Ultimately you will not be able to crawl into the minds of your employers or prospective employers, but there are some commonalities between employers that are generally pretty universal. Even if an employer won’t admit it, every aspect of who you are factors into his or her overall impression of you. How you act, dress, look, react and a long list of other variables are all data points that get factored into an employer’s opinion.
A large percentage of the time, employers are unaware of just how much they are judging you, as these inclinations are on a subconscious level. However, you can be sure that these judgements can and will play a role in how you are perceived.
Something as simple as revealing your hobbies may be a way for you to impress your employer. Hobbies that show you have interesting habits outside of the workplace. After all, most employers want employees that are quick on their feet and well organized. However, the benefits of revealing your hobbies should be assessed on a case by case basis. Why? Some employers are incredibly insecure, and may worry that if you are too smart, too organized or too driven that you might be looking to get their job. That aside, here are some hobbies that are sure to impress most employers.
Hobbies That Indicate Stability and Safety
Jumping out of an airplane may be a whole lot of fun, but it might make your employers nervous. Hobbies that can be dangerous could leave employers worried that they may have to replace you due to injury or death. On the flip side of the coin, however, are hobbies that indicate stability and that you are safety oriented.
A good example of this is any hobby that involves teaching others something, or especially teaching your children something. Of course, not everyone has children. But if you do, that will often make employers happy. After all, if you can deal with the stress of kids, you are far less likely to say, “I can’t take any more of this abuse, I quit!” Additionally, showing that you are teaching others new skills indicates that you are focused, focus on goals, and are results oriented.
Being a Team Player
Why not show an employer or prospective employer that you are a team player? You can easily do this by participating in some sort of team sport or activity. Whether its a dart or bowling league or some kind of hobby club, such as a chess club, showing that you are social and work with others to accomplish a common goal is important for employers to see.
Volunteer Work
You really can’t go wrong with including volunteer work as one of your hobbies. Those who volunteer show that they care about their community and that they can work well with others. Volunteering on a regular basis will also demonstrate to an employer that you are a self-starter with initiative.
A Hobby That Could Tie Into Your Chosen Field
Hobbies that tie into your chosen field in some way or another are also a way to impress employers. Of course, what kind of hobby ties in well to a given career varies wildly, but, in general, look for hobbies in which one learns information that could help one’s professions.
For example, chess or the ancient game “go” both involve strategic thinking. If you are in a profession like law or banking, consider adding these kind of games to your list of hobbies. If you are in a field that involves writing or creativity, attending writing workshops or seminars can be a hobby that will impress an employer.
Ultimately, the number of possible hobbies is infinite. You typically can’t go wrong by selecting a hobby that indicates you are a team player and are willing to learn.
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