Writing a CV can sometimes feel like a balancing act…
You want to include everything that shows you’re a great fit for the job – but not so much that it becomes a mini autobiography. And there’s one section people often get stuck on…hobbies and interests. Do they really matter? Could they help you stand out? Or are they just taking up space?
Here’s everything you need to know – from when to include them, to what kind of hobbies actually add value, and how to talk about them in a way that makes employers take notice:
“A well-chosen hobby can say more than a whole paragraph, offering a glimpse into your personality and what you bring beyond your professional skills. When used wisely, your interests can highlight transferable skills, demonstrate alignment with a company, and even make your CV more memorable. However, listing a long string of hobbies without context can dilute your message and come across as filler. Employers are looking for insights that add value, so focus on hobbies that are relevant, up to date, and showcase qualities like teamwork, creativity, or dedication.”
Beth Green, Senior Executive Consultant | Reed
What are hobbies and interests?
Put simply, hobbies and interests are the things you enjoy doing outside of work.
Hobbies tend to be regular activities – like painting, running, or playing an instrument.
Interests are usually broader – such as a general love of travel, tech, or sustainability.
They might not seem that important when it comes to your job search, but they can often say a lot about you. Not only do they show your personality, they can also indicate certain skillsets and abilities.
Common examples of hobbies and interests
- Team sports like football or volleyball
- Creative activities like writing or photography
- Strategic hobbies such as chess or coding
- Volunteering or community work
- Technical hobbies like model building or DIY
Should I include hobbies and interests on my CV?
In short, it depends on your situation – and how relevant your hobbies actually are.
When to include them
- You’re a school leaver or graduate: No work experience yet? Hobbies can help fill in the blanks and demonstrate what you’re good at
- You’re changing careers: They can show transferable skills or genuine interest in a new field.
- They’re linked to the job: Love fashion blogging? That’s perfect for a marketing role.
- The company cares about culture fit: Some employers want to know the person behind the CV.
When to leave them out
- You’re tight on space: Prioritise experience, education, and skills first.
- They’re too vague or irrelevant: Generic hobbies like ‘watching Netflix’ or ‘socialising with friends’ are unlikely to boost your chances.
- You’re not willing to talk about them: If it’s on your CV, it’s fair game in the interview.
“Strike the right balance here by mentioning something, but don’t plant any seeds of doubt about your commitment to work in the interviewer’s mind. For instance, your passion for music is likely to make you seem interesting and human, but if you gush about moonlighting as a nightclub DJ, the interviewer might rightly start to wonder how your late-night shenanigans will gel with the 8 a.m. start time the job you’re applying for demands.”
– James Reed, Why You? 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again
Remember: hobbies should support your CV, not distract from it. Use them to seal the deal, rather than as your key selling point.
Do recruiters read them?
Here’s the problem with hobbies: they’re subjective.
Some recruiters are absolute advocates, believing them to be an integral part of well-rounded application. Conversely, some may only consider them important if it’s a close decision, or if company fit/culture becomes a factor.
As a general rule, most recruiters will only be interested in your hobbies if they’re relevant to the role and, crucially – if you’ve ticked all the other boxes.
What are the benefits of including hobbies on your CV?
Still on the fence? Here’s how including (the right) hobbies can actually help you land a job:
1. They show off your skills (without sounding robotic)
- Hobbies can highlight important transferable skills – without needing to spell them out in corporate terms. For example:
- Playing football = teamwork and leadership
- Running a blog = creativity, communication, organisation
- Gaming or coding = problem-solving and attention to detail
2. They could help you stand out
Hobbies can help you stand out from others with similar experience, especially in creative or competitive fields. So if you’ve got a personal project or passion that links to the job, shout about it.
3. They may make interviews less awkward
That ‘So, tell me about yourself…’ moment? Hobbies can be a great way to break the ice and build rapport.
4. They show you’re a good cultural fit
If a company values things like community, wellbeing or teamwork, certain hobbies (like volunteering or sports) can show you’re on the same page.
What are the best hobbies and interests to include?
Not all hobbies are created equal. Some say more about your potential than others – especially when they line up with the role or industry you’re applying for.
Here are some hobbies and interests examples for your CV, grouped by sector:
Marketing, media and creative roles
- Blogging or content creation
- Photography or illustration
- Video editing
- Social media
Why include them? Shows creativity, storytelling, and digital skills. Bonus points if you’ve ever run a beauty blog, a meme page, or edited your mate’s band’s music video.
View all media, digital and creative jobs
Management or business development
- Team sports
- Public speaking or debating
- Leading a club or society
- Adventure sports (e.g. climbing, skydiving)
Why include them? Great for leadership, confidence and quick decision-making. Likely apply to people who always take the lead in group projects.
View all business development jobs
Technology and IT
- Coding or web development
- Gaming or e-sports
- Chess or strategy games
- Building apps or electronics projects
Why include them? Highlights logic, problem-solving, and technical curiosity. And yes, your love of building PCs or automating your coffee machine counts.
Customer service or HR
- Volunteering
- Acting or improvisation
- Mentoring or coaching
Why include them? Reflects empathy, communication, and people skills. Great for roles that involve helping people (or calming the Karens down when the voucher doesn’t scan).
View all customer service jobs
Construction or engineering
- DIY projects
- Model making
- Woodworking
- Playing an instrument
Why include them? Shows attention to detail, patience, and manual skills. Can be proven by the amount of people who ask you to help with their flat-pack furniture.
Hospitality and catering
- Cooking or baking
- Hosting dinner parties
- Flambéing
Why include them? Demonstrates creativity, organisation, and grace under pressure. Ideal for jobs in the catering industry/those who want to become professional flambé-ers.
View all hospitality and catering jobs
What’s more, your hobbies don’t even necessarily need to be related to your role directly. There are many transferable skills which may come across in your hobbies and be applicable to your application.
Examples include acting or drama skills for jobs in the sales industry, coaching a local football team and demonstrating your motivational skills, and even being a metal detectorist for those looking to break into archaeology.
Six extracurricular activities to add to your CV
How to write about hobbies and interests on your CV
You don’t need a full paragraph for each hobby, but a little context goes a long way. The key is to be specific and relevant.
Do:
- Give a short description, not just a one-word list.
- Link the hobby to a skill or quality.
- Choose a few strong examples – 3 to 5 is plenty.
Don’t:
- Use clichés like ‘listening to music’ or ‘socialising with friends.’
- Include anything you wouldn’t want to discuss in an interview.
- Make things up. Keeping your lie up at the interview may be more difficult…
❌ What you shouldn’t say…
- Blogging
✅ What you should say…
- Run a personal travel blog, writing weekly articles and growing the site to 10,000+ monthly readers.
Hobbies and interests CV example
- Avid blogger and social media user; owner of my own blog
- Write and edit articles on a range of sports topics, with a focus on football
- Use the blog as a platform to sell advertising space on a CPC basis
- Organised regional five-a-side football tournaments while studying
- Managed bookings, venues, participants, and helped coach my own team
- Contributed to the sports section of the student newspaper and social media pages
What if I don’t have any hobbies?
If you can’t think of any particular passions or interests you pursue, don’t be tempted to just stick to clichés.
Socialising with friends, eating out and going to the cinema may be accurate, but are all unlikely to add value to your application. And it’s far better to lose the section completely than to offer up a token gesture.
If you really want something to set yourself apart, you could also take up volunteering. Not only is it a great hobby to have, it can also help get your foot in the door in your chosen industry.
“Your exact answer doesn’t usually matter, but it is important you communicate two key factors alongside whatever you choose to reveal. The first is authenticity. Don’t ever say you love doing X when it’s something you barely ever do. […] Only offer a subject you can converse about in some detail and with enthusiasm: your interviewer may be a fellow enthusiast and ask follow-up questions.”
– James Reed, Why You? 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again
Where should I include hobbies and interests on my CV?
Keep it simple, and put them at the end of your CV.
Label the section ‘Hobbies and interests’, and use bullet points so it’s easy to read.
No need to go overboard with detail either – just pick a few that add something useful.
Final thoughts
The truth is, not everyone’s a fan of Morris dancing. Or competitive cheese rolling. And unless your dream job specifically calls for it, those kinds of hobbies probably won’t help you land it.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any hobbies and interests worth including. The right interests can help reinforce your strengths, show off transferable skills, and give your CV extra personality – without taking up too much space.
Just ask yourself: Does this add something useful? Would I be happy to talk about it in an interview?
If the answer’s no, it probably doesn’t belong on your CV.
Ready to write your CV? Try using our free CV template, or view all available jobs now.
This is useful advice. My main hobby has (and always will be) reading anything I can get my hands on! However, having done first a BA and then an MA in English Literature, I felt it was quite obvious that reading is one of my major passions in life and putting it on my CV as a hobby seemed rather pointless. After reading this, I decided to remove it. I also listed “writing poetry and prose” as a hobby but again after reading this, I realised that I didn’t really have any practical examples of this apart from my scruffy old notebooks so I decided to start a poetry blog so now I can also list “blogging” as a hobby (as well as providing a link to my writing when I am applying for creativity-based jobs.
Disagree, hobbies that are an extension of the job show the person to be fake or one-dimensional and robotic.