Tell me something not on your resume
⚡ In a Hurry? Quick Answer
Share a hobby, skill, or accomplishment that reveals positive character traits like discipline, creativity, or perseverance. Connect it briefly to how it makes you a better professional. Keep it appropriate and interesting.
💡 The Recruiter's Mind
They want to see you as a whole person, not just a list of credentials. This question reveals: What drives you outside of work? What does your answer say about your character? Are you interesting and well-rounded? Will you fit the company culture? The trap is sharing something too personal, controversial, or irrelevant. Choose something that shows discipline, passion, or values that align with being a good employee.
The Engaging Answer Formula
- Share something genuine: Pick a real hobby, skill, or achievement
- Make it interesting: Choose something with a story or shows commitment
- Connect to character traits: Explain what this reveals about you
- Link to professional value: Briefly tie it to skills that help you at work
Example Answers by Theme
Athletic Achievement
"I've completed three marathons in the past two years. What started as a fitness goal became a lesson in goal-setting and perseverance. Training requires consistency—showing up for runs even when you don't feel like it—and the ability to push through discomfort when it matters. Those same traits show up in my work: I'm disciplined about meeting deadlines, and I don't give up when projects get challenging. Plus, the mental clarity from running helps me solve problems more creatively."
Creative Hobby
"I've been learning woodworking for the past year and recently completed my first piece of furniture—a bookshelf for my home office. What I love about it is the combination of creativity and precision: you need a vision for the final product, but also meticulous attention to detail in the measurements and joinery. It's taught me patience and the value of iterating when something doesn't work the first time. These are mindsets I bring to product development work, where we're constantly balancing innovation with technical constraints."
Volunteer Work
"For the past three years, I've volunteered as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters. I spend a few hours each month with my mentee, helping with homework and talking through challenges he's facing. It's taught me a lot about patience, active listening, and adapting my communication style to different audiences—you can't explain things to a 12-year-old the same way you would to an adult. These skills have made me a better communicator at work, especially when explaining technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders."
Language Learning
"I've been teaching myself Spanish for the past 18 months using apps, podcasts, and conversation exchanges with native speakers. I'm now conversational and recently used it during a trip to Mexico. What I've learned is that persistence matters more than talent—I wasn't naturally good at languages, but showing up daily for 20 minutes added up over time. That lesson has reinforced my belief in consistent effort over quick wins, which is how I approach skill development in my career as well."
Unique Life Experience
"I lived in Japan for six months right after college, teaching English in a small town where few people spoke English. It was simultaneously challenging and transformative. I had to become comfortable with ambiguity, learn to communicate across language barriers, and adapt to a very different culture. That experience taught me resilience and cultural sensitivity, which has been invaluable in my career working with global teams. It also gave me an appreciation for stepping outside my comfort zone to grow."
🚫 Red Flags to Avoid
- Anything political, religious, or controversial
- Oversharing personal information (relationships, health issues, family drama)
- Saying "Nothing" or "Everything important is on my resume"
- Mentioning hobbies that conflict with work (e.g., "I love sleeping in")
- Bragging about partying, drinking, or irresponsible behavior
- Sharing something that makes them question your judgment
- Being too quirky or weird without connecting it to positive traits
Great Topics to Consider
- Athletic pursuits: Marathon running, rock climbing, cycling, martial arts
- Creative hobbies: Woodworking, photography, painting, music
- Learning projects: Language learning, coding a personal project, online courses
- Volunteer work: Mentoring, nonprofit board service, community organizing
- Unique experiences: Living abroad, unusual travel, overcoming a challenge
- Side projects: Building an app, starting a blog, creating content
- Skill development: Public speaking (Toastmasters), cooking, chess
Pro Tips for This Question
- Choose something you can talk about enthusiastically: Your energy will show
- Pick something that shows commitment: Not "I like watching Netflix"
- Keep it brief: 30-60 seconds—this isn't your life story
- Make it memorable: Choose something that helps you stand out positively
- Connect to transferable skills: Briefly explain what it taught you
- Be authentic: Don't make something up—they may ask follow-up questions
- Consider your audience: Match the tone to the company culture (creative vs. corporate)
- Have 2-3 options ready: You might want to tailor based on the interviewer's style
Character Traits Your Answer Can Highlight
Choose activities that demonstrate valuable professional qualities:
- Discipline: Marathon training, instrument mastery, language learning
- Creativity: Art, writing, building/making things
- Leadership: Volunteer organizing, coaching, mentoring
- Perseverance: Completing a difficult challenge, learning a hard skill
- Curiosity: Learning new skills, reading diverse topics, travel
- Community: Volunteer work, teaching, organizing events