Hobbies and Interests on a CV: Worth Including?
You have reached the bottom of your CV and there is a little space left. Should you fill it with a hobbies and interests section, or is that a relic from a time before anyone had heard of an Applicant Tracking System? It is one of the most common questions job seekers ask, and the answer is not a flat yes or no.
Whether hobbies and interests earn a place on a CV depends entirely on what they are and what job you are chasing. Used well, this section can add genuine colour and evidence. Used lazily, it wastes the most valuable space on the page. This guide helps you tell the difference.
The short answer, and why it depends
Hobbies and interests are optional. They are never a required section in the way your work history and education are, and a strong CV can leave them off entirely without any harm.
That said, the right interests can work for you in three situations. When you are early in your career and short on experience, they help paint a fuller picture. When an activity directly demonstrates a skill the role needs, it becomes evidence rather than filler. And when a shared interest gives a human interviewer something warm to open with, it can quietly help you stand out.
The decision, then, is not “should I include hobbies” but “do these specific hobbies earn their space on this specific CV”. If the answer is no, cut the section without a second thought.
Interests that genuinely strengthen your application
The best hobbies to include are the ones that double as proof of a skill or quality the employer values. They should say something an interviewer could not already read from your work history.
Strong examples include:
- Leadership and teamwork, such as captaining a local sports team or coaching a junior side
- Commitment and discipline, such as training for and completing endurance events
- Initiative and organisation, such as running a community group or events
- Relevant technical skills, such as building websites, coding personal projects or photography for a design role
- Ongoing learning, such as studying a language or a subject linked to your field
Notice the pattern. Each of these shows something. A recruiter reading “I coach an under-12s football team on Saturdays” learns about your reliability, communication and comfort leading a group, all without you claiming any of it directly.
Wherever you can, add a small detail that turns a hobby into evidence. “Completed the Great North Run in 2024, training four mornings a week for six months” says far more than the bare word “running”.
Interests that add nothing, and why
Just as important is knowing what to leave off. The classic weak hobbies section is a comma-separated list of passive activities that could describe almost anyone.
Avoid vague, generic entries such as:
- Reading
- Socialising with friends
- Watching films
- Listening to music
- Going to the cinema
The problem is not that these are bad ways to spend your time. The problem is that they tell an employer nothing distinctive and take up space that could carry a real achievement. “Reading” says nothing. “Running a local book club of twenty members” says organisation and commitment. The activity behind both might be similar, but only one earns its place.
Be careful, too, with anything that could invite bias or awkwardness. Political affiliations, religious activities and anything potentially divisive are usually best left off, since they add risk without adding relevant evidence. This is one of several easy missteps covered in our guide on what to avoid when writing a CV.
Match your interests to the role
The smartest approach is to treat this section like the rest of your CV and tailor it to the job. Different roles reward different qualities, so lead with the interests that echo what the employer is looking for.
Applying for a creative role, your photography, writing or design projects belong front and centre. Going for something client-facing, your involvement in team sports or community events shows the people skills that matter. Chasing a role that demands precision and focus, a hobby that requires patience and attention to detail supports your case.
A short line of context helps the reader connect the dots without you spelling it out. The goal is for every interest you list to nudge the employer towards thinking you fit.
Keep it short and place it last
Even when your hobbies are strong, they are supporting evidence, not the main act. Keep the section to two or three well-chosen entries, use a line of detail on each, and place it at the very bottom of your CV beneath your work history and education. It should round off the picture, never crowd out the substance.
When to leave the section out entirely
If you are an experienced professional with a full page or two of relevant achievements, you often do not need a hobbies section at all. Your track record is doing the persuading, and the space is better spent on results. There is no shame in omitting it, and no recruiter will penalise you for the absence.
The test is honest and simple. If your interests genuinely add evidence, colour or a point of connection, include them. If they are only there to fill a gap, leave them off and let your real strengths breathe. For a fuller picture of how the pieces of a CV fit together, our guide on what to include in a CV puts this section in its proper context.
Deciding what makes the cut is a matter of judgement, and it is easy to second-guess yourself over that final section. If you would like an expert to weigh up whether your interests help or simply take up room, our writers make that call every day. Have your CV crafted by our specialists and give every line on the page a reason to be there.
