# How to Answer "What Are Your Hobbies?" in an Interview

> Name one or two hobbies you genuinely do, add a detail that shows how you do them, and, if it fits naturally, a quality they reveal. Keep it light and short; this is a chance to be a person, not to make a pitch.

Canonical: https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/what-are-your-hobbies/  
Published by the Know the Room team (https://knowtheroom.ai/authors/know-the-room-team/). Updated 2026-10-24.

## Key takeaways

- Interviewers ask about hobbies to get to know you as a person and to see how you talk about something you enjoy.
- A good answer names one or two real hobbies with a specific detail, and optionally a quality they show, such as discipline or curiosity.
- Hobbies are things you do regularly for fun, while interests are topics you like to follow or learn about; either works as an answer.
- Leave out hobbies that are controversial or that you don't really do, because follow-up questions will expose them.
- Add hobbies to a resume only when they're distinctive or relevant and there's room; experience and results come first.

## Why do interviewers ask about your hobbies?

Mostly to get to know you. It's a breather in the interview and a chance to see how you talk when you're relaxed and enthusiastic.

Some interviewers also listen for qualities. A long-distance runner hints at discipline, a home cook at patience and iteration, a photographer at an eye for detail. Others simply look for common ground: a shared hobby is a quick way to connect.

## How should you answer "what are your hobbies"?

Name one or two, add a detail, and, if it fits, say what it gives you. Thirty to forty-five seconds is plenty.

1. **Name it.** One or two hobbies you actually do.
2. **Add a detail.** How often, what you've made or done, what you're working on now.
3. **Optional link.** A quality it shows or something it adds to your work. Only if it comes naturally.

```text
Outside work I [hobby one], and lately I've been [specific detail: a goal, a project, what you're learning]. I also [hobby two, briefly].

[Optional: I think [hobby] is part of why I [a work habit or quality].]
```

This is the most personal question in most interviews, so let it be personal. Skip the polish, say it the way you'd tell a new coworker at lunch, and let the detail that only you would mention come through; that's what makes you memorable.

## What hobbies are good to mention?

Any real hobby works, but the ones you can describe with a specific detail work best. Some also suggest qualities that fit marketing roles.

| Hobby | What it can suggest | A detail that makes it real |
|---|---|---|
| Running, cycling, swimming | Discipline, goal-setting | "Training for my second half marathon" |
| Team sports | Collaboration, competitiveness | "I play in a weekly rec league" |
| Cooking or baking | Iteration, patience | "Working my way through one cookbook" |
| Photography or video | Visual eye, craft | "I shoot street photography on weekends" |
| Writing or a newsletter | Clear thinking, consistency | "I write a monthly newsletter for 300 people" |
| Reading | Curiosity, depth | "Mostly history; I'm reading about [topic]" |
| Gaming | Strategy, community | "I play strategy games and follow the design side" |
| Music | Practice, creativity | "I've played guitar for 10 years" |
| Volunteering | Empathy, leadership | "I mentor high school students once a month" |
| Learning a language | Persistence, curiosity | "I'm at about conversational Spanish" |

Hobbies that connect to marketing, such as running a small online shop, a social account or a newsletter, are a bonus: they show you do the work for fun. Just don't present a hobby as a credential if it isn't one.

### What's the difference between hobbies and interests?

Hobbies are activities you do; interests are topics you follow. Climbing is a hobby; architecture might be an interest. If an interviewer asks about "hobbies and interests", you can mention one of each.

## Example answers for marketing roles

### Social media or content

```text
I do a lot of photography, mostly street and food. I post on a small Instagram account I've had for a few years, and I've learned more about framing and captions there than anywhere else. I also bake on weekends, which mostly means a lot of failed sourdough.
```

### Growth, analytics or SEO

```text
I'm a runner. I'm training for [race] in [month], and I'm a bit obsessive about the data: pace, heart rate, what changes when I change one thing. It's probably the same instinct that makes me like testing at work.
```

### Brand or creative

```text
I read a lot, mostly fiction, and I collect old print ads from [era or category], which my partner thinks is a strange hobby. I like seeing how brands talked to people before social media; some of it still works.
```

### Entry level

```text
I play [sport] in a weekly league, and I volunteer with [organization], where I recently started helping with their social posts. It's been a good way to practice what I studied.
```

## What hobbies should you leave out?

Leave out anything you don't actually do, anything you'd rather keep private, and anything likely to start a debate.

- **Hobbies you've exaggerated.** If you say chess, expect a chess question.
- **Political or religious activities.** Your call, but you don't need to share them. Employers are generally advised not to ask about religion, according to [EEOC guidance](https://www.eeoc.gov/pre-employment-inquiries-and-religious-affiliation-or-beliefs).
- **Things that suggest you'll be unavailable.** Lead with what you enjoy, not how much time it takes.
- **Risky or edgy topics.** Fine with friends, not useful in a first interview.
- **"I don't really have any."** Everyone does something. Even "I've been getting into cooking" counts.

## Should you put hobbies on your resume?

Only if they're distinctive or relevant and you have room after your experience and results. A short "Interests" line at the bottom can help a hiring manager start a conversation; it rarely decides an interview.

Good reasons to include them:

- **They're relevant.** A food brand reading "I bake bread and run a small recipe newsletter" will notice.
- **They're specific.** "Completed four marathons" is interesting; "sports, music, travel" isn't.
- **You're early in your career.** With less experience, a hobby can show skills such as leadership or consistency.

For senior roles, skip the section unless the hobby is truly relevant or memorable. Our [marketing resume guide](/career-guides/marketing-resume/) covers what to prioritize.

## FAQ

### How long should my answer be?

About 30 to 45 seconds. One or two hobbies with a detail each. If they're interested, they'll ask more.

### Do I have to connect my hobby to the job?

No. A link is nice if it's natural, but forcing one sounds rehearsed. It's fine for a hobby to just be a hobby.

### What if my hobby is watching TV or scrolling social media?

Be more specific and it becomes interesting. "I follow how comedy shows use clips on TikTok" or "I watch a lot of documentaries about design" says much more than "watching TV".

### Is it OK to mention spending time with family?

Yes, but add something you do: cooking with your kids, hiking with your family. On its own, "spending time with family" is true for almost everyone, so a specific detail helps.

### How is this different from "what are you passionate about"?

Hobbies are what you do for fun; passions are what you care about most deeply. They can overlap. See our guide to [what you're passionate about](/guides/what-are-you-passionate-about/) for that version of the question.

## More on Common interview questions

- [Tell me about yourself](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/tell-me-about-yourself.md)
- [Why do you want to work here?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/why-do-you-want-to-work-here.md)
- [Why should we hire you?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/why-should-we-hire-you.md)
- [What are your weaknesses?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/what-are-your-weaknesses.md)
- [What is your greatest strength?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/what-is-your-greatest-strength.md)
- [Where do you see yourself in 5 years?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/where-do-you-see-yourself-in-5-years.md)
- [What motivates you?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/what-motivates-you.md)
- [What makes you unique?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/what-makes-you-unique.md)
- [What are your career goals?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/what-are-your-career-goals.md)
- [Why are you leaving your current job?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/why-are-you-leaving-your-current-job.md)
- [Behavioral interview questions](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/behavioral-interview-questions.md)
- [Tell me about a time you failed](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/tell-me-about-a-time-you-failed.md)
- [How do you handle stress?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/how-do-you-handle-stress.md)
- [How do you prioritize your work?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/how-do-you-prioritize-your-work.md)
- [What is your management style?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/what-is-your-management-style.md)
- [Why are you interested in this position?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/why-are-you-interested-in-this-position.md)
- [How would you describe yourself?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/how-would-you-describe-yourself.md)
- [What are you passionate about?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/what-are-you-passionate-about.md)
- [What is your greatest accomplishment?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/what-is-your-greatest-accomplishment.md)
- [How do you measure success?](https://knowtheroom.ai/guides/how-do-you-measure-success.md)