Here's a presentation on what your hobbies and interests say about you in a job interview

1. WHAT YOUR PERSONAL INTERESTS
SAY ABOUT YOU IN A JOB INTERVIEW
Tips, suggestions, and inspiration from GennGlobal

3. INTRODUCTION
 Have you ever been asked a peculiar question
during an interview?
 Questions like “what animal would you describe yourself
as?” and “what are your interests and hobbies?” might
sound unimportant, but these questions do serve a
purpose for interviewers.
 Next, we will discuss what exactly these questions
are attempting to determine, and how to best
answer them.

4. “So, what’s your favorite colour?”

5. WHY ASK THESE QUESTIONS?
 Your hobbies say a lot about who you are as an
individual outside of work; your personal interests
provide a wider context for you as a complete
person to prospective employers.
 This can be useful information for employers for two
main reasons:
 It allows them to make a better judgment call on how
well you might fit into the company culture.
 It lends insights into how well you will perform as an
employee.

7. ARE YOU A TEAM PLAYER?
 One key thing that employers will want to know is
how well you work as part of a team.
 Workplaces, more than ever before, depend on
teamwork and close communication between
colleagues.
 If you participate in team sports, or other activities
that require a lot of cooperation with others, then
you may be a more attractive candidate for jobs on
a team or in a management position.

8. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
 Professional development is incredibly important in
the workplace because continued learning and
growth are necessary for the ongoing success of
both employees and companies.
 Therefore, hobbies requiring a great deal of work to
perfect, such as playing an instrument or pursuing
other time-intensive fine arts, can show that you
have dedication and a desire to constantly improve
and learn.

10. PASSION AND DETERMINATION
 Employers might also want to learn how passionate
and determined you are as a person.
 These kinds of personal questions are often asked to
gain insights to your idea of work-life balance.
 If you don’t provide an answer about your hobbies
or personal interests, this might read as a red flag
because it infers that you aren’t enthusiastic about
position in question.
 Similarly, employers might worry that a lack of
hobbies or personal life could be indicative of
“workaholic” tendencies.

12. HOW DO YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
 Now that we know why employers might be interested
in your hobbies, how do you go about answering
these types of questions?
 First, remember to always answer truthfully.
 Also, don’t panic: even if you have somewhat
unconventional hobbies, your answers to these
questions are rarely (if ever) deal breakers.
 Frame your responses to questions about your
hobbies in ways that bolster your professional clout.
 Equate your experience on a local football league to being
a strong team player; draw a parallel between your piano-
playing skills and your desire to be constantly growing as a
professional.