“What are your hobbies and interests?” catches many candidates off guard during what seems like a casual moment in the interview. Sarah, a marketing professional, froze when her interviewer asked this seemingly simple question, unsure whether to mention her weekend pottery classes or stick to more “professional” activities.
As someone who’s conducted hundreds of interviews and coached countless job-seekers, I’ll walk you through exactly how to turn this question into a strategic opportunity to showcase your best qualities and cultural fit.
New frequently asked question of the interviewer today, based on data: What book best describes you?
Why employers ask “What are your hobbies and interests?”
Interviewers use this question to assess three key areas: cultural fit, work-life balance, and transferable skills. They want to understand if you’ll mesh well with their team dynamics and company culture. Additionally, hiring managers look for candidates who maintain healthy boundaries between work and personal life, as this often correlates with better long-term performance and lower burnout rates.
Research from the Society for Human Resource Management indicates that approximately 73% of interviewers include personal interest questions during their hiring process. The question also reveals soft skills that might not surface through technical discussions—leadership through team sports, creativity through artistic pursuits, or persistence through challenging hobbies like marathon training.
Variations of “What are your hobbies and interests?”
Interviewers often phrase this question differently depending on the company culture and interview style.
- What do you like to do outside of work?
- How do you spend your free time?
- What activities are you passionate about?
- Tell me about your interests outside the workplace
- What do you do for fun?
- What are you passionate about when you’re not working?
- How do you unwind after a busy day?
- What activities bring you joy?
- What do you do to stay motivated outside of work?
- Tell me about something you’re learning or exploring
- What keeps you busy on weekends?
- What would your friends say you’re passionate about?
How to answer “What are your hobbies and interests?”
Transform this question into a strategic showcase by following a structured approach that connects your personal interests to professional value.
Step 1: Choose relevant interests strategically Select 2-3 hobbies that demonstrate qualities valuable in the workplace. Avoid controversial topics like politics or religion, and skip passive activities like watching TV. Instead, focus on interests that show growth, collaboration, creativity, or leadership. Consider what skills each hobby demonstrates—does rock climbing show risk assessment and goal-setting? Does volunteering reveal empathy and community engagement?
Step 2: Structure your response with the STAR method Frame each hobby using Situation, Task, Action, and Result to show concrete outcomes. This transforms a simple list into compelling mini-stories that demonstrate your character and capabilities.
Step 3: Connect hobbies to transferable skills Explicitly link each interest to skills relevant for the position. Project management skills from organizing community events, analytical thinking from chess, or teamwork from playing in a band all translate directly to workplace value.
Step 4: Show genuine enthusiasm Authentic passion is contagious and memorable. Hiring managers want to see what energizes you beyond work requirements. However, balance enthusiasm with professionalism—you want to appear well-rounded, not obsessive about any single activity.
Step 5: Prepare follow-up talking points Anticipate deeper questions about your interests. If you mention photography, be ready to discuss what styles you prefer or recent projects. This preparation prevents awkward silences and shows you’re genuinely engaged in your hobbies rather than fabricating answers.
Example response: “I’m actively involved in three main areas outside work. First, I volunteer as a financial literacy instructor at our local community center twice a month. Teaching budgeting basics to young adults has sharpened my ability to break down complex concepts into digestible steps—something I use daily when explaining technical processes to clients. Second, I’m part of a recreational soccer league where I captain our team. This role has taught me how to motivate diverse personalities and coordinate group efforts under pressure, skills that directly translate to project leadership. Finally, I’m learning Spanish through a conversation group that meets weekly. Besides the obvious communication benefits, this experience keeps me comfortable with being a beginner and asking questions—essential qualities in our rapidly evolving industry. These activities help me maintain perspective and bring fresh energy to my professional work.”
This response works because it demonstrates leadership, teaching ability, teamwork, continuous learning, and cultural awareness while showing the candidate maintains healthy work-life integration.
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