Extracurricular activities to add to your CV

Want to go the extra mile with your CV, especially if you’re still studying at uni? 

Luckily, you can draw some attention away from your lack of experience by adding some extracurricular activities.

Extracurricular activities are a great way of boosting your job application and highlighting skills you have that you haven’t been able to demonstrate in the work experience section of your CV or other sections.

Certain hobbies and other things you take part in can be great ideas for extracurricular examples for your CV. They can help you appear more:

• Professional
• Engaged
• Motivated
• Confident

If a hiring manager sees you this way, your chances of landing your next position will skyrocket.

Read our list of good extracurricular activities to list on a CV. By understanding what you should add, you can then use our AI-powered CV builder to create a job-winning application in minutes.

Good extracurricular activities for CV

So, if you’re taking part in extracurricular activities, you’re probably asking yourself which are worth adding to your CV and “How many extracurriculars should I do?” if you don’t have any. 

You’ll want to add unique extracurricular activities to your CV, that are relevant to the job you want. 

In general, they should show off your:

• Skills
• Personality
• Versatility 

Have a look at the different activities you can add to your CV below.

Languages

Learning and being fluent in multiple languages can earn you a serious boost when an employer reads your CV. 

It’s especially useful to add your language learning activities if you’re interested in jobs related to:

• Translation
• International business 
• Tourism
• Customer service

Languages are used by all of us every day and regardless whether your job requires the knowledge of a foreign language, it is always seen as a plus.

Listing an extracurricular activity such as a language class will always benefit your CV.

Art, music, drama, theatre

It doesn’t hurt to show off your artistic side now and again. Especially in the extracurricular section of your CV, if you’re interested in the following types of sectors:

• Graphic design
• Creative writing and journalism
• Performing arts
• Multimedia art
• Advertising

Arts-related extracurricular activities are a great asset to include on student CVs for experience in drama/music/art schools and productions. They provide further experience and relevant content on a CV for students wishing to enter into the arts sector.

Sports

You may not think that being athletic will help you land a job apart from a physical education teacher, but sports activities on your CV can be a major help for a few different positions!

Similarly to the points mentioned above, practising a sport or being part of a sports team is a sociable factor that highlights abilities in teamwork, leadership, and team building.

Extracurricular activities for sports may also help to show your interest or motivation for health and fitness. This could help when applying for a job as a fitness instructor, sports psychologist, nutritionist, or sports physiotherapist.

Fundraising, societies, volunteering

Voluntary work on a CV is often highly valued. 

Volunteering displays:

• Motivation 
• Enthusiasm  
• Willingness to reach out and help others.

These are all qualities that an employer wants to see in their employees. Fundraising or forming part of a society enables hiring managers to understand what you are passionate about and demonstrates sociable qualities.

How to list extracurricular activities in your CV

When adding extracurricular activities to your CV, it’s crucial to focus on relevance to the position. 

Emphasise skills developed that are related to the job you’re applying for, such as teamwork, communication, or time management. 

Here’s how you can add your extracurriculars: 

1. Create a separate section: Title the section ‘Extracurricular Activities’ or ‘Additional Experience’ on your CV.
2. List each activity: Include the name of the activity, your role, and the dates you were involved.
3. Provide a brief description: Write a short description focusing on your responsibilities and achievements for each activity
4. Highlight leadership roles: Give a special mention to your leadership roles
5. Emphasise relevant skills: Identify skills gained that are relevant to the job
6. Quantify achievements: Use stats or specific examples to illustrate your impact

Also, remember to be brief and relevant, ensuring the section complements the rest of your CV.

Here’s an example:

Extracurricular Activities

• Multilingual Club President | XYZ University | September 2021 – Present
• Led a diverse team of 15 members to promote language learning and cultural exchange.
• Organised monthly language workshops and international film nights, increasing club membership by 40%.

Key points

For those applying for a first job, the education section on a CV alone is not enough to create a solid and impacting CV. Listing extracurricular activities on a CV which correspond well with the job position for which you are applying is another way of showing recruiters a more personal side in touch with the sector and type of job.

If you follow these tips and fully understand how important this section can be, you’ll have little trouble writing your CV and landing your next or first role in no time.

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