Of all the questions you’re asked in a job interview, ‘What are your hobbies’ might not seem the most relevant to the job. But there’s a reason employers ask it: to see if your personal interests match up with the role's responsibilities.
Your hobbies provide insight into who you are as a person. They reflect your passions and abilities, which is why hiring managers often ask what you like to do outside of work. Being prepared for the most common interview questions, including 'What’s your hobby?' will help you respond in a way that aligns your personal interests with the role you’re applying for.
In this article, we explore how to answer this question. with examples to get you started.
How to answer ‘What are your interests?’
Example answers to ‘What is your hobby?’
FAQ
How to answer ‘What are your interests?’
If you’re not prepared for the question, you may end up in the interview thinking to yourself: ‘What are my hobbies?’ It’s not ideal to be making up an answer on the spot, so always prepare to answer interview questions about your interests just as you would responses for job- and experience-related questions.
Select appropriate hobbies and interests
The hobbies you mention tell the interviewer a lot about you, your personality and your skills and passions. Before your interview, write down a list of all your leisure pursuits and the things you do when you’re not at work.
Your list might include:
Sports or fitness activities
Gardening
Animals or pets
Creative pursuits
Going to concerts or events
Helping others
Learning
Reading or writing
Making things
Ideally, your list will show a diverse range of interests. It should highlight any skills and reflect positive personality traits that employers look for. Order your list from highest relevance to lowest relevance to the job, so you know which to focus on in your response.
It’s important to be authentic when you talk about your interests. The hiring manager will be able to tell if you’re embellishing your list just to impress them. It’s never recommended to misrepresent yourself in a job interview.
Identify skills or qualities related to your hobby
Look at your list and write down the different skills and personal traits they involve. For example, going to the gym shows drive, focus and consistency, which are valuable assets for any employer. Volunteering at an animal shelter shows compassion and reliability. Having a passion for photography shows creativity and technical ability.
Find a relationship between your hobby and the job
The best hobbies to mention during a job interview are those that can help you excel in the job you’re applying for or that show you’re a fit with the employer’s workplace culture. Take a look at your list of hobbies and their associated skills that are transferable to the role. For example, if you enjoy knitting, you can highlight transferable skills like attention to detail and following instructions. If you’re a keen cyclist, mention how it has taught you self-discipline, motivation and resilience.
To align your hobbies with the workplace culture, mention pastimes that show your adaptability, communication skills and interpersonal skills. Talk about any clubs or social activities you take part in, such as group sports, book clubs or volunteering.
Use an example to show skills, qualities or values in action
Rather than just listing a couple of hobbies when you're asked this question, go into more depth by explaining how the hobby has helped develop your skills. You could tell a little story, like: I'm an introvert and I love reading, so to be more social, I joined a book club. I've not only become a better reader, I've improved my critical thinking skills and become more confident sharing my ideas and meeting new people'.
Example answers to ‘What is your hobby?’
You’ve got your hobbies and written down their related skills, now you can start rehearsing a response. Here are some example answers to the question ‘What is your hobby?’ to get you started.
Example 1 – Sport
I play soccer every week and have done so since I was a kid. It has taught me teamwork and resilience, which are qualities that I feel have helped me professionally.
Example 2 – Volunteering
I’ve been volunteering with my local animal shelter for the past year. Aside from learning how take care of animals, I’ve also picked up administration skills and customer service skills by assisting adoptions and taking visitor information.
Example 3 – Travelling
I take every opportunity I can to travel as I love meeting people and learning about new cultures. I also push myself to embrace challenges – on my last trip I completed a volcano summit hike, which took a lot of determination.
Example 4 – Artistic hobbies
In my spare time, I love to paint and draw. While I enjoy using digital design tools during the day for work, I find using pencil and charcoal helps me improve techniques that I can transfer into my digital work.
When a hiring manager asks you about your hobbies in an interview, they’re looking to get to know you better and see if your skills and interests naturally align with the job. When answering the question, remember to choose hobbies that are relevant and involve skills that would help you in the role. Being able to answer ‘What is your hobby’ in a way that connects to the job description will demonstrate that you have the right abilities and passions for the role.
FAQs
How should I choose which hobbies to mention in an interview?
When choosing which hobbies to mention in an interview, think about your interests and pastimes that would somehow help you perform in the job. For example, painting, drawing and other creative hobbies may be a good hobby for a content creator to mention.
Are there any hobbies that are considered ‘better’ or more impressive to mention?
Hobbies that are relevant to the job are considered better to mention than others in a job interview. Overall, it’s best to mention well-known hobbies that don’t require an explanation and that clearly demonstrate desirable transferable skills, like communication, resilience, adaptability, attention to detail and critical thinking.
How do I find a passion or hobby?
To find a passion or hobby, consider what you already enjoy doing or identify things you’d like to learn to do. If you love being outdoors, you might enjoy hiking, rock climbing or kayaking. If you love video games, consider learning code as a hobby, or writing scripts for video games.
Should I tailor my hobby choices based on the job I'm applying for?
Yes, you should tailor your hobby choices based on the job you’re applying for. Ideally, the hobbies you talk about should be relevant to the job or show your passion for the industry outside of work.
What if I don't have any hobbies that seem relevant to the job?
If you don’t have any hobbies you feel are relevant to the job, focus on hobbies to do with health or self-development. Hobbies like working out, playing a sport and reading reading are all good choices.
Is it okay to mention hobbies that are considered unconventional or niche?
It’s okay to mention unconventional or niche hobbies if you can connect them to the role you’re applying for. All hobbies require some degree of skill and involve transferable abilities of some description. For example, making kombucha may not be a hobby you’d associate with most jobs, but it’s one that requires research and attention to detail, and shows an interest in health and wellbeing, which are all good qualities to mention, no matter the job.
How much detail should I go into when discussing my hobbies?
When going into detail about your hobbies, keep it brief, including maybe one or two details or examples. You should also talk about what you love about your hobby and what skills and personal qualities it has helped you develop.
Can I mention hobbies that are related to my personal life rather than professional skills?
Yes, you can use hobbies related to your personal life, as long as they show transferable skills and desirable personal traits. Say your hobby is tracing your family tree – transferable skills would be research, attention to detail, critical thinking, and organisation.
Should I avoid mentioning hobbies that could be seen as controversial or polarising?
You should avoid mentioning hobbies that could be seen as controversial or polarising in an interview. Examples of hobbies that could be seen as contentious include: political or religious activism, hunting, taxidermy, extreme sports, firearms collecting, urban exploring, home brewing, tarot and astrology, cosplay, and anything in a grey legal area.
What if I'm asked about a hobby I haven't pursued in a while?
If you’re asked about a hobby you haven’t pursued in a while, mention your involvement and what that hobby taught you, but that you’re not currently active in it.