ERAS: question about hobbies on CV

[spinnerette]

How in-depth do you go into with the hobbies?

I don't want to come off as some jerks (you know the type who writes as many hobbies as possible to make them sound interesting) but how much detail do you put in this section so that you don't sound like you are making things up or exaggerating your abilities (ie knowing how to play chopsticks vs knowing how to play Ravel, etc).

Take me for example
1) I paint a lot (landscape, seascape, etc)
2) I do photography. I worked as a photographer/videographer after college and before med school.
3) I also did quite a bit of DJing before med school and I still work a couple nights a year at local clubs during med school.
4) I play the piano, guitar, and synths. Not professionally of course but at least I know how to play some Debussy, Ravel and I am comfortable jamming with other musicians.


What's your opinion on this? How did you list your hobbies? Should I only include 2 or 3 most important ones? Should I include the address to my website?
I do want to stand out somewhat. On the other hand, I also don't want the PDs to think that I won't focus on my "real" work during residency........

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[jenesaispas0005]

Type it in exactly the way you typed it into here. If they even read that section of your application it will be a great conversation starter at your interview. Some PD or other faculty or resident may LOOOOOVE Debussy or have a friend who DJ's or paints and will go off on it and you can smile and nod and agree with everything they say. Don't worry about it.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Agreed....

... as long as you feel comfortable talking about all those subjects. Pretend your interviewer is an avid photographer, and asks you what equipment you use. If you don't know, or if all you use is a point-and-shoot digital, it's going to look like CV padding. No interviewer is likely to ask you to play the guitar in their office, but the point is that they MIGHT and you should be ready to do so, if you put it on your application.

(Note to self: perhaps I should bring in a few instruments, and try this out...)

 

[gutonc]

Agreed....

... as long as you feel comfortable talking about all those subjects. Pretend your interviewer is an avid photographer, and asks you what equipment you use. If you don't know, or if all you use is a point-and-shoot digital, it's going to look like CV padding. No interviewer is likely to ask you to play the guitar in their office, but the point is that they MIGHT and you should be ready to do so, if you put it on your application.

(Note to self: perhaps I should bring in a few instruments, and try this out...)

There was a post here sometime last cycle where an applicant (for something fairly competitive like Gas or Urology) put on his/her application that s/he played guitar. So at one place, an interviewer handed that person a guitar and asked him/her to play something. The applicant busted out Stairway to Heaven or something like that and the interview was done. Urban legend or not, that's pretty sweet.

 

[cyneuron]

(Note to self: perhaps I should bring in a few instruments, and try this out...)

 

[spinnerette]

There was a post here sometime last cycle where an applicant (for something fairly competitive like Gas or Urology) put on his/her application that s/he played guitar. So at one place, an interviewer handed that person a guitar and asked him/her to play something. The applicant busted out Stairway to Heaven or something like that and the interview was done. Urban legend or not, that's pretty sweet.

Thanks for the response, guys. Ya, I won't have issues talking about the stuff I use (from my SLRs to my synths and interface, etc). Throughout my rotations, I was surprised by how many avid doctor photographers are out there. Some of them even know things like which Canon SLRs have the infrared counters making them not suitable for infrared films (I can't even name most of the models from memory....).


ha, I think I'm going to remove "guitar" from my list. I play the electrical and most of the stuff I jam with are just mainly chords and would NOT sound nice on an acoustic in an office....

 

[NotAProgDirector]

ha, I think I'm going to remove "guitar" from my list. I play the electrical and most of the stuff I jam with are just mainly chords and would NOT sound nice on an acoustic in an office....

You could list "electric guitar". How do you know I don't have a bunch on the wall of my office, for "emergencies"?

 

[digitlnoize]

You could list "electric guitar". How do you know I don't have a bunch on the wall of my office, for "emergencies"?

That would be awesome! I soooo hope someone asks me to play!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

That would be awesome! I soooo hope someone asks me to play!

Why don't you just bring one with you, then? If you show up with one, someone will ask you to play. You could simply say you brought it with your luggage.

Kidding. Sort of.