When applying for a particular position in an organization, the general notion candidates hold is that the last part of their CV go unnoticed, the last part that includes your personal attributes like hobbies and interests…
When applying for a particular position in an organization, the general notion candidates hold is that the last part of their CV goes unnoticed, the last part that includes your personal attributes like hobbies and interests.
I would not say that’s wrong, but not totally right as well.
A number of recruiters out there love to learn about your hobbies and form an impression of you because of your interests. Mentioning your hobbies just because the best sample resume you found over the internet had it written, is close to keeping your prospective employer under wrong impression.
Your CV is something that speaks for you in your absence. So adding anything to it, which is not actual, could decrease your visibility later.
We share a few ways that could make the last part of your CV as important as the others.
- Create value
To not exaggerate in your CV is a normal thing to do. But while you explain to your prospective recruiter, the work you did in the organization you were previously employed with, you need to talk about your hobbies and interests clearly. Do not mention your hobbies just because the sample has it. Mention it because you want your employer to know about you. Show your prospective recruiter what interests you and the standard you possess. Does not matter if dancing is your hobby or driving, simply drive your way through.
- No exaggeration zone
If you haven’t found what makes you happy or what you like doing in your free time, it’s high time you should. Knowing what makes you contented or what can excite you when you feel low, is what you’d want to mention. Write exactly about the thrill you feel accomplishing your hobby, but under any circumstance do NOT exaggerate.
- BOLD the relevant
If you feel you possess a hobby, which could be related to your work profile, make sure it gets the desired visibility on your CV. For example, if you are in the marketing sector and organizing small events or volunteering for social causes is something you like doing, write the letters in some other colour or mark it bold. That will not only grab the attention of your interviewer, but also keep you in a special frame when it comes to short-listing candidates.
- Specify
There could be times when your prospective recruiter could ask you to specify or elaborate about your hobbies, if he finds it interesting, that is. For example, I love reading, and if I were a recruiting manager and a shortlisted candidate had reading on the resume, I would love to know what category or genre does he like reading about. So be very specific about your preferred category, when it comes to mentioning on your CV. Avoid too much elaboration as you can do that if you get shortlisted for interview.
- Show how involved you are
Telling your recruiter about your involvement in activities you like doing could be a tricky business. While some would find it attractive, too much mentioning could form a negative impression on your prospective employer. To be on the safer side you need to mention one or two examples of the result driven from your hobby.
To form an impression on an employer in your absence is no doubt difficult.
Apart from talking about your work experience and skills, letting you hobbies create a window for your prospective employer to know about your personality, could get you in a special frame.
