10 Extracurricular Activities to Include in a CV [Examples]

Looking to get an edge over that faceless mass of competition out there? Or maybe, to be very honest, your CV is a little on the scant side? Extracurricular activities aren’t just padding, done right, they can be an invaluable addition to any CV.

This article will show you which extracurricular activities to put on your CV. Read on for a winning non-student CV that uses just such activities, and learn how to do the same with yours.

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Extracurricular activities in a CV—Example

Which are the best extracurricular activities in a CV?

Extracurricular activities in a CV refer to any activities, interests, or hobbies one pursues outside their academic or professional responsibilities. Including extracurricular activities on a CV can point to qualities such as leadership, teamwork skills, and commitment, which are valuable to employers.

People often ask for extracurricular activities examples for a job application. The answer depends on the job application and what was done during those extracurricular activities. Here’s what you have to remember:

• Any extracurricular activities in a CV must be directly relevant to the job at hand—this means you’ll be swapping them out from application to application.
• Your extracurricular activities have to be real—no exaggerating or embellishing.
• It’s always good to offer measurable outcomes associated with your extracurricular activities—an answer to the question: what did you achieve?

Now, let’s cover the 10 best extracurricular activities examples for a CV:

1. Volunteer work and fundraising

Volunteer work is too broad a category to cover properly. It encompasses every possible job, just minus the pay packet. This is often a huge plus for employers: volunteer work shows that you’re passionate enough about something to put in the hard work without being financially compensated for it.

Fundraising, though, is something we can discuss further. It shows that you have an entrepreneurial skill set, a sense of ethics (in dealing with money), an awareness of marketing principles, and perhaps even a sense of taxation and legal principles. Fundraising in a CV is relevant to jobs that involve:

• Selling
• Advertising
• Marketing
• PR
• Handling money
• Motivating people
• Persuading people

2. Sports and hobbies

These are two more extremely broad categories of extracurricular activities for a CV. Sports and hobbies can be really useful additions to your CV, but they must be handled cautiously. The main thing to consider is whether a given sport or hobby is clearly and directly relevant to the job at hand.

If it is, it can show a huge range of skills, attributes, and aptitudes. The more specific and direct the link, though, the better. For example, if you’re writing an IT CV as an entry-level applicant, the fact that you enjoy playing PC games is irrelevant in any obvious or direct way. Modifying PC games, though, isn’t.

3. Teaching, tutoring, and training people 

This could mean teaching classes of elderly people how to use email and browse the web or being part of a peer-tutoring program (even an informal one). Literally, it can be anything where you regularly meet with strangers and help them grasp new information and/or skills. These show an aptitude for jobs that involve:

• Training people
• Mentoring people
• Leadership skills
• Giving instructions over the phone
• Preparing written instructions
• Patiently troubleshooting people’s IT and other issues
• Giving feedback

4. Speaking foreign languages 

Learning a language has some very positive implications for employers. For example, it suggests that you’re not afraid of putting in a lot of effort over a long period of time and that you’re open to new experiences.

But speaking a foreign language or languages is extremely valuable in the job market across an incredibly wide range of industries and job types. Even if you grew up bilingual through no great effort, your language skills are a huge boon to your job-seeking endeavours.

There’s no shortage of studies showing the cognitive benefits of speaking more than one language. However, learning a second or subsequent language can be associated with empathy and intercultural communicative competence— invaluable assets in any job that involves interactions with people. 

5. Performing and speaking in public 

Anything from performing in an improvisational theatre troupe to participating in debating competitions can develop your public speaking skills. These extracurricular activities attract employers because they speak to confidence and communication ability that not everybody has. These are useful for jobs that involve:

• Meetings
• Presentation skills
• Contact with customers
• Coordinating people
• Giving instructions
• Making announcements.

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6. Student life activities 

Student life activities include participation in clubs, societies, organisations, and student councils. Such extracurricular activities written in your CV show you have a track record of getting involved, rolling up your sleeves, and going above and beyond.

Moreover, participating in student activities fosters the development of various transferable skills, which are highly beneficial in the work environment. For example, leading group projects and organizing events hone abilities in project management, team coordination, and organizational proficiency, which are crucial in achieving organizational objectives.

Such student activities will be useful when applying for most jobs. Digging deeper into each of them, you’ll find a range of more job-specific skills for a CV in action.

7. Studying abroad

A student exchange program on your student CV means you have lived and studied in a foreign country, which proves your adaptability, communication skills, and ability to thrive in diverse environments.

Living in a foreign country and navigating its challenges shows you can handle unfamiliar situations, solve problems independently, and adapt to new environments. Moreover, pursuing experiences beyond your home country speaks to your ambition and willingness to leave your comfort zone. Such qualities are highly desirable in the professional world.

8. Fulfilling a work-study program

Work-study programs often encompass jobs related to your field of study. Putting such extra curricular activities on your CV shows that you have practical experience in your chosen field, which can make you a more attractive candidate to employers.

Additionally, you can acquire hands-on skills and knowledge directly applicable to your industry through work-study programs. The hard skills and insights you gained can set you apart from other candidates and show that you can apply what you've learned in the real world.

When including such extracurricular activities in a CV, provide details about the program, your role, responsibilities, accomplishments, and any skills you developed. 

9. Arts and creative interests

Adding arts and creative interests to your CV gives a well-rounded view of your personality and skills. It proves your creative thinking and problem-solving abilities and shows potential employers that you have a unique perspective and can approach challenges with imaginative solutions.

Creative interests can set you apart from other candidates by highlighting talents and skills beyond your professional qualifications. Many creative pursuits, such as writing, visual, or performing arts, require effective communication and expression. Such interests indicate your proficiency in conveying ideas and emotions through various mediums.

10. Resident advisor experience

If you have experience as a resident advisor, it’s also worth mentioning such extracurricular activities in your CV. A resident advisor’s role is often associated with the ability to lead, guide, and mentor others. Moreover, since RAs need to address various challenges and conflicts within the residential community, your RA experience demonstrates your capacity to handle and resolve issues effectively.

When describing this extracurricular activity on a CV, provide specific examples of your responsibilities, achievements, and quantifiable outcomes (e.g., improved community engagement, successful event planning). 

How to include extracurricular activities in your CV

There are two main ways to describe extracurricular activities on a good CV: as brief point-form notes or as more developed and quantified bullet points. See the examples below for a comparison of the two. 

If you decide to include extracurricular activities like achievements, consider using accomplishment statements to structure your sentences. This is similar to how you should write job descriptions for your work experience section. Additionally, try putting numbers to every significant aspect when writing about your extracurricular activities.

See the extracurricular activities examples below:

Extracurricular activities on a CV: education

Some extra activities can be attached to the existing sections, like education. If you plan to list your hobbies, include them in a separate section.

Extracurricular activities in a CV: hobbies

What about achievements for a CV? Achievement versions can go into your work experience section (especially if you’re writing a CV with no work experience) or in a separate section to keep your CV format clean and readable.

Extracurricular activities examples for a CV

And you’re there. Just remember to include skills, interests, and personal development information that aligns with the job you're applying for when listing your extracurricular activities. 

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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I hope this answers some of your questions regarding extracurricular activities in a CV! Have any questions, comments, or experiences to share? Please leave them down in the comments section below.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.