Hobbies to Gain the Advantage
When you have a steady job, a certain routine can develop, if not careful. Wake up, get ready, go to work, come home, have dinner, watch TV, and go to bed. The same thing happens day after day. Your most productive hours are given, without question, to your employer.
The aforementioned routine is very one-dimensional and unbalanced. Make some time for yourself by taking up hobbies that double as advantages either to your current employer or to aid you in a job search. Not only do hobbies you give you a release point, beneficial to your mental and emotional wellbeing, but employers value well-rounded candidates. Having interests outside of the workplace will help you perform better on the job and make connections outside of the office. Accelerate your free time with hobbies you enjoy. Try learning a new skill, whether just for fun or to give yourself an advantage in your field. Focus on learning a new foreign language or software program. Your choice doesn't have to be exotic; Spanish is a very valuable language, as is being an expert in Microsoft Excel. Join a team to meet other locals, especially if you are new to the city. Golf, softball and even sand volleyball are popular sports in many areas and can often display traits such as teamwork and discipline to a future employer A trivia team will offer the same benefits, encouraging you to get off the couch and socialize with others, while also giving you new facts or topics of conversation that can come in handy when striking up small talk at the beginning of an interview
If you’re looking to relocate, try connecting your hobbies to the city or area where you're applying for a job . For example, if interviewing for a job in San Antonio, you might want to talk about your love for riding bikes (which is big there) instead of how much you enjoy snow skiing (which is much more fitting for Denver). The ability to tie everything back to the job you're applying for makes it easier for the employer to place you in that city, knowing you'll be happy and will stay.
At SpeakEasy, we believe in being more than just your day job. Give yourself the advantage in your personal and professional life with hobbies that make the most of your free time.
