Listing A Hobby On Your CV Or Resume
It is becoming more common for people to be asked what their
favourite hobby or pastime is on a job application form. It is
therefore advisable to include a section on your interests and
any hobby that you are actively engaged in on your CV or Resume
too. This helps to differentiate your application from all
others that have similar experience and qualifications as you
do. A hobby can be used as a great ice-breaker at interviews too
and you may find yourself discussing your skydiving exploits
more than your previous job. Obviously the more unusual the
hobby the better as it is likely to make an impact on anyone
reading your CV and be a point of interest that helps the reader
remember your application over another.
It is important, wherever possible, to list hobbies or interests
that clearly demonstrate relevant skills and accomplishments
that are appropriate for the job your resume is being considered
for. Obviously, if you are applying to be a cook for a company
you would want to list cooking as one of your hobbies. This may
seem an obvious point but you could also highlight other areas
of the same hobby such as researching recipes or jam making for
example.
It is advisable to be selective about the number of hobbies you
list. If it seems that your time is taken up with a myriad of
different activities a potential employer may reject your
application for fear that you may never be available for
overtime work if necessary.
Another possible impact of your choice of hobby may be if it
involves a lot of travel or long hours. The potential employer
may feel that your hobby would have an adverse effect on your
ability to hold down a long term position and may think you are
just trying to fit in work around your hobby and not the other
way round.
Whatever you do, don't make up a hobby purely to get a job. If
you say you are a chess player, to indicate that you are a
logical thinker and forward planner that is great if it's true
but beware, you may find that you are challenged to a game by
your boss and be rumbled on the first day!