I just read an interesting article in Harvard Business called “The Interview Question You Should Always Ask.”According to author, Peter Bregman of Bregman Partners, asking candidates what they do in their spare time can provide valuable insight into their candidacy. Bregman believes that people who are really great at what they do exhibit behaviors outside of work that are aligned with their habits at work. For example, a sales person who enjoys competitive sports might be perceived as a more driven sales professional or an events manager who also directs community theater may be seen as a more creative events planner. While I’m not convinced that having a particular hobby actually makes you better at what you do, I do believe that job seekers can leverage their hobbies to create a better-rounded, more three-dimensional perspective on their candidacy. The key is relevance. If you are going to include a “hobbies” section on your resume, make sure that the activities you list build your candidacy rather than distract from it. Even if you don’t include this section on your resume you should still think about what activity you could showcase if you were asked “What do you do in your spare time?” during an interview. Think about sports, creative projects, and volunteer work and determine how some of these activities might mesh with your personal brand and the message of value you are trying to communicate to others.
Interview Question: What Do You Do in Your Spare Time?
