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 said I'd been learning Welsh on Duolingo but had just had to stop as I'd dropped my phone down the toilet and was borrowing an old, basic one from my sister which I couldn't get the app on - it made them laugh. I got the job.

I pole dance but that always seems inappropriate to mention

I have an absolute horror of seeing CVs where people list their hobbies. On more than one occasion it has given me negative vibes about candidates that I’ve had to try hard to overcome, not always with 100% success.

There’s just something totally Quinlankian about the whole ‘hobby’ thing, especially when used (by some people) to try and make obvious and unsubtle points about their own self-regarding virtues.

Anyway, unless you’re 16, the chances are you’ll never not get an interview because you left your hobbies off the CV.

@greenlynx

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.

I don't think they were after something "exciting", but spending time with your children isn't a hobby though. So they were probably bit .

@NamechangeApril21

I pole dance but that always seems inappropriate to mention

A physical activity involving a high level of concentration, musce building and a metal equipment. 😁

Spending time with your children = family fun run/historical research ( in whichever local old properties nearby.)
Mooching round charity shops = upcycling /recycling local architectural salvage/repurposiing and redesigning vintage fabrics.

Yes it sounds a bit iffy but a thesaurus might be your friend here.

@SchrodingersImmigrant
Some people like spending time with their children. Why it’s odd? And she’s got small children who are doing a lot of activities between them so it actually consumes her whole time.

[quote greenlynx]@SchrodingersImmigrant
Some people like spending time with their children. Why it’s odd? And she’s got small children who are doing a lot of activities between them so it actually consumes her whole time.[/quote]
I didn't say it's odd.
It's not a hobby, doesn't mean it's not enjoyable.

I'd try to be more specific. What kind of books do you read? What films do you like to watch? Then it sounds more thought through.
I do hear this question less, thankfully.
I wouldn't mention children. Those light-hearted questions can be an indirect way to find out if you have a family.

As an interviewer, I asked about hobbies because:

• some hobbies interfere with work. eg Ski enthusiasts insist on having holidays at certain times of year

And some hobbies are very demanding commitments preventing people doing overtime when needed etc. That was my primary consideration. People who would not be focused on work. In one interview, the candidate revealed they were saving up to go travelling for two years! Didnt get the job as I wanted someone who was planning to stick around and progress.

• some hobbies tell you a lot about a person. You might discover they have a creative side, a team-working side, a leadership side, a caring side which you didn't see elsewhere in their interview.

• people are fascinating and it is nice to know who you'll be working with. Often it is a question just to relax a candidate or end on a comfortable note.

• Saying "I love spending time with my kids, they really like crafts/being outdoors/playing legos with me" is a reasonable answer. Saying, "I like reading for TV" is fine, if you follow up with a bit more detail eg, "to be honest, after I've done a full week's work alongside looking after the home and the kids, my favourite thing to do is escape with a good TV show/book" and then be prepared to say what you are currently watching/reading.

I always rave about my garden when I'm asked this question! I love being outside in fresh air, I love growing organic veg, I love packing my garden with plants that encourage wildlife - it is a perfect mindful activity plus it gets you a bit fitter.

Hahahaha sorry light-hearted for HR peeps
Q What hobbies do you pursue?
A Just the one I'm married to

i would say DIY, as it's what I do a lot of, and singing, and hope they would not ask me to sing,as I am a crap singer.

@Checkingout811 I'd say you have a keen interest in interior design

@RainingZen has it for me... there is some real middle-management level obtuseness on this thread... 'im only interested in skills and experience.... never mind the person!' in roles where you have multiple applicants with similar skills and experience, you ask questions that help differentiate... and look fot answers that demonstrate traits you want in your business....

Say reading and the explain how you started a local book club and how good it was for the community and your organisational skills

I used to work in the Civil Service and was on an interview panel once. I was the 'ice-breaker' and as such, was tasked to ask about the interviewees' hobbies.
One of them said he liked to go mountain bike riding.
After that interview, one of my fellow interviewers was most miffed that I hadn't asked the chap where he went mountain bike riding, because we didn't have any mountains in our area!!!
TBH, I was flummoxed when he gave that as a hobby and couldn't think what to ask about it!!!