The Pros and Cons of Including Hobbies and Interests on Your CV

Should You Include Your Hobbies and Interests on Your CV?

Your CV is a showcase of your skills, qualifications, and experience that make you a good fit for a role. However, adding hobbies and interests to your CV is often a topic of debate.

Some recruiters believe that including hobbies and interests can provide valuable insights into your personality, interests, and strengths, while others feel that it distracts from your professional accomplishments and does not add value to your application.

In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of including hobbies and interests on your CV and what you need to consider before making the decision.

Pros of Including Hobbies and Interests on Your CV

1. Shows Personality and Interests:

Including hobbies and interests on your CV can give recruiters a glimpse into your personality and interests. This can help them determine if you are a good fit for the role and the company culture.

For example, if you are applying for a role in marketing and you mention that you enjoy writing marketing blogs in your free time, it shows your passion and commitment towards the industry.

2. Demonstrates Transferable Skills:

Hobbies and interests can also demonstrate your transferable skills that are relevant to the job. For instance, if you mention that you enjoy playing team sports, it shows that you are a team player and can work collaboratively.

3. Can Help You Stand Out:

Adding unique hobbies and interests to your CV can help you stand out from the competition. It shows that you are more than just your professional achievements and are a well-rounded individual.

Cons of Including Hobbies and Interests on Your CV

1. Can Be Irrelevant:

Including irrelevant hobbies and interests on your CV can detract from your professional accomplishments. For example, mentioning that you enjoy gardening may not be relevant to the job you’re applying for.

2. Can Create Bias:

In some cases, hobbies and interests can create bias and stereotyping. For instance, mentioning that you enjoy playing video games may lead the recruiter to assume that you lack discipline and focus.

3. Takes Up Valuable Space:

Your CV is limited to a certain number of pages, and adding hobbies and interests can take up valuable space that could be used to highlight your professional achievements and qualifications.

What Should You Consider Before Adding Hobbies and Interests to Your CV?

1. Relevance to the Job:

Before you add hobbies and interests, consider whether they are relevant to the job you are applying for. If they are not, then it may be best to leave them out.

2. Professionalism:

Avoid including hobbies and interests that may be considered unprofessional or controversial, such as politics or religion.

3. Impact on the CV:

Consider the impact adding hobbies and interests will have on the overall impression of your CV. Will it add value to your application, or will it detract from your professional accomplishments?

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding hobbies and interests to your CV can have both advantages and disadvantages. While it may provide valuable insights into your personality and transferable skills, it can also detract from your professional accomplishments.

Before adding hobbies and interests to your CV, consider whether they are relevant to the job, portray professionalism, and impact the overall impression of your application.

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether to include hobbies and interests on your CV. Just make sure the decision aligns with your career goals and aspirations.