4 tips for writing about hobbies and interests in your CV

The ‘hobbies and interests’ section in a CV is often overlooked by many candidates, yet it can be quite useful if you know how to present it correctly. While most companies don’t consider hobbies on the same level as work-related experience, there are times when it’s appropriate (and even preferred) to list hobbies and interests on your resume. Depending on your field of choice, It’s important to fully understand how to mention your hobbies and interests on your CV, as they are an indicator of the things you enjoy doing outside of your studies and career. By demonstrating passion and enthusiasm in other parts of your life, you can show that you’re a well-rounded, motivated, and ambitious employee as well.

However, there are certain things you should keep in mind when you write about interests and hobbies in your CV. And some hobbies and interests are more popular than others. Similar to how you highlight your work history, education, and achievements based on the job profile to get a recruiter’s attention, there are effective ways to portray your hobbies and interests in an advantageous manner. On the other hand, mentioning certain hobbies and interests without providing the proper content might have the opposite effect. Here are some tips you should consider while writing about your hobbies and interests:

1. Understand the difference between an interest and a hobby

Though they’re often used interchangeably, hobbies and interests are not the same. In general, hobbies are things you do with a high degree of skill, while your interests are more what you know about. For example, while many people enjoy cricket, they wouldn’t necessarily consider it a hobby. It would be considered an interest rather than a hobby because of their lack of skill in the sport. Hence it might be more beneficial to include more hobbies than interests in your resume since they show a significant investment in terms of time and effort to develop something that is a potential asset or skill.

2. Mention them towards the end of your CV

Though there is no hard and fast rule, it is a safe bet to keep hobbies and interests in the final section of your CV and be listed with a small descriptive sentence for each item. This is because the focus points of your resume should be your work history, education, and achievements. Those are the primary parameters to measure your suitability for the job. On a similar note, It is often ideal to keep your CV to one page, so include only a few strong examples of hobbies and interests that complement the rest of your resume. This will help the recruiter have a fair idea of your prospects as a potential employee at first glance and take note of any hobbies and interests that give a good impression of your personality or attitude.

3. See how your hobbies and interests match with company values

When listing your hobbies and interests, it’s important to keep the employer in mind. While each will reflect your personality in a unique way, when including a CV-tailored list of interests and hobbies on your resume, consider the values and the image of the company you’re applying to. For example, your interest in technological advancement will indicate you are a valued addition to a company interested in artificial intelligence. By showing that you have similar values as the business or corporation, you show that you are a good choice for the job position.

4. Pick those which portray you positively as an individual

Your hobbies and interests serve as a personal introduction when starting your career or applying to a new position. Since you want to make the best first impression, it is wise to avoid mentioning hobbies or interests that might be perceived as unsavory in the eyes of the recruiter. As a general rule of thumb, avoid anything that could be interpreted as violent or dangerous such as competitive boxing, stunt driving, etc. Similarly, it is best not to mention anything that reflects your religious or political beliefs. Ideally, include hobbies and interests that are representative of your positive traits. For example, someone who likes chess or puzzle games often comes across as being intelligent and analytical.

To conclude, the priority of mentioning your hobbies and interests is secondary compared to other important details in your CV such as your qualification and experience. But they could most definitely serve to depict you as someone who is passionate and multidimensional – both of which are traits that most companies look for in candidates. The trick lies in using your intuition to understand which ones are worth including and those which you should keep to yourself.

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