Including extracurricular activities on your CV is more than just a way to fill space it’s a strategic move that can showcase your personality, transferable skills, and professional potential. Whether you’re a student, recent graduate, or someone looking to enhance your profile, the right extracurriculars can set you apart from other candidates.
Here are six extracurricular activities that can strengthen your CV and help you stand out in today’s competitive job market:
1. Sports Participation
Involvement in sports demonstrates teamwork, discipline, and a commitment to self-improvement. Whether you’re part of a football team, a solo swimmer, or a university netball player, showcasing your athletic involvement can highlight both physical and mental resilience.
Key Skills Gained: Teamwork, dedication, time management, competitiveness, reliability
Career Relevance: Sales, leadership, event coordination, and any role requiring team collaboration
Getting Started: Join your school, college, or university team. Most institutions offer accessible clubs for beginners and experienced athletes alike.
2. Music, Drama, and Performing Arts
Performing in front of others takes confidence and communication skills that are vital in customer-facing or leadership roles. Whether you sing in a choir, play in a band, or perform on stage, this activity shows that you’re confident, creative, and expressive.
Key Skills Gained: Confidence, collaboration, presentation skills, creativity, attention to detail
Career Relevance: Sales, media, public relations, hospitality, teaching
Getting Started: Look for school or local drama clubs, music groups, or performance classes. You can also consider private lessons or online courses.
3. Learning Foreign Languages
Being multilingual is a major asset in today’s global job market. It signals cultural awareness, patience, and a willingness to learn all qualities employers admire. It also opens doors in industries such as tourism, international business, teaching, and translation.
Key Skills Gained: Problem solving, adaptability, communication, dedication, cognitive flexibility
Career Relevance: International relations, customer support, teaching, marketing, travel
Getting Started: Explore language courses online, through local community centres, or at school. Apps, tutors, and cultural exchange groups are also excellent resources.
4. Volunteering and Fundraising
Volunteering showcases a strong work ethic and a desire to make a positive impact. From mentoring younger students to fundraising for charitable causes, these experiences reflect initiative and social responsibility.
Key Skills Gained: Leadership, commitment, resourcefulness, communication, planning
Career Relevance: Healthcare, education, non-profit, public sector, human resources
Getting Started: Contact local charities or search online for opportunities. Universities and colleges often offer structured mentoring or volunteering programs.
5. Job-Related Projects and Activities
Many extracurriculars align directly with specific career paths. Writing for a school newspaper, building websites, or managing social media pages are valuable experiences that demonstrate real-world skills and passion.
Key Skills Gained: Writing, editing, IT literacy, digital skills, creativity, critical thinking
Career Relevance: Journalism, marketing, tech, design, communications
Getting Started: Offer your skills to school publications or clubs. Create a blog, build a portfolio, or join online communities that offer project-based learning.
6. Entrepreneurship and Side Projects
Starting a small business, running an online store, or creating a content channel can show ambition, innovation, and real-world application of skills. Even a modest initiative demonstrates initiative and strategic thinking.
Key Skills Gained: Business acumen, time management, problem solving, self-motivation, digital marketing
Career Relevance: Business development, marketing, tech, consultancy, finance
Getting Started: Consider platforms like Etsy, YouTube, or freelance marketplaces. Highlight your measurable achievements and what you’ve learned along the way.
How to Include Extracurricular Activities on Your CV
You can include extracurricular activities in several CV sections, depending on their relevance. These include:
- Hobbies and Interests: Ideal for less formal or creative roles.
- Education Section: Useful when your extracurriculars complement your academic performance.
- Achievements Section: Best for highlighting awards, recognitions, or specific outcomes tied to your activities.
Make sure to explain the skills gained and how they relate to the job you’re applying for. Always tailor your CV to reflect the qualities most valued by the employer.