Bringing homebrewing up in a job interview

[BesteBrew]

At a job interview I brought up that I home-brew when they asked about my hobbies. The job was an associate scientist in a lab so I tried my best to show how much chemistry and biology was involved in the process. Looking back I'm thinking that it might have been a bad idea because to some people it may seem like I am an alcoholic making hooch in his basement. What do you guys think? Also does anyone have home-brew listed on their resume?

 

[Firebat138]

anyone who thinks that, I would not wanna work for... poker is a hobby, but to some its a gambling addiction.

 

[cincydave]

Tough call. If interviewer was a beer drinker, you probably scored some points. If a teatotaler, not so much. but I'd have probably mentioned it if ask about hobbies. what's done is done so go have a brew.

 

[ChrisJPassarelli]

Seriously, especially if you were applying to a lab, I think it's great! If you just said "I like to make booze in my tub," then sure, they might get that impression. After just a sentence or two, especially highlighting the job skills that you put to use all the time, it should absolutely be a positive.

Heck, I've mentioned homebrewing in interviews that have nothing to do with science, and as long as you describe it accurately they understand it properly as an involved, committed hobby.

 

[RogerMcAllen]

There is some stat floating around that something like 1 in 3 chemists has tried homebrewing.

It shows your passion for science outside the lab, and I think it could only reflect well as long as you stick to talking about the brewing and not the drinking.

/Chemist
//Would mention it in an interview

 

[spearko520]

were you dressed in a tuxedo?

 

[BesteBrew]

Yea I brought up things like specific gravity, fermentation temperatures, water pH and basically how the hydrometer works. Wish me luck.

 

[petey_c]

there is some stat floating around that something like 1 in 3 chemists has tried homebrewing.

It shows your passion for science outside the lab, and i think it could only reflect well as long as you stick to talking about the brewing and not the drinking.

/chemist
//would mention it in an interview

+1

 

[BesteBrew]

I had my tuxedo t shirt on does that count? It says classy but still ready to party!

 

[caver95]

I would think that it shows curiousness, the ability to self educate, that you think outside of the box, and that you will look for a better way to do things.

I would think, "hey this guy can buy great beer, but thinks he can do better. I wonder what he could do with XYZ inc's wigget formul.

 

[weirdboy]

I would totally bring up homebrewing in a job interview, especially for a lab. I am generally pretty honest about stuff like that, anyway, so if someone asks me about my hobbies and I *don't* mention homebrewing, it wouldn't feel right to me.

Everyone I work with knows I brew beer. Co-workers are always asking what kind of beer I've made recently, etc. and I give people samples when I see them.

I would think that it shows curiousness, the ability to self educate, that you think outside of the box, and that you will look for a better way to do things.

Curiosity.

The word you are looking for is "curiosity".

 

[caver95]

I would totally bring up homebrewing in a job interview, especially for a lab. I am generally pretty honest about stuff like that, anyway, so if someone asks me about my hobbies and I *don't* mention homebrewing, it wouldn't feel right to me.

Everyone I work with knows I brew beer. Co-workers are always asking what kind of beer I've made recently, etc. and I give people samples when I see them.




Curiosity.

The word you are looking for is "curiosity".

Ha that was a test, and you tested positive for being a (insert adjective here). FYI, both are correct.

 

[Quadrupled]

I have interviewed scientists (chemists) for similar positions and trust me, if I can hear someone apply knowledge in real world situations, they are far more golden than someone with only class based knowledge.

Obviously, as a homebrewer I'm biased; however, I'd be quite impressed if I had an applicant who could do into detail about brewing (or wine making, cheese making, etc.).

Don't fret about what you cannot control.

 

[DakotaRules]

I have associations listing AHA and what it stands for.

 

[SkippyWilliams]

I would mention it. I am proud to be a homebrewer. I wouldn't want to work for a place that thought my hobby was a bad thing.

 

[spearko520]

I had my tuxedo t shirt on does that count? It says classy but still ready to party!

you should be golden. i would hire you, but then again, i'm drunk. also a terrible interviewer.

 

[Revvy]

You may find this old discussion interesting. I think I bring up some interesting points in there.

Does Your Boss Know You Homebrew?

 

[Skagdog]

I actually brought it up yesterday during a job interview. It was part of my hobby breakdown including playing the guitar, killin' bunnies (tasty little critters) with my boys and canoeing with the family anyplace, any time.

I'm a shoe-in for sure!!

 

[Marlowefire]

When I got my job my boss said "you like beer and meat right?" I said "yup I even make my own beer" he said "cool. I like this guy".
My boss isn't like any other boss I have ever had in my life.

 

[Skagdog]

On second thought, I don't know that I'd really enjoy working for someone who draws assumptions like home brewing=alcoholic. That's a pretty broad stroke of the ol brush. Aren't we protected under federal non- discrimination practices? Hehe

 

[The_Dog_42]

As should be expected, everyone posting so far is pretty much on board with mentioning homebrewing.

As an engineer, it was definitely a decision I struggled with when I was looking. I eventually decided that by the time my interview got to talking about hobbies, I should have a pretty good read on the interviewer. If they mention God or religion, even vaguely, in a science or engineering-related interview, I would be less inclined to mention homebrewing.

But I also decided that if they were going to see homebrewing in a strictly negative light, I wouldn't want to work with them anyway...and they could go suck an egg.

 

[passedpawn]

Each situation is different, but in general, I would not discuss religion, politics, women, racial topics, or anything that might be considered taboo to any group during the interview. If you want the job, heed this advice.



I'd say any discussion of alcohol would be a bad idea. If you want to discuss an outside interest, pick something completely innocuous, like cooking or running.

Now, if the interviewer brought up homebrewing, that's different. But if the interviewer said "So, do you drink?", the wrong answer would be to go into an excited passionate description of your home brewery.

There's lots of time to let everyone know your passions once you get the job.

 

[spearko520]

i never stress about a job. I always think "when they find out what you are doing to the coffeepot, you'll be fired, for sure. and then all this stress will have been for nothing. so don't sweat it."

 

[passedpawn]

I always think "when they find out what you are doing to the coffeepot, you'll be fired, for sure."

PLEASE, explain. I must know what this means.

 

[spearko520]

i do little things to the coffeepot to relieve the stress at the office. they might not be legal in certain circles or ethical in others- i don't know - i'm not some sort of ethnic lawyer geometrist...
it seems to be working with the stress though - kind of like imagining everyone in their underwear when you have speak in public

 

[Slowfro]

I brought it up once in an interview and they responded with "sweet, we can throw a good party now." They emailed me an offer on my drive home from the interview, so I guess it wasn't anything that was too detrimental...


...I'm still at my old job.

 

[AmandaK]

I didn't mention it on purpose, but when my interviewer and I walked to my car to drive to lunch he noticed the "I brew the beer I drink." sticker on my back glass. And then he saw my copy of Brewing Better Beer and we struck up a nice conversation about it.

I had an offer within 24 hours.

 

[passedpawn]

i do little things to the coffeepot to relieve the stress at the office. they might not be legal in certain circles or ethical in others- i don't know - i'm not some sort of ethnic lawyer geometrist...
it seems to be working with the stress though - kind of like imagining everyone in their underwear when you have speak in public

golden. thanks.

 

[TheGreatFermenter]

I did the same thing. We started talking about sports an Hobbies. I didn't however get the job. But I don't think it was because of that. I wouldn't worry to much about it. If you don't get it, I just wouldn't bring it up again lol

 

[Scooby_Brew]

At a job interview I brought up that I home-brew when they asked about my hobbies. The job was an associate scientist in a lab so I tried my best to show how much chemistry and biology was involved in the process. Looking back I'm thinking that it might have been a bad idea because to some people it may seem like I am an alcoholic making hooch in his basement. What do you guys think? Also does anyone have home-brew listed on their resume?

Bad idea. This is the reason why I keep my home brewing out of my face book. You know the first thing they do is to google up your name. You will never know why you didn't get the job or the promotion. People just don't understand, they are ignorant. To them a guy home brewing beer on a week-end = moonshining alcoholic.

If they asked me about my hobbies, I'd say: home emprovement, cooking, fishing.

It's sad, but the real Big Brother is your employer now-a-days.