Have you ever been in a situation where you had to explain your hobbies and interests, but you struggled to find the right words? It’s a common problem, especially if English is not your first language. However, taking the time to explain your hobbies and interests is important because it helps others understand your personality and interests. In this article, we’ll explore some tips and tricks to help you confidently explain your hobbies and interests in relaxed English language. Whether you’re talking to friends, new acquaintances, or potential employers, these strategies will help you make a positive and memorable impression.
Why include hobbies and interests in a job application?
When applying for a job, one of the most asked questions is: what hobbies and interests do you have? Although this may seem an irrelevant question, your hobbies and interests can actually say a lot about you as a person and a potential employee. Therefore, including your hobbies and interests in your job application can have several big advantages.
Firstly, mentioning your hobbies and interests can help you to stand out from the crowd. Depending on the role you are applying for, many candidates might have similar qualifications and experience. In some cases, a recruiter may select a candidate based on their hobbies and interests if they relate to the company’s values or the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a charity job and your hobby is volunteering, this can demonstrate your genuine interest in making a difference, making you a strong candidate.
Secondly, including your hobbies and interests in your job application can give the recruiter an idea about your personality and character. For instance, if your hobby is playing a team sport, it can show that you are a team player and can work well with others. Alternatively, if your interests are more introverted such as reading books or playing chess, it can indicate that you have good concentration and analytical thinking skills. This can be especially beneficial if the role you are applying for involves a lot of communication or problem-solving tasks.
Thirdly, your hobbies and interests can give the recruiter another avenue to assess your skills. If, for example, you have a hobby in photography, this can demonstrate that you have skills in creative thinking, attention to detail and problem-solving. Therefore, including your hobbies and interests in your job application can give the recruiter a more comprehensive view of your skills rather than only your work experience.
Finally, mentioning your hobbies and interests can reveal how you spend your free time. Recruiters can use this information to determine whether you are someone who can prioritize their workload and manage their time efficiently. If your hobbies and interests include activities such as hiking or fitness, it shows that you have a commitment to keeping a healthy and balanced lifestyle, which is always an attractive trait to potential employers.
In conclusion, including your hobbies and interests in your job application can demonstrate your character, values, and skills. Therefore, it is important to include them in your application, especially if they are relevant to the job during the initial screening process.
How to showcase your relevant hobbies and interests
Sharing your hobbies and interests with others can be a great way to connect with others on a personal level. However, it can be difficult to know how to showcase these hobbies and interests in a way that feels relevant. Here are a few tips to help you highlight your passions in a way that feels natural and engaging.
Focus on the relevance
When explaining your hobbies and interests to someone, it can be tempting to simply share everything that you enjoy doing. However, to make them feel relevant, you should focus on the ones that directly reflect your values or skills that would contribute to the needs of that particular situation. For example, if you are applying for a job that requires teamwork, mention how you enjoy playing volleyball and how it has taught you the value of communication and working together.
Share the backstory
A good way to showcase the relevance of your hobbies and interests is to share the backstory behind them. Explain how you first got involved in the activity or why it’s important to you, and how it has shaped your character over the years. This will not only give others a glimpse into your personal life, but it might also help them relate to you on a deeper emotional level.
Show them in action
If possible, show your hobbies and interests in action. If it’s a sport or hobby that you’re passionate about, try to invite the person to join you or watch you play. This can be a unique way to showcase your skills and let them see firsthand how you spend your free time.
Be authentic
Lastly, be authentic when sharing your hobbies and interests. Don’t pretend to enjoy something just because you think it’s what the other person wants to hear. If you’re passionate about something, let that shine through. The more genuine and passionate you are about your interests, the more likely it is that others will want to connect with you on that level.
When showcasing your hobbies and interests, it’s important to remember that these are just one aspect of who you are as a person. While they can be a great way to connect with others, don’t let them define you completely. Just be yourself and let your interests speak for themselves.
Avoiding controversial or potentially unprofessional hobbies
When explaining your hobbies and interests, it’s important to consider which ones could be potentially controversial or unprofessional. Some hobbies can create a negative impression on your potential employer or colleague. You don’t have to hide these hobbies or interests, but it’s crucial to be mindful of how you present them.
Here are some tips for presenting hobbies and interests in a professional way:
1. Know your audience
One of the most important things to keep in mind when discussing hobbies and interests is your audience. Who are you talking to? What do they value? This awareness can help you tailor how you talk about your hobbies to make them more relatable, engaging, and professional. When in a job interview, for example, it’s poorly advised to discuss hobbies that could potentially anger the employer. You need to be mindful of their perspectives.
2. Leave out potentially offensive hobbies and interests
If you have a hobby or interest that could be seen as potentially offensive, it’s better to leave it out. It could be anything from collecting weapons to engaging in dangerous activities like cliff diving. To the extent possible, tailor your interests to those activities or hobbies that are more socially acceptable. You don’t want to create the impression that you are not serious or that you could be a potential liability.
3. Emphasize transferable skills
If you have a controversial or potentially unprofessional hobby that you want to discuss, focus on the relevant transferable skills. For example, if you enjoy playing violent video games, you can talk about how it enhances your strategic thinking skills or how it aids in quick decision-making. If you enjoy hiking, you can mention how it gives you endurance or build resilience. Emphasizing these strengths can convince the potential employer about your versatility and ability to learn and apply different skills in your work.
When it comes to hobbies and interests, there is no right or wrong answer. What you choose to share and how you discuss it will depend on the situation and your audience. Avoiding controversial and potentially offensive hobbies and interests should be a priority. Lastly, always try to focus on the transferable skills that your hobbies bring and how they will add value to your work. With these tips in mind, you can confidently and professionally discuss your hobbies and interests without offending anyone.
Tips on crafting a concise and memorable hobby section
When it comes to applying for jobs or filling out profiles, the section about our hobbies and interests sometimes seems like an afterthought. However, this seemingly small section can actually have a big impact on how others perceive us. It can help employers get a sense of our character, passions, and interests outside of work. But how can we effectively communicate this in a way that is both concise and memorable? Here are some tips:
1. Be honest and specific
It’s important to be truthful about your hobbies and interests, but also to not be too general. For example, instead of simply saying “I like to read,” try to be more specific about your reading interests: “I love mystery novels and have been expanding my collection of Agatha Christie books.” This not only gives a clearer picture of what you enjoy doing, but also helps to differentiate you from others who may have similar interests.
2. Tie in relevant skills or experiences
While you don’t want to force a connection between your hobbies and the job you’re applying for, sometimes certain skills or experiences acquired from your hobbies can be beneficial. For example, if you enjoy hiking, you can mention that it has taught you endurance and problem-solving skills. Or if you enjoy playing strategy games, you can mention how it has improved your critical thinking and decision-making abilities.
3. Highlight your growth and achievements
Don’t be afraid to showcase accomplishments or milestones in your hobbies. Whether it’s running your first marathon, publishing a blog post, or completing a challenging puzzle, these achievements can demonstrate qualities like perseverance and follow-through that can be valuable in a professional setting.
4. Show your personality
One of the main purposes of the hobbies and interests section is to give others a glimpse into who we are outside of work. So, instead of simply listing generic hobbies, try to inject some personality and humor into the section. For example, if you love to bake, you could say something like “I make a mean batch of chocolate chip cookies that have been known to disappear within minutes.” This not only adds some flavor to the section but can also make you more memorable.
Overall, crafting a concise and memorable hobby section comes down to being honest, specific, and showing your personality. By following these tips, you can make this section stand out and give others a better understanding of who you are beyond your professional background.
Using hobbies to demonstrate transferable skills and value to the company
Have you ever thought about how your hobbies and interests can actually relate to your professional life? Sharing your hobbies during interviews or on your resume can actually work in your favor because it shows more about your personality and can highlight some transferable skills that you possess.
Transferable skills are abilities that can be used in various settings and industries and can be applied to different situations. They are often called soft skills, and they are highly sought after by companies since they indicate that you would be a great asset to any team. By highlighting your transferable skills through your hobbies and interests, you are already one step ahead in getting the job you want.
Which hobbies can you share?
The majority of hobbies and interests can demonstrate transferable skills to employers. It is all about how you spin it. For example, if you have a passion for photography and this is something you like to do in your free time, this hobby can demonstrate your attention to detail, creativity, and excellent time-management skills, all traits which are highly valued by potential employers. There are, however, a few things to keep in mind when sharing your hobbies with recruiters or potential employers.
- Choose wisely: Sharing a hobby that is related to the job you are applying for or to the industry can make a huge difference. For example, if you are passionate about coding, and you are applying for a tech job, this hobby can highlight your problem-solving abilities and technical knowledge, making you an ideal candidate.
- Focus on positive outcomes: While telling the interviewer about your hobby of extreme sports may sound thrilling, ensure that you highlight the advantages and skills you gained from it such as resilience, tenacity, and fearlessness, which are valuable when dealing with tough projects and deadlines.
- Avoid controversial hobbies: Be careful not to mention any hobbies that could be offensive or controversial. For example, if you like to collect firearms, it’s best not to mention this during an interview.
The skills and values your hobbies can show
When sharing your hobbies with potential employers, make sure you emphasize the skills you have gained that facilitate your professional growth. Here are some examples of how your hobbies and interests can demonstrate transferable skills:
- Leadership and teamwork skills: If you are part of a sports team, theater production, or charity organization, it shows that you can work effectively as part of a team.
- Problem-solving skills: Certain hobbies such as crossword puzzles, playing chess, and video games can show your ability to think critically and solve problems effectively.
- Communication skills: Hobbies such as blogging, podcasting, or vlogging can help demonstrate your ability to articulate your thoughts and ideas eloquently to an audience. These skills are essential for any job that requires clear and concise communication with colleagues or clients.
- Creativity: Hobbies such as writing, painting, and photography demonstrate that you have an active imagination and can think outside the box when coming up with new ideas. Creative thinking is highly sought after in almost every industry, from advertising to engineering.
- Commitment: If you have been practicing a hobby or interest for an extended period, it shows that you are committed, disciplined, and motivated. These traits will help you excel in your professional life.
In conclusion, sharing your hobbies and interests can help set you apart from other candidates when applying for a job. Not only does it make you more relatable and three-dimensional, but it can highlight some transferable skills that you possess, which will help you stand out from other candidates that do not have such attributes. Remember to choose wisely and put a positive spin on your hobbies and interests.