Effectively Answering “What Do You Do for Fun?”

During job interviews, interviewers will often ask personal questions to get a sense of who you are outside of work. One question they frequently ask is “What do you do for fun?”. Knowing how to answer this question in an engaging yet professional way can help you make a great impression and increase your chances of landing the job. In this blog post, I will share tips for crafting an adept response and providing relevant examples.

What Interviewers Really Want to Know

When asked about fun activities outside of work, recruiters are primarily focused on transferable skills and assessing cultural fit. Your hobbies reveal skills like:

• Problem-solving
• Teamwork
• Project management
• Creativity
• Attention to detail

Interviewers also want to understand if your personality and interests align with their company values.

Highlight Relevant Hobbies

Compile a list of your regular activities like sports, crafts, or volunteering. Then, identify any skills you’ve gained from them. Then select a few hobbies most pertinent to the role that demonstrate skills interviewers desire.

Share Engaging Stories

Bring your hobbies to life with short anecdotes. Focus on lessons learned rather than just listing activities. Stories personalize your response and aid memory recall.

A Few Hobbies to Avoid Mentioning

Steer clear of hobbies that could raise red flags like those seen as:

• Controversial or off-putting to coworkers
• Demanding huge time commitments that may conflict with work
• Potentially risky or dangerous activities
• Minor hobbies are generally fine to gloss over for brevity.
• Align Hobbies to Job Requirements

Carefully select a few hobbies to feature based on their relevance to the open role. Consider which best complement and expand upon the vital responsibilities, team traits or company values associated with the position. The stronger the match, the more memorable and persuasive your answer will be.

For example, if marketing for an active lifestyle brand, highlight your passion for trail running or adventure photography. This direct correlation between interests outside work and the job purpose creates an engaging narrative.

Additional Preparation Tips

• Prepare short, engaging stories highlighting fun experiences related to your chosen hobbies
• Refine how you describe skills and life lessons gained from regular leisure activities
• Avoid any activities better left undisclosed like extreme sports or excessive late nights
• Have a backup plan in case your planned hobbies do not align well or spark interest
• Practice your answers to expand on them naturally during the interview

Going into an interview with these points mapped out will help you relay an adept, memorable response highlighting your fit and qualifications.

Sample Winning Responses

Follow this framework and practice your own response to effectively highlight relevant hobbies and make a great first impression. Being prepared for this common question can give your candidacy an edge.

Here are some sample answers integrating these recommendations:

“I love cooking new recipes on weekends. It’s relaxing but also challenges my problem-solving skills when things don’t always turn out as planned. Cooking teaches patience and that it’s okay to learn from mistakes. Those skills will translate well if I have to troubleshoot issues or try new processes at your company.”

“In my free time I volunteer regularly at the local animal shelter. I find it incredibly rewarding to help socialize dogs awaiting adoption and put a smile on people’s faces when they find their new furry friend. Your company values like compassion and community involvement really resonate with me based on this experience.”

”For fun, I enjoy challenging myself on the trails of local mountains with a biking crew on weekends. We love seeking out new rugged routes to test our endurance. Navigating technical areas together requires quick decision making, and overcoming obstacles as a team builds camaraderie.”

In each example, focus is given to skills gained, company culture fit, and an engaging mini-story – hitting all the key elements to give interviewers insight into passion and potential.

Related: How to respond to how are you?

Conclusion

In conclusion, crafting a thoughtful, multifaceted response to questions about leisure pursuits takes preparation but pays off during interviews. By strategically selecting relevant hobbies, highlighting complementary skills, and presenting engaging examples, you can position yourself as a top candidate by conveying an authentic picture of who you are outside the office.

With practice applying these recommendations, you’ll be prepared for anything interviewers inquire about activities beyond your 9-5 responsibilities.