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This article was co-authored by Seth Hall and wikiHow staff writer Aimee Payne, MFA. Seth T. Hall (ICF ACC, CLC, and MNLP) is a certified Life Coach and founder of Transformational Solutions, a Los Angeles-based life coaching company that helps people achieve their most challenging goals, find their voice, and think outside the box. He has been a life coach for over 10 years, specializing in personal development, relationships, career and finance, and wellness. He has helped his clients break negative cycles in their lives and replace them with a positive, proactive mindset. Seth believes that everyone has the potential to live a fulfilling life and works passionately to help them reach their full potential. With a deep understanding of how our minds work and the power of positive thinking, he encourages his clients to find their unique paths in life and achieve success on their own terms. He is a Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master, featured contributor for WikiHow and co-author of “The Mountain Method”, “The Happy Tiger” and “The VISIONS Program”. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
Have you ever been asked, “What are you interested in?” at a job interview? It may seem like it comes out of nowhere, but when you anticipate this question—and have a chance to think about your answer—it can show your interviewer why you’re great for the position. We’re here to help you prepare to answer this question with confidence and ease so you can impress your examiner.
- When your passion is connected to your career: Say what you’re passionate about, why it piques your interest, and how it helps you succeed in your work.
- When your passion is not related to your job: Share what your passion is, why you enjoy it, and what skills you bring to your job
- If you are not sure what your passion is: Choose an activity that you spend a lot of time on, say why it interests you and how it helps you grow.
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Be positive and enthusiastic with your answer. Regardless of your answer, you’ll make a good impression if you have a good attitude and are excited to share your experiences. Keep your answers focused on how your passion has helped you grow as a person.
- For example, you can tell the interviewer about the lessons you’ve learned while pursuing your passion, focusing on skills like determination, creative problem solving, and diligence.
- Don’t hesitate to share what you really like about your passion project. This helps the interviewer understand what motivates you.
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Use the “what, why and how” structure to answer the question. Having a structure in mind when answering an interview question helps you stay focused. Regardless of how closely related your passion is to your work, being able to clearly define what it is, why you love it, and how it speaks to who you are can make you stand out from other candidates. [1]
- Tell the interviewer what your passion is. The key here is to look and sound like you’re happy to share your passion with someone new.
- Explain why you are so passionate about it. Describe what you find rewarding about your passion to give the interviewer clues about your character and what motivates you.
- Talk about how your passion relates to your career. Find a way to connect your passion with the skills needed to do your job. For example, a passion for fitness can improve your drive and commitment, which can help you complete projects and meet deadlines.
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Connect unrelated passions with your work. It’s perfectly acceptable to talk about a passion that isn’t obviously related to an overt role. But if you’ve spent time and energy on your passion project, you’ve most likely acquired skills that you can transfer to your career.[2]
For example, a passion for crafting can teach you patience and give you a keen eye for detail.- Most employers want to hire candidates who are interested in more than just the job. Workaholics might seem like the best choice on the surface, but they are prone to stress and are less inclined to take creative risks.[3]
- Employers like well-rounded employees because they are more flexible. Often a new task or project doesn’t quite fit the job description. If you have skills outside of your official job description, you can make a good impression and set yourself up to successfully climb the corporate ladder.[4]
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Talk about your hobbies when you haven’t satisfied your passion. If you’re in the process of finding your passion, you can still come up with a great answer to this question. Consider your interests and try to narrow them down to one or two that please you the most.
- Choose something that you have been interested in for some time to have a deeper knowledge. This can help you be more relaxed and honest when answering follow-up questions.
- Think about what appeals to you about the job and how it aligns with your personal interests.
- Even if it doesn’t seem work-related, your hobby shows that you have interests outside of work. As long as you can talk about why you enjoy it, you can give the interviewer an idea of your personality.
- Try to come up with a few transferable skills.[5]
For example, if you like to go fishing, you can talk about how it has taught you patience and helps you relax after a stressful work week.
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They want to meet you. Interviews are about more than whether you can do the job. The company wants to know more about you as a person. It can also give them a better sense of your communication skills.
- Always be honest and sincere in your answers as this is the best way to show a potential employer who you really are.
- Interviewers can often perceive you as inauthentic, which can make the interview more uncomfortable.
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They want to know if you will fit in well with the culture. An interview is more than just reviewing the skills listed on your resume. Your interviewer is trying to determine if you will fit in with the team and if your passion fits into the overall company culture.[8]
- Be sure to thoroughly research the company before the interview so you’re prepared to discuss how you and your interests fit with the company’s mission.
- Try to relax and be yourself. That’s who they want to meet.
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Your answer reveals your potential strengths and weaknesses. Asking what you’re passionate about isn’t just about getting to know you. Your interviewer is also interested in the skills you’ve developed while pursuing your passion.[9]
- Highlight any transferable skills when you answer, but try to be honest.
- It can be helpful to jot down a short list of skills related to your passion before the interview.
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They want to build a relationship with you. Recruiters and hiring managers know how stressful interviews can be. They ask what you are passionate about to help you relax and do your best.
- Take a deep breath and remember this is not a trick question.
- Your interviewer cares about the answer to the question because it helps them learn more about who you are outside of work.
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They want to learn what interests you personally and professionally. If they’re looking to create a team with a range of interests and life experiences, your answer could be key to letting them know if you fit into their plans. Don’t be afraid to tell them you like to knit or play backgammon.
- Don’t worry if you think your passion isn’t very exciting on the surface. Your enthusiasm and what you get out of it is more persuasive than you think.
- Give them an honest, thoughtful answer. Being yourself can help you ace the interview and find a job that matches your skills and your passion.
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