How to Talk About Your Hobbies at Interview

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Preparing for an interview is a demanding process. While getting yourself match fit for all sorts of questions about your work history and skills, it can be easy to forget to prep for more personal or character-based questions. You might have an answer about your leadership qualities on the tip of your tongue, but be tripped up by a question about your hobbies and interests.

A question like ‘tell me about your hobbies?’ can seem like child’s play, but it’s worth thinking about your answer in advance. It might not be the most important you get asked, but interviewers include character questions for a reason and being unable to answer them well can hamper your chances of getting the job.

In fact, the executive vice president and HR chief of Goldman Sachs, Edith Cooper, recently explained that she looks at the overall experience of the candidate when hiring; an applicant with a range of experiences has a better chance of impressing her than someone with a strong academic record but nothing else to offer.

Here are some things the interviewer might be trying to establish by asking you about your hobbies:

Can they build a rapport with you? Asking some simple, more personal questions at the panama phone number resource beginning of an interview is a technique many interviews use to break the ice, and get a first sense about you as a person. If you are unable to offer them an informative answer, your conversation might stall and feel uncomfortable. This can be referred to as the airport test – could the interviewer bear to be stuck in an airport with you for hours?
Do you have interests outside of work? Although employers are looking for someone dedicated to their career, coming across as a workaholic can send up red flags. Showing that you maintain a work-life balance and have interests outside the workplace is important.
Do your hobbies support your candidacy? As above, this doesn’t mean that you should claim that your hobby is doing the job. But your hobbies might support your application by demonstrating you have used the same skills the job requires in a different environment. For example, they might show that you’re goal-orientated, or creative, or a team-player.
Can you talk about something you’re passionate about? Hearing you talk freely about something you love is a way for interviewers to get an insight into your communications skills.
Are you a good fit for the team? Of course, it’s great if it turns out that you and your interviewer share a passion for mountain biking, but in more general terms finding out about your personal pursuits can help the interviewer decide if you’re a good fit for the company. If your hobbies and interests reflect the company’s culture or show you have common ground with other members of the team, this might work in your favour.