Hobbies on a CV: Why 'Reading and Surfing the Web' is Killing Your Chances

“Hobbies: Reading, surfing the web, meeting people, and listening to music.” I groan every time I see this on a CV. Everyone listens to music. Everyone browses the internet. You are just wasting valuable CV real estate with meaningless filler.

Why Do Hobbies Matter?

In most cases, they don’t. If you are an experienced professional with 5 years of solid work history, you can delete the hobbies section entirely. Nobody cares.

But if you are a fresh graduate with little experience, your hobbies can serve as a conversation starter during the interview. They show culture fit. They reveal personality traits that your work experience section cannot communicate.

The key is strategic selection. You should not include hobbies just to fill space. Every hobby you list should serve a purpose, whether it is demonstrating a skill, showing cultural fit, or starting a conversation.

Strategic Hobby Selection for Nigerian Recruiters

Different companies in Nigeria are looking for different personality traits. Here is how to select hobbies strategically based on the company you are applying to:

Corporate Banking (GTBank, Access Bank, Zenith, First Bank): Banks value discipline, analytical thinking, and professionalism. Good hobbies to list include chess, reading business biographies, volunteering, and public speaking. These suggest a serious, intellectually curious person. Avoid listing partying, clubbing, or “hanging out with friends.”

Tech and Fintech (Flutterwave, Paystack, OPay, Monnify): Tech companies value creativity, continuous learning, and innovation. Good hobbies include coding side projects, contributing to open source, attending hackathons, writing a tech blog, or building hardware projects. These show you are passionate about technology beyond the 9-to-5.

Oil and Gas (Shell, Chevron, TotalEnergies, NNPC): These companies value community engagement, leadership, and technical curiosity. Hobbies like volunteering with NGOs, mentoring young people, sports team captaincy, and technical tinkering all score well.

FMCG and Sales Roles (Dangote Group, Nestlé Nigeria, PZ Cussons): Sales-oriented organisations value competitiveness and people skills. Team sports, debate clubs, and community organising all signal that you can work with people and handle pressure.

Creative and Media Roles: If you are applying for a creative role, your hobbies are part of your portfolio. Photography, writing, video editing, music production, and design work should all be listed. They are not hobbies; they are evidence of your craft.

Which Hobbies Actually Impress Nigerian Recruiters?

Some hobbies consistently impress recruiters across industries. Here are the ones that work:

Volunteering and Community Service: This is the strongest hobby you can list. It shows empathy, initiative, and a willingness to work without immediate reward. Nigerian companies, especially multinationals, value corporate social responsibility. If you volunteer, say it clearly: “Weekly volunteer at the Lagos Food Bank Initiative.”

Writing and Content Creation: If you run a blog, a newsletter, or a YouTube channel, list it. It shows communication skills, discipline, and the ability to produce work consistently. Even if the blog is not related to your field, the act of creating content demonstrates valuable skills.

Sports and Fitness: Specific sports are better than generic “Sports.” “Amateur marathon runner” is more impressive than “I like football.” “Captain of a local basketball team” shows leadership. “Competitive swimmer” shows discipline.

Mentoring and Tutoring: If you mentor younger people or tutor students in your spare time, list it. It shows leadership, patience, and the ability to break down complex concepts.

Technical Projects: Building things in your spare time is always impressive. A personal project, a GitHub repository, a website you built for your church, these all demonstrate initiative and technical competence.

Hobbies That Hurt Your Chances

Just as some hobbies help, some hurt. Here is what to avoid:

Generic and Vague Hobbies: “Reading,” “Listening to music,” “Surfing the internet,” “Spending time with family.” These tell the recruiter nothing. They take up space and add zero value.

Controversial Hobbies: Avoid anything related to politics, religion, or social activism that could be divisive. You do not know the recruiter’s personal beliefs.

Passive Entertainment: “Watching Netflix,” “Playing video games,” “Scrolling through social media.” Unless you are applying for a role in the entertainment industry, these hobbies suggest a lack of ambition.

Exaggerated Hobbies: Do not claim you are an “avid reader” if the last book you finished was in secondary school. If the recruiter asks you about it in the interview, you will be exposed.

The Format: How to Present Hobbies

If you decide to include hobbies, format them correctly. Do not write a paragraph. Use a single line at the bottom of your CV, separated by commas or bullet points.

Bad format:

In my free time, I enjoy reading books, listening to music, and going to the gym. I also like to spend time with my family and friends.

Good format:

Interests: Volunteering at Lagos Food Bank | Running (completed 2 half-marathons) | Coding personal Python projects | Reading African economic history

The good format is specific, scannable, and gives the recruiter concrete talking points for the interview.

When to Delete the Hobbies Section Entirely

There are situations where you should delete the hobbies section without thinking twice:

• If your CV is already at the recommended page limit and you need space for more important content.
• If you are applying for a senior or executive role where your professional achievements should speak for themselves.
• If your hobbies are all generic and you cannot think of anything specific to write.
• If the hobbies section is pushing your CV to an extra page.

Remember, the hobbies section is optional. A CV without hobbies is perfectly fine. A CV with weak hobbies is actively harmful.

Cultural Context for Nigerian Recruiters

In the Nigerian context, certain hobbies carry cultural weight. Volunteering at your church or mosque may be seen positively by some recruiters and negatively by others. Be cautious about listing religious activities unless you are applying to a faith-based organisation.

Community development activities are safe and respected across the board. If you are part of a community development association, a youth group, or a professional networking group, those are excellent hobbies to list.

Your hobby section is not mandatory. It is a strategic tool. Use it only if it adds value. If it does not, delete it and let your professional experience take centre stage.