Depending on your industry, experience level and target role, including hobbies on a CV can help an employer get to know you better. However, there's a fine balancing act between adding value and putting a recruiter off. Primarily, hobbies should only be considered as a conversation-starter at interview — when you have no relevant industry experience, or when they specifically relate to the position you're applying for.
A study by Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management found that around 50% of employers selected candidates with their hobbies used as a reason for shortlisting. Hobbies and interests can often be used to judge a candidate's potential fit within a company's culture and the team they'll be working alongside.
When to Include Hobbies
- You're applying for a creative role and have written blogs or created YouTube content about the industry.
- You're a student or recent graduate with little or no experience — extra-curricular activities such as university societies add real value.
- You've excelled in sport, showcasing determination and self-motivation — completing a marathon or leading an expedition, for example.
- You're a captain of a sports team, demonstrating both teamwork and leadership qualities.
- You keep up with emerging technologies and are applying for a role in IT.
When NOT to Include Hobbies
- They do not relate to your target role and/or industry.
- Political associations. Some roles require strict neutrality — for example, the National Offender Management Service states staff must remain politically neutral at all times.
- High-risk hobbies when applying for roles in traditionally risk-averse environments such as finance or insurance.
Including Hobbies When Making a Career Change
If you've decided to make the step towards a career change, writing your CV can become problematic due to your lack of relevant experience. In these cases, hobbies can be used to highlight your motivation for the change. For example, an IT engineer looking to secure a role in the motor industry may want to include a keen interest in vintage car maintenance.
Read more about our career change CV service.
Don't Give the Recruiter a Reason to Bin Your Application
If you decide to include a hobbies and interests section on your CV, tread carefully. You might love wine tasting or enjoy brewing your own craft beer — but if the recruiter is teetotal, this has the potential to put them off before they've even interviewed you.
Honesty is the Best Policy
Your CV should be a marketing tool, and you are the 'product' being marketed. No recruiter will care if you "enjoy socialising, reading books and listening to music" — most people do, and we see this in around 70% of CVs we review.
Never lie on a CV. If you're worried that your hobbies are too boring, resist the temptation to fabricate something more interesting. It will very likely come back to haunt you at the interview stage.
Final Thoughts
The Golden Test
Ask yourself: do your interests and hobbies demonstrate your ability to do the job you're applying for? If the answer is yes — include them. If not, leave them off and use the space for something that does.
Not sure what to include in your CV?
Our expert writers know exactly what recruiters want to see — and what they don't. Let us help you get the balance right.