How to respond to What are your hobbies and interests?

What the interviewer wants to know

When the interviewer is interested in you for the job, they want to know if you are a multi-talented and multi-interested person who will fit into the company culture. The interviewer will want to know if you are excited about certain things. They may ask you about your hobbies, interests, and activities outside of work if they are truly interested in you as a candidate.

How to respond to “What are your hobbies?”

When answering this type of question in interviews, provide honest answers, but be careful not to dive into too many details about your hobbies so that you appear to be a threat to your commitment to the job. For example, if your hobby is following your daughter on her gymnastics competitions as she travels from city to city, that might raise concerns for many interviewers.

Before the interview, do some research on the company and see if any of your hobbies or interests align with the company culture. These are the interests you should emphasize if the interviewer asks you this question. Avoid answers that make you seem uninteresting or, worse, inappropriate. Be sure to keep your answers concise.

Examples of the best answers

Here are some sample responses that may help you when faced with a question about your hobbies and interests. You can use these answers to formulate your own response.

Tips for providing the best answer

Approach the question with confidence. Some people may be surprised by non-work-related questions. Don’t let this question distract you. If necessary, take a break to think, and then answer as you would with any other question in the interview.

Try to connect the hobby to the job or company if possible. This will show your deep interest in the industry. For example, if you are applying for a job in gaming, you might mention your passion for certain video games.

You can also focus on answers that demonstrate a positive trait that may indirectly help you succeed at work. For instance, if your job requires a lot of writing and editing, you might mention your passion for reading novels or writing your own stories.

Explain how you integrate your hobby into your life. Don’t just mention the activity as a hobby and leave it at that. Continue to explain how you incorporate your hobby into your life. If your hobby is gardening, for example, you might say you own a plot in a community garden in your neighborhood and spend a few hours there every weekend. Show the employer that you actively pursue your interest.

You also want to avoid appearing as if you spend all your time on your hobbies. You want to show that you have interests but also have time to do the job well.

Explain why you enjoy it. In addition to explaining how you incorporate your hobby into your life, add a brief explanation of why you enjoy the hobby. Perhaps you love gardening because you find the outdoors calming. Maybe you play a team sport because you enjoy working with others. By explaining why you love the activity, you will give the employer a better understanding of who you are and what motivates you.

Be sure to keep your answer concise. While you want to include all this information, you also want to keep your answer brief. Don’t talk for 10 minutes about your favorite plant or the five camping trips you’ve taken. This question isn’t a major part of the interview.

Be honest. Make sure the hobby you mention is one you actually practice. If you get the job, the employer may likely remember that you said you love football, for example, and may invite you to join a team. Don’t fall into that trap. Also, be prepared for follow-up questions: if you say you love movies, for example, the interviewer may ask you about your favorite film or the last movie you saw in the theater.

What

What Shouldn’t Be Said

Don’t talk about controversial hobbies. If your hobby is participating in political demonstrations or religious extremism, keep it to yourself. You don’t know the other person’s views, and you don’t want to cause any offense or bring up a difficult topic.

Be cautious about personal conversations. Don’t discuss personal issues unless they relate to your hobbies. You don’t want to talk about tough health issues concerning you or your family during the interview. Don’t ask the interviewer personal questions.

Don’t talk too much about your hobbies. While outside activities are important if the interviewer asks you about them, they are not the most critical part of the interview. Be concise in your answers.

Potential Follow-up Questions

If you had to work long hours at the office, would you be unhappy because you wouldn’t have time for your hobbies? The best answers discuss how you would feel if you had to take work home and how that would impact your personal time. More interview questions: Top 10 interview questions and the best answers.

Main Takeaways

Think about the question before the interview. Prepare a list of 2-3 hobbies or interests you can discuss with the interviewer. Be honest. Don’t exaggerate an activity you participate in little. Avoid controversy. Make sure not to talk about any controversial hobby.

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Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/job-interview-question-what-are-your-hobbies-2060979