In nearly every field, employers love to ask, “What are you passionate about?”
They ask this to learn about you as a person and to ensure you have hobbies and passions. They want to recruit someone enthusiastic about their job and life and will arrive at work invigorated!
They also want to ensure that this is the sort of work you wish to undertake! They do not want to recruit someone who will leave or change their mind inside the first year.
So, in this post, I’ll teach you the ideal approach to answer the question, “What are you passionate about?”. including answer examples, avoidable errors, and more.
Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to figure out what you’re enthusiastic about. We’ll go through it with you as well. Let’s get this party started.
Article Road Map
Why Employers Ask – What Are You Passionate About?
Why do employers care about you other than whether you match the job criteria and are a good fit for the position?
Employers inquire about your interests for a variety of reasons. For example, they may inquire about your favorite activities in order to learn more about your own interests and beliefs. This question allows the employer to determine whether you are a well-rounded individual with a life outside of the office.
This question may also be asked by the employer to get to know you on a personal level and to establish rapport.
Even if the recruiting manager does not share your excitement, he or she will be moved by it.
The employer can determine whether you will fit in well with the business culture by knowing more about who you are as an individual. While your passion does not have to be connected to the work you will be performing at the firm, your response will demonstrate to the hiring manager if you are a dedicated individual who follows through on what you believe in. This is a necessary skill for nearly any profession.
Tips To Answer – What Are You Passionate About?
The ideal approach to respond to the question “what are you enthusiastic about?” is to mention a specific area of interest. This keeps your response concise and easy to recall (and easy to practice).
Furthermore, by focusing on one item, you will be prepared to answer a popular variant of this question, “what are you most enthusiastic about?” Your answer to either question will be the same, making things easier!
So, to begin your response, say, “one thing I’m passionate about is…” Then your story follows.
You should describe what that exact subject is and why you are enthusiastic about it. Ideally, link this to your job as well.
For example, you may state that you are enthusiastic about software, computers, and technology. You might explain that this has always intrigued you and is one of the reasons you chose a career in software engineering, web design, or any number of similar disciplines.
Or Assume you’re looking for a career in nursing. You might claim that you are deeply committed to assisting others. You’ve always been someone who cared about others and wanted to assist others rather than just oneself. Then you’d go on to describe how Nursing looked like the ideal job for you, considering your enthusiasm.
So you’re describing your enthusiasm as well as why you selected this job.
In fact, preparing to answer an interview question like “What Are You Passionate About?” will provide you with some fantastic ideas to offer in response to many other commonly-asked interview questions, such as:
What motivated you to apply for this position?
Why do you desire this position?
What drives you?
Of course, you might include a hobby that has nothing to do with your job, such as hiking. We’ll go over this in one of the word-for-word response examples later in this article!
What Are You Passionate About? Sample Answers
Now that we’ve gone over the processes and recommendations for answering the question “What Are You Passionate About?” let’s have a look at some sample answers.
Sample Answer 1
“I am passionate about hiking being outside in general. That’s how I generally spend my weekends and free time when I’m not at work. If I spend some time outside over the weekend, I feel like I have more energy when I return to the workplace on Mondays.”
Sample Answer 2
“In my personal life, one of my passions is self-development and self-improvement. I’m always searching for new ways to push myself and learn new things. That is one of the reasons I like working in customer service; I’ve gained fantastic communication skills, listening skills, and problem-solving skills that assist me not just in my daily work but also in my personal life in terms of confidence, communication, and so on.”
Sample Answer 3
“Learning about software and technology is my greatest passion.” I’ve been interested in computers since I was a child, so I opted to major in computer science in college and have remained in that field after graduation. It was an excellent decision for me! As a front-end software engineer, I get to affect how the internet evolves and how websites evolve, which excites me.”
Sample Answer 4
“Healthy living and eating are two things that I am really enthusiastic about. I believe that was something my parents instilled in me from an early age. As a result, I like working in the fitness sector. It enables me to combine my personal interests and passions with my professional interests and passions. I feel like I’m spending my time working on something essential for others, which inspires me to produce outstanding work.”
Sample answer 5
“Painting is something I’m quite interested in. I take an evening painting class once a week and attempt to paint every weekend. Painting is a great way for me to unwind after a long week. It also allows me to be more creative in other areas of my life, which I value. When I’m painting in the studio, I come up with some of my most innovative answers to job difficulties.”
Conclusion
So, if you don’t want to answer with a work-related passion, you may offer an example like the one we discussed. This is still an excellent answer that tells the interviewer about your personality.
This might also create an interesting back-and-forth dialogue if they share your enthusiasm or have questions about your passion. For example, someone may remark, “Wow, that’s fantastic.” What is your favorite trek you’ve taken?”
Whether you select a work-related or personal passion, it is important to mention one single subject about which you are enthusiastic and explain why.
Don’t choose anything that seems like a distraction that will interfere with your ability to work (for example, I don’t advocate stating, “I’m really enthusiastic about playing video games.”)
Be Honest. When answering the question, discuss something that you genuinely care about.
Get Ready To Respond. It is simpler to reply when you know what you are going to say.
Be Passionate. Remember, you’re talking about your passion. When you respond, make sure your enthusiasm and optimism are evident.