4 tips to prepare for "What are your hobbies?"
Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes
When Hong Kong hiring managers or recruiters ask you about your hobbies and interests, it isn’t just an attempt at small talk.
The purpose behind this question is to offer them insights into your skills and capacities that common interview questions may not always reveal.
Asking about hobbies and interests is also about determining your cultural fit for an organisation.
This means that your late night language courses or Saturdays spent volunteering with local charities can be important indicators about whether your values and skills reflect those of the organisation.
Winnie Li, Division Director at Robert Half Hong Kong provides her advice on how to best answer this commonly asked interview question.
"Hobbies are something very personal, so there is no absolute right or wrong answer. If it is being asked during an interview, the elaboration is the most important part. It would be great if it could relate to your strength/personality. For example, if the culture of the company is ambitious and dynamic and you like traveling, I would suggest the answer can be something like - “I like traveling during leisure time. I like exploring places I have never been to and experiencing the culture there. I do not hesitate to try new things, meet new people and gain new knowledge.”
It is essential to say something you really like and are familiar with because sometimes interviewers will ask follow-up questions. One time, one of my candidates mentioned his hobby was reading, especially Chinese history books. The interviewer then ask him who his favourite king in Chinese history was! It can be imagined that it would be quite embarrassing if he could not answer the follow-up questions."
As a Division Director within the Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Contracting and Temporary Services, Winnie specialises in the recruitment of finance and accounting, contracting and temporary talents. As well as helping you find the best staff, she also provides consultancy services, giving advice on recruitment strategies and guidance on everything from developing job specifications to making the most of the interview process and handling salary negotiations.
Related: Common job interview questions in Hong Kong
Here are four things to consider when answering the “What are your hobbies?” question in a job interview, to give employers a holistic look at your personality, skills and values.
