To ask what you've added to your CV from things outside of work that has been helpful.

[Manteo]

I was just wondering if anyone has done anything outside of work that has made a big difference when it came to your CV, job applications and interviews?

There's obvious things like qualifications and volunteering but anything else?

I feel like I don't get that much out of my actual job anymore as I've been stuck there so long so I wanted to see if I could come up with other ways to add to my experience.

I work in university admin for reference.

It's always putting something on to differentiate you from the rest of the herd.

I have DofE, Kayaking, Singing on mine - anything that might get a bit of interest & garner some attention or make your CV stand out from the crowd can't hurt.

I once interviewed someone based solely on something they'd put in the "interests" section, it intrigued me - he had all the relevant skills too, but this made me want to speak to him.

He turned out to be very suitable & got the job.

Any courses like cpr training that you haven’t done via a workplace. If you’ve learned/learning a language too that would be good to show you are disciplined and challenging yourself - this could maybe come under hobby section maybe as well.

@TheSunIsStillShining

Never added anything else. None of their business. And in a project management job pls. don't call me in because you find bouldering or bass guitar interesting. And when i was evaluating cvs -- never looked at the other stuff. don't care.

See, PM's are 10 a penny - why should I take the time to interview you specifically compared with the other 100 PM CV's that are on my desk??

I want to know a bit about you before I allocate some of my precious time & to be honest, I'll go for interesting people ahead of corporate drones every time....

Thanks for all your examples so far.

Are there often many chances to be a school governor? My daughter's school advertised some time last year but she hadn't started then. Is it likely to come up again in the 4 years she will be there (junior school)? Is it particularly competitive usually? Do you need any specific experience? Would working within the education sector give me any sort of edge?

Criteria that often comes up on job applications that I can't quite meet are things like minute taking (would a school governor do this at any meetings?), Social media management (I was thinking of offering to run a Facebook account for a local village community centre that seems to have no social media presence) and I just find it hard sometimes to come up with very specific scenarios for behavioural questions.

Are moots any use if they are relevant?

@TheSunIsStillShining

Never added anything else. None of their business. And in a project management job pls. don't call me in because you find bouldering or bass guitar interesting. And when i was evaluating cvs -- never looked at the other stuff. don't care.

Actually the fact you participate in regular physical activity means you are less likely to take time of sick.

I don't always put my sporting activities on my CV but have talked about them at interview. I managed to wangle 3 roles because of them.

School governor, Cub leader, Poll Clerk then Presiding Officer in polling stations. I was able to demonstrate management experience through my Scouting and elections experience as I led a small team in both these situations.

@TheSunIsStillShining

Never added anything else. None of their business. And in a project management job pls. don't call me in because you find bouldering or bass guitar interesting. And when i was evaluating cvs -- never looked at the other stuff. don't care.

I'm talking about relevant things that can actually help. Not bouldering or bass guitar.

@LifeOfBriony

School governor, Cub leader, Poll Clerk then Presiding Officer in polling stations. I was able to demonstrate management experience through my Scouting and elections experience as I led a small team in both these situations.

Ooh how do you get into bring a poll clerk?

My daughter attends brownies so I could do something there. They've never mentioned wanting volunteers though.

Depends on the job specs.

When I was wanting to move into a senior management role the fact that I was on a board of a local charity helped demonstrate the ability to think strategically and experience with organisational activities outside my subject matter expertise.

I’m also part of a mentoring programme through my local university - again something that was commented on at interview.

I mean if you were going for a job at Chelsea’s main sponsor, the fact you were an avid Chelsea fan and not a Liverpool one would probably be not a bad thing…

"Criteria that often comes up on job applications that I can't quite meet are things like minute taking"

They act like this is some special skill, but it's really not. You have to learn how minutes are taken in your organisation and that's it. You could start your own association/club and take minutes of your meetings! Same for the social media.

Criteria that often comes up on job applications that I can't quite meet are things like minute taking

Yes this can come up as a governor etc or a town councillor but especially as things like a secretary on a PTA or similar committee.

However, it's not really a formal skill, its just note taking, theres not a great deal to it that you can't pick up from a bit of googling for tips.

The social media one is a good example - especially if you can take the initiative to expand a presence across a few media (eg facebook, Twitter & IG and give some statistics about effectiveness eg increased followers, got positive feedback from users etc)

My daughter attends brownies so I could do something there. They've never mentioned wanting volunteers though.

Blimey they are usually desperate for helpers!

@DeepaBeesKit

My daughter attends brownies so I could do something there. They've never mentioned wanting volunteers though.

Blimey they are usually desperate for helpers!

I heard a couple of the mums are there every week to get experience to apply for TA jobs and there seems to be an older girl from guides every week. Plus it's a pretty small group of brownies I think.

@DecadentlyDecisive
I see your point, but my opinion is that this is not a popularity contest. I am not submitting my cv to win the other persons interest in me, but I would like them to be interested because I have relevant experience.
I am a snr. Technical Analyst/Program Director level person (not run of the mill pm), with 20+ yrs experience in multiple countries. I can imagine it being different for lower level, entry category where the competition is probably fierce.

Also just realised I said MOOTS instead of MOOCS. Anyone found doing them useful?

Are there often many chances to be a school governor? My daughter's school advertised some time last year but she hadn't started then. Is it likely to come up again in the 4 years she will be there (junior school)? Is it particularly competitive usually? Do you need any specific experience? Would working within the education sector give me any sort of edge?

Depends totally on the school.
If you offer to volunteer at a school in an economically deprived area, they will probably bite your hand off. In some areas, the schools have plenty of volunteer governors. They don't usually take minutes though - that is usually the clerk to the Governing body. However virtually every voluntary organisation going is crying out for volunteers to help in roles like that - Churches, Scout Groups, sports clubs, parish councils, village committees, virtually everything you could possibly belong to needs to have a committee or trustees. Seriously, contact your local Scout District with an offer to become a Trustee - they'll love you.

I have a big sporting achievement, it has been mentioned at every single interview I've ever had, so it's the thing that gets me through the doors for sure.

I put sewing on once because the job was socialwork at a creative workshop.

I would say moocs are useful if relevant.

Playing the piano. But that is directly useful in my primary teaching job and swing me my job over the other candidates on the day.