When creating the perfect CV, most will know to add their relevant education and most importantly, work experience. However, there’s often a hobbies and interests section that jobseekers can be left wondering whether or not it should be scrapped.
We’re often first told to put our interests on a résumé or CV when we write a CV for the first time and this makes sense. When our work experience and even our education is somewhat bare, hobbies and interests are a great way to fill out those spaces and show some valuable attributes before we can prove it in a professional setting. However, what about the seasoned employee with plenty of experience?
One key point to consider when it comes to including a list of hobbies is the length of your CV. Generally, your CV should be no more than two pages, unless it’s a very senior role, in which case it could stretch to three pages. If having interests on your CV is pushing it beyond those two pages, consider scrapping them. However, if you think there is serious value to some of your hobbies, see if there’s a way to format them in such a way that will maintain a good design and length.
In order to make a case for keeping personal interests on your CV, they need to add value to your application. Think about what sounds impressive to a hiring manager and what will make you stand out from the crowd. What skills do your hobbies and interests show?
For example, if you participate in any team sports, this will help show you as a good team player. Do you act in plays or participate in poetry slams in your spare time? This will show off your public speaking skills. Are you an bird watcher outside of the office? This could highlight your attention to detail.
Remember, only include the hobbies and interests that actually add value to your CV. Not only that, but once you’ve cut it down to those particular hobbies, review them again in relation to the job you’re applying for. What skills will be really important to your potential employer? What abilities do you want to accentuate? Only include the incredibly valuable hobbies that are actually relevant to the job and don’t forget to keep it under two pages.
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Bird watching photo by Diane Helentjaris on Unsplash
