Something interesting about myself- for a job application

I'd make something up as well.

I'd enjoy saying something like 'I was an extra in Star Wars - the Ewok battle scene, when I was 12'. Then see what they asked me about it. 'ooh was it hot in that furry costume?' 😄🐻

On a CV (late 90s) under additional information, I had a summer season spent as a magician's assistant. It was a lie. I was always asked about it and would say 'Great fun, still got the sparkly leotard but not the top hat'

I also put that I had trained in massage. When I had done evening course at the local tech with a friend. Usually asked about that too.

Neither of these things had any relevance to the job but I think interviewers used them to open up a bit of light hearted chit chat at then end.

Do you have a hobby? Speak a language? Enjoy cooking a certain dish? Met anyone famous? Play a musical instrument?

I had a terrible interview once. Woman opposite me set the tone (of me inwardly thinking 'WTF?!' by sitting opposite me, no desk separating us, and tucking both hands down the waistband of her huge elasticated black skirt as she barked 'tell us something interesting about YOU!'

I just stared at her and said ' well what sort of thing do you want to know? I could be half way through telling you a story about my cat only to find out that that's not what you meant at all'

So yeah. Terrible all round and went downhill from there

I'd play safe. You don't want to be dull but you also don't want to be all zany. Go for the middle ground of 'I set myself a 100 book reading challenge every year and try and beat it by one each year'

Actually that's a bit boring .

Go with telling them a pet anecdote

I could say "once I had a pet snail" and go from there. He was an African land snail and I had him for 8 years. I took him to work once or twice for a "show and tell" for a manager's idea of corporate crap.

Say you're regional champion at underwater basket weaving

Yeah the aunt ones terrible. Must be something in there though.

Sure it does

One interesting thing about me is I'm great at everything.

I couldn't- I'd just feel nervous at the interview- are they going to ask me about that hedgehog thing?!

“I used to have a gerbil called Lionel
Richie”

”I was named after my mum’s hairdresser”

”I prefer Lidl chocolate to Lindt”

And if you can’t, say you can’t.
I know we’d chuckle at work if someone’s interesting fact was that they couldn’t do the splits 😂

But saying one interesting thing doesn't really tell people if you're an arsehole Unless the interesting thing is 'Someone brushed past me in Tesco and I followed them home and put dog shit through their letterbox.'

Or cycling. I guess 'I wear Lycra and cycle the Olympic route every Sunday' would be an immediate no for lots of people.

I would avoid mentioning things like third nipples or webbed toes….
Maybe laugh and state that you have killed every single houseplant you’ve ever owned. You can’t believe that you managed to raise kids, but not plants.

Just make something up that they are unlikely to demand you demonstrate in an interview, especially if it's something you did in the past but wouldn't be expected to do now like:

You were best in your school at shot-putting.
You were a contestant on Gladiators, but the live touring show not the TV series so they can't check.

Or something that sounds specific but is actually very vague like:
You're a keen promoter of hedgehog preservation

I think I'd be tempted to say that the most interesting thing about me is quite how average and easy going I am!

There's a guy online who teaches anyone to do the splits. You could find it and learn in time so it's true!!

It's all comparative. I'm not that interesting - I used to be but these days I like a snooze. Plus the most interesting thing about me is probably the sheer amount of things I'm slightly good at - a proper jack of all trades - and that in of itself would send the wrong message 🤣

I don't think they're actually assessing how interesting op is. They're just looking to know OP has a personality. But equally maybe OP isn't the worlds most interesting person then just do your best and if that's what the company is judging you on, it's not for you. Or you could be witty and put, the most interesting thing about me is I don't consider myself unusually interesting. However, I am great at getting the job done.

Contrary to the popular belief, I think questions luke this are important, the vibe of a team, the whole dynamic can be ruined by one a£&hole, you have to try and find them before you let them in.

If you don't think you have anything "interesting " then say something about you, yourself, when you were young - what's you "funny story" you tell at parties, what's the "omg, ive got to tell you what happened " story? Are any of those able to fit this?

Questions like this are trying to understand who you are, not just what you can do, if I'm interviewing- i know a CV, I know skills - blah... so what, who are you?

Try to find something that shows you in a vaguely positive light. If you've done volunteering or fundraising for charity, that would be good - 'I abseiled down a phone box and raised £50,000 for the local hospice' - that kind of thing. Or failing that, just something harmless but a bit quirky, e.g. 'I collect hedgehog figurines'

I had a dream last night that I could (to my surprise in the dream) do the splits. It’s not the first time I’ve had that dream!!

What if they ask for a demonstration at interview? 😂

Just say you can do the splits.

A lot of those things aren’t interesting though.

And if you think they are I do suggest you live a bit more 😉

It's true though, everyone is writing a novel in their spare time.

It doesn't have to be exciting - you're taking the word interesting very literally. Rephrase it as, tell us something about yourself outside of work, for example do you have pets or a hobby?

It's just something like this:
My favourite genre of book is x, I read x no. last year
I travelled to x place in my gap year
I love dogs and have two
My favourite food is wasabi
My aunt is a famous ice-skater
My favourite holiday destination is Egyt. I enjoy visiting the pyramids.
My favourite holiday destination is the cotswolds (add reason)
I'm a keen boardgame player and have a large collection
I love action movies - my favourite is..
I used to play guitar (add extra detail)

If you genuinely have no hobbies or pets or haven't watched any interesting movies, played board games or been on holiday I do suggest you live a bit more ;)