Don’t cave because then you will set a precedent that your boundaries are not firm. Do Not Divert: One of the worst things that you can do to answer the question 'What do you do for fun?' You get to tap into their knowledge and networks in ways that could accelerate your shift.And, quite frankly, they'll probably have a more enjoyable interaction with you…How could you answer The Question with something you really like talking about?Let's take a good look at what's really going on when The Question gets asked.It's cracked out early on in conversations because it's an access point – a quick way of getting to know something fundamental about the person we're in conversation with.When you're on the receiving end of The Question, you're being given an opportunity to share something of who you are with the person you're speaking to.So if you're looking for a career change and your current work doesn't capture much of who you are, responding with your job isn't giving the questioner what they're really asking for.For example, maybe you work in customer service, but what you're really called by is finding creative ways to put a smile on people's faces.Maybe you're a graphic designer, but what moves you is the universality of visual experiences – how art and imagery transcends language and cultural barriers.Or maybe you're an IT technician, but what you're really about is helping people do things they never believed they could do.
Being asked, “What do you like to do for fun” or “What do you like to do in your free time” may seem like easy questions to answer, but there is something specific the interviewer is looking for. Also- you should not try to avoid the question or any other interview questions- because it might appear that you are trying to hide something. It can also mean calling in reinforcements.Pong said that ahead of a Thanksgiving gathering, ask someone at the party to be your ally for these unwanted questions. There's no guarantee that the person you're talking to will know what your job title means (what is a We all know what it looks like: the glazed expression, the slightly raised eyebrow, the pressed lips and the disinterested nod. No matter what you talk about, always take the opportunity to turn the negative into a potential positive with your new employer. Preparing for this or other unwanted questions not only means having a fun fact about yourself you are ready to disclose. “It’s worse if you try to set a boundary and then don’t hold it right away, because then you’ve set a precedent that it’s not real and people are going to subconsciously register that, and keep trying to push your buttons,” Pong said. The question may seem neutral, but it has judgment built in. If you're miserable at work, the last thing you want to do is talk about your job.You certainly don't want anyone to define you by your career; it's not a reflection of who you are at all, and you'd hate people to think it was.And, as a career changer, you know you need to be having a different kind of conversation with people. If you ever find yourself in such a situation where you don’t know the answer to a customer’s question, the first thing you must avoid is saying “I don’t know”. The question may seem neutral, but it has judgment built in. Next, since you know there are 12 inches in a foot and you’ve estimated the building’s height at 1500 feet, you multiply to get an approximate answer of 270,000 pennies to … The conversation could go in any number of directions.If you've highlighted a great skill set, you might find you're talking to an interested new employer – or someone who'll immediately think of you next time they hear of an opportunity on the grapevine.Critically, you've created an opening for them to contribute to you and your career change.What could you say in response to The Question, using verbs instead of nouns?There's nothing wrong with being frank about the fact that you don't like your work very much.In fact, sometimes sharing this in a genuine way can be a wonderful opportunity for meaningful connection with a new person.But given that The Question tends to come up at the very beginning of an interaction with somebody new, it's not the smoothest or most inviting conversation starter.There's some kind of inherent magic to a positive response to a question. And so the conversation dies.Finally, your job title is a tragic distillation of what you actually spend your time doing. I've never come across a job title that encapsulated the contribution someone makes, day after day, in all its complexity and effort.A job title is, at best, a term that captures a function within an organisation.But when you answer The Question with an action-based response – with a verb instead of a noun – all kinds of opportunities open up.You get to choose which parts of your work you highlight.You can focus on the parts that you want to spend time talking about, and the parts that might contribute to moving your career change forward.You frame your work in terms of what you contribute, rather than what your job title says.And, if you want to sling a career change hint on the end, you could say something like:These four sentences give the person you're speaking to at least five different insights into what you're good at, what you enjoy, and what you're focused on. If someone asks you what you do, you know on a gut level that you're supposed to answer with the job title associated with your primary paid pursuit.But there are no rules, really. So don’t let it get you down, and do choose a smart answer from above: It might just help you gain a great new contact—and job opportunity. What's their favourite part of their work?