CV - Hobbies & Interests?

daisychain

I am currently looking for work and updating my CV accordingly.
Does anyone think it would be weird not to have a "Hobbies and Interests" section. I had just a small paragraph with about 3 sentences, but its not really up to much. I'm applying for accountancy jobs so I'm sure my experience and qualifications matter more.

I can play a few musical instruments but don't play any very well. I don't play sports going to the odd GAA match and betting on the odd horse is as far as my interest goes. I spend most evenings at home watching the soaps, doing housework and spending time with my 4 year old. I like reading but I've been told thats a bad one to put down as its a solitary hobby, in any case if they ask at an interview what books I like reading, the most likely answer is "chick-lit" I like to travel (when I can!) but would a potential employer think I'd be looking for holidays all the time to fly off here and there.

Maybe I'm just a boring person?

Any tips?

Karoma

Hobbies and Interests just clutters up a CV. I'd only put it on a CV if I needed to fill space. Even then, there are better ways to fill space.

I'd imagine an employer doesn't want to waste time reading through several lines of what you supposedly get up when you're not working. Or, indeed, whilst working. The employer can gauge personality traits at an interview.

JimmySmith

Nobody reads it. Leave it out. It can actually have a negative effect sometimes. I usually just throw out badly written CVs without looking at them.
And if i read Socializing under hobbies and interests(and you'ld be surprised how many CVs this is on) it goes in the bin too. Imagine beogn so stupid as to put socialising on your CV.

The only thing that might possibly fit here is if you do work for schools or charity etc, e instead but arguably this should be under your work experience.

Also every CV i've ever seen with hobbies and interests on it has Travelling there. Who cares that you like travelling. As long as you can to the job they'll be happy.

Clseeper

Depends on the job really and the format.

For example the council always have a panel of about three ppl. One from HR, your new boss [hopefully], and another experiance person in your field. In this situation the role of the hr person is to ask you the easy get to know you q's, normally based on your hobbies. This is to relax you and is usually when all first impressions are formed.

Only put it in if you have something important you would like to talk about. Dont just put a list (....swimming, running, reading, traveling...), pick one main one. (..I swam in a competitive club since i was very young. I now coach the younger team on the wkends. Over the years I've developed a strong discipline in my own training and now have the responsibbility to help the younger kids develop...)

Sometimes you have to blow your own trumpet. Be carefull bout employers forms, some dont accept formal cv's and ask you to fill out a generic form, normally only 2 a4 pages.

Good Luck

trotter_inc

I went for an interview (for a software developer) last week with a large multi-national, the technical guys actually asked me what were my hobbies were.

Theres no harm in putting it in if you're hobbies are interesting and as long as it doesnt take up too much space.

Kinetic^

I think hobbies is a good section and can give people an insight into what type of person you are. However sometimes they can be terrible as previous posters have mentioned

I'd leave the musical stuff there, they're not going to want to hear you play in the interview

Any job I've gone for, my interests have always come up in the conversation for a minute or two.

Sleepy

I've always used that section to highlight the involvement I had with various societies and clubs when I was in collgege. If you've assumed committee positions in clubs/societies etc. it can show that you're a pro-active person that's not afraid to assume responsibility for things or can highlight particular skills you have picked up outside the sphere of formal education.

BC

I've never put a hobbies/interests section on my CV.
I was asked about it once - for my first job out of college - but never since.
I thought i might get asked when i had an interview for the public sector but nope.

WhiteWashMan

i put them in for 2 reasons.
first is, many interviewers will ask you about what you do out side of work.
second is it gives yo uthe ability to show certain skills you have outside of work tht you can take into work.

for example, if you are going for programming jobs, saying that you program games in your spare time as a hobby will go for you. i have that i enjoy travel and different cultures. my last job involved me doing a lot of travel around europe and the middle east. i also have that i am captain of a hockey team. hopfully they will think that means i have leadership qualities, and am not just there to organise bee after games on a saturday

its a personal thing, and i think it depends on the type of position youre going for.i have yet to hear of a hobbies section working against anyone, and i have certainly not based my decisions to hire someone based on wha tthey do out of work.
then again, i have yet to find anyone with 'my hobbies include raping dogs, injecting heroin and hamster throwing'

misguided

If you are putting down hobbies & interests - think carefully about them.

From an employers perspective - it gives a good indication of what type of person you are. E.g. if all your interests are solitary such as swimming, reading, knitting(!), a prospective employer may be conerned about your ability to integrate with the team.

Travel - can make an employer think about your long term commitment to the role. Will you do the Australia thing etc.

Socialising - not a good thing to put down as already said by JimmySmith.

Interviewers will read it if it is on the CV.....

WhiteWashMan

actually, i have socialising on my cv, and ive only ever had positive feedback.
travel can mean you are open to new experiences and are not afraid of change, and are adaptable.
i hardly think that people think youre going to fúck off to travel the world 3 months after getting a job.
also, reading shows that there is more to you than just drinking beer, swimming can show that you like to keep fit and take care of yourself, and depending on how good you are, shows determination, knitting, well at least you have something to look forward to outside of work.

ok, if you put down masturbation, then i can see an issue with integration with a team (although, i have been in some teams....)

Bam Bam

hobbies and interests show that you are a motivated person and not a lazy b*****d.

Litcagral

Some employers expect a candidate (especially if male) to be interested in playing sport. I was asked in an interview why I didn't play golf . I thought the question was a bit unfair as I have lots of other hobbies and interests. I thought of saying that I didn't play it because I'm too young and not a sad bástard with too much time on my hands, but of course, I didn't say that.

(Got the job though!)

nesf

Hobbies and Interests are something I'd always look to put in a CV. Most of the reasons have been stated above. Personally I think it's important to show that you've a life outside of work and the ability and willingness to make friends. Thus where the social hobbies come into it. (This being extremely important in sales jobs for instance)

Plastic Scouser

daisychain wrote:

I'm applying for accountancy jobs so I'm sure my experience and qualifications matter more

I work in this area. I have applied for many accountancy jobs as I have moved around a bit in the last few years.

I have never included a section about my hobbies nor have I ever been asked about them in an interview for an accountancy job*.

Therefore, (in my experience) for accountancy positions, your education, professional qualifications and work experience are much more important, and I would expand on these if I have space left rather than include a hobbies section.

(*Maybe because people think most accountants are boring they don't expect you to have any hobbies anyway?! )

patsyh

stick down following shares and reading business magazines, be prepared though if it comes up in an interview. business week is a good magazine to buy. SUbscribe to it and you'll get it for a quarter of the list price. Line up a few shares to talk about, name a few in the Dow and Ftse to look good.

Civilian_Target

I've put down hobbies and interests on my CV because I'm a graduate and I feel it's a better use of space than listing any crap menial jobs I've had. But then, I have some pretty good hobbies: like yourself I play instruments, and musical grades are a qualification, they show substantial dedication, especially if you can back it up, for example, with orchestral experience. OK, so they're at the very bottom of my CV, but they're still there.

Interests:
Music: I play in the violin section of the <name of university> Symphony Orchestra, which steadfastened my ability to work as part of a large team. I have also completed various chamber music courses which provide experience of working with a smaller team to achieve competence in a given piece of music in a very short space of time. I also play traditional fiddle in my spare time.

Note to self: Replace "steadfastened" with present tense.