6 Hobbies You Should NEVER Put In Your CV

By Elizabeth Benu
Up until college, I always listed my reading and writing hobbies in my CV. After some months of ‘gifting’ every employer with my CV, I realized that some of my hobbies did not in any way prove my worth to an employer.

At a recent event at the University of Nairobi, Perminus Wainaina, a recruitment Manager at Corporate Staffing Services highlighted mistakes made when listing hobbies.

In a rather interesting conversation he asked the students to name some of their hobbies and answers such as horse riding, drawing cartoons, travelling and running were heard. All students felt the same way I felt as a young graduate.

If you don’t want an employer to throw your CV out, these are the hobbies you should not put:

Horse Riding: You might love to put this in your records, but what good does it do to an employer? Most times it makes it seem like you are from a rich background.

Socialising: With an increase in socialites, socializing is a hobby that has negative connotations attached to it. Instead, use networking to explain how social you are.

Running: We all like to keep fit and all but unless you are applying for an athletic position, it is a hobby that does not add value to your CV.

Movies: You are the candidate who is up to date with the latest movies and series and has their calendar marked with dates on when the movies will premier. As much as it is a nice way to unwind, watching movies as a hobby makes you come across as a couch potato or lazy person. No employer wants that.

Football: No one can deny the joy of watching football but then again how is football related to a job you are applying for? In this case, unless you are applying for a sports anchor post, it will be wasted space.

Swimming: Everyone loves swimming, but is it really important in your job search? How does it benefit the employer? Unless you are applying for a position that requires swimming skills, do not include this hobby.

“Pick hobbies that say something about your passion for the job you are applying for. When you include a hobby in your CV, include a reason why you like the hobby or give an example of something you have achieved,” concludes Mr. Wainaina

Need more CV writing tips? Contact elizabeth@careerpointkenya.co.ke

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