Hobbies and Interests on a CV: What to Include and What to Leave Out

Whether to include a hobbies and interests section on your CV is one of those questions that depends more on context than most CV advice suggests. Here is how to think through it.

The Case for Including Interests

A hobbies section can add genuine value in specific circumstances:

For graduate and early-career CVs: When you have limited professional experience, your interests can signal character, initiative, and transferable skills. A candidate who volunteers as a Samaritans listener is signalling emotional intelligence. Someone who runs a club or society is demonstrating leadership. Someone who has competed at a high level in sport is demonstrating discipline and teamwork.

When the interest is directly relevant: If you are applying for a job in sports management and you play sport competitively, that is worth including. If you are applying for an outdoor education role and you are a keen mountaineer, that is relevant. Niche expertise that is directly applicable to the role adds real value.

When the culture fit matters: Some companies place a strong emphasis on cultural alignment, and interests can support that — particularly at smaller organisations or in client-facing roles where personality matters to the hire.

The Case Against

For most experienced professional CVs, a hobbies section is low-priority:

• Your professional experience should be filling the available space
• Generic interests ("socialising," "reading," "travelling") tell the employer nothing useful
• Specialist interests that have no relevance to the role do not add value

If you are editing for space, the hobbies section is usually the first thing to cut.

What Not to Include

Interests that can trigger conscious or unconscious bias without adding compensating value:

• Highly partisan political activities (unless directly relevant to the role)
• Religious involvement (unless the role is with a faith-based organisation)
• Generic, near-universal interests ("socialising with friends," "going to the gym," "watching films")

Interests that signal nothing distinctive about you are not worth the line.

How to Write It If You Include It

Keep it brief — one to three bullet points or a short line. Be specific rather than generic. "Trail running — completed five ultra-marathons including the South Downs Way 100" is more interesting than "enjoys running." "Founded and manage a local photography club with 40+ members" is more compelling than "interest in photography."

Build your CV free at CVCircuit — and use every section purposefully.