Q. What do you do in your spare time?
What the Interviewer Want to Know
Interviewers seek to understand how your leisure interests reveal qualities that can translate into professional skills, such as creativity, interpersonal abilities, and stress management, while also ensuring that you have a balanced, well-rounded lifestyle.
How to Answer
When answering the question “What do you do in your spare time?”, focus on expressing hobbies, interests, or activities that reflect who you are, and highlight aspects that might interest or align with the person asking. Be honest, concise, and engaging by mentioning a mix of activities that showcase your personality and skills.
Structure it like this:
- Introduce the topic by briefly mentioning the importance of spare time
- List specific activities or hobbies
- Highlight any skills or interests these activities develop
- Conclude with a statement about what you enjoy most about your spare time
Example Answer
"In my spare time, I enjoy exploring new technologies through side projects and online courses, which helps me stay curious about the latest trends during my free time. I also like collaborating on open source projects to not only build my technical skills but also to connect with a community of enthusiasts. Additionally, I value balancing work with leisure activities like reading, playing sports, or even just relaxing with a good book or podcast, all of which contribute to a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle."
Common Mistakes
- Talking too much about hobbies that are irrelevant to the job.
- Oversharing personal or sensitive information.
- Coming off as unprofessional or too informal in describing activities.
- Failing to demonstrate how personal interests develop useful skills.
- Not aligning their answer with company culture or job expectations.
- Providing overly generic or vague responses without specific examples.
Similar Questions
Unlimited Mock Interviews with Your Personal Career Advisor
Sarah Academy offers 1-on-1 mock interviews with Career Advisors who guide you through real questions and personalized feedback, helping you improve your answers and build lasting confidence.
