Should you put interests on a CV?

Interests on a CV are not an essential element of a CV, but I think that it helps flesh

out a CV and makes you look more like a real person than just a name on a piece of paper.

The main thing with this is to keep it short, and to the point. Keep it mainstream (even if tree climbing is your absolute favourite pastime) and don’t be too specific. If you support Man Utd, just put that you like football – you might be dealing with a die hard Man City fan and you don’t want to alienate yourself!

If you’re a voracious reader, just say that you like reading and don’t specify authors.

Like music? The fact that you still go to raves and love trance music might put some employers off.

Any more than 2 lines and you’ve written too much.