Your hobbies could land you that dream job - 24 September 2007
Research reveals the importance of ‘hobbies and interests’ on our CVsMore than half (59%) of the nation’s employers (1) claim that life outside work gives a clear indication of whether or not a person might fit well with a company’s culture. The research by Yell.com, the UK’s local search engine, proved that pursuing Pilates or taking up Tango dancing could be as important as polishing up your interview technique during the recruitment process. Despite this, the research also revealed how a third of the nation do not even list interests on their CV.
Among those who do list interests, it seems that cultural pursuits come out tops, as 70 per cent of people put reading on their CVs, followed by 44 per cent listing travelling and 40 per cent citing an interest in cinema. The lack of variety suggests that as a nation we’re suffering from ‘hobby fatigue’. Yell.com’s research also shows that more than a third of workers admitted the hobbies and interests section on their CV is inaccurate (either out of date or “slightly embellished”), while more than one in ten (13%) haven’t bothered to update this section since they wrote their first CV.
Commenting on the research, Claude Littner, Sir Alan Sugar’s trouble shooter and international company turnaround specialist, said: “People are clearly missing a trick - employers want to know if a candidate is going to fit in with the team. It’s not just about qualifications and experience, but also personality. Whether you dabble in photography, sweat it out at the gym or throw yourself out of aeroplanes at the weekend, it all helps a potential employer see the real you, and most importantly, helps make your CV stand out.”
Richard Duggleby, head of external relations at Yell, said: “Despite many people shying away from the hobbies section on their CVs, we have noticed many are searching for more unusual interests on Yell.com. As a result, we needed to add new search headings such as belly dancing, bikram yoga and DJ-ing.
“Our research also revealed the UK’s underlying desire to try something new, with one in five people expressing an interest in learning a foreign language, almost one in ten women saying they’d be interested in taking pole dancing lessons, and one in ten men claiming they’d be interested in taking up water skiing or other watersports.”
According to Yell.com site data (2), a trip to the cinema still remains the population’s favourite pastime. However dancing lessons have increased in popularity over recent months and have made their way into the top ten, perhaps owing to the likes of Strictly Come Dancing, which is now entering its fifth season.
Top Ten most searched for hobbies on Yell.com in last six months
1. Cinema
2. Photography
3. Golf
4. Gardening
5. DIY
6. Music
7. Bowling
8. Health Clubs
9. Swimming
10. Dancing Schools
An analysis of this data indicates where in the country the more adventurous hobbyists live and where the more conservative live:
Traditionalists
Edinburgh (Books)
Birmingham (Cinema)
Wolverhampton (Swimming)
Essex (Golf)
Liverpool (DIY)
Adventurous
Glasgow (Pole dancing lessons)
Kent (Dancing schools)
Cambridge (Language courses)
London and Home Counties (Parachuting)
Bristol (Kite surfing)
With more than two million businesses and services listed on Yell.com, anyone interested in taking up a new pastime can find their perfect activity on the site. Whether people are looking for cookery lessons, paint balling or for the more adventurous, parachuting, Yell.com can help with finding their new hobby.
(1) Online survey conducted by Tickbox.net for Yell.com in August 2007 amongst a nationally representative sample of 1065 UK adults aged 16+
(2) Yell.com analysts monitored searches for hobby-related classifications over the past six months (Mar 2007- Aug 2007) noting monthly increases and decreases in search volumes
For further information about this press release, please contact the Yell Press Office.
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