Best Hobbies and Interests for a CV (List + Examples)

The humble CV hobbies and interests section is underappreciated and underutilised. Some dismiss it as pointless, but when it’s used with thought and consideration it can be a powerful addition to your CV, particularly for candidates with less experience.

You’re about to learn how to best harness the power of hobbies and interests for a CV. On the way, I'll share a list of examples to inspire you and discover which CV hobbies and interests are best to demonstrate specific skills and experience.

So put down whichever hobby you’re busy with now and take five minutes to see how to turn it into job-hunting success. In this guide, you'll learn how to write your hobbies and interests so they truly set you apart.

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Seeking guidance on how to cover other CV sections? Check these articles:

• CV Introduction & How to Write One
• CV Objective & How to Write One (+ Examples)
• CV Outline for the UK: How to Prepare One
• CV Summary Examples & Detailed Guidelines
• How to List Key Achievements on a CV?
• Personal Details That Must be Added to Your CV
• Should You Include Your Address in a CV?
• The Best Extracurricular Activities for Your CV
• What Exactly Should You Include in Each CV Section?

Hobbies and interests for a CV example

1. Should I put hobbies & interests on a CV?

Yes, putting your hobbies and interests on a CV is a great way of making your job application stand out. With a little care and attention, you can really give your CV a boost. What’s more, it adds personalisation. It can be all too easy to be just another CV on the pile, but demonstrating interests outside of work helps you to stand out as a unique individual.

And if you have a hobby or interest that the hiring manager shares you get an even greater positive effect. It’s been proven that we’re drawn to people who are like-minded to ourselves. That means they’re more likely to think favourably of you as a candidate and you’ll be able to build a rapport if you meet in person.

Hobbies and interests are particularly useful if you’re early in your career. So if you’re writing a school-leaver CV or a CV with no experience, it’s definitely worthy of inclusion. More caution is needed when applying for more senior posts though.

The problem is, the more experienced you are, the longer your CV gets. And you should only be writing a one or two-page CV so it might not make sense to squeeze in hobbies and interests at the expense of other more important skills and work experience. That said though, if it’s particularly relevant or helps you build a relationship with the hiring manager, it’s worth considering. 

And interestingly, a hobbies and interests section is often recommended for a medical CV. Being such an intense and all-consuming career, it’s recommended to show you’re well-balanced with pursuits outside of work. Proof positive that hobbies and interests on a CV aren’t just for entry-level jobs.

So now that you know how useful interests and hobbies are for your CV, let me explain how to include them.

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2. Where to put hobbies and interests on your CV (+ examples)

So where do you put interests and hobbies on a CV? I think that's quite an easy part. This is an optional CV section so it goes last, after your CV skills section. Use ‘Hobbies and Interests’ as the section heading and you’re good to go.

I'll discuss exactly how to write this section shortly, but first, I'll look at some hobbies and interests CV examples. None of these are too bizarre, if your hobbies and interests are too odd then they’re likely to put off the recruiter. The key is to be relatable and relevant.

So, for example, if you're applying for an office manager role, you can mention things like participating in team sports, which highlight your teamwork skills, or your interest in technology, which suggests that you're adept in office software. In turn, if you're seeking a physician role, I recommend that you write about your interest in health and wellness or medical literature.

Because ultimately, you’re not doing this just for fun. Choosing wisely can help show you have skills and achievements that are directly relevant to the job too. Below, I'm sharing more hobbies and interests examples that demonstrate this perfectly:

List of top 10 hobbies and interests for a CV

1. Playing team sports
   
   Demonstrates teamwork skills but also leadership and strategic skills. Working effectively with others lies at the very heart of soft skills, which are considered crucial for success in employment.
   
   
2. Designing, drawing, and painting
   
   Shows creativity and design skills. Perfect for jobs in creative industries such as in a graphic design CV.
   
   
3. Reading books and articles
   
   A good way of showing that you’re intelligent and a keen learner. But be specific about what you enjoy reading, otherwise, it can seem a bit vague.
   
   
4. Writing a blog
   
   An increasingly popular hobby, it goes without saying that it shows off your written communication skills. But it can also show you’re a subject matter expert. A great choice for people writing a career change CV and looking to turn their blogging interest into paid work.
   
   
5. Practicing yoga
   
   Not as strange as you may think, yoga and meditation are looked on favourably by HR professionals, because it shows you are calm, focussed and in control. An excellent choice for applying for high-pressure jobs.
   
   
6. Gaming and solving puzzles
   
   Used with care it can be a fantastic addition to your CV, especially for tech jobs. Playing games has proven cognitive benefits so dismiss it at your peril.
   
   
7. Travelling and making connections
   
   Another popular CV interest, travel shows broad-mindedness, extroversion and a desire to learn new things.
   
   
8. Playing a musical instrument
   
   Proves dedication, perseverance and self-motivation.
   
   
9. Public speaking
   
   Demonstrates verbal communication skills, persuasiveness and confidence. Particularly effective for sales, marketing, customer service and leadership roles.
   
   
10. Running
    
    Including running on your CV shows determination, perseverance and competitiveness.

Those were just a few hobbies and interests CV examples. There just isn’t enough room to list them all. The key to choosing is to ensure the hobby or interest you choose is relevant to the job in question.

And it’s worth noting that hobbies and interests that demonstrate soft skills are a particularly powerful choice. A report by LinkedIn found that 92% of hiring managers consider soft skills to be as important or more important than hard skills. 

The best way of deciding what hobbies and interests include on your CV is to look at the job advert to see what skills and experience are mentioned and choose the ones that target those requirements. It’s also worth including if it demonstrates a desirable general skill, like teamwork. But if it’s completely irrelevant, don’t include it. For example, gaming probably wouldn’t be a good idea if you were writing a CV for a chef.

So if it’s relevant and helps expand on your skills and experience, include it. But if in doubt, leave it out. Which brings us nicely onto the next section.

What hobbies and interests should you eliminate from your CV?

Made-up hobbies

If you don’t have any relevant hobbies and interests for a CV, then don’t be tempted to make them up. You might just find your interviewer is a passionate fan of that particular hobby and get found out when your lack of knowledge becomes apparent.

Dangerous or time-consuming interests

Most employers do not want employees who are likely to suffer serious injury or take excessive time off work to pursue their interests. Base jumping and Arctic exploration are not recommended for example.

Controversial hobbies and interests

Remember, the aim is to build rapport, not repel people. Avoid interests related to politics, or anything with a sexual or religious element. If it generates a negative response, then it’s best left off your CV.

3. How to write your hobbies and interests CV section?

When writing a list of hobbies and interests on your CV, start off by limiting yourself to a couple of hobbies and interests at most, and write a brief description for each. You should only include interests somehow linked to the personality traits and skills demanded in a particular role. This way, you can show you'll add value to the company.

Here’s how to write about hobbies and interests on a CV:

How to list hobbies and interests on your CV—example

And that’s all there is to it. Hobbies and interests on your CV are a great idea, as long as you use them appropriately, ensure that they’re relevant and that they help to show you off as a well-rounded person and skillful potential employee.

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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Thanks for reading. If you still have any doubts about which hobbies and interests to put on your CV then please ask in the comments section and I’ll be happy to help.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.