Guide
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.
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.
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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.
- Name it. One or two hobbies you actually do.
- Add a detail. How often, what you’ve made or done, what you’re working on now.
- Optional link. A quality it shows or something it adds to your work. Only if it comes naturally.
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
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
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
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
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.
- 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 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 for that version of the question.