Top 10 Extracurricular Activities Examples for a CV

Looking to get an edge over that faceless mass of competition out there? Or maybe, to be very honest, your CV is a little scant? Consider adding some extracurricular activities to your CV. They’re not just padding. If done right, they can be an invaluable addition to any job application.

In this article, I will show you:

• Which extracurricular activities to put on your CV? 
• How to put extracurricular activities on a CV?
• An interview-worthy non-student CV with extracurricular activities examples.

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What are extracurricular activities?

Extracurricular activities in a CV refer to any activities, interests, or hobbies pursued by students or individuals outside their academic or professional responsibilities. They include sports, associations, hobbies, volunteering experience, and other creative projects. Including extracurricular activities on a CV can point to qualities such as leadership, teamwork skills, and commitment, which are valuable to employers.

Top 10 extracurricular activities in a CV

Just like when listing your skills, the extracurricular activities you put on a CV should depend on the job you’re after. 

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 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. But there is something we can discuss further: fundraising.

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.

Relevant sports and hobbies might show:

• Teamwork and collaboration
• Leadership and discipline
• Problem-solving and strategy
• Physical fitness or mental agility

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). 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 

There’s no shortage of studies showing the benefits of speaking more than one language. First, it suggests that you’re not afraid of putting in a lot of effort over a long time and that you’re open to new experiences. But it is also 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.

Speaking multiple languages suggests:

• Cultural awareness and empathy
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to connect with diverse audiences
• Problem-solving in cross-cultural contexts

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 organising events hone abilities in:

• Project management
• Team coordination
• Organisational proficiency

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.

Studying abroad demonstrates:

• Global perspective
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Independence and adaptability
• Cultural competence

8. Fulfilling a work-study program

Work-study programs often encompass jobs related to your field of study. 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. 

A work-study program can provide:

• Practical experience in your field
• Insight into industry operations
• Development of both soft and hard skills
• Understanding of workplace dynamics

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 pursuits demonstrate:

• Innovative thinking
• Strong communication skills
• Problem-solving in unique contexts
• Attention to detail and artistry

10. Resident advisor experience

If you have experience as a resident advisor, it’s also worth mentioning such extracurricular activities in your CV. 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). 

Resident advisor experience shows:

• Leadership and mentoring skills
• Conflict resolution
• Event coordination and planning
• Teamwork and community-building

How to put extracurricular activities in your CV

There are three ways of describing extracurricular activities on a good CV. 

• In your education section
• In your hobbies section
• In the additional extracurricular activities section

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

Hobbies are a great place to highlight some of your extracurricular activities, especially those that showcase teamwork, leadership, creativity, or dedication outside of work or academics. 

Extracurricular activities examples for a CV

What about achievements for a CV? They 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. 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.

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.

Extracurricular activities in a CV—Example

We created the sample on the right using our builder. See other good CV examples like this one.

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• How to Write a CV With no Experience
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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.

Frequently asked questions about extracurricular activities on a CV

1. Should I include extracurricular activities on a CV? 

Yes, you should include extracurricular activities on your CV, especially if they align with the job you’re after. Remember, well-chosen extracurriculars can be your winning point against other competitors with a similar set of skills and similar work experience as yours.

2. How many extracurricular activities should I put on my CV?

There is no specific number of extracurricular activities to put on a CV. However, what matters more than the quantity is the quality and relevance of your extracurriculars. And remember, you always want to keep your document readable and to the point.