Job interview question

[grizzman]

I just got back from a job interview for a high level position with a construction related company. I was asked about hobbies, which I'm usually not, and I was honest (hunting, fishing, camping).

I knew that the CEO of the company was a hunter from their website, but didn't know what the background of the consultants that were on the panel. They could have been PETA members for all I know.

What is a good way to answer this question? Just curious of other's experience with this question in an interview.

[Mike Murphey]

Truthfully, it's better to know up front if the company is against hunting....

[River Rider]

I would have to say be honest. If you love to hunt and fish tell them. I couldn't imagine working where it was frowned upon. Plus that way they can expect your holidays to be during deer season.

[PowThudBeer]

I'm of the opinion that you should always be accurate and truthful. Point being that if most of the panel are on the Board of PETA or people who would judge you based on your hobbies, would you want to work for them anyway? The #1 defining factor for job satisfaction is respecting and liking those you work with daily. Just one headhunter's point of view.

[dallascowboys]

working long hours and weekends!! those are my hobbies sir lmao

[BehindTheSight]

Honesty is best. If they don't hire you because you hunt - YOU DO NOT WANT TO WORK THERE ANYWAY...

[Daniel32]

Just be truthful...

If they're good consultants should be able to put that aside and differences and hire the right person for the job. If you personally want to avoid the question simply stating you enjoy the outdoors and outdoor activities is a general way of putting it

[Texastaxi]

I ask that same question, in interviews.
I am interviewing mechanical designers, so the answer I'm looking for is welding, woodworking or something of that nature.
Simply because people that actually build stuff with their hands make better designers.

[miket]

Yep, just the truth. I havent been interviewing people for long but am beginning to be able to sense when someone is lying, a more experienced person probably will be even better at it.

[El Viejo]

As has been stated, honesty is always the best policy. Also, if it's a construction related company, I would think those people are right thinking individuals anyway. You should be OK. Best of luck to you also! I have an interview in an hour and fifteen minutes. Not something I was actively pursuing, but an opportunity that was kind of placed in my lap.

[Jtrage]

I don't have a lot of experience with interviews but when I was asked that question I answered "outdoors and family." I got a good feel for the room by their response which was good.
I would hope that a PETA member would not be a part of a panel. You need reasonable people on that sort of panel. I can speak intelligently to why I hunt. If I was interviewing someone for a position and it came up that they disagreed with hunting, I would not hold it against them if they could speak intelligently to their beliefs.

[str8shooter]

I wasn't asked that question while interviewing for my current position. But then again, my first interview for this position was in a duck blind out of Rockport. So I guess my soon to be boss knew I had outdoor hobbies. Dead serious. He now gets a kick out of telling our customers and bottlers that he hired me in a duck blind.

Oh, and I would go the honest route on answering that question.

[grizzman]

Yeah, outdoors and family probably would have been the right response. The company is a construction related company that has an annual dove hunt, so I thought I would be OK. I guess we will see if I get a second interview.

Thanks for the input!

[HoustonHunter]

I think you answered it properly. Heck, with a construction company it's likely that several of them hunt/fish, especially in Texas.

[grizzman]

I think you answered it properly. Heck, with a construction company it's likely that several of them hunt/fish, especially in Texas.

Yeah, that has never been a problem with the five other construction related companies that I have worked for.

Even in my last job, my boss was a borderline PETA type but it never gave us any problems as long as we didn't talk about it. When she was a co-worker, I sent a picture of two bucks (Arkansas) that I killed within 10 mins of each other to another co-worker, and he shared them with her. I don't think she spoke to me for a couple of days.