There are many things that make you question the sanity of humanity.
People who choose to wear socks with sandals, the continued use of Comic Sans, and perhaps most bafflingly, the bizarre array of ‘hobbies and interests’ people decide to flaunt on their CVs.
Because while the humble CV is supposed to be a testament to your skills, achievements, and experience, some folks have taken the liberty of turning it into a confessional booth.
And what spills forth is a cocktail of the absurd, the bizarre, and the downright hilarious.
So, in honour of those brave souls who went out on a limb to express their ‘unique’ personalities, here are some of the funniest, most bewildering hobbies and interests ever committed to paper.
The ‘Why Would You Tell Us That?’ Category
The first group includes those who clearly haven’t grasped the concept of subtlety.
"Collecting air from different countries."
Right, because everyone needs a jar of the finest Parisian smog on their mantelpiece.
"Competitive sleeping."
Is this a thing? And how do I sign up?
"Making spreadsheets for fun."
I refuse to believe that even Excel finds this entertaining.
These candidates get an A for honesty, but perhaps a D- in self-awareness.
The ‘Completely Made-Up’ Hobbies
Then, there are the hobbies so bizarrely niche that one has to wonder if they were invented on the spot.
"Underwater basket weaving."
Is this a sport? An art form? An elaborate prank?
"Extreme ironing."
What? Do you do it while skydiving?
"Pro rock-paper-scissors player."
Isn’t this just called being a younger sibling?
These are the hobbies we suspect are the result of a desperate attempt to stand out - or a late-night typo they decided to own.
The ‘Unfortunate Overshare’ Section
There are some hobbies that, while amusing, perhaps should have been left off the CV.
"Meditating while pretending to listen to my partner."
Your future employer doesn’t need to know about your relationship woes.
"Being an armpit fart virtuoso."
While we appreciate the talent, the office might not.
"Re-enacting historical battles with action figures."
Napoleon would be proud, but it’s not exactly a selling point.
Honesty is generally a good policy, but sometimes discretion is the better part of valour.
The ‘Is This a Joke?’ Entries
Finally, there are the entries where you have to admire the sheer audacity.
"Time travelling."
If true, can you pop back and warn us before the next recession hits?
"Inventing new ways to open doors."
Is there a market for this?
"Being a human meme."
Congratulations on achieving the highest honour of the internet, I guess?
Whether these were tongue-in-cheek or genuine, they certainly succeed in grabbing attention.
Need to Find Candidates Who Can Keep Their Hobbies to Themselves?
If these CV snippets sound all too familiar, and you’re looking for candidates who know what’s appropriate to share, we can help.
At Coburg Banks, we specialise in finding professionals who can impress without oversharing their love of competitive sleeping or their obsession with ironing.
So, if you need to recruit people who can keep their quirky hobbies off their CVs and focus on the skills you actually need, get in touch.
We promise our candidates will surprise you with their professionalism—not their collection of international air.
