It’s called a curriculum, Curriculum vitae (CV) or also a resume to a type of professional document in which a possible employer or contractor is provided with complete and detailed information on a person’s life history, such as who he is, what he has studied, where he has worked and for how long , what talents you have, how to contact you and many other information considered relevant.
As part of this information are usually the personal interests and Hobbies, that is, matters that we attend in a sporting or recreational way. And they are for a simple reason: they allow our prospective employers to get a more complete idea of our personal profile, attending to the things that we find pleasant, the type of activities we enjoy or in which we show interest.
Thus, for example, a fan of extreme sports may be a risk-averse person, while a lover of reading and cinema will have a more cultural profile, and an inveterate dancer will undoubtedly have many social talents and be outgoing.
What should you include among your interests?
There are no rules for what one should or should not include in his CV in this matter, since each CV it is, logically, unique and unrepeatable like the very life in which it is inspired. But it is convenient to take certain things into account when strategically choosing what information to highlight, as we do on social networks.
In this sense, it is worth highlighting:
- Hobbies and interests that link us to specific causes. The environment, social struggle, society 2.0, etc. Remember that in certain cases this link can be counterproductive, so often we will have to omit some aspects depending on which employer we are targeting.
- Hobbies and interests that reveal information about our individual talents. Being an amateur writer will guarantee a good command of the language, being an occasional DJ in nightclubs ensures connection with the youth environment, being a basketball player in a parochial team reveals strong ties with tradition and self, etc.
- International travel and experiences. Those who know the world best have better and greater points of contrast and therefore a faster understanding of the points of view of others. A person who has never traveled knows only what surrounds him.
- Artistic talents. They reveal a deep nature and original thinking capacity. If you have them, highlight them. If not, it might be good to try.
What should you omit among your hobbies?
- Hobbies and interests that are superfluous and mean nothing. We may have a great time watching soap operas or playing on the X-Box, but unless we intend to apply for a job in those sectors, it is not necessary to put it on the CV.
- Hobbies and interests that reveal negative aspects of you. We all have vices and bad habits, activities in which we waste time or guilty pleasures that we would rather not have to divulge. So let’s not do it.
One last recommendation is to keep it short and succinct. Our interests they should be clear on a quick read and should show who we are and why our model of life is the right one.
They should also be approached with respect and the appropriate terminology: saying “hobbies” or “hobbies” is not the same as saying “extracurricular activities” or “personal interests,” and the way we say it will also show many things about the way in which we we think to ourselves.
Examples of interests and hobbies
- Tennis practitioner (intermediate). Self-taught training at the Club Atlético de la Laguna, since adolescence. Participation in local championships (1999, 2000 and 2001) obtaining three silver medals. Member of the Official University Team (to date) of the Latin American Business University.
- Bookish. I meet more or less up to date with contemporary local authors and read an average of six or seven books a year. I am a regular at the book clubs in my area.
- Classical piano player (amateur). I have received musical training during my childhood and private classical piano lessons since I was 7 years old (1992). I practice at least once a week, although I have never given a concert.
- Frequent flyer. I have visited more than 20 international destinations in the last 10 years of life, between Latin American, European and Asian minor countries. This has given me an opening of vital perspectives that I consider indispensable.
- Philately and other collectibles. Almost 6 years of collecting stamps, old bills and coins, which make up a modest but detailed personal collection, organized according to international standards (BIPM).
- Tango dancer. Two years of training at the Academia del Tango Pugliese (Buenos Aires) and more than four of frequent weekly practice. Participation in local tango tournaments per couple in 2012 and 2013.
- Children’s literature writer. I have carried out children’s literature workshops with renowned writers such as Luis Carlos Neves or Ana María Shua, and I have written three children’s stories (unpublished). One of them was the winner of the Santa Cruz municipal literature contest in 2002.
- Opera fan. Years of attending the Teatro Colón for the main opera performances by national and international companies, as well as a home library of old records of the genre (LP) are the product of my personal interest in this art form and others like it. Special weakness for Puccini.
- Cinephile. Particular predilection for Asian auteur cinema: Kurosawa, Wong Kar Wai, Chan-Wook Park, etc. I have an extensive video library in this regard. I have conducted workshops at the Santiago Film Center and at the BAMA Amateur Club (Buenos Aires).
- Amateur mountaineer. More than ten years of constant training in climbing and participation in four amateur expeditions nationwide: Pico Simón Bolívar, Pico Humboldt, Pico Oriental and Pico Occidental. I am part of the Venezuelan Mountaineering Committee (CVA) based in Caracas.
- Environmental protector. Interested in defending the environment and in “green” policies, I have been part of various neighborhood recycling campaigns and community organization around the disposal of waste. I have volunteered for several campaigns Green peace.
- History buff. Years of non-academic or professional interest in history have led me to form my own library on the subject, with more than one hundred volumes read on various topics. With a special predilection for the Greco-Roman period.
- Veterinarian Apprentice. Casual and informal internships as a veterinary assistant in a cousin’s office. Interest in the animal world and care for those in need.
- Football player. I have been part of a neighborhood soccer league with weekly practices for more than six years. I consider myself a follower of this sport that I consider to be of great value in our culture.
- Yoga practitioner. The practice of this discipline for several years has served me as a vital complement for the development of balance and inner serenity. I have seen classes and courses with various local and foreign teachers.