To never know how to answer this!

[Mum233]

When you are being interviewed and they ask about hobbies.
I’m obviously massively boring. I like reading but everyone says that!

I had an interview for a contract job a few years ago where one interviewer had the exact same hobby as me and we spent half the interview talking about that.

The other interviewer I knew from a previous job.

The recruitment consultant rang me to offer me the job before I had even left the building

I run. I am a run leader and also a run director at our local parkrun. Helped loads when I went for a job that involved recruiting and managing volunteers 😊

My hobby is going to the pub has worked for me for the last 10 years whilst I've been working in hospitality but probably frowned upon now I've changed career!

Now I say I'm passionate about keeping fit, I'm not particularly but I do it because I like eating food

I would caution against saying things that show you have children. I was made redundant a couple of years ago and when interviewers asked about hobbies / free time I mentioned doing things with DD. After multiple times of a really positive interview turning suddenly frosty (one interview they actually asked me if I was engaged or married, when I planned to get married, and was I intending to have more kids ) I stopped mentioning DD and didnt wear my rings. Was offered the next job.

I have never once been asked that question, nor have I ever asked it. If the candidate demonstrates good capabilities and skills, I can get to know what they like reading after they start. If they don't, frankly I don't care what they do outside work. Stupid question. And how the hell do you mark it? Excellent candidate, they like Tolkien??

I think I said my hobby was reading at my last interview, I fleshed it out to genre though and offered to run a sci-fi book club (it was a science teacher post).

Incidentally in the same interview I offered the information that I have a child, and fleshed that out with how lucky I am that my husbands work is semi-flexible so he can do the school run if I have to be in early, and can make sure he isn't working away if I have parents evenings pre planned, that went down well too. Actually the entire interview portion would have probably given HR palpitations, the head was brutally honest and so was I.

@funnylittlefloozie

I was taught that you ask the question to see how the interviewee comes across when they're talking about something they're really enthusiastic about. In my last interview, I talked about my carnivorous plants. The interview panel was amazed (I think), but they gave me the job anyway.

I've only ever done this ay graduate scheme assessment centres. Couldn't imagine asking it of people who are expected to have work experience.

I die inside when I have been asked this and am grateful it wasn't in a formal interview. What business is it of my interviewer and how is it going to help avoid unconscious bias in the scoring?

I've had various employers/recruiters say that reading is the worst possible answer to this question - might as well say "breathing". My most recent answer was "forensic linguistics, quantum biology, and watching Desperate Housewives in bed". I got the job.

Wanking and bellringing. Varied and good conversation starters.

I’m the industry I work in its normal to be asked this

I used to hate that when I was younger in particular as I always felt like I was supposed to declare interest in various extreme sports. Now I am older I am happy to say cooking and craft, although I still think it is an unnecessary question.

I have been asked about hobbies/personal life a few times in interviews. I think it’s a mixture of seeing what your passionate about, and judging how you would fit into the existing team.

I play the cello. I’ve only recently started but found in interviews they love it. I use it as a stress reliever too and it makes me memorable and I always get an enthusiastic oooh

Haven’t been asked that for a long time, but would mention horses or ‘I’m a keen equestrian’ as a manager once recommended I say!

At my work you’d never get away with asking that! You’d be in breach of any number of protocols and rules and have the whole thing sunk into a nightmare of potential unconscious bias.

Just say you can't say what it is as it's too outing

@HomeSliceKnowsBest

Wanking and bellringing. Varied and good conversation starters.

Brilliant

Oh except you can do it in the bit where you ask a “test”‘question to see how they come across when they are enthusiastic, that’s true!

So maybe I’m wrong about the unconscious bias bit.

@MoiraRose4

I have been asked about hobbies/personal life a few times in interviews. I think it’s a mixture of seeing what your passionate about, and judging how you would fit into the existing team.

What does it have to do with how you'd fit into the existing team? Does it matter if I'm learning crochet or run a Brownie pack or grow orchids or go dogging?

If it is standard in yoru sector then you need to practise.

It's a shit question and would never be asked in my place as it disadvantages people with young children, caring responsibilities and illnesses/disabilities.

judging how you would fit into the existing team which is why the same old type of people keeping getting hired.

Diversity is better than a team full of clones.

They are trying to see what type of person you are ,
Jane - oh every weekend I go out with the girls spend all day recovering on a Sunday so I can make it into work Monday.

Sarah - weekends I like to go for long walks and read this is good for my mental health, keeps my family active and prepares me for any stressful situations .

Who you think they would prefer .... X

@picturesandpickles

judging how you would fit into the existing team which is why the same old type of people keeping getting hired.

Diversity is better than a team full of clones.

Fitting into the team doesn't have to mean to be exactly the same though.

Does perusing rightmove count?

I’m SAHM so not relevant to me but a friend was asked about this recently. She said that she’d love to spend time with her DC. The panel didn’t look pleased at all. And they knew that she’s got small children, one of them was involved in the activities there. She felt that expectations were that she would do something exciting.