Answering “What Do You Like To Do For Fun?” The Right Way
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"What do you like to do for fun?" is a simple interview question that many job-seekers overlook. But they don't realize that their answer carries a lot of weight!
This resource will cover why interviewers want to know what you do for fun, and teach you how to come up with a great answer.
Why Interviewers Ask What Do You Like to Do For Fun?
Questions about your personal life can seem a bit out of place in a job interview, but they re more common than you think. The What do you like to do for fun, question is a great example. This question comes up very often, and it s not as easy to answer as many job-seekers think.
There are many reasons why this question comes up, and how you respond unveils a lot about you.
The first reason you might hear it is to break the ice. Some interviewers bring this question out relatively early. It s a way to get the conversation flowing, help you feel more relaxed, and eliminate some of the tension that comes with job interviews.
Beyond being a relaxing opener, finding out what you like to do for fun also gives the interviewer a chance to learn a little more about you outside of your resume. Until now, the only thing the hiring manager knows about you is what you put on your resume and application. This question goes deeper and uncovers your true personality.
Why does that matter? It s important for a couple of reasons.
Hiring managers want to bring people they enjoy being around on board. It s as simple as that. You re not going to work with every hiring manager you speak to, but they could be an ever-present figure in your daily work life if you get a job offer. It s natural to want to choose someone you get along with, so interviewers ask this question to find some common ground.
"What do you like to do for fun?" is a question that helps them gauge how you fit in with the company culture and ensures you mesh well with your colleagues.
Secondly, your response says a lot about your motivations, ambition, and level of professionalism. Honesty is always the best policy, but there are some things you want to leave out. Bringing up some less-than-ideal weekend habits isn t the best approach. Interviewers know that and test your ability to censor yourself and stay professional.
Your answer can also provide a glimpse of your overall aspirations. Are you a driven person who spends your time improving yourself? Or are you the work for the weekend type that won t be motivated to do more than just the minimum? Believe it or not, what you like to do for fun can give hiring managers a good idea.
"What do you like to do for fun?" can also shed light on a critical facet of a professional career: Maintaining a work/life balance. Everyone needs a hobby that helps them manage work stress and stay level-headed. Talking about your non-work activities is a way to show that you can efficiently manage stress and stay productive.
How to Answer This Question
"What do you like to do for fun?" is a question that seems simple at face value. But when you consider just how much information it reveals about you, you re better off planning your answer ahead of time. Being strategic about your response can ensure you check off all the boxes and leave a positive first impression.
Here s an easy guide on how you can develop a great answer.
1. Brainstorm
Start by listing all the things you do for fun outside of work. There s a good chance you have a long list of things you do in your off time.
Focus on the more interesting hobbies. Jot down a list of activities and pick the most memorable ones to focus your attention on. For example, you might spend some weekends on the couch playing video games. But every few weeks, you might travel to a great hiking spot and spend the day enjoying the great outdoors.
The latter option is much more interesting, so you re probably better off focusing on hiking!
2. Pick One or Two Things
Once you have your list, pick a few you want to discuss. Again, set your sights on the most interesting things that you like to do for fun. Unique activities stand out in interviewers eyes, and the hobby may become your identifier when hiring managers think of you later.
Another good trick is to focus on diversity. Having a wide range of interests makes you look well-rounded, cultured, and willing to try new things. So, try to talk about two activities on polar opposites of the left brain/right brain spectrum.
For example, you might talk about the physicality of rock climbing before going into the creativity of playing music.
Either way, try to focus on just two things. "What do you like to do for fun?" is a question that can bait you into giving a lengthy response. Limit yourself to keep things concise.
3. Show Your Passion
It s always the better choice to talk about something you re genuinely passionate about. For most people, their life doesn't revolve entirely around their work. Hiring managers want to see that you have a balanced life after you clock out.
It shows that you re well-rounded, mentally stable, and capable of being your most productive self when it s time to work.
Dig deep to think about passions and why they mean so much to you. That shouldn t be too difficult. Consider the reasons why you enjoy certain activities.
For example, some people love music s creative challenge and emotional nuance. Others love the solitude and beauty of Mother Nature, leading them to enjoy hikes. Whatever hobbies you enjoy, there s a deep passion there.
Don t be afraid to talk about it. You don t have to open up completely, but letting interviewers in a bit when explaining what you do for fun can pay off.
4. Be Prepared to Elaborate
If you talk about something you like to do for fun, be prepared for follow-up questions (especially if it's unique or unusual). Some interviewers might ask you to elaborate more and provide insight into the hobby. Alternatively, they may ask questions about how long you ve enjoyed the activity, how you started, etc.
There s no rhyme or reason to follow-up questions. In most cases, they re off the cuff and come out of genuine interest in what you have to say. Even still, you should remain professional, respond to additional questions, and continue to speak with confidence.
5. Connect it to Your Job
Our final tip is a big one. If possible, connect the hobby you talk about back to the job you re trying to land. That might seem challenging at first, but it s easy with careful thought.
If what you like to do for fun and your career share an inherent connection, talk about it. Maybe the hobby uses skills that apply to your everyday work. For example, an artist applying for a marketing job could easily talk about how the creative skills they get from painting make them perform well at work.
Another example is someone who enjoys playing on a local soccer team. If you re part of a sports team, you could talk about how the collaboration directly translates into helping you become a better team player on the clock.
There are many ways to establish that connection if you think deeply enough.
Another angle is to discuss how the hobby helps you decompress. Perhaps you re applying to a high-stress job that requires you to be constantly on. A simple hobby like reading could be the thing that lets you unwind, recharge, and come back to work feeling refreshed.
Talk about how your hobby makes a difference to your work life and career. Drawing that connection keeps your response relevant and provides more insight into who you are.
What to Avoid in Your Answer
"What do you like to do for fun?" is an interview question that seems difficult to mess up. But don t forget that it provides insight into your personality, character traits, and natural work motivations. Everyone s response to a question like this will differ, and there s no universally incorrect answer.
However, you could say a few things that hurt your chances of getting a job offer. Here are a few mistakes you want to avoid.
Outright Lies
You should never lie during a job interview. And that rule applies to seemingly unimportant questions like this, too.
Imagine how you would respond if an interviewer asked you to elaborate. Sure, you could stick with the lie. But what if they re someone who enjoys the same hobby?
Getting caught in a lie is nothing short of embarrassing. And in the context of a job interview, it only makes you look dishonest.
Polarizing Hobbies
What you like to do for fun might involve religious or political activities. That s fine, but you should focus on other interests when answering this question.
The issue with polarizing ideas or activities is that you don t know what other people believe. The last thing you want is for people to make snap judgments about you or for you to say something inadvertently offensive. It s best to avoid those risks altogether.
I Don t Have Any Hobbies
"What do you like to do for fun?" is a question that everyone should have an answer to. We all have hobbies and interests! You might have trouble thinking of something, but never say that you don t have anything you like to do for fun. That s not a good look and it will come off as a bit strange.
If you re having trouble talking about things you do for fun, frame it in a way that s easy for the masses to understand. You don t have to get into great detail, but providing some information is better than nothing at all.
Illegal or Illicit Activities
This should be obvious, but it s worth mentioning. You re not a college student trying to get on Greek row. Talking about alcohol, drugs, or other similar activities is a huge no-no.
It s not impressive, and it will certainly raise some red flags. It s best to leave those details at home.
Boring and Cliche Answers
Finally, avoid any cliche responses that the interviewer has heard before. We re talking about answers like hanging out with friends or spending time with family.
Those answers are a bit dull and provide no real information about who you are. Discuss specifics and talk about what you like to do for fun with your friends or family.
Example Answers
"What do you like to do for fun?" is an interview question that can have many fantastic answers. The key is to be honest, talk about something you re passionate about, and remain professional.
Example 1
In this first example, the applicant mentions a lifelong hobby directly tied to the job they re trying to get. They re applying for a position at a publishing company, so they communicate their love of reading and writing.
During my time off, I love to read and write. I mostly stick to fiction work. My favorite authors often write deep mystery narratives that pull me in better than any movie or TV show could.It s one of the reasons why I m interested in publishing. I d love to be part of the process that brings literary masterpieces to the masses.
Example 2
In our second example, the response doesn t have anything to do with the job. The applicant is interviewing for an IT job that involves hours sitting in front of a computer. But, they use this opportunity to talk about how what they like to do for fun provides balance in their life and impacts work performance.
I enjoy participating in endurance sports during my spare time. More specifically, I love cycling and running. The physical and mental experience after reaching distance goals is nothing short of inspiring.Endurance sports are also great for my mental health. They help me combat the long hours in front of a computer. I go for a long bike or run almost every day after work, and it helps me unwind so that I m ready to come to work the next day feeling rejuvenated.
Example 3
Our final example is an exciting hobby that the applicant doesn t get to do often. But they frame it in a way that cements how important the activity is to their lives and what it does to make them better at their jobs. In this case, the job-seeker highlights how their passion for traveling improves their ability to communicate verbally and non-verbally.
One of the things I like to do for fun is travel. I ve been to 25 countries so far, and I don t plan on stopping anytime soon.My favorite part of traveling is immersing myself in new cultures. Finding common ground with strangers in an unfamiliar place is fulfilling to me. It helps me learn how to communicate with others, and I believe that has a substantial impact on my ability to develop relationships with clients at work.
Conclusion
"What do you like to do for fun?" is an interview question that should be easy to answer if you spend a little time preparing for it. Talking about your passions and hobbies usually comes naturally once you get started, so have fun with it!
The post Answering What Do You Like To Do For Fun? The Right Way appeared first on Career Sherpa.
Before you walk into your real job interview, it’s important to practice. You want to make sure your answers, behavior, and attire are top-notch. After all, this is your shot to work for your dream company. Don’t let that opportunity slip because you failed to prepare!
In addition to researching the company, answering common interview questions, and finding the perfect interview outfit, you should consider conducting a mock interview. Mock interviews help you get comfortable and allow you to identify weak areas in your potential job interview.
Here are five things you MUST do in order to conduct an effective mock interview:
1. Find An Objective “Interviewer”
Trust me, you want to leave your family, friends, and significant other out of this. It won’t be pretty. You need someone, perhaps a colleague, mentor, or coach, to conduct a fair, uninterrupted mock interview experience.
Plus, if they know what they’re doing, they can help you prepare much better than someone who’s just winging it to help you out.
2. Treat Your Mock Interview As If It Were The Real Deal
Again, the whole point of doing a mock interview is to practice for the real thing. That means you need to prepare and perform as if it were a real job interview.
Don’t goof off or get embarrassed. You need to get comfortable with your responses and body language so you can knock your real job interview out of the park.
3. Prep Your Mock Interviewer
Give your mock interviewer some background on both the job and the company so they have some context. This can help them ask you questions related to the industry, company, and role, which will help you prepare more effectively for the real thing.
4. Dress Like You’re Going In For The Real Interview
You might feel a little ridiculous going into your mock interview dressed to the nines, but it’s part of the prep work. You want to make sure everything looks good, fits right, and feels right before your formal interview.
The last thing you want is to wear a blouse or a dress shirt that’s see-through. Plus, your mock interviewer can help you figure out if your outfit is appropriate or not.
5. Get (Honest) Feedback From Your Mock Interviewer
The most important part of doing a mock interview is getting honest feedback from your interviewer. You need to have a clear understanding of what you should improve before you go in for the real job interview.
Ask them for their overall opinion of the mock interview, then get their thoughts on your attire, body language, responses, and anything else you’d like to get feedback on.
Again, this isn’t a job for family, friends, or significant others. You love them, but when it comes to giving feedback, they will either be overly critical of your performance or not completely honest in an effort to spare your feelings and avoid destroying your confidence.
Remember: practice makes perfect! These five tips will ensure you walk away from your mock interview feeling prepared and ready to ace the real deal!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.
Part Two: The Steps Toward Achieving Data Governance
Data Strategy
Stand up the Data Governance Committee (Choose the Sponsors Early on)
Data Management Framework (What, How, Who)
Business Case for Data Governance
Stand up Data Management/Governance Teams
I have seen organizations stand up tactical teams before a data strategy was defined, with the identified pain points and opportunities. The results were mixed at best. Data strategy should drive all subsequent steps.
Standing Up The Data Governance Committee
To get organizational buy-in to treat data as a strategic organizational asset and value driver, a committee should be formed to guide the data governance tactical program(s), including the day-to-day management of data. It is vital to obtain C-level top management support to ensure that the program achieves the proper funding and enterprise support levels.
The C-level executives sitting on this data governance committee should include functional and user base leaders: the chief data officer (or the chief data analytics officer), chief risk officer, chief financial officer, and depending on the size of the firm, the chief operating officer, and the CEO. Leaders from heavy data user groups, such as marketing, digital, and operations, should also be part of this group. While this group will tackle enterprise issues, sub-committees can be formed to address specific business line needs. Committee participants should be engaged, data literate, contribute best practices, and challenge the team to uplift and mature capabilities.
Designing The Data Management Framework
Once the committee is set, we can progress governance by setting up a data management framework. This playbook defines the people, processes, and technologies related to governing data.
So far, so goodâmost organizations get to this pointâ¦but ignore the overall business case. A business case spells out the success metrics and ROI of investing in and governing data.
Ok, now to set up the framework and the function:
Data management is a living, breathing framework, not a one-off project focusing only on one aspect, such as regulatory compliance. I’ve seen organizations get so focused on one part of data management that they lose the forest for the trees and never get to the vision laid out in their data strategy. This often keeps data management and data governance in the organization’s basement only to meet specific near-term needs. If we don’t think about data holistically and the broader use cases, leadership will eventually ask about unfunded data that can be monetized. This conundrum boomerangs on the CDO, who is then faulted for not taking a broader view of data when they were only funded for a limited scope.
Formulating the data management framework: The first step after completing the data strategy, which requires business input, is to lay out a policy document that spells out how and who will govern data. You can then lay out the elements of the data management framework. Right now, many firms have an enterprise data management framework, but it may have been drawn up quickly with only one or two data domains, such as risk or finance.
The Elements Of An Exemplary Data Management Framework (In No Particular Order)
Restate the data strategy to codify it into the DNA of the organization.
The guiding principles, policies, and standards for managing data in your organization. Every organization will have a different slant depending on the business model.
Identify to whom and to what the framework applies.
Ensure compliance with risk governance and set the policy for compliance and controls.
Monitoring data (including its quality) throughout its lifecycle.
Ensures consistent data definitions, standards, and policies.
Secured and classified data by its risk level and the type of informationâtypically aligned to an information security policy.
Data governance must align with privacy policies and regulations.
Specifies the roles needed to govern data within a data management organization and businesspeopleâs function through stewardship and ownership.
Identify the need for data controls and enforcement policies.
Provides for a data governance literacy program: includes standard definitions.
Creates master data: the relationships between data elements and entities in the firm.
Creates a metadata repository: data about data, the definition of a data element, and where it comes from.
Creates reference data: detailed data about each data element. Values and attributes.
Creates a data catalog: all data is documented in terms of what sources it comes from.
Once again, it is time for a sanity check: Are all of these elements tied back to an enterprise data strategy? What are your thoughts about data governance and management? What has been your experience? Let me know!
Next Post: Standing Up For Data Management And Data Governance Teams
Got an interview coming up soon? We know you have a busy life, and sometimes thereâs just not enough time in the day to scan through articles to get the information you need. Thatâs why we created the Interview Cheat Sheet! We pulled the best tips, tricks, and advice from our archives and put them all in one place just for you.
Here are eight solid interview tips from our experts:
Interview Preparation
When you’re preparing for your interview, you need to make sure you cover all of your bases. Here are some tips on what to say to a potential employer:
1. Stay away from superlatives.
Keep it singular. Superlatives such as âweakest,” âworst,â or âbiggestâ indicate the greatest degree of whatever is it describing. âBiggest weaknessâ is the weakness of the highest degree implying there are other weaknesses of varying degrees but weaknesses nonetheless. That begs the question: âWhat are some others?â Likewise, âneed most to improveâ implies there are others areas for improvement. In any case, try this as an alternative, âIf I had to come up with oneâ¦â (No negatives, no multiples.)
Each interview takes on a different format, but somewhere along the way, an employer will likely ask if you have any questions. Even if the interview was packed with information, always have questions prepared to ask the employer that have not been touched on or that you can benefit from by having more information.
Asking questions expresses to an employer that you are serious and sincerely interested in the company and position. Asking the ârightâ questions can also help solidify a positive impression. For instance, if you have done the proper research on the company before the interview, you may have knowledge of developments happening at the company or within the industry that may have an impact on the job you applied for. Asking questions that express you are thinking ahead about the job and how certain developments may impact the business demonstrates to an employer that you are a âsmartâ candidate. You are already thinking like you belong in the position and looking ahead at how to address possible challenges. These types of questions can also help the employer see how you fit right in.
One great way to build your interviewing confidence is by conducting plenty of research on the company youâre applying to and the position itâs offering. A common question interviewers ask is, âDo you know anything about our company?â Most times, candidates are forced to answer âNo.â If youâre able to share the companyâs background information and showcase knowledge of its future goals for the position in question, youâll undoubtedly catch the interviewer off guardâin a great way!
Being prepared to answer any question that comes out of the interviewer’s mouth is a big advantage in interviews. Here are some questions to go over before your next interview:
Interviewers are generally looking for an answer that indicates you can handle multiple priorities and projects at the same time. An answer stating that stress is a natural part of life and you feel equipped to handle the challenges of the job and balance them with the rest of your life may just be the answer that earns you the job.
What the hiring manager is really asking: âHow do your education, work history, and professional aspirations relate to the open job?â
How to respond: Select key work and education information that shows the hiring manager why you are a perfect fit for the job and for the company. For example, a recent grad might say something like, âI went to X University where I majored in Y and completed an internship at Z Company. During my internship, I did this and that (name achievements that match the job description), which really solidified my passion for this line of work.â
Just because youâve never done something doesnât mean you canât do it. And it surely doesnât mean you canât excel at it. If youâre asked a question about prior experience regarding something youâve never done, the best way to answer isnât to say âNo, Iâve never done that,â or âNo, I donât have experience in that area.â The best way to handle the question is to say something along these lines: âWhile I have not had any direct experience in XYZ, I am a fast learner, and I am confident that I could (do, manage, direct, handle, etc.) XYZ successfully and exceed your expectations.â
An effective way to enhance your previous confident response would be to share with the hiring manager about a time when you did do something very similarâor something that could in some way relate to the experience they are asking you about. However, no matter how you approach the question, be sure to emphasize that youâre confident you can do whatever it is theyâre asking you about, and provide examples as to why you feel that way.
Even after the interview is over, you need to go the extra mile to impress the employer. Here are some post-interview tips:
1. Follow up with a thank-you note.
Send thank-you notes to all the individuals with whom you had a conversation. Do not send one note to just the hiring manager. You will miss out on all the other contacts that you made. Even a note to the receptionist/office manager is appropriate and helpful but only if you had more of a conversation, not just a âhello.â Make the notes unique to each individual based on the conversation you had with them. Remind them of the conversation you had. Also, in each thank-you note, remind the contact why you bring value to the company/team/position and show your enthusiasm.
As the hiring process progresses or slows, stay in touch with your contacts as appropriate. If the process has slowed, begin to follow up about every two business weeks. Too soon and it will be considered overkill. Much later than two weeks and youâll be forgotten.
Your follow-up email should be short, sweet, and personalized. Generally, a good rule of thumb for the length is three paragraphs, with no more than two to three sentences in each paragraph.
First paragraph: Briefly thank them for their time and reiterate your interest in the position.
Second paragraph: Discuss a couple of your strengths and how the company would benefit if you were hired. Consider using bullet points to break up your text.
Third paragraph: Include any points of clarification you might have. Include answers to questions that you werenât able to answer during the interview, or add new info about yourself that was left out of the interview.
But, remember, keep it brief. Vicky Oliver, author of 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions, suggests indicating your next point of contact by saying something along the lines of âLook forward to hearing from you within the next two weeks.â If no date was set at the interview, either ask for one or specify you will loop back to them for a decision in two weeks.
We know how difficult it can be to ace a job interview. We hope our Interview Cheat Sheet helps you prepare for your next one so you can stand out to the hiring manager and land the job. If you’re still not feeling confident, we can help.
We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. Itâs a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. More importantly, we have tons of resources inside our community that can help you prepare for your next job interview.
It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!
This article was originally published at an earlier date.
The labor market changes. This isn’t anything new. The majority of job seekers face the same challenges they’ve always faced. But the good news is, right now, there are lots of help and resources. This week’s Summary Sunday contains articles that will answer many of your job search questions and help you overcome some hurdles. […]