Giving an interview and being asked for hobbies is quite a tricky thing to answer. A hobby is automatically assumed to be something you would most likely know about and have. The other way it could be judged is how the mention of your hobby would be considered by the company. These days, hobbies have taken on a bigger role than other aspects of an interview. When an interviewer is interested in you as a candidate, it is your hobbies that will help them understand you as an individual.
What are hobbies and interests?
Many people feel perplexed about “What is your hobby answer”. In order to give a good answer, it is important to first understand the difference between a hobby and an interest. A hobby is a task or an activity that you enjoy doing on a regular basis. For example, you might like to read or paint frequently. Each time you do it you will feel good. These are activities you can actually engage in. Interests are broader concepts or ideas that you might find captivating or experiences that you find yourself inclined to. For example, painting could be a hobby that you can do any number of times as it brings you joy, and learning a foreign language might be an interest that you wish to pursue at some point in time or generally stay informed about it.
How to select your hobbies and interests for this answer
Select your hobbies and interests in a way that comes across as original and practical. Do not just mention hobbies and interests simply because you have to. For example, if there is a gym at your office, you can mention that you enjoy working out. You can also mention that it looks like a good opportunity for you to interact with other employees. Similarly, if you are a business development manager, mention how you like to volunteer with NGOs and the way it has helped you in imbibing interpersonal skills that are so important at work too.
When the question, “What are your hobbies” is put to you, be ready to give an answer that is meaningful, and precise and enables the interviewer to learn more about you. Therefore, make a careful selection of the hobbies and interests that you will mention to the employer.
How to plan the flow of your answer regarding hobbies in an interview
The first thing to do is to strike a connection between your hobby and your work. For example, if you are applying to a gaming company, you can talk about your love to play video games. Mention how you incorporate your hobby into your life. You play video games on weekends which signals that you take out time to pursue your hobby. Give a reason that explains why you like a particular hobby. Playing video games gives you a sense of challenge. This helps the employer relate to your persona in a better way. Try to keep the answer interactive. It should not end up in a monologue. Stick to a brief explanation upon being asked further.
How to craft your answer regarding hobbies
Hobbies for interviews should not make you nervous, rather these should be mentioned with a lot of passion or enthusiasm. Instead of telling it plainly, you can also offer a little background or story to it. That will build the interest of the interviewer and also put you on the list of interesting candidates for selection. Make your answer regarding hobbies a very crisp one. Mention something that you genuinely enjoy doing. So make a wise selection there. Discuss how your hobby helps you succeed in your personal life as well as on the work front or how it keeps you focused or balanced.
Sample answers to 'what are your hobbies' question
Here are a few sample answers that can help you prepare for the question “What are your hobbies”?
Sample Answer 1
I enjoy many hobbies such as playing with my dog and trying out new recipes. I like to go on a trek and love to spend time with my family.
This answer reflects honesty. It does not matter that the hobbies are varied because each hobby is very positive and something that is relatable to an individual’s daily life.
Sample Answer 2
I like to contribute to social services. Twice a month, I visit this organisation to teach fifth-grade children basic life skills and also teach them English as a subject.
This answer speaks volumes about your character and your concern for other individuals. Working for social organisations is also reflective of your capabilities as a friendly professional. Community-based organisations can also help in sourcing clients.
How to connect your answer to the job role
If your job role is that of a content writer, you can mention hobbies for interviews that align with your strengths or skills in the subject. Good vocabulary and command of the English language are the basic criteria to be a content writer. This comes from reading and writing primarily. Therefore, mention reading books as a hobby wherein you can mention the genre that relates to the requisites of your job role. You can also mention that you enjoy writing your own short stories or poems as well which can meet the criteria of creative writing skills in your job role.
What to answer if you do not have any hobbies
“What is your hobby answer” is an answer that should leave the employer assured. So even if you do not essentially have any hobbies, it is important to know that you cannot mention the same. The aim of this question is to learn about your casual side and to get a sneak peek into your personality and character. Not mentioning any hobbies has a negative impact. Instead, try to specify any small thing that brings you joy in your daily life. It could be the simplest of things like gardening, playing cricket, writing a journal, etc.
What to include & exclude in your answer
“What are your hobbies answer” should include and exclude certain things. After all, it is for your prospective job and you’d want to ensure that you put your best foot forward. There are a bunch of things you can include in the hobbies section such as volunteering, watching films, health-related activities such as Yoga or any other sport, creative hobbies such as sketching, playing an instrument, etc. Do not mention anything that is religiously or politically controversial. Ensure you don’t state any such hobbies that go against the requirements of the job role. Also, do not end up rambling about your personal life.
Interviews are such an integral part of cracking the job that you really aim at or making it to your dream job. In whatever case, the interviewer seeks out many answers from hobbies and interests that you mention. These days, a mention of hobbies could actually be the decision-making point for many. Ensure you are well-prepared before your interview so when you are facing the interviewer, you do it with all the confidence and homework.
FAQ
1. What kind of hobbies can I mention in the interview?
You can mention a variety of hobbies such as reading, volunteering, gardening, watching theatre, listening to music, attending calligraphy workshops, etc.
2. Can you mention a hobby that you have not tried yet?
Do not mention a hobby that you have not tried as that would be dishonest. Also, upon being asked further, you will end up giving ‘no’ for an answer. Be honest and rather mention anything that is very simple but brings you joy.