Best Extracurricular Activities for Your CV

Looking to get an edge over the competition out there? Or maybe your CV is a little scant? Including extracurricular activities in your CV can be an invaluable addition to any job application.

In this article, I will show you:

• Which extracurricular activities in a CV can help you get hired. 
• How to include extracurricular activities in a CV.
• Interview-worthy 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 highlight qualities such as leadership, teamwork skills, and commitment, which are valuable to employers.

Top 10 extracurricular activities for CVs

Let’s cover examples of the 10 best extracurricular activities in CVs:

1. Volunteer work and fundraising

Volunteering encompasses every possible job, just without pay. 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 activities in CV are 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, as well as hobbies and interests in your CV, can be useful additions, but they must be handled cautiously. Consider whether a given sport or hobby is clearly and directly relevant to the job at hand.

These activities in your CV might prove:

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

3. Teaching, tutoring, and training 

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
• Mentoring skills
• 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 to put in consistent effort 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. Such extracurricular activities in CVs attract employers because they demonstrate confidence and communication skills that not everyone has.

These activities are useful for jobs involving:

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

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.

Group projects and student activities demonstrate:

• Project management
• Team coordination
• Organisational proficiency

Such student activities will be helpful 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.

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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.

A work-study program can prove:

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

Expert tip: 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 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. Provide specific examples of your responsibilities, achievements, and quantifiable outcomes (e.g., improved community engagement or 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. This section is ideal for highlighting school-related activities that demonstrate your abilities, such as organisational skills, collaboration, and even personal integrity.

Extracurricular activities in a CV: hobbies

If you plan to list hobbies and leisure activities in your CV, include them in a separate section. Pick the ones that showcase teamwork, leadership, creativity, or dedication outside of work or academics.

Extracurricular activities examples for a CV

You can also make a separate section dedicated to extracurriculars in your CV. Make sure they demonstrate the skills your future employers expect.

What about achievements related to your extracurricular activities? 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. Quantify every significant aspect when writing about the results of your extracurricular activities.

Now, here’s a complete CV example featuring extracurricular activities, so you can use it as a template for writing your own CV:

Extracurricular activities in a CV (example)

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! Need extra guidance on CV writing? These articles might help:

• Adding Positive References to a CV
• Best AI CV Makers & Builders
• How to Attach a CV Professionally?
• How to List Key Achievements on a CV?
• How to Write a CV With No Experience
• How to Write a One-Page CV (+ Template)
• Is ChatGPT a Good Choice When Writing a CV?
• References on a CV & How to Include Them
• Personal Details You Should List in a CV
• Should You Rely on AI When Writing Your CV?

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.

Sources

• University of Miami (2025), The benefits of speaking multiple languages
• R. Ward, M. Ragosko (2025), Does language experience and bilingualism shape empathy and emotional intelligence?

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’s no fixed number of extracurricular activities you should include on your CV. The right amount depends on factors such as your level of work experience, the length of your CV, and how relevant the activities are to the role you’re applying for.

For students or early-career professionals, extracurriculars can play a larger role in demonstrating transferable skills such as leadership, teamwork, and initiative, so including several well-chosen examples can be beneficial. For more experienced candidates, extracurriculars should usually be limited to one or two particularly relevant or impressive activities.

Overall, focus on quality over quantity: choose activities that add value to your application, demonstrate relevant skills, and fit naturally within a clear, concise CV.

3. What is the best example of extracurricular activities?

The best examples of extracurricular activities are those that show useful, transferable skills – such as volunteering, team sports, running a club or society, debate, or creative projects like blogging or coding. These stand out because they prove initiative, teamwork, and commitment.

The “best” activity depends on the job you’re applying for, so choose examples that highlight the skills the employer wants. For instance, public speaking suits customer-facing roles, while creative projects suit marketing or design.