Extracurricular Activities in a CV: Can They Elevate Your Job Search?

When you’re starting your career or looking for your first job, your CV might not yet be packed with professional experience. That’s where extracurricular activities come in. These are activities you participate in outside of your academic or work responsibilities, and they can showcase key skills, interests, and qualities to potential employers.

Including the right extracurricular activities in a simple CV format can make it stand out, but how do you decide what to add and how to present it? This guide walks you through everything you need to know about extracurricular activities on a CV, from examples to formatting tips.

In this article, we cover:

• The best extracurricular activities for a CV.

• How to add extracurricular activities in a CV.

• An overview of why you should add extracurricular activities to your CV.

• CV tips not to miss with a free CV formatting and layout checklist.

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Should you put extracurricular activities on a CV?

Extracurricular activities can be a game-changer for jobseekers, especially if you’re early in your career and don’t have extensive work experience to add to your CV. They can:

• Demonstrate transferable skills like teamwork, leadership, and time management.

• Highlight your personality and interests, making you memorable to recruiters.

• Show dedication, initiative, and a well-rounded character.

For roles requiring creativity, collaboration, or specific soft skills, CV extracurricular activities can provide evidence that you’re the right fit. Similar to the hobbies and interests CV section, you can showcase that you have a diverse set of interests and skills with the extracurricular activities section.

Who should include them?

• School leavers

• Students

• Graduates

• Candidates changing careers

• No experience candidates.

Who should exclude them?

• Seasoned professionals

• Job seekers with irrelevant hobbies or interests

• Applicants for conservative sectors which find them unprofessional

• Professionals with limited CV space.

If you're not sure if you should include this section, review our tips on the ideal CV length to help you decide!

Are you just starting your career journey? We’re here to support you! Uncover our best advice for crafting a professional CV for a first job!

Top 15 extracurricular activities for a CV

Here’s a breakdown of the best extracurricular activities for CVs, grouped by category. These examples show why they’re valuable and how to use them effectively.

1. Sports Teams

Demonstrates teamwork, leadership, and discipline.

Example: Captain of a university football team, organising training sessions and leading the team to regional championships.

2. Volunteering

Shows empathy, initiative, and community involvement.

Example: Volunteered at a local food bank, coordinating weekly donation drives and distributing resources to those in need.

3. Clubs and societies

Highlights organisational and interpersonal skills.

Example: Treasurer of the student debate club, managing budgets and organizing events for over 100 participants.

4. Creative hobbies

Showcases innovation, dedication, and problem-solving abilities.

Example: Created an online portfolio of photography, building an audience of 1,000+ followers on Instagram.

5. Leadership roles

Demonstrates responsibility and decision-making skills.

Example: Head of student council, implementing initiatives to improve campus life.

6. Public speaking

Exhibits communication skills and confidence.

Example: Participated in national public speaking competitions, winning second place in a regional event.

7. Language learning

Shows cultural awareness and dedication.

Example: Completed a year-long course in Spanish, achieving conversational fluency.

8. Event planning

Demonstrates project management and organisational skills.

Example: Organised charity fundraisers, raising over £5,000 for local causes.

9. Part-time jobs

Highlights work ethic and practical skills.

Example: Worked as a retail assistant, balancing shifts with academic responsibilities and consistently meeting sales targets.

Read more about how a side hustle job can help you gain important skills for your career.

10. Online courses and certifications

Proves a commitment to learning and self-improvement.

Example: Completed a Google Analytics certification to enhance data analysis skills.

11. Professional development and entrepreneurship

Shows you look out for new opportunities and are willing to take risks.

Example: Developer of a mobile app.

12. Academic activities

Demonstrates a willingness to help others and ability to mentor peers.

Example: Tutored younger students to help them with exam preparation.

13. Environment and sustainability

Highlights your commitment to making a positive impact.

Example: Participating in tree planting and a local community garden.

14. Media and journalism

Can demonstrate critical thinking and shaping public opinion.

Example: Social media management of personal accounts.

15. Technology

Proves that you are keen to stay up-to-date with the latest trends.

Example: Participate in dedicated forums to help solve tech issues.

Check out these CV examples and writing guides to help you get started:

• Customer service

• Bartender

• Marketing

• Healthcare

• Retail.

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How to list extracurricular activities in a CV

To include extracurricular activities effectively, follow these steps:

1. Create a dedicated section: Title it 'Extracurricular Activities' or include them under 'Achievements' or 'Additional Skills.'

2. Be specific: Mention the activity, your role, and any measurable outcomes.

3. Tailor to the job: Highlight activities that align with the role’s requirements.

4. Keep It concise: Use bullet points for clarity and avoid overloading your CV.

Example of how to format your extracurricular activities

Option 1:

Similar to hobbies and interests, you can create a dedicated section and list your extracurricular activities in a bullet point format.

• Volunteering

• Rugby team captain

• President of hiking club.

Option 2:

Instead of simply listing the extracurricular activity, elaborate on how it has helped you develop relevant skills or achieve tangible results.

Volunteer Coordinator – Local Food Bank (2022 – Present)

• Managed weekly donation drives, increasing contributions by 30%.

• Trained and supervised 15 volunteers to ensure efficient operations.

CV checklist

Use this CV formatting and layout checklist to help you write your next CV:

Key takeaways

Including extracurricular activities on your CV can set you apart from other candidates and showcase the unique qualities that make you a great hire.

• Extracurricular activities can bridge the gap in experience for early-career jobseekers.

• Choose activities that demonstrate relevant skills and qualities for the job.

• Use specific examples and quantify achievements wherever possible.

Next steps?

Ready to enhance your CV with extracurricular activities? Here’s what to do next:

1. Review your current CV and identify gaps where extracurricular activities could add value.

2. Use a modern CV template to format your CV professionally.

3. Continue improving your CV by tailoring it for each job application.

4. Prepare for your interview with our best practices.

FAQs

Do you put sports on a CV?

Yes, if sports have helped you develop transferable skills (like teamwork, leadership, and time management), you can add them to your CV. Including sports can show you're active, disciplined, and able to work as part of a team

What extracurricular activities are good for CV?

Good extracurricular activities include leadership roles in clubs, volunteer work, internships, sports, or creative endeavours like music or art. Anything that demonstrates your skills, passion, or dedication is valuable. Specific activities can depend on the industry you're applying to—tech, finance, or non-profits all value different kinds of experience.

How do you put extracurricular activities on a CV?

You can include extracurricular activities in a separate section titled 'Extracurricular Activities,' 'Volunteer Work,' or 'Additional Experience.' List your role, the organisation, and the dates of involvement, followed by a brief description of your responsibilities or accomplishments.

What are considered extracurricular activities?

Extracurricular activities are any activities outside of your academic coursework. They can include volunteer work, internships, part-time jobs, sports, club memberships, leadership roles, or even personal projects like blogging or learning new skills. Anything that adds value to your personal development or shows relevant skills can be considered extracurricular.

Should I add extracurricular activities to my CV even if it's not for my first job?

Yes, you can still include extracurricular activities on your CV even if it's not your first job, especially if they showcase skills that are relevant to the role you're applying for. If your professional experience is limited, extracurricular activities can help highlight qualities like leadership, teamwork, time management, and communication. As you gain more professional experience, you can eventually shift the focus to your job history, but until then, these activities can be a valuable part of your CV.