I have a local rink with a good timetable, and a supportive employer. I can start work late as long as I stay late to make up the hours, so I do that two days a week. Then I skate both Saturday and Sunday during the day, and one weekday evening after work. (On the other six evenings, I have a second job - which pays for the skating!)

I've never found it an issue in job interviews. I tell prospective employers that I skate, and they are normally very supportive of a healthy work-life balance. I can't imagine how anyone can skate and study though - I worked longer hours when I was at university and had zero disposable income. Much easier now!

__________________
"Every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reaction. They may be summed up by the phrases:
(1) It's completely impossible.
(2) It's possible, but it's not worth doing.
(3) I said it was a good idea all along."
- Arthur C Clarke

Seriously. I was stupid for not skating more in grad school when all the ice time I wanted was FREE! But all I did was our 4 hrs of synchro practice a week. And that was when skating only cost me $300/year in synchro dues because the university paid for our ice time and all our travel.

I have figure skating right on my resume (a little blurb about how many national events I've competed in, how many national medals I've won, my coaching experience and PSA ratings). I find that in interviews it's something interesting that stands out, and that they are always interested in asking about. Gives me something easy to talk about! And it shows that I not only have a good work-life balance, but that I'm hard working and competitive, and can work well with others (coaching/skating synchro).

__________________
2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything

I wouldn't put skating on your resume, especially for high-level professional jobs (law, business, etc). A prospective employer who doesn't know anything about you may worry that you'll neglect work in favor of skating (people imagine all sorts of weird things). I've only mentioned skating in interviews when I've been asked about hobbies, which doesn't always happen. And even then I try to tone it down b/c an employer may be asking that question to see if there is something that would intrude on your work commitments. Particularly in this economy, an employer will have his/her pick of people, and will be looking for someone who makes the job and company his/her highest priority.

Now, you can certainly ask questions in the interview about the company culture, where you can pick up clues on work-life balance and flexibility. And when you get an offer, you can then ask about hours and such, but you don't want to start out having them think you're not a dedicated employee, so be careful.

__________________
Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

I think I disagree with Debbie - I would certainly put skating on my CV under "Other Interests", along with being a preacher, and any other voluntary work I might be doing right now, knitting, reading, and all the other hobbies one lists under such circumstances.

Rinks have early morning training ice for the benefit of those who have to work or go to school! There is a massive clear-out at our rink between about 7:45 and 8:15 as people leave to get on with the rest of their day. After about 8:15 the ice is much quieter.

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

In some ways, I agree, because my skating does not directly relate to my professional life. However, my love of skating shows on my resume because I serves as the faculty/staff advisor for both our synchro team and our freestyle team and that does relate to my professional life (I work at a university in student affairs, so those types of activities are both personally fulfilling, and help professionally).

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Skating Dreams

"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES." --Nike

Before my baby, and at the old rink (which closed last year), I used to skate before work, and get in late (of course I stay late too). A few years ago, I even wrote a post about a
day in the life of an adult skater.

Now with the current rink, it is impossible to do that. Some adult skaters with flexible work times do go in the morning - that is the best time. But if you do have a 9-to-5 job, the best way would be evenings or weekends. Yes, it does get tiring, but something's better than nothing!

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~~~~~
Blog: http://chowskates.blogspot.com

Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/chowskates
~~~~~

Returning to the OP’s question - I work full time (although luckily at a university office where work hours can be somewhat flexible, so if I get to work late one morning, I can work late to make it up), and I am also completing coursework for a master’s degree and heading into the thesis research/writing/defense stage. Plus I am “mom taxi” for my tween daughter and her own activities. Can we say “busy”?

I try to skate 1-2 times a week at the university rink’s lunchtime public skate (cheap and usually not crowded). I also skate on a 6:30am freestyle session 1-2 times a week (I have to get up at 5:15am to make those sessions, ugh), and I sometimes also skate 1-2 times during the weekend freestyle sessions. I skate 30-45 minutes each time.

That’s during the school year. It gets much harder during the summer when the university rink shuts down, and the freestyle ice at the other rinks in town is scheduled during the workday (great for the kids out on summer break, not so great for working adults). In a good week during the school year, I’m on the ice for 3-5 hours. I can’t manage that much ice time during summer.

I just accept that my progress will be rather slow and sometimes erratic. At times I feel like I’m just barely maintaining skills.

I keep skates, skating clothes and rink schedules in the car at all times. Good time management skills, a flexible employer and a supportive family are vital. A coach who works well with adult skaters and their crazy schedules is most important.

As for skating in the morning before work, my coworkers are used to me arriving in skating clothes and sometimes looking rather “damp”. I just keep my distance until I can freshen up and change into work clothes!!

Skating time is valuable “me” time that I absolutely don’t want to give up, so I squeeze it in the best way I can.

T_S

I most certainly have it on my resume, and I think it should be. Your resume should be a snapshot of your skills, accomplishments, and what you can offer, and something like a sport tells a lot about a person. Law firms and corporations want people who are competitive, want to win, can work as a team, and have the discipline and ability to balance your obligations that competitive sports teaches you. Putting that I was active in the figure skating club in undergrad and won a gold medal at intercollegiate nationals, or that I skated on and coached the university's synchro team in grad school is no different than putting that I was vice-president of this student organization in law school, president of that organization in undergrad, etc. (I'm in my 20s, I've had 2 "real" jobs, so there is plenty of room to list that stuff and keep it to one page). My law school has to review/approve our resume before we send it out for anything, and they tell us that if you have a sport you've done beyond the level of a simple recreational hobby, to put it on there for those reasons.

Beyond that, I never just bring it up in an interview for the sake of bringing it up. I let them ask about it, or work it into questions where appropriate (i.e. I was once asked in an interview what one thing in my life had the biggest impact on me, and I bring up all my years of skating on synchronized skating teams and what that's taught me). Any employer who would have a problem with the fact that I figure skate probably isn't one I'd want to work for anyway. At my current company, they send out a little blurb about new hires, and I swear just about every other person they hire who is in their 20s was an athlete in college, or is currently active in a sport or something that sets them apart from everyone else.

It's also helped me before since the skating world is small, so is the hockey world around here (I've had more than one interview with someone who either played hockey with my dad, or their kid had my dad, one of my uncles, or my brother as a coach at some point. Or in the case of my current employer, his kid always lost to teams coached by my family members). It's just like putting my sorority on my resume--you never know what connections will help you. Getting a job these days really is not about what you know, it's who you know.

__________________
2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything

They built a rink at my university... the year AFTER I graduated.

In your case, it might be worthwhile to include b/c you've competed at a high level and did that during school, and yes, there are plenty of employers that have a preference for people who played sports in college. But for someone like me, who took up skating as an adult and does it as a hobby, it's probably best not to include. My business school (and other people I've talked to at info interviews) said that you shouldn't put hobbies on your resume b/c the employer isn't really interested (since they usually have nothing to do with the job) and the employer might worry that your hobbies might interfere with work.

__________________
Terri C is a Bronze lady!
Gold Moves, here I come!

My careers service at uni gave me quite the opposite advice. If an employer isn't interested in knowing about my life outside work, they will skip over a hobbies section. But if an employer is interested, they will notice if it is missing.

I do include it in my CV - not in great detail, just to say that I ice skate and compete at an adult level, and that I am involved in the organisation of two of the clubs at my rink. I've never had an interview where it hasn't been brought up by the interviewer(s), but they have always been very positive about it. It breaks the formality and allows me to talk about an important part of my life - and it allows them to see what sort of a person they might be working with, rather than just my professional aptitude.

I would guess that this is dependent on the industry and individual, but I haven't found it to be a problem at my career level.

__________________
"Every revolutionary idea seems to evoke three stages of reaction. They may be summed up by the phrases:
(1) It's completely impossible.
(2) It's possible, but it's not worth doing.
(3) I said it was a good idea all along."
- Arthur C Clarke

I just graduated from Law School and Career Services told me the exact opposite. They had me add my hobbies back in as it was something to distinguish me from others. I'm an adult skater (got into serious skating at 19). I've had skating on my resume (and a select few other hobbies) since my 1st year. Many employers have asked me about it and not as a negative - they thought it was great and different (and yes, I got all but one of those jobs). Might be a regional thing or maybe business is different from law.

Anyway, back to OP: Lots of early mornings and giving up sleeping in on weekends. At one point I was up at 3:30 or 3:45 a.m. to get on the ice by 4:30 or 5 a.m. Skating a couple hours gave me enough time to jet home, shower, and change (I also am one that sweats no matter how cold it is, so that was important to me). At a different job, the only sessions were later in the morning so I had to go straight to work - I left my skates in the car and changed at the rink before I left. Generally my area doesn't have much weekend ice, so I had to drive to a suburb to get Saturday morning ice that was extremely crowded. But that's what had to be done in order to skate, something I wanted and was driven to do. It meant sacrificing other things, but it was something I was willing to do.

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"Without a struggle, there can be no progress" ~ Frederick Douglass

I've had a few people in management tell me that a long-term hobby is beneficial because it shows the person has committment, dedication and knows how to work hard to achieve goals.

I do not think that there is anything wrong if you want to put other hobbies (e.g. ice skating) in your resume or CV. However, bear in mind that do not over focus on this aspect during your job interview or when you have got a job, especially if it is nothing related to your job.

londonicechamp

I disagree with this - as a partner in a law firm who handles a lot of the hiring decisions, I'm always looking at the non-work/school related things, to get a sense of who this person is. Good grades and extracurricular activities are important, but it is the hobbies and after school jobs that give me a picture of the applicant's work ethic and personality. Somebody who is a skater, whether a national level competitor or adult recreational skater, has to have a lot of focus, drive and perseverance. Those qualities are exactly what we are looking for, as many of our candidates seem to see the job as just another academic exercise. It also makes the interview a lot more interesting.

I don't, in large part because I don't want to be judged by my activities--who knows if the recruiter once knew some stuck-up skaters, or hates musicians, or what-have-you.

Besides, when I was searching for a job after college, I quickly found that any "experience" that isn't absolutely directly related to the job you're applying for (and generally any experience that was unpaid or not job-related--that is if you learned to type or write well doing your college papers) doesn't get you anywhere either. And adding too much into your resume starts to look like you're just grasping at straws (read: desperate). I added activities like fundraising that looked like I could get out there and do something for an organization, but not anything involving hobbies.

Back to OP-

I'm in health care and therefore am a shift worker. For days, I skate the crack of dawn FS before work.

If I'm on evenings or have a weekday off, I skate a deserted PS.

Skating after work is not an option as I'm usually too tired and my feet will not fit in my boots.

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Happily defying the laws of physics when I skate...and not in a good way

If I could meet ole Axel Paulsen, I would kick him in the teeth

President and Founding member of the I hate Toe-Loops Club

Still a member, but trying to get out of the Pre-bronze peanut gallery.

Visit my skating journal

eeeeeeeeaaaaarrrrrrrrrrly in the morning

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It's all about the dress!

I'm debating whether roller derby should go on mine for that reason. I just joined the league here. It kind of has some negative connotation I guess, but on the other hand the bouts draw HUGE crowds, a lot of people know about it. And everyone in the league is successful (dentist, a few surgeons and doctors, a few college professors, a handfull of lawyers, teachers, you name it).

__________________
2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything

I worked full time and am going back July, 6th. I am fortunate that my new hours will be 8 - 4:30pm...meaning...I can get to the rink before 5:30, do some off ice work outs, and skate at 6:00pm. If there are later skate sessions available, I will skate two of them. I skate at least 3 sessions on Saturdays. I spend most of my time at the rink whenever I can. Like some have said before, if you love it and have discipline, you can make it happen.

I work full time a 9/80 schedule - work 9 hours Mon-Thurs. Every other Friday, I work 8 hours or have the day off. I am lucky that I have a very flexible schedule (can start earlier/stay later or vice versa). I am also able to telecommute - afternoons in the summer and as needed during the rest of the year. My boss is awesome and very accodomating,

My DD skates 4 days a week. So I skate 1 or 3 sessions while she skates. We are very lucky that our rink has FS sessions every day. Some days like Tuesday nights and Sunday afternoons only have an hour session. Most days have 3-4. They also have "Ice for Breakfast" on Mondays and Wednesday from 5:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. for $5. I wish I was a morning person. They will also open a rink for $10 during the day.

On my Fridays off, I skate at the rink by my house. Lots of times I am the only one.

I've got 15 years of work experience and various jobs to put on my resume so I don't list my hobbies. I do list my volunteer experience including my stint as FSC president and test chair. I haven't held a management position in 9 years so like to show those skills in my volunteer experience.

My work is supportive of my skating. They let me take a half day without PTO penalty for dress rehearsal of the ice show, then let me take a PTO for the Friday of the ice show (i told them i wanted to just relax and chill before evening's show time). They want me to show them pics and everything

I do work full time with a city/suburb train commute so the only time I can skate during the week is a 5:30-6:30 pm freestyle at this rink across the street from my condo. Unfortunatley their other freestyle hours are before 5:30 pm so i don't make it in time. On Saturdays I have my private lesson at this rink 15 minutes from my place...an hour private lesson then an additional half hour to practice by myself.

I do try to go to more public skates during Saturdays and Sundays if I have nothing else going on, if anything i get to work on the forward stroking for my MIF test and also spins in the middle area.

I skate before or after work. Even those sessions aren't particularly convenient, as I usually arrive at work a little late or leave a little early. Luckily, I don't have set-in-stone hours I have to be at work. I also skate some public sessions on the weekend in the spring and fall.

Of course, I don't have kids...I'm sure it all gets ten times harder once children are involved.

You do roller derby!? I saw my first roller derby a few months ago, and all I could think was, wow, that looks even more painful than figure skating.

Even when wearing just a t-shirt and light pants (or skirt & tights), I come off the ice drenched. It makes for a fun hair day at work afterwards!

I skated synchro for a zillion years, so roller derby falls and multi-skater pile ups and wipe outs are nothing compared to what I've been through in synchro! In roller derby there are no blades involved and we're wearing knee/elbow/pads, wrist guards, mouth guards and helmets! Plus you're prepared for/expecting the hits and falls (kind of how in skating--most of us have had our worst injuries from falls where we trip over our toepicks while stroking and go SPLAT when we least expect it, not in falls from jumps because we're expecting and somewhat prepared for those).

__________________
2010-2011 goals:
Pass Junior MIF test
Don't break anything