People applying for banking graduate jobs have been advised to refrain from giving details of hobbies and interests in their CVs.

That is according to global recruitment company NES, which states that personal interests are no longer as important when applying for professional roles.

UK regional director for NES Group Lee Knowles said it is a definite "no-no".

"While sharing details of your personal hobbies may seem like it gives ‘colour’ to a CV, it can backfire by prompting employers to make a judgement about you," he said.

Mr Knowles refers to some candidates who have cited taxidermy, mud wrestling and even pole dancing as their main hobbies.

"While these interests certainly raise an eyebrow, it’s not necessarily for the right reasons."

It is best to keep a CV factual and professional, claimed Mr Knowles, to ensure that employers remain focuses on the main content and not any "extracurricular activity".

Recruiters have also been urged to look beyond "arbitrary" academic qualifications.

Chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters Carl Gilleard told Personnel Today that 2:1 degree classifications are a "very crude tool" for assessing potential candidates.

Employers need to widen their screening processes, Mr Gilleard added.

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