Thread: Job application: Do you have a hobby?

I am a firm believer in come as you are. If they ask that on an application, they want to know because they DON'T want boring employees. If you state your hobby in a way that isn't scary (mentioning restoring, shaving, antiques, etc.) then it cannot be bad for you. It will show your passion for something and more often than not, when people know that about me they get fascinated. I wouldn't leave it off the application completely but it's not me who is applying for the job.

On a related note– I was once interviewing at a temp. agency. Very formal thing. While I was getting interviewed I stopped the lady and asked her in a non-degrading way if she actually enjoyed her job. She was kind of taken aback but I went on to explain how a lot in that industry seemed so phony. She started laughing about it and talking honestly with me. Turns out it was pretty much the most interesting interview she'd ever given. After that she started calling me on a daily basis and I became her best/favorite temp ever. So take that however you'd like lol.

Originally Posted by Stuggi

Yeah, there are normal hobbies and there are weird hobbies. Straights are a weird one. Computers or playing electric guitar are more "normal" ^^ Or charted accountancy for that matter... ^^

I dunno, have you seen musicians and computer nerds? There is nothing normal about them.

Originally Posted by sidneykidney

Her one piece of advice:

"Take out that you frequent internet forums. It makes you look weird."

I mentioned using Internet forums in my interview for the current job, but said I use them as a problem solving tool. I got the job, because I used that as a reason I was resourceful and thought outside the box when confronting problems I did not know the knowledge to solve. You'd be surprised what kind of useful batch files people write.

Originally Posted by Philadelph

(mentioning restoring, shaving, antiques, etc.) then it cannot be bad for you.

On a related note– I was once interviewing at a temp. agency. Very formal thing. While I was getting interviewed I stopped the lady and asked her in a non-degrading way if she actually enjoyed her job. She was kind of taken aback but I went on to explain how a lot in that industry seemed so phony. She started laughing about it and talking honestly with me. Turns out it was pretty much the most interesting interview she'd ever given. After that she started calling me on a daily basis and I became her best/favorite temp ever. So take that however you'd like lol.

I was going to suggest that, especially if you restore blades and stuff.
I do work in a good ol boy industry (oil production) so when I put fishing, golf, and watching sports. Half the battle is done, I would only imagine saying I shave with a straight razor and restore them (I don't but I will) it would just make it all the better.

just make up a cool sounding hobby... like you walk the elderly on the weekend...