Smiley face on a job application.

[RunBackwards]

Please, just don't

Probably don't mention twice how good your "banter" is either, it distracts from the fact that actually, your experience could be just what we need.

There is a large body of research being conducted by the university of bath (perhaps other unis too but not aware) around autism and the workplace; namely recruitment and how current interviewing processes are unfairly discriminatory and how to make them more inclusive.

@goldenharvest

Don't tell the interview for a high tech computer company your hobby is knitting, and you knitted the sweater you're wearing!

I'd say the opposite. I recruit in tech and loads of the coders of all genders are interested in knitting - it's because they like thinking in patterns apparently (I asked)

Knitting/Coding: Ada Lovelace got a lot of traction on her early computer ideas from the punch card system used in pattern weaving, in the jacquard textile industry. Patterns developed on something like a binary system (thread over the top or thread underneath if you are weaving in repetitive rows) can be applied to most types of data. Similar ideas to tunes for an old music box or polyphon, so you can get 'programmed' music to work like that too.

What is it about listing or talking abkut hobbies when or where asked thats so bad?

Anyone would think that upon advertising for a 40 hour a week job that advertising the slightest hint you might not be available 24/7/365 puts people off?

This thread is depressing. Yes, some entertaining and outrageous examples but also candidates being turned down and sneered at for petty, arbitrary reasons like saying "awesome", using the wrong font or having the wrong clothes, when the person could've actually been perfect at the job and had applied in good faith.

I agree with this. Those employers who would dismiss someone for some of these petty reasons deserve second rate staff for not giving the others a chance. They also need to remember that the person being interviewed may well be judging them - it's not just a one way street!

I recruit in tech and loads of the coders of all genders are interested in knitting - it's because they like thinking in patterns apparently (I asked)

Ah that's really interesting, never thought about that before but makes a lot of sense!

@Whatwouldscullydo

What is it about listing or talking abkut hobbies when or where asked thats so bad?

Anyone would think that upon advertising for a 40 hour a week job that advertising the slightest hint you might not be available 24/7/365 puts people off?

I don't think talking about your hobbies is bad - I'm just not interested in seeing them on a CV, it doesn't influence my decision - I think there's better uses for that space on your CV - I want to know about how you work - happy to talk about interests at interview but would just ask the question about what you liked to do outside work when they were at interview. Their interests don't need to be impressive or relate to the job(although that might be just our company😂) The interests could just be work and go home to spend time with their partner and kids (actually that's all the boss does), why pretend we all live this enormously fulfilled life! Thinking of my colleagues - we have a bird watcher, committed Christian, cyclist, real ale enthusiast, furniture restorer, photographer, war history obsessive - and everyone seems to love dogs! It doesn't really matter, none of these hobbies have the slightest bearing on what they do as a day job - I might think about getting someone who can crochet though - I really fancy making a blanket, I could do with some support!😊

Sounds good, I crochet😊

@BikeRunSki

Please have a sensible email address, you know, based on your name. Not anything like”GiddeeCow@“. Please don’t tell the interviewers to “oh fuck off”.

My partner had some work submitted to him for marking from student who used their non academic email address, which was "letmecumonyourthighs@..."

Can i just say re hobbies on cvs, thats how cv writing is taught in schools and universities. Hence why people put them on there, its not just people are thick and put them there for no reason. Thats how people are taught to write a cv.

Yes I certainly remember them being printed on the "stencils " for CVs

@Shaniac

Can i just say re hobbies on cvs, thats how cv writing is taught in schools and universities. Hence why people put them on there, its not just people are thick and put them there for no reason. Thats how people are taught to write a cv.

I have not called people thick for putting their interests in. Schools are massively behind the times on all things business - they've still got kids wearing uniform ffs! They need to encourage kids to keep up to date with current practices. I just don't bother to read them - it's a waste of space as far as I'm concerned, I never think oh I'm not sure about this person but wait a minute look at their hobbies...that's swung it - we'll definitely be interviewing someone who loves rugby/football/hockey or whatever! If you've said all you need to say about your skills and have some space to fill go for it - I think that's unlikely but other people feel differently.

Well, I think it's important to put hobbies or areas of interest on your CV. It makes you seem more human, more rounded and it also gives the interviewer something informal to ask about to help you feel at ease.

A good interviewer will do that. I've been quite interested in people talking about their hobbies and it does help you get a better feel for who they are as a person. Life isn't all about "skills".

@WitchesSpelleas

Probably. I was only 17 at the time but had an aptitude for computer programming apparently. The interviewer was a nice avuncular man who looked totally bemused that this tiny naive girl had turned up in a bunch of university graduates! 😂😂

I'm pretty good with a computer now and have an Etsy shop using digital art and photoshopping. Photoshop is a very sophisticated pieces of software to master 😀. I did realise years after as I easily knitted a fair isle sweat of my own design, that the similarities are pretty well matched.

@VanGoghsDog

Well, I think it's important to put hobbies or areas of interest on your CV. It makes you seem more human, more rounded and it also gives the interviewer something informal to ask about to help you feel at ease.

A good interviewer will do that. I've been quite interested in people talking about their hobbies and it does help you get a better feel for who they are as a person. Life isn't all about "skills".

It's easy to ask someone about their interests in an interview - it doesn't have to be stated on a cv. Work is about skills, life is about so many more things. We are employing people to work.

So if you are interviewing for a job would you not be interested in my CV that my hobby is horseriding and that I previously won a silver medal in the Olympics. Does that not show I have tenacity, am hard working, don't mind unsocial hours and have drive, and commitment. I think interviewing is a skill that many of the interviewers on here are devoid of. 🙄

@Lineofconcepcion - are you Zara Tindel? Seriously though, I'm extremely impressed it absolutely does show your commitment & hard work.

Its not just schools though universities also tell you to include them.

And absolutely some hobbies should be included on there as pp said it makes a person more well rounded and can develop skills you dont have in any of your actual jobs, for example i have written several full length novels and am involved in an environmental clean up group and have so many skills from them 2 things that my shitty retail job doesnt have.

@Lineofconcepcion

So if you are interviewing for a job would you not be interested in my CV that my hobby is horseriding and that I previously won a silver medal in the Olympics. Does that not show I have tenacity, am hard working, don't mind unsocial hours and have drive, and commitment. I think interviewing is a skill that many of the interviewers on here are devoid of. 🙄

Congrats on your Silver Medal but i would not be wanting to hire you because you won one,...but it might be I'm alone in this, so it doesn't matter - you'll be in hot demand!😁

Yeah, I don't want to work where @kleanex works!

Yeah, I don't want to work where @kleanex works!

Me neither but i would love to work with @butterer dad!

and have so many skills from them 2 things that my shitty retail job doesnt have. I think your attitude towards your shitty retail job would say quite a bit to me too!

@VanGoghsDog

Yeah, I don't want to work where *@kleanex* works!

😂😂 just as well!