What Your Hobbies and Interests Say About You in a Job Interview - GennGlobal
1. WHAT YOUR PERSONAL INTERESTS
SAY ABOUT YOU IN A JOB INTERVIEW
Tips, suggestions, and inspiration from GennGlobal
2.
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.
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.
6.
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.
9.
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.
11.
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.