What are your personal hobbies?
Firefighting is a stressful career, and it is good for employees to have a way to decompress. This question gives the interviewer insight into how you like to spend your time off. Some examples of personal hobbies include reading, writing, hunting, gardening, dirt bike riding, fishing, camping, or working in your shop building things.
Your answer also lets the interviewer know if you will be a good fit for their department and have some of the same interests as other Firefighters. There is no wrong answer to this question. However, many Firefighters enjoy the same extracurricular activities, so most likely, your hobbies align with others in the department.
Studies have shown that when coworkers have similar interests, employee morale is higher and productivity increases. So, interviewers like to hire employees who will get along with their coworkers and be happy in the workplace. When coworkers have similar hobbies, they have more to talk about. That is especially important in the fire service because Firefighters spend so much time with their crew.
Describe three or four hobbies you like to participate in when not at work. Your answer does not need to be a long one, but you can expand on one or two of those activities if you wish.
"When I am not working, I enjoy many outdoor activities. I love kayaking, mountain biking, and camping with my family. Also, I realized I needed some type of creative outlet and have recently started painting with acrylics."
It is best to answer with hobbies that show the interviewer that you know how to decompress. For example, if your hobby is racing cars, but you crash every time you compete and have to spend a lot of money fixing your car, that ends up being a stressful hobby. However, if you can decompress racing cars and it does not cause you to stress, then, by all means, list that as one of your hobbies.
You should also avoid listing hobbies that the interviewer may deem unprofessional or unethical for a Firefighter. Even though your hobbies are enjoyed on your days off, you are still a Firefighter and will represent their department if hired.
For example, you might enjoy spending your off days with a few friends visiting an adult entertainment club or getting drunk on the golf course. While that is your personal choice, if you tell the interviewer, they may be put off and think it is unprofessional of a Firefighter. If that is what you enjoy doing on your days off, you might want to reword your answer to be more work-appropriate.
"My hobbies are gardening, woodworking, and playing frisbee golf with my son. I recently completed building a 4,000 square foot garden, as my family and I want to be more self-sufficient. I also have a woodshop and enjoy building raised planters and furniture. My son got me into frisbee golf recently, and I'm hooked. We have a course near our house and play about three times a week."
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
My personal hobbies include playing many kinds of sports, as well as watch sports, playing/listening to music, reading, working out, cooking, hiking, and camping. I am also currently learning Spanish. In the future, I'd like to try doing water sports, as well as skydiving, bungee jumping, cliff swinging/cliff diving, and travel to many different countries around the world.
Amanda's Feedback
With this question, the interviewer is hoping to gain insight into your personality. Your answer makes it clear that you enjoy being active, are well-rounded, and willing to learn new things outside the workplace.
