Top 10 Extra Curricular Activities in CV to Boost

A CV isn’t just about your marks or internships—it’s a snapshot of who you are.

In today’s competitive job market, one of the best ways to stand out is by showcasing your extra curricular activities in CV. These aren’t just “add-ons”—they reflect the real-world skills, personality, and initiative that recruiters actively look for. Whether you’ve led a student club, volunteered at an NGO, participated in national-level sports, or participated in cultural festivals, adding extracurricular activities in your CV shows that you’re more than just your academic record.

In this blog, you’ll discover how to boost your profile by showcasing the right extra curricular activities in CV. Learn which activities matter most, how to present them effectively, and the key mistakes to avoid for a standout resume. Get ready to transform your resume into a powerful story. When done right, your extracurricular activities in your CV can make a lasting first impression.

What are Extracurricular Activities?

Extracurricular activities, commonly called ECs, encompass many pursuits beyond regular academic studies. They play a significant role in fostering both personal growth and professional skills. These activities can range from joining clubs and participating in sports to volunteering and taking on internships.

Getting involved in extracurriculars broadens your skill set and showcases your dedication, leadership qualities, and time management abilities.

Learning how to write about extracurricular activities in a CV is essential. It can help you strengthen your application. It can also compensate for the work experience you might lack.

The Role of Extracurricular Activities in Building a Strong CV

Extracurricular activities in CV refer to programs outside of educational and workplace qualifications. These activities are essential for personal development because they showcase your interests. They also enable your professional development by highlighting your personality. It means they showcase your ability to contribute. You can also stick to commitments and manage your time and priorities. Examples include:

• Athletics
• Student Government
• Community Service
• Employment
• Arts
• Hobbies
• Educational and Academic Clubs

There is a significant difference between curricular and co-curricular activities. The former relates to the academic curriculum. You can even grade or assess these activities. However, co-curricular activities are supplementary to the formal curriculum. They include activities such as sports, clubs, or community service.

Extracurricular activities in a CV refer to non-academic pursuits that demonstrate a candidate’s skills, interests, and personality outside of formal education. These activities can showcase leadership, teamwork, creativity, and commitment. Extra-curricular activities in CV for freshers serve as an extension of your curriculum. It relates to your achievements in the CV in academic high school, college, or other institutions.

Why is it essential to Include Extracurricular Activities in a CV?

Including extracurricular activities in a CV, in India, is crucial for several reasons. These include:

• Extra co-curricular activities in your resume showcase your soft skills and personality traits. Examples include leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. These are invaluable in any workplace.
• They show your commitment. They also show your time management skills and ability to balance outside responsibilities.
• They boost your profile for entry-level positions. They show evidence of practical skills and experiences beyond school.
• Including extracurriculars makes your resume stand out. It shows employers that you are a well-rounded candidate with diverse interests and skills.

Hence, extracurricular activities in your CV enrich your personal development and strengthen your professional appeal, making you an ideal candidate in the job market.

6 Best Extracurricular Activities for Your Resume

Some extracurricular activities, such as leadership roles in clubs, volunteer work, or involvement in sports teams, can make your CV stand out.

• Leadership Roles in Clubs and Organisations:

Highlight positions where you led a team or organized activities. It must be within a club or organization. This shows your ability to take initiative, manage others, and contribute to success.

• Volunteer Work and Community Service:

Include volunteer experiences. In these, you dedicated time to helping others or to community projects. This demonstrates your commitment to social responsibility and willingness to help society.

• Sports and Athletic Achievements:

Mention sports you take part in or achievements you’ve attained. This shows teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. It also indicates physical fitness. These qualities can be valuable in many jobs.

• Artistic Pursuits (e.g., Music, Theatre, Art):

If you have skills or achievements in areas like music, theatre, or visual arts, include them. These activities showcase creativity, dedication, and the ability to work in creative environments.

• Academic Competitions and Clubs (e.g., Debate, Science Fairs):

Joining academic clubs or competitions shows curiosity. It also shows critical thinking and a passion for learning outside the classroom. It also demonstrates your ability to apply knowledge in practical contexts.

• Internships and Part-Time Jobs:

Internships and part-time jobs outside your academic focus can show practical skills. They show industry knowledge and professional experience relevant to your career goals.

India-specific examples you can include:

• NSS (National Service Scheme): Social service, community outreach
• NCC (National Cadet Corps): Discipline, leadership, patriotism
• Cultural Fests (e.g., Mood Indigo, Oasis): Teamwork, Event Management
• College Magazine Editor or Writer: Creative Writing, Journalism Skills

Global/Online-friendly examples:

• Online Volunteering (UNV, local NGOs)
• Open-source contributions (GitHub, Mozilla)
• Virtual internships & hackathons

Categorized Activities with Examples

Recruiters look for specific extracurricular activities that reflect transferable skills and real-world engagement. To help you structure them better, here are categorized examples:

1. Sports & Athletics

• Football, Cricket, Basketball (Teamwork, Discipline)
• Marathon Running (Perseverance, Goal Orientation)

2. Volunteering & Social Work

• NGO Participation (Empathy, Initiative)
• Blood Donation Camps (Social Responsibility)

3. Leadership Roles

• School/College President or Prefect (Leadership, Public Speaking)
• Head of College Fest or Club (Team Management)

4. Creative Arts

• Theatre, Music, Dance (Creativity, Confidence)
• Content Creation (YouTube, Podcasts – Storytelling, Branding)

5. Academic Societies & Clubs

• Debate or MUN (Critical Thinking, Communication)
• Science/Tech Clubs (Research, Innovation)

6. Community Engagement & Fundraising

• Organizing charity drives (Organizational Skills, Outreach)
• Local environment initiatives (Responsibility, Advocacy)

How do you present extracurricular activities in your CV?

Let us look at the steps that teach you what to write in extracurricular activities in a CV. These include:

• Relevance to Job Application: Choose activities that align with the job requirements and showcase skills or qualities the employer values.
• Formatting Tips: Use bullet points for clarity and conciseness. Provide brief descriptions that focus on your role, responsibilities, and quantifiable achievements.
• Action-Oriented Language: Use strong action verbs to describe your contributions, emphasizing outcomes and results.
• Organizational Structure: Create a separate section with a heading like “Extracurricular Activities” or “Community Involvement.” Arrange activities in chronological order, starting with the most recent.
• Tailoring Each Description: Customise each description to highlight relevant skills or experiences that complement your professional qualifications. Avoid detailed explanations and maintain a clear focus on showcasing your capabilities.

Sample Resume Section with Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular Activities

• Head, Cultural Committee, St. Xavier’s College (2022–2023)
  Coordinated 5+ college events; managed teams of 30+ students
• Volunteer, Robin Hood Army (Ongoing)
  Distribute surplus food to the underprivileged; participate in Sunday drives
• State-Level Badminton Player (2019–2021)
  Represented college; semifinalist in state tournaments

Where and How to List Extracurricular Activities?

You can include extracurriculars either:

• In a separate section titled Extracurricular Activities or Leadership & Involvement
• Under Education, if related to academics
• In Achievements, if you’ve won competitions

Formatting Tips:

• Keep it concise and outcome-based
• Use action verbs
• Mention roles, dates, and outcomes if applicable

Examples:

Vice President, Rotaract Club – Delhi University | 2022–2023

• Led a 20-member team to organize blood donation and cleanliness drives
• Collaborated with 3 NGOs; raised ₹75,000 for rural education

Winner, National Debate Competition | 2021

• Represented college at a national level; awarded Best Speaker

Including Extracurriculars on Your Resume as a Fresher

Learning to add extracurricular activities to a resume is essential, especially for freshers. Including these activities can enhance your profile significantly. Here’s how to showcase these experiences effectively:

1. Introduction: Introduce a dedicated section titled “Extra Curricular Activities” or something similar. This section highlights your engagement beyond academics and provides insight into your personality, interests, and skills beyond formal education.
2. School and College Activities: List academic activities that show your participation and commitment. This could include involvement in clubs, societies, sports teams, or cultural events.
3. Significant Projects and Team Experiences: Describe projects or activities you contributed to. Emphasize your role, responsibilities, and the impact of your contributions. Examples include achieving goals, organizing successful events, or leading initiatives.
4. Leadership and Responsibilities: Highlight any leadership roles you held, such as team captain, club president, or event organizer. Describe how you managed responsibilities, led teams, and made decisions that contributed to the group’s success.
5. Balancing Extra Curricular Achievements: Provide insights into balancing commitments with extracurricular activities. Showcase your ability to manage time, focus on tasks, and achieve results in both areas.

Including Extracurriculars in Your Resume for Experienced Professionals

For experienced candidates, integrating extracurricular activities in a CV can enrich your professional narrative and highlight critical competencies. Here’s how to present these activities effectively:

1. Linking Activities to Professional Skills:

Find activities outside of work. They should match the skills needed in your industry or desired job. For example, highlight leadership roles in clubs or volunteer organizations. Do this if you are applying for a managerial role. It will show your ability to lead and motivate teams.

2. Showing Continuous Learning and Personal Growth:

Include activities that reflect development and learning outside your professional career. You could attend workshops, get certifications, or join industry associations. This would show your commitment to staying current and growing your knowledge.

3. Including Recent and Impactful Activities: 

Focus on activities that have significantly impacted your career progression. Highlight achievements or initiatives. You made measurable contributions. For example, in fundraising, projects, or community impact.

4. Activities Related to the Desired Job: 

Customise descriptions of your extracurricular activities in your CV. Ensure to emphasize skills or experiences relevant to the job you are applying for. This alignment helps recruiters understand how your diverse experiences contribute. It also shows your professional capabilities and suitability for the role.

Examples of Well-Written Extracurricular Sections 

You must learn how to write about extracurricular activities in your CV to guide your interviewer about your achievements. The following examples will teach you how to add such activities for a marketing, technical, and management position. 

Example 1: For a Marketing Position

The following example shows how you can highlight your activities as formal responsibilities in your resume. This assures the interviewer that your activities also have a bigger role in your professional development.  

Extra Curricular Activities:

• Digital Marketing Club, President (2022-2024)
  • Led a team 15 in executing social media campaigns that increased engagement by 30%.
• Blogging and Content Creation
  • Managed a personal blog with 10,000 monthly views.
  • Focused on SEO strategies and content marketing.
• American Marketing Association (AMA), Member
  • Participated in workshops on brand management and market research.

Example 2: For a Technical Position

You may have worked in numerous technical fields before applying for a job. The best way to showcase these extra activities is to highlight them in a particular CV section. 

Extra Curricular Activities

• Hackathon Competitions
  • Won 1st place in the regional Hackathon XYZ
  • Developed a mobile app that streamlined customer service processes.
• Coding Club, Vice President (2020-2022)
  • Organized coding workshops and led a team in developing software solutions.
• Open Source Contributions
  • Contributed to projects on GitHub, focusing on enhancing usability and functionality.

Example 3: For a Management Position

A management position also requires behavioral and soft skills expertise. You can showcase these in your activities section, as follows. 

ExtraCurricular Activities

• Toastmasters International, President (2020-2022)
  • Improved public speaking skills and mentored members, resulting in a 20% increase in club membership.
• Volunteer Leadership
  • Managed logistics for charity events.
  • Coordinated teams of volunteers and oversaw fundraising efforts that raised $50,000.
• Business Management Society, Treasurer (2020-2022)
  • Managed a budget of $10,000.
  • Organized networking events and workshops for 200+ members.

Where Should You Place Extracurricular Activities in Your Resume?

Here are some popular ways to include extracurricular activities on a resume for fresh graduates:

1. Standalone “Extracurricular Activities” Section: This is perfect if your involvement aligns closely with the skills needed for the position.
2. The “Education” Section (under your university information) effectively highlights relevant activities that took place during your academic career.
3. “Volunteer Experience” Section (if relevant): If your volunteer work is significant, it merits its section, particularly if it relates to the job.
4. “Achievements” Section (if you can quantify your results): Use this space to highlight impressive accomplishments from your extracurricular engagements.

Top Examples of Extracurricular Activities to Strengthen Your CV

Extracurricular activities listed on a CV encompass interests, hobbies, or pursuits outside of academic or work obligations. Showcasing these activities can highlight important traits like leadership, teamwork, and dedication, all highly regarded by potential employers.

These activities showcase essential traits such as leadership, collaboration, and dedication, which are highly sought after by employers. When incorporating them, keep in mind:

1. Relevance: Customize your extracurricular activities to align with the job you’re pursuing, focusing on the most pertinent ones.
2. Authenticity: Ensure you only list genuine activities—avoid exaggeration or embellishment.
3. Measurable Outcomes: Whenever feasible, highlight achievements or results from these activities to illustrate your impact.

Examples for Job Applications

1. Leadership Roles: Taking charge of a student organization or team, coordinating events.
2. Volunteer Work: Involvement in community service or charity initiatives, reflecting social responsibility.
3. Hobbies: Pursuits that showcase relevant skills, such as coding for technology roles or writing for content-focused positions.

Here’s are the extracurricular activities:

1. Volunteer Work and Fundraising: This activity demonstrates passion, entrepreneurial skills, and ethical fund-handling while supporting important causes.
2. Sports and Hobbies: Shows discipline, teamwork, and transferable skills, especially when directly relevant to the job.
3. Teaching, Tutoring, and Training People: Highlights leadership, mentorship, patience, and instructional abilities.
4. Speaking Foreign Languages: Reflects cognitive flexibility, intercultural communication, and adaptability in diverse environments.
5. Performing and Speaking in Public: This activity builds confidence, communication, and presentation skills that are valuable in client-facing roles.
6. Student Life Activities: Displays involvement, leadership, and project management abilities from participating in clubs and student councils.
7. Studying Abroad: Demonstrates adaptability, independence, and the ability to thrive in diverse and unfamiliar environments.
8. Fulfilling a Work-Study Program: Provides practical, field-specific experience, enhancing your qualifications and hands-on skills.
9. Arts and Creative Interests: Showcases creative thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills through artistic pursuits.
10. Resident Advisor Experience: Reflects leadership, conflict resolution, and responsibility in managing and guiding peers in a community setting.

What Skills Do Extracurricular Activities Highlight?

Each activity adds more than just a line on your resume — it represents a skill. Here’s how you can map activities to employable skills:

Activity	Skills Gained
Sports (Team)	Teamwork, Discipline, Goal-setting
Debate/MUN	Communication, Persuasion, Critical Thinking
Volunteering	Empathy, Social Skills, Responsibility
Event Organization	Planning, Budgeting, Coordination
Theatre/Performing Arts	Creativity, Confidence, Public Presence
Academic Clubs	Subject Interest, Research, Peer Collaboration

Conclusion

Your extra curricular activities in CV aren’t just space-fillers—they’re powerful proof of the skills, passion, and personality you bring beyond academics. They reflect that you’re adaptable, proactive, and ready to take initiative—traits every employer looks for in fresh talent. Whether you’ve led a college club, volunteered for a cause, or represented your school in competitions, these experiences deserve a spot on your resume.

So don’t underestimate their impact. Highlight your involvement, structure it well, and let your real-world strengths shine through. Because at the end of the day, marks may get your resume noticed, but your extra curricular activities can get you hired. Start reflecting, listing, and rewriting—your best CV is just a few edits away.

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