Personal interests section in cv

Jester252

I have taking it easy as a PI ..... maybe that why I'm not getting hired

phasers

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Possibly, if the job was watching TV or baking...

I wish watching TV was a job.

The Big Red Button

Wompa1 wrote: »

In a few places I worked it was the section they used to weed out time wasters.

If they said they play on a sports team. They didn't get hired unless it was a county or national team that could make the company look good.

Well, that's harsh ...

aidan24326

In my experience recruitment or hiring managers rarely take much notice of that section on your cv. The better ones do however. But it's unlikely to make the difference between you getting the job or not, unless you put something really stupid in there. Just keep it simple but not too cliched.

Diapason

I think it's there to show achievement/commitment in other areas of your life, but I agree that can backfire if it looks like you'll be too busy to work late or whatever. It's important to know the employer: if they're the kind of employer that wants to own your entire life, then mind how you go.

At this point I take it as read that everyone likes reading/walking etc. TBH I'd say don't bother putting personal interests down at all unless you've something interesting to say.

JohnMarston

Personal interests section always sounded like absolute bull tbh.

If i'm honest and put down what i really like doing in my spare time, and the boss or interviewer doesnt like what i like, the CV goes in the bin.

Sykk

shruikan2553 wrote: »

A friend of mine said he was a "rapist" meaning someone who raps instead of "rapper"
Took him awhile to learn why he wasn't getting any calls

I think he'd get the same amount of calls, had he spelled it correctly :pac:

sheesh

hr sections used to go by the rule

can they do the job?
will they do the job?
will they fit in?

so your personal interests
could be a way of showing that you can become part of the team through social activities outside of work.

it can also be a way of bringing up some conversation one person I know put 'Steam engines' as an interest in their CV Her father had one of those old fashioned steam engines that he would bring around to fairs

it provided an eye catching reference in the CV.

So it can work both ways you can hang yourself or pass 5 minutes of your interview talking about something you really enjoy.

opinion guy

sheesh wrote: »

hr sections used to go by the rule

can they do the job?
will they do the job?
will they fit in?

Irony.
Love it.

anncoates

It's just for people that need to pad out their CV until they fill 2 pages with work experience and qualifications.

LadyMayBelle

Had an interview once for a caregiving job to an 21 year old woman; her father was on the interview panel as well as her, a social worker and the co ordinator.

Interview was going well, and just before I left, the father asked me about 'swing dancing' in my hobbies section, asking in all seriousness, "Is that with a pole?". I nearly died, and the other interviewers faces were just shocked....

Swing dancing is NOT pole dancing.

anncoates

LadyMayBelle wrote: »

Swing dancing is NOT pole dancing.

It's like wife-swapping isn't it?

FueledByAisling

OP I hope you realise that there is a sport called Trampolining and they don't mean the jumping around on your trampoline in the back garden right?

wonderfulname

If a job description includes specifications like "ability to work alone or in a team" I'll use the personal interests section to illustrate it blatantly, I also tend to stick something computery in there if any level of competency is required as it's an area that progresses so you'd want to imply you're up to date.

A lot of people still seem to stick socialising in there, was talking to a guy doing hiring recently and he unsurprisingly negatively translates that as "drinking", on a slightly unrelated note he also received an application from an email address along the lines of bigdick6 at hotmail.com, I couldn't get over that one.

Wompa1

chatterpillar wrote: »

Well, that's harsh ...

It's an Employers market. Granted back then it was 2006-2007 and they struggled to get people to take the jobs.

It wasn't me!

wonderfulname wrote: »

he also received an application from an email address along the lines of bigdick6 at hotmail.com, I couldn't get over that one.

Let's face it, that address will probably only be useful in a somewhat specialist industry!