Interests/Hobbies on a CV?

py2006

Hi all,

Is there any point in putting these on your CV? I used to do it when I was younger and left them out when I got older. I am currently updating my a CV and looking around at examples and I see some do include them.

Also, with regards to referees, is it ok to say just, 'references available on request' or should you actually list some?

Thanks in advance and sorry of this is the wrong section for this question?

tatli_lokma

Unless your hobbies have a direct relationship to the job you are applying for I would leave them off - it seems a bit juvenille IMO. When I look at a CV I don't really have any interest in what you do in your spare time, unless of course it has a direct relation to the job (for eg if you are applying for a job with a sports company, then it would be relevant if you play sports, or if you are applying to an animal charity it would be relevant that you do agility training with your dog etc). Other times when it is ok is when your 'hobby' links into a type of culture - so for eg if it is for a creative job then it would be ok to list what you enjoy doing as it shows your 'personal voice' but it needs to be interesting and attention grabbing. For eg, I read on a linked in article, that a guy got shortlisted for interview because in his 'interests' section he listed that he 'could drink an iced americano any time, day or night'. The company was an advertising company with its own speciality coffee bar onsite, and who's biggest client was a coffee company, so a comment like this showed he was a good culture match.

If you do list hobbies, I would say avoid a monotonous list like "in my spare time I enjoy reading, cooking and cycling" or whatever. If you do list them, use it as an opportunity to show your personality so phrase it in a way that gives an idea of what you are like as a person. This can be a double edged sword though, as what endears you to one employer could alienate you from another. That is why I would advise unless it is for a company with that sort of culture, leave it off your CV.

py2006

Thanks for that. Yea the more I think of it the more unnecessary it seems.

References mentioned, yay or nay?

Nody

py2006 wrote: »

Thanks for that. Yea the more I think of it the more unnecessary it seems.

References mentioned, yay or nay?

Always, always "On request"; they are not getting any references until I'm happy it's a job I'm interested in AND they are interested in me.

Procrastastudy

IMHO DO put down your interests - however they have to be relevant and proven. I'm currently applying for internships with solicitors (So pretty corporate) and mine take up half a page. There are two reasons for this - I'm in the process of switching careers so there are a fair few things, like Mooting and Debating, which don't really go anywhere else. Secondly they, if done properly, prove key skills.

Example:

Excellent Communications skills - Debating / Mooting
Team Work - Sailing

Don't put down you enjoy reading unless you've a book club to show for it. Don't put down socialising regardless. It's a fine line but they can speak volumes about you.

P_1

If there's space on the CV for hobbies/interests then add in any thet would be relevant to the job, if you don't have the space leave 'em out.

References, always 'on request'. Protects you from any messy situations in work in case someone calls in a reference.

ABajaninCork

I always put down my hobbies. It gives the interviewer some idea what you're like as a person, and shows a more rounded personality. I only put down a couple, and as I have a unusual interests, interviewers invariably ask me about them. I also have a practical skill that arouses the curiosity of interviewers, so I'm asked a couple of questions about that too.

(For those of you with the mind of a plain brown envelope, it's nothing naughty! :pac:)

It's interesting to note that people here are advising not to put down hobbies. In the UK, you always put them down...

References are always on request. As I have to give written permission for one of them to be released, I'm not giving them out willy nilly. I wait for firm interest before I release details.

Mr. Loverman

As other people have stated, the hobbies section can be used to help sell yourself and make your CV stand out from the crowd.

For example, I work in IT so my hobbies section includes my IT interests and my "I'm a normal person, really" interests. I do this to show a) I have a genuine interest in IT and b) I'm not a weirdo.

But I don't think it's the end of the world if you exclude the hobbies section altogether, and definitely I wouldn't be a fan of generic statements such as "I like reading books, going to the cinema, and eating toast".

Irish_Elect_Eng

Some good advice by previous posters.

A good CV should be lean, every piece of information should have a purpose.

Interests & Hobbies are no exception, include them if they serve a purpose when applying for a particular role, exclude them if they are just window dressing.

Think

"I am a keen sailor...photographer....stamp collector....

[*]what does that say about me
[*]what skills relevant to the job does this imply
[*]does the time commitment look like it will impact my availability
[*]what image does this project


Make sure that you have prepared answers about your hobby is you include it on your CV.

One important thing that should not be overlooked is the "old boys network";) this apply's to many sports and hobbies. Rugby, G.A.A. and many other sports have a tradition of "helping their own". Even the most impartial interviewer will be influenced slightly by knowing that the candidate has similar interests if they are going to be working with you.

And please do not add "imaginary hobbies that make me look good" it can make for a very embarrassing interview if the interviewer knows anything about the hobby :eek:

+1 Reference on Request.
( Normally after an offer or at a minimum when formally shortlisted)

py2006

Thanks guys. Some great advice there.

My CV is very cluttered so I am trying to tidy it up. I have worked in a lot of places on short term contracts so it takes up a lot of space on my cv.

Kimura

I also put my interests, as I have been involved in a sport for the last 20 years, and am now coaching kids and teenagers,, This always get the interviewer taking and shows you have good commitment,

tatli_lokma

py2006 wrote: »

Thanks guys. Some great advice there.

My CV is very cluttered so I am trying to tidy it up. I have worked in a lot of places on short term contracts so it takes up a lot of space on my cv.

if this is the case then consider re-formatting your CV. Your CV doesn't need to follow the standard template of place, dates, duties for each job/contract.
If several of your contracts were similar, write an opening line or two explaining that for the last x many years you have been working on a contract basis doing whatever. Then list each of the companies, and dates and then do a paragraph or bullet points or whatever looks best on the general duties, responsibilities of those roles.

So something like
Since 2010 I have worked on a contract basis to several large multinationals. My primary role in these companies was administrative.
Company A - from 01.01.2010 to 30.06.2010 - Administrator
Company B - from 01.07.2010 to 31.12.2010 - Administrative assistant
Company C - from 01.01.2011 to 31.12.2011 - Accounts administrator
Main roles and duties were:

• Accounts payable & receiveable - using systems such as SAP, TAS, Sage etc etc
• Receipting of payments
• Updating databases (list whatever OS they were on e.g Acess, excel etc)
• Dealing with incoming queries
• etc etc etc

During my various contract roles, the skills I developed were
- blah blah blah

you get the idea? this is just a very quick example. Obviously you would need to pad it out and edit it so that it reads well and presents you well. But generally, if lots of your jobs were very similar I don't believe you need to outline each job and then repeat a lot of the same duties/responsibilities. Group them together and organise them. IMO it presents a much more organised and focused CV.

py2006

Little Ted wrote: »

But generally, if lots of your jobs were very similar I don't believe you need to outline each job and then repeat a lot of the same duties/responsibilities.

Yea I was doing a lot of repeating. That's great advice, thanks very much.

cycnus

in my opinion, most employers want to know that you are a well rounded individual who can not only work, but balance a healthy life and devote time to your interests. putting down a couple of words saying something like "I enjoy reading, runnning and doing yoga" is not going to seem juvenile at all, in fact, your hobbies may be the difference between you getting the job or not, it might turn out that you have something in common with one of your interviewers, and it might just be the thing that tips you over the edge in their minds if you are tied with another applicant.

Ironman76

Under no circumstances leave out your hobbies and interests.

Had an interview once for a 12 month contract job. The interviewer said "Oh I see you like the guitar, my husband plays, are you any good?" (or something to that effect). I replied "Well Im no Johnny Cash". She laughed = strong rapport. (Got this job).

Had an interview once for Hewlett Packard. The chap interviewing asked about where I play football etc. I said I dont really play anymore due to injury but would play Five-A-Side whenever I can. He mentioned he used to play and had similar injury. Then we cracked a joke or two about "getting old". (Didnt get the job but was actually asked to come back for an interview for a more senior position - which I didnt get ).

Was asked another time about my interest in football by a purchasing manager interviewing me. Turns out the guy (who was English) was a huge Sheff Wed fan. I mentioned what a good team they had back in the day Di Canio, Carbone etc and listed off another few players. He seemed genuinely impressed and we were chatting about football for about ten mins lol. (Got this job)

I often get asked about my interest in motorbikes too. Interviewers seem genuinely interested in these things and is great for rapport. I would advise leaving these on your cv.

tatli_lokma

With the exception of 2 roles where my hobbies had a direct correlation to the positions, I have never put my hobbies on my CV. And, touch wood, my CV has always got me interviews and I have a pretty high success rate in my interviews. Listing hobbies might well make a talking point, but you shouldn't be relying upon the CV to do this for you. You can also mention during the interview how your hobbies/interests have helped your work skills. If putting your hobbies means you have to sacrifice professional information then I say leave them off. And if you are going to mention hobbies they have to sell you to the employer. This is a hard thing for many people to get right, and if done badly can indeed make you look juvenille. So it is a balancing act - get it wrong and it can backfire, get it right and it can get your foot in the door.

Parsley

I always include rowing in my CV as I've represented Ireland as a junior, so it looks impressive.

tatli_lokma

Parsley wrote: »

I always include rowing in my CV as I've represented Ireland as a junior, so it looks impressive.

to who?? It wouldn't necessarily impress me unless you made sure you explained how the skills you garnered in rowing have helped influence your ability for the job. Your hobbies/interests/ achievements are not as impressive to anyone else as they are to you unless you can bring that back to the role at hand. I am only impressed/care/interested if the thing you mention can be related to the role.

Even if you do something that on a personal level interests me, I am not interviewing you to be my friend, I am interviewing you for a job. So unless you use the hobbies as an opportunity to sell yourself, you are just wasting space on the CV.

When writing a CV every element of it, and I mean every element must refer back to the job and your suitability. It is more than just a catalogue of what jobs you had, it is your first interview really. Your CV needs to say the things to your prospective employer that you would say if you got the chance. So think of it as a written interview. And that is why you need to make sure that everything you state is relevant and salient to the job you are applying for.

It is this very reason why so many people fail at the first hurdle - they think one CV can be suitable for numerous jobs, when in reality, time consuming as it is, every job application needs to have the CV assessed for its suitability before you send it and tweaked and tailored as needed.