Hobbies and interests on a CV: UK examples

Should you include hobbies on your CV?

For a first CV or a short work history, the National Careers Service suggests including interests and hobbies that show some of the skills you have. For example, captaining a sports team shows leadership and organisation.

Tip: If you're short of space, hobbies are the first section to cut. They should never push relevant experience onto a third page.

How to write them: specific, short, and linked to a skill

Use one or two lines per interest, with detail that makes it credible. Name it, show your commitment and, where it fits, the skill.

Tip: Use real numbers only. If you don't know an exact figure, describe it instead.

Hobbies and interests that work well (and why)

• Team sports: teamwork, reliability and, if you're captain, leadership.
• Volunteering: responsibility, care for others and turning up regularly. It often belongs in its own Volunteering section.
• Music, drama or dance: practice, performing under pressure, working towards grades or shows.
• Coding, building or making things: problem-solving, technical skills, self-teaching. Link a portfolio if you have one.
• Languages: say the level honestly, such as "conversational Spanish" or "fluent Polish".
• Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Scouts, Guides or cadets: structured commitment and teamwork.
• Writing, blogging or content creation: communication and consistency, especially for marketing and media roles.
• Fitness goals: discipline and setting targets, especially for active jobs.

What to leave out

• Passive or generic activities with no detail: "socialising", "watching TV", "listening to music".
• Anything you can't back up at interview. Anything on your CV, hobbies included, can come up as a question.
• Political or religious activities, unless they're relevant to the role. You don't have to share them.
• Risky or controversial hobbies that could distract from your application.
• A long list. Three or four strong lines beat ten weak ones.

Examples for students and first CVs

If you have little work experience, interests carry more weight. Make each one show a skill an employer wants:

• "Member of the school netball team for four years and vice-captain this season, organising training reminders for the squad."
• "Grade 5 piano. Practise most days and perform at school concerts."
• "Volunteer at [food bank] one Saturday a month, sorting donations and serving visitors."
• "Taught myself basic HTML and CSS to build a website for my mum's cleaning business."
• "Working towards my Duke of Edinburgh's Silver Award, including a three-day expedition."

See the 16-year-old CV example, student CV example and the guide to a CV with no experience for full CVs.

Examples for experienced professionals

Later in your career, keep it to one or two lines, and only if they add something:

• "Trustee of [local charity] since 2022, reviewing budgets and supporting fundraising." (Good for management and finance roles.)
• "Mentor two junior developers through [organisation]'s volunteer scheme." (Shows leadership in tech roles.)
• "Coach the under-12s at [rugby club] on Saturdays; Level 1 coaching award from [governing body]." (Shows people development.)

Where it goes and what to call it

1. Put it near the end of your CV, after experience, education and skills.
2. Call it "Interests", "Hobbies and interests" or "Activities and interests". All are fine in the UK.
3. Use a short bulleted list or one or two lines of text, the same style as the rest of your CV.

If an interest is very relevant, such as running a coding club for a developer job, move it up into your experience or a projects section instead. Check the order in the UK CV format guide, then run your CV through the free CV checker.