Chess Club, winning the annual club tournament twice in the past 10 years. Consistently rated between 1,700 and 1,750.
- Travel: Exploring world cultures, including travelling to more than 20 countries across four continents. Backpacking across Europe and studying local culture, cuisine and languages, to develop conversational competency in Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
- Languages: Studying foreign languages, with particular interest in Japanese and Korean. Developed strong Japanese competency in both spoken and written forms, as well as basic Korean conversation skills.
- Yoga: Participating in twice-weekly yoga sessions to develop my physical strength, manage stress and develop a more reflective mindset. Sessions have helped me remain calm under pressure and maintain higher energy levels for longer in my work.
What do your hobbies and interests say to recruiters?
Each hobby or interest you list on your CV will tell the recruiter or hiring manager something different about you. As such, it's important to think carefully about which hobbies and interests to include in your CV, to help build a narrative about your suitability for the role. Let's take a look at what some of the most popular types of hobbies and interests say about your skills and qualities:
- Team sports: Teamwork, leadership, communication, resilience
- Individual sports: Dedication, motivation, self-confidence, goal setting
- Volunteering: Initiative, empathy, organisational skills, reliability
- Chess/strategy games: logical thinking, analytical thinking, strategic thinking, risk management
- Photography: Creativity, attention to detail, visual storytelling, patience
- Travel: Open-mindedness, cultural awareness, adaptability, problem-solving
- Singing/playing an instrument: Commitment, listening skills, ability to perform under pressure, discipline
To make the strongest impression on the reader with your hobbies and interests, make sure they help you showcase knowledge, skills and qualities that are either listed in the job description, or help you show how you're a unique candidate.
Expert tip
Your cover letter is an ideal way to add additional colour and detail to your application, including mentioning relevant hobbies and interests. Jobseeker's cover letter builder makes it easy to create an engaging cover letter, with professional cover letter templates and pre-written text you can edit to suit your application.
Common mistakes when adding hobbies and interests to a CV
Hobbies and interests can add value to your CV, but any mistakes in this section can hurt your chances of landing the job. Whether you include a hobbies and interests section when it's not necessary, or you add hobbies and interests that don't belong on a CV, it's important to avoid these common pitfalls. Let's start by taking a look at times when it's best to omit hobbies and interests from your CV.
Don't include hobbies and interests if:
- You've already built up a body of relevant work experience: Once you've built up a history of relevant work experience in your chosen industry or role, you shouldn't need to use hobbies and interests to showcase your skills.
- Your hobbies and interests don't align with the job description: If your hobbies and interests don't match any of the skills or experience listed in the job description, it's best to leave them out.
- Your hobbies and interests could potentially be seen as controversial: Any hobbies or interests that are not work-appropriate or that could lead the employer to make a negative judgment about you should be left off your CV.
Certain hobbies and interests may actually detract from your application. Activities that are sometimes frowned upon, polarising, or too common to add much meaning should be left off your CV. Remember, the goal is not to share every aspect of your life but to build an image of yourself as the perfect candidate for the role.
Here are some examples of hobbies and interests that don't belong on a CV and the reasons why:
- Socialising with friends
- Gambling
- Video games
- Extreme sports
- Reading
- Religious or political activity
- Listening to music
- Watching TV
- Spending time with family
- Journaling
Key takeaways for adding hobbies and interests to your CV
Hobbies and interests can be a great way to showcase relevant skills or experience for the job, especially if you're a student or recent grad. When choosing hobbies and interests to add, make sure your activities are appropriate, professional, and meaningful in the context of the job. Omit hobbies and interests if you have enough experience to show the key skills for the job in your work history section.
For an organised CV with clearly defined, well-presented sections, including hobbies and interests, use Jobseeker's CV builder. Jobseeker offers a wealth of CV resources and tools that can help you craft an eye-catching, engaging CV in minutes. Sign up today and get started with your winning CV.
CV hobbies and interests FAQs
The best hobbies to list on a CV will depend on the role you're applying for, your experience levels and the skills you want to showcase. Whatever hobbies you choose to add to your CV, they must help you show skills that are either required for the role, or help you stand out from other candidates. Some of the best hobbies and interests for showcasing relevant transferable skills include team sports, creative arts, voluntary or community participation or activities that show your dedication and commitment.
The best skills for a CV will vary significantly according to the role and industry sector. However, some skills are fairly universal, while others are emerging as key skills for the future of work.
Some of the most useful soft and transferable skills include:
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Problem-solving
- Communication
- Analytical/critical thinking
Some of the most valuable emerging skills for a CV include:
- Coding/programming
- Data analysis
- Digital marketing skills
- Cybersecurity
- Project management
These common hobbies are probably not going to add much value to your CV, unless they showcase specific skills relevant to the job:
- Going to the gym
- Running
- Watching movies/TV
- Reading
- Socialising with friends
- Walking
- Cooking
- Listening to music
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