Your Hobby Could Land You the Job
Most people are worried about sounding un-qualified for a position in an interview. Increase your comfort zone in your next interview by discussing with enthusiasm your personal hobbies.
In the work force, all work and no play can get in the way of career advancement, a new survey suggests. More than two-thirds (68 percent) of advertising and marketing executives said employees who are passionate about interests outside the office typically perform better on the job.
Managers and recruiters are looking for well-rounded candidates. An interesting person with life curiosity canspringboard interest in potential new-business in the creative field. Daily grinders and work-a-holics tend to be rather boring. Additionally, most employers recognize that originial concepts typically have building blocks, and a person's hobbies and interests are an important source of inspiration.
The national poll includes 250 responses - 125 from advertising executives among the nation's 1,000 largest advertising agencies and 125 from senior marketing executives among the nation's 1,000 largest companies.
Advertising and marketing executives were asked, "In your opinion, are creative professionals who are passionate about interests outside of work (for example: music, sports, theater) generally more or less effective on the job?" Their responses:
- Significantly more effective 26%
- Somewhat more effective 42%
- Neither more nor less effective 25%
- Somewhat less effective 2%
- Much less effective 1%
- Don't Know 4%
The study showed, however, that there can be too much of a good thing. Employers must diffentiate between job candidates who are enthusiastic about their hobbies and those who are obsessed with them. Top performers are able to balance personal and professional interests.
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