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It's tough on an interview to get a feel for how a person is in day-to-day conversation. So the interviewers are looking for areas of common interest to talk a
by IvyMike 11y ago
It's tough on an interview to get a feel for how a person is in day-to-day conversation. So the interviewers are looking for areas of common interest to talk about. If they are young, they may have a limited repertoire of topics that usually work; if you shut down all of their ideas for conversation, I hope you at least tried to come up with some topics of your own. Otherwise, you won't have a conversation, and they won't get a feel for you, and that's a bad thing.
I don't know if you've ever actually said "I don't have hobbies" in an interview, but that could likely come off as negative. Your hobbies are your kids, or your house, or reading, or cooking, or watching TV, or whatever you do with your time at home. And all of those are at least something that might start a conversation, which is the whole point. Hell, even saying "I used to play PC games, here are the classics I liked" could be a conversation starter.
- reagency 11y agoThank you for illustrating what is wrong with "culture fit". There is no need to require candidates to be buds with the team. " maturity" "Professionalism" used to be a virtue that adults aspired to, until young adults decided to hack the system and turn the "Good ol' boys" club into a "good youn' boys" club.
- nitrogen 11y agoProfessionalism can be dehumanizing just as camaraderie can be alienating. I don't think either, alone, is a virtue. We need both to communicate and work effectively.
- rayiner 11y agoKids and house aren't hobbies. They're responsibilities.
- mbrameld 11y agoThey can be both.
- rayiner 11y ago> an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation: You're basically positing a definition of "hobby" that encompasses everything that isn't working. Caring for children is a basic life function and an obligation. It can be relaxing and pleasurable, but so can showers and eating--that doesn't make it a hobby. Hobbies are things you do optionally.
- gurkendoktor 11y ago> Caring for children is a basic life function and an obligation. Contraceptives exist and work (for the most part), so caring for children is an opt-in activity. And even if it wasn't - it is totally possible to turn cooking or eating into a hobby by going beyond what's necessary to survive, and the same applies to caring for children. As a late-twenties programmer without children, I'd have a lot of respect for anyone who mentions his/her kids as his/her hobby.
- IvyMike 11y agoI guess you could stick to the strict definition, but then you're sitting in the lunch in awkward silence. Or you could say "I love fixing up my old house. I'm a big fan of Bob Villa, and he inspired me to get a fixer-upper. Most recently I've been putting in a new hardwood floor. It's a lot of trips to Home Depot, and a lot of reading old Time-Life books..." Which person seems like they will be easier to work with, and an efficient communicator?