I have nothing against interests and hobbies per se, I even have a couple myself, it’s more a case of questioning the need to share them on a CV on the basis that they might truly influence the decision making process. Really, do employers care about an  interest in cooking?  Does the ubiquitous interest in sports really demonstrate team player skills? If you believe the studies then you will question if employers even make it to the end of your CV to find out what your interests are. So maybe they are just a waste of everyone’s time and should be confined to Room 101?

Over the years I’ve seen many interests and hobbies on CVs from ‘member of a gym’ which could be anything from a serious body builder through to the likes of me (paid membership fee for nothing more than a monthly email reminding me I am a member of a gym I never go to) to ‘financial markets’ where the candidate didn’t know what the FTSE was but quick to point out that they weren’t technically lying as you can have an interest in something without actually knowing everything about it (it was at this point they became unsuitable for the job).

My all time favourite however, was the candidate who expressed an interest in ‘beavers’.  Clearly beavers as an interest merits further exploration. When questioned the lady was delighted to discuss her hobby of beavers –  all forty of them. “Forty” I exclaimed “Forty beavers….what do you…how do you…where do you???” Yes, even I was interested by this point. Her dilemma was, as she explained with much concern, she was off on holiday soon and had no-one to cover her Tuesday night slot from 6-7.30pm. Needless to say I was rather confused how you could look after forty beavers for only 1.5 hrs a week until she clarified that the lady from the Cubs, which ran straight after her beavers club, might be able to cover but it would mean a double shift for her. Oh, The Beavers, not beavers – I felt disappointment and relief all at the same time. But 10 years on, I’ll always remember this candidate’s name and her experience.

So even I appreciate that interests and hobbies on a CV can promote discussion at interview but do shared interests forge better working relationships – surely that’s the measure of the worth? From what I can see a shared interest in football for example –seems to promote nothing more than arguments from the conversations I’m privy to, an antithesis if ever there were!

So what’s the answer – do you include a hobbies section or not? Well, I can say that in my 16 years in recruitment I’ve never known a candidate to be rejected because of their interests or hobbies. More importantly I have known candidates enjoy success as a result of their interests specifically the candidate who declared her hobby to be ‘washing elephants’.The feedback from the client was that from a technical and personality point of view they couldn’t decide on their preferred candidate so they decided to look through the CVs one more time, it was this candidates rather unique interest that sealed the deal and she was offered the job. Now that really has to be the measure of the worth.

CVs, hobbies, interview

During an interview, it’s often questions unrelated to your ability to do the job that take candidates by surprise. While you’ll never be able to anticipate every question you might be asked in an interview, you can get a head start by developing strong, concise answers to commonly used questions.

Q: Tell me a bit about yourself
What they’re really saying: I’m trying to figure out if you’re a good fit for my team.

They’re not asking for an autobiography. This question calls for a one-minute advert that summarises your years of experience and skills and your personality in the context of the job. Get to the point and sell your professional self. A few brief sentences that demonstrate experience, proven results and desire to contribute is all that’s needed.

Q: What are your weaknesses?
What they’re really saying: No one is perfect, how do you perceive yourself?

This question is one many job seekers dread so it’s important to prepare a good answer. The secret to answering this question is using your weaknesses to your advantage.

Q: Why should we recruit you?
What they’re really saying: What skills and experience can you offer us over the other candidates?

The key to answering any question about you versus your competition is using specifics. Give real examples that show them why you are the candidate best suited to the job. Point out your achievements and accomplishments throughout your career that are relevant to the open position. Pinpoint the qualities you have that are truly valuable to the company.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 (or 10) years time?
What they’re really saying: Do you know where you’re going in life, and are we part of it?

This question is really testing your stability and reliability; you need to talk about goals you have that relate to the job. This will demonstrate that you understand the industry and the company and are motivated to succeed there.

Employers are simply trying to gain an insight into those they are interviewing. Remember they’re not purposely trying to trick or embarrass you. Good luck!

Careers, Curriculum Vitae, cv, Employment, interview, interview practice, interview processes, Interview question, jobs, London