Random question- if you were passionate about breastfeeding would you put it on your CV?

[Thandeka]

Am updating my CV. I am hoping to start training to be a breastfeeding peer supporter soon alongside my main work- so thought I would pop it in the bit of my CV dedicated to the other stuff . It's a role that doesn't impact on my current work in any shape or form but thought I would add it as it makes me sound a bit more interesting- but then I wondered if I might put people off with having it on there!?

I mean I am absolutely not a militant lactivist, but just wondering if someone read it who had maybe issues with breastfeeding may think I was going make them feel bad or something and not want to hire me because of it?!?

Hmmm writing this down I am clearly overthinking this aren't I!?

The peer supporter thing is probably CV-worthy. Being passionate about breastfeeding isn't really. Like saying you enjoy anything. I would read that and think "so?".

I would leave it off your CV until you are trained, or at least some way through the process of training. I wouldn't be impressed if someone had on their CV 'I am hoping to train to become a ...' It means nothing. Once you are working as a breastfeeding peer supporter, that's a great way of demonstrating all kinds of skills - communication in particular - and I don't think people would be put off at all.

yeah is just that annoying bit of CV the "hobbies and interests" type bit, you know the bit that supposedly shows who you are outside work.

Ho hum- annoyingly can't start training as about to move again and until settled in new area then can't start. Maybe will leave it off for now....

I don't think it's to show who you are outside work. It's for you to highlight skills that are useful for the job you are applying for, that you perhaps haven't sufficiently demonstrated elsewhere.

Someone who works in executive recruitment once told me something very useful: Never include anything on your CV that could prejudice someone against you, no matter how ill-judged that prejudice is. So fair enough if you've actually got a qualification or done a particular role but strong opinions on things like this could put people right off.

'training as' or 'qualified' is fine - 'hoping to', because you are 'passionate' about it sounds OTT. As an amployer I would be interested in the fact that you facilitated people, were supportive, sensitive, or whatever the qualification implied - and would apply whatever the context, not just bf. If you indicated that it was your personal passion for bf that motivated you I would think you were a bit obsessed.

sleepwheni'mdead- a lot of my work is LGBT related- so thats me done in then!

will leave it off till qualified then and do transferrable skills bit of it. makes sense.
ta muchly!

I'd leave it off. Some people are odd about bfing and as the role of your CV is to get you through the door...

just to say that a very good BF related job came up in our local NHS and the ONLY qualification required was "passionate about breastfeeding". HV's, midwives, peer supporters, nurses etc etc etc applied...tonnes of them...so passion about BF may yet get you a great job!

How about 'I have volunteered to train and then support local women after childbirth'.?

theidsalright- ah that's very interesting that such a job does exist out there.

Good luck with the peer supporter training Thankdeka

Interesting post and answers. Agree with the general vibe to leave off your passion but would include voluntary work supporting new mothers (provided of course that you have started!)

A friend of mine was advised to leave voluntary work with refugees off her CV due to the negativities this invokes in some people.