Job interview question

[3DW5]

Best of a Luck.... Annual Dove hunt sounds awesome.

[Javelin]

In the interview for my first job I was asked what the five most important things in my life were. I said " hunting, fishing, family, friends and God". I followed that up by " I know you may expect me to say my job, but although I love teaching, my job is so that I can enjoy the top five things and I can not honestly tell you it is the most important".
I got the job on the spot LOL

[Okiehunter]

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.

I been doing HR stuff for over 30-years and would recommend against asking this question. Without going into great detail, only questions that are job related should be asked. You set yourself up for the potential allegations of discrimination by asking non-job related questions. As an example, what if the answer to the question is, "my hobby is my church work at the first church of whatever church". You don't hire him. He claims you did not hire him because of his religion. You might prevail in the end but at what cost.

And your answer was a good one, the truth is hard to beat.

[curtintex]

A few questions I generally ask:
1. What are your hobbies?
2. What is the last book you read?
3. If you were stabbed, where is the last place you'd want to be stabbed?

#3 really isn't pertinent to the hiring, but I like to file it away for later....just in case.

[Okiehunter]

My answer would likely be different depending on who is doing the interview. If its HR department, "I like to organize outdoor activities...blah, blah, blah". They don't care what your hobby is but may score you higher if you imply some sort of leadership activity. If the manager/owner/coworker are interviewing I would just tell them want I like to do ie hunt, fish, whatever. They are likely trying to figure out if you will fit in and if they can work with you.

Your assumption would be completely wrong at our company. I am the HR guy and 99%of the time I interview to seek org. fit. If you were to tell me "I like to organize outdoor activities...blah, blah, blah". I would ask you a few behavioral interview questions and inside of 5 minutes tell if you were full of BS or not.

Keep in mind a few things when interviewing. One is you can't BS a BSer. Not everyone is as stupid as you think they are. and last, if you lie your way into a job then the company did not hire how they thought they were. If that is the case your chances of success is greatly diminished over time.

Good luck.

[Chew]

A few questions I generally ask:

1. What are your hobbies?

2. What is the last book you read?

3. If you were stabbed, where is the last place you'd want to be stabbed?



#3 really isn't pertinent to the hiring, but I like to file it away for later....just in case.

1. Touring construction sites around the country to better myself.

2. The life and times of a construction guru: the Curt Joslin Story

2. I wouldn't want to be stabbed in a place that would keep me from working.

[Chunky]

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.

This, it's honest but not controversial.

The bigger question is why are they asking.? Is it like Kevin said and they want to know if you can use your hands, are they seeing if you are a team player by being on a softball team? My guess is that there is a reason for the question, and your answer will only matter if it answers it.

[SwampRabbit]

Sometimes this question is a matter of routine. Sometimes it gets asked at the end of the interview when all other relevant questions get answered and there is time left over. Sometimes it gets asked to verify that your resume wasn't cut and pasted from somebody else's. Sometimes it gets asked when the interviewer has made up thier mind and wants to talk about something else because it's obvious you don't meet the other requirements.