What do you like to do in your free time outside of work?
Your interviewer needs to ensure any potential hire they consider is a well-rounded, emotionally mature, reliable, and stable individual. One way of determining this is by learning how you recharge and prioritize your own needs to ensure you'll be a sustainable employee who won't easily burn out on the job. Determining this will help them ascertain how compatible you'll be with their teams. So share a few activities you enjoy outside of work, which helps ensure you're ready to return to work, both physically and mentally refreshed. Try to make yourself relatable and interesting, and if appropriate, pose the same question to your interviewer.
"Outside of work, I am a family-dedicated dad and husband. Our family enjoys many outdoor activities depending on the season. We love spending time on the water, whether it be fishing or kayaking as a family. We also spend a lot of time biking the trails around the area. I'm also very into cooking and my family and neighbors love the monthly barbecues that I put on."
The NSA places a great deal of focus on promoting the well-being of its people and has a strong track record for retaining its employees for the long-term of their careers. According to their surveys, 90% of their workforce report that they feel their needs to balance work and other life issues are supported and they feel like they are treated with respect. So, to ensure your success, this question is aimed and ensuring you aren't a one-dimensional career-minded professional, but that you have other interests and hobbies that promote your work-life balance. This question also offers you a great opportunity to showcase your familiarity with the resources the NSA provides to support the well-being of their workforce and the "tremendous benefits that offer a better quality of life, both on the job and off, and promote mental and physical wellbeing while accomplishing our mission."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I relax with music, cook healthy food, and exercise. I work on interesting personal projects which are mostly simulation-based. I am currently working on a project called Lagrange Point Launch and stabilization system.
Marcie's Feedback
Great! Can you talk more about this project and why you decided to undertake it? Also, try to connect your hobbies with the role itself. What skills do you use with these activities that will be useful in this position?
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