If you have lots of interests and enjoy partaking in many hobbies, it might be worth considering if any of these can translate into ‘the real word’. In other words, can your passion be your career? You will undoubtedly develop a number of skills just from your hobbies alone, that you might not even realise you have. Take the time to analyse what it is you do in your hobbies, and you might just find a hidden talent worth paying for. Equally, the skills you have developed through your hobby could very well be adapted to suit the professional workplace.

Often people will use well-known ‘buzzwords’ on their CV in an attempt to grab the attention of a recruiter, believing you look like you know what you are talking about. Actually, it does the very opposite! You need to stand out from the crowd, not blend in with buzzwords. This is where examples as evidence are vital; break down the buzzwords and explain how your experience meets the desired job specifications. You can gain a number of transferrable skills from your hobbies, so don’t be afraid of using them as your examples.

If companies have offered a very vague job description and generic job skills, it might be worth asking for further clarification. This way you get to speak to someone in the department, show a keen interest in the job and company you are applying to work for, and also highlight that you are a good communicator; you want to make sure you are doing the right thing from the outset.

Although hobbies are your own personal way of relaxing, the skills you develop might be important in a professional context too. However, do not make up hobbies just to fit to a certain job specification. You might be offered an interview and asked about your fake hobby, which will leave you stumped for words and won’t reflect well with the interviewer. You don’t need to go into lots of detail for each hobby, but do make them sound interesting and worth you putting on your CV. Think what other people might find interesting about your hobby; what makes it different to anyone else’s hobbies and why would it stand out to a potential employer?

Hobbies help to develop you as an all rounded individual. If you show your commitment to a hobby, it highlights your dedication and good use of time. In today’s world we are always craving more time to do the things we love, so why not aim to find a job that combines passion and professionalism and you won’t ever want to have a day off again!