Examples of Hobbies and Interests to Put on a CV

June 14, 2025

When you want your CV to stand out from the crowd, you need to give the hiring manager a glimpse of who you are as a person. CVs can typically be very dry, focusing only on the professional achievements of an individual. But you have so much more to offer than this.

Including your hobbies and interests on your CV can show that you are a well-rounded individual and that you have interests that are related to your chosen field of expertise. This is also an excellent way to demonstrate the soft skills that employers are looking for, like teamwork, communication and compromise.

If you want to improve your chances of landing an interview, finding a way to establish a personal connection with the hiring manager will also help. If you have shared interests, they’re more likely to remember your CV.

Including your hobbies and interests on your CV needs to be done carefully. Get it right, and you could be painting a strong picture of yourself as the ideal candidate. But it’s also very easy to get this simple step wrong, and this can be off-putting for hiring managers.

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the essential pieces of information you need to know before you add your hobbies and interests to your CV.

What is the difference between hobbies and interests?

First things first, what exactly is a hobby and what is an interest? Hobbies can be defined as anything you do regularly. They are the activities that fill your leisure time in the evenings and weekends. This could include things like:

• Playing sports or going to the gym
• Playing chess of other puzzle games
• Reading
• Writing books, short stories and articles
• Travelling, exploring and meeting new people
• Drawing, sketching, painting
• Building things, such as woodworking
• Cooking and baking

On the other hand, an interest is something that you might do on an irregular basis, but something that you are keen to pursue. Examples of interests for your CV could include:

• Volunteering
• Organising local events
• Fundraising for charity
• Getting involved with a community group

Do I need to include hobbies and interests on my CV?

While you don’t need to include hobbies and interests on your CV, it certainly helps to do so. Updating your CV with hobbies and interests is an easy way to strengthen your application by highlighting additional skills you might have.

It’s also a great way to connect with the hiring manager and make them see you as a whole human being. If they are looking for a particular culture fit, including your hobbies and interests may be the difference between getting shortlisted for an interview or not.

It’s also an excellent way to show that you are genuinely interested in the work that you do, particularly if your hobbies are related to your field. For example, if you’re going to a job in the architecture field, they will be keen to know that you’re interested in design outside of your professional work.

Including your hobbies and interests also gives the interviewer a chance to ask some lighter questions to help you relax. They will often use the hobbies and interests section to formulate some light questions that will allow you to relax and feel more at ease.

In general, the following candidates should definitely include hobbies and interests on their CV:

• Students and recent graduates
• Junior professionals
• Those with very little work history
• Those with gaps in their CV

And the following professionals should not include hobbies and interests on their CV:

• Senior professionals
• Candidates with a lot of work experience
• Candidates who struggle to keep their CV under 2 pages

What do your hobbies tell the interviewer about you?

Your hobbies help to paint a bigger picture of who you are, what you enjoy, and what you hope to achieve. Something as simple as “playing football” can say an awful lot about your personality and what you are like to work with. The same goes for hobbies like computing, going to the gym, mentoring, playing squash, writing and baking.

Here are just some of the assumptions employers may make about you, based on your listed hobbies and interests.

What kind of hobbies should you include?

When deciding what to include and what to leave out, always focus on what is relevant and what strengthens your application. Everything else is irrelevant. If the hobby or interest doesn’t say anything new about you, consider leaving it out and focusing on more relevant information.

The hobbies and interests should also be relevant to the application. For example, an interest in computer games might not be relevant to everyone, but if you’re applying for a role as a videogame designer, this information is essential. Likewise, growing your dog’s Instagram following wouldn’t be relevant for most jobs, but it would be relevant to a social media manager role.

When deciding what to include, context is everything. Match the hobbies that you mention with the key competencies and skills they are looking for in the job description.

For example, you might not have any management experience in your professional work, but you might be used to taking on management roles in your volunteer work. In this case, mentioning your hobbies should help to strengthen your application and highlight your enthusiasm.

Examples of the best interests to include on your CV

If you’re worried that your CV is lacking and you need to spruce it up a little, here are some hobbies and interests that you can consider adding. We’ll also explain why these particular categories of hobbies and interests stand out to employers.

1. Are you involved with any clubs, classes or groups? This helps to show that you have excellent interpersonal skills and you seek out interaction with others outside of work.
2. Do you volunteer for companies or charities? Volunteering is another way to show off your interpersonal skills.
3. Do you get involved with organising events? This can show that you are proactive, organised and can show initiative.
4. Are you involved in fundraising? This demonstrates compassion and strong people skills.
5. Do you like attending industry events? This shows that you are active and up to date with trends.

Examples of the best hobbies to include on your CV

1. Sports and exercise – demonstrates motivation, teamwork and discipline.
2. Brain games and puzzles – shows analytical thinking and problem-solving ability.
3. Mentoring and coaching – highlights leadership and communication skills.
4. Writing and reading – shows strong communication and curiosity.
5. Art and design – demonstrates creativity and innovation.

How to include hobbies on your CV

• Use hobbies to explain gaps in your CV.
• Include relevant hobbies in your education section if applicable.
• Add a dedicated “Hobbies and Interests” section at the end.
• Mention them briefly in your personal statement if relevant.
• Keep them relevant and concise to avoid exceeding two pages.

What to avoid when talking about your hobbies

Remember that including your hobbies and interests on your CV might leave you open to prejudice. Recruiters might make assumptions about you based on the information you provide.

You should also avoid mentioning religious, political or sporting affiliations unless relevant.

Avoid hazardous hobbies that may raise concerns about reliability.

And finally, never lie about your interests or hobbies.

Closing thoughts

Adding hobbies and interests to your CV is a great way to present a fuller picture of who you are and help you stand out. Just remember to keep everything relevant, honest and aligned with the role you are applying for.

Highlights

• Show personality – Helps hiring managers see beyond qualifications and experience.
• Demonstrate soft skills – Highlights teamwork, communication and problem-solving abilities.
• Boost weaker CVs – Particularly valuable for graduates or those with limited experience.
• Relevance matters – Tailoring hobbies to the role strengthens your application.
• Avoid risks – Irrelevant or controversial hobbies can harm your chances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include hobbies on my CV?

Yes, especially if you are early in your career or want to showcase additional skills and personality.

What hobbies look good on a CV?

Hobbies that demonstrate transferable skills such as teamwork, leadership, creativity or problem-solving are most effective.

What should I avoid including?

Avoid irrelevant, controversial or risky hobbies that could create a negative impression.