When you're in the hot seat answering questions such as, "What's your greatest weakness?" and, "Why should we hire you?" — a query like, "What are your hobbies?" will probably seem like a piece of cake.
But before you start babbling about your lifelong obsession with
horses or your newfound passion for baking, consider this: The hiring
manager wants to get a better sense of who you are, so it's important to
think about which hobbies best showcase your strengths, passions, and
skills — and then only discuss those in the interview.
"The employer is trying to determine whether you'd be a good fit, and
getting insight into your interests, hobbies, and personality all help
in evaluating that," says Amy Hoover, president of the job board TalentZoo.
For example, if you like to paint in your spare time, and you're
interviewing for an account executive position with an advertising
agency, your creative flair might be viewed as an asset when working
with your creative counterparts, Taylor explains.
Or, if you're involved in orchestrating community events, where
organizational skills are critical, that would translate well into a
promotional or event planning type of position.
"That said, they are also looking for well-rounded individuals, so
you don't want to limit your pursuits to only those that relate directly
to your career," Taylor says.
While there are no wrong answers per se, there are some smart choices
you can make when answering this question in an interview, Hoover
explains.
Here's what interviewers are
really looking for when they ask about your hobbies:
1. That you're team oriented.
"Since most jobs involve a certain level of group interaction and
support — and cross functional work teams continue to thrive — any kind
of activity that you do in your spare time that demonstrates your
ability to be a team player, such as playing a team sport or working
with a group on a volunteer project, would be well perceived by your
prospective boss," Taylor says.
2. That you possess strong leadership skills.
"If you lead a group in a leisure activity, such as anything from a
book or hiking club to a charitable effort or community activity, that
speaks well to your ability to lead on the job," Taylor explains. Not
all jobs require leadership or management talent, but those kinds of
activities project the desire to make a difference.
3. That you actively work on honing your skills.
If you stay with a particular leisure pursuit, and try to better
yourself — which could relate to anything from artistic or musical
talents, to bettering your communications, writing, or research skills —
you will likely be viewed as having perseverance. "And that would
certainly be viewed as a plus in the position at hand," says Taylor.
4. That you're well rounded.
Hiring managers like to know that you have an array of interests and
are not just focused on the type of work you do 24/7. "It's assumed that
if you engage in a diverse assortment of hobbies, you may be better
equipped to manage a broader array of experiences and people on the
job," she says. However, be careful not to list out
too many hobbies.
This can imply that you're indecisive; you don't commit adequate time
to each hobby; and that you're stretched too thin.
5. That you're able to set and stick to goals.
Hiring managers like to see applicants who set goals in their leisure
pursuits. "For example, they want to see that you enjoy completing a
project and have the desire to reach certain milestones in your leisure
activities," says Taylor. "Goal-setting is essential in any job, as
managers like to see that you have a sense of purpose and determination
to reach goals that you've mutually established."
So, if you're training for a 5K run or taking a class in an area that you wish to excel, this is the time to talk about it.
6. That you're passionate.
If you're excited about your leisure pursuits, it can show a side of
you that interviewers typically appreciate and value. "You're
demonstrating that you are capable of enjoying what you do and being
passionate about it, whether inside or outside of the office," Taylor
says.
7. That you're not too passionate.
"If you talk about how passionate you are about a particular hobby to
the point where it sounds as if you want to make that your primary
career, that may send up a red flag," Taylor explains. For example, if
you're interviewing for a sales position at a software company, it's
fine to mention your interest in fashion. "But if you wax on about how
invigorating it is to keep up on fashion trends and pursue fashion
related activities on the weekends, you could do yourself a disservice
at the job interview," she says. "It might be perceived that you would
be happier in that industry."
8. That you won't be distracted at work.
You may have a few entrepreneurial interests on the side. "Even if
you claim that such endeavors have nothing to do with the job at hand,
you are still raising a red flag," Taylor says. "No interviewer wants to
feel as if you're just trying to gain a salary or work experience until
you're ready to launch your own business."
9. That you do, in fact, have interests outside of work.
Here's a terrible response to this question: "I have no real specific outside interests. I'm just too busy."
This tells the employer that you're a workaholic (which isn't a good thing!) and that you don't take time outside of work to refuel and recharge by doing the things you enjoy.
"Overall, the best policy is to bring up leisure pursuits that speak
to your team orientation, good people skills, tenacity, and thirst for
knowledge in the areas in which you are passionate," Taylor says.
Also, try not to emphasize hobbies that can be construed as vices,
such as wine tastings, craft beer making, or cigar clubs, says Hoover.
"And finally, please do not say 'Facebook' or 'social media.' Those
aren't hobbies; they're distractions — especially at work."
