So, what’s the appropriate answer and the best way to present it when the interviewer asks “what do you like to do outside of work”.
Well, the first thing you should find out is what your interviewers are expecting to hear from you. In other words, you need to understand why they are asking the question in the first place.
Generally and obviously, it’s a question that creates the avenue to talk about your hubbies. Yet, realistically, we HRs ask “what do you like to do outside of work” in order to have mind-eyeballs on your personality to determine whether;
- It aligns with the work culture.
- Fits into the team (because a good team relationship matters a lot).
- It portrays responsibility, accountability, passion, proactivity, socialization, and growth.
Now, it sounds easy. Unfortunately, mentioning only the relevant hobbies that give life and shine to your career can turn out daunting.
Luckily, today’s post is all for you. Here, discover;
- The complete guide to answering the interview question “what do you like to do outside of work”.
- The mistakes you must avoid in order to ace the question.
- 2 why are you looking for a new job sample answers.
Awesome, right?
Here’s also a guide on how to answer how do you prioritize your work.
The guide first.
The Complete Guide To Answering The Interview Question; “What Do You Like To Do Outside Of Work”
So, here goes:
Understand The Description Of Both The Position And The Team
Going back to the job board, or wherever you found the opening, to read the description is the first step. I will explain why in the next step. So, once there, highlight the description of the position; the “who we are” and the “who we are looking for” section. You can copy and paste this on your device or jot it into a book.
Brainstorm Your Hobbies Meticulously
So, as promised, the purpose of step 1 is to pick the right ones from your bag of hobbies. The right hobbies are those that positively affect the position you’re filling with the company. Suppose it’s an opening for a salesperson, someone that’s tech-savvy, has great communications and influential skills, and keeps up to trends. And suppose your hobbies are;
- Listening to podcasts about marketing and sales.
- Hitting the gym over the weekends.
- Drinking bears.
- Smoking.
- Watching the news.
- Contributing to and interacting with marketers or sales experts on relevant popular social media groups.
- Engaging in tech-related games and competitions in a community that you belong to.
- Reading swipes and books written by David Ogilvy and other legendary sales gurus.
Now, after brainstorming your hobbies, you can easily pick the ones that align with the position. You will notice this in the 3 why are you looking for new job sample answers shared under this guide.
Cross Out The Red Flags
If you need to think thrice about it before it appears good, it’d definitely be bad. Okay, I am not in the right position to judge you but your interviewer is. Mentioning that you smoke packs of cigarettes daily or that you devour a crate of beer in two days as the things you like to do outside of work won’t create a great impression.
In fact, amidst other healthy hobbies, mentioning the toxic ones can be the stain that ruins an attractive outfit. So, go ahead, cross out the irrelevant hobbies. Do not mention them except you are asked directly if you smoke or drink. Though, I am pretty sure no professional hiring manager or interviewer will ask you any of those.
Support Each Hobby With A Story Of Achievement
Never be afraid to be passionate, it says a lot about you. After choosing 3-4 hobbies, quickly support each one with a brief story of achievement. Know that achievement could be in form of boosting your health and losing weight over a weekend in the gym, which in turn kept you at your productivity peak through the following workdays. Here is a similar guide on how to answer why would you be good for this position.
2 Awesome why are you looking for a new job sample answers
A Sample Answer For A Sales Person Position; “Thanks for asking! I love following up on the XYZ Marketing And Sales Podcast every night as it contributes to my knowledge and keeps me updated about new trends. Also, I enjoy spending the weekends hitting the gym in the morning, trying out new healthy recipes with the wife in the kitchen, reading David Ogilvy’s Purple Cow and other interesting books about sales such as Scientific Advertisement, and Buyology. The gym boosts and prepares my mind and body energy for productivity and healthy relationships. Cooking with the wife and helping the kids out with their school works is one of my ways of sharing love, actually, seeing others happy and successful makes me happy”.
A Sample Answer For An Elementary Class Teacher; “Great question! My easiest and most life-enriching recreation activities are visiting the orphanage home to make kids happy while educating them, writing children poems and rhymes, meditating to connect deeper with my innate child-mind, and adding more stuff animals and toys to my collection (most of them end up in the homes of relatives of whose kids visit me over the weekends or during the holidays”.
Careful though!
Mistakes To Avoid In Your Answer
- Avoid lying.
- Don’t let the imposter syndrome creep in.
- Never talk too much, keep it simple.
- Do not give in to boasting or cockiness.
- Be clear, confident, and collected.
- Never mention hobbies that are potentially red flags.
And that’s it, everything you need to know to answer the interview question “what do you like to do outside of work”.By the way, see this article to understand what a probation period is.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, all interview questions are designed to reveal the best candidate for the position. Therefore, for all questions asked, make sure the answers you give and the way you present them portray you as the one for the job.
Anyway, I am sure this guide and the sample answers shared so far will help you to answer the interview question “what do you like to do outside of work” perfectly