Homebrewing: strength or weakness when applying for macro brewery corporate jobs

[Hefesaurus_Rex]

I am talking with a recruiter for a macro brewery. The position is a data analyst role advising sales teams on strategy. I have been a homebrewer for a little over 2 years.

The question is whether a macro brewery views homebrewing as a strength or potential risk for corporate positions.

Pro: Homebrewers understand the product and, to an extent, product placement. They also have a good feel for market trends from a consumer perspective.

Con: Human Resources may misinterpret homebrewer as heavy drinker

What are your thoughts HBT?

 

[Homercidal]

They are in the business of making and selling alcohol. They understand (I hope) that people can drink without getting blotted every time. I'm sure MANY of the people that already work there are casual drinkers.

I think, generally, that being a homebrewer is a plus to them because you do understand the process. Whether that helps in your position would be debatable, but I would think in the very least you have some knowledge of the terminology and the processes, which would help facilitate communication between departments and people.

I'm betting they won't have a problem with your hobby until it becomes a problem. Just don't go into the hiring processes drunk, right?

 

[LBussy]

Speaking as a hiring manager (not in the beer industry): I often ask what people do for fun. This is a freebie where I just want to hear a person relax and talk. I view it favorably when a technical person expresses a genuine interest in technology. For instance one of the last people I interviewed brought up a project they did with Arduino and that led to a fun discussion about my Arduino project (BrewPi) and his.

I would think a hiring manager in the beer industry would likewise view it favorably if a person really enjoyed making beer and was a beer drinker, rather than it just being another place to go try for a job. I would not push the issue though - if the interview does not naturally lead to the discussion of your hobby, an attempt to inject it might be seen as you thinking you know more than you do.

$0.02 for your reading pleasure. Good luck with the recruitment process.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

In my opinion, this would probably be seen as a plus. An interest in homebrewing is an interest in beer, and likely a more nuanced understanding of the modern beer market than a generic "data analyst" would have. Clearly beer is a passion of yours and in your wheelhouse.

Now, if it was a position purely of data analysis unrelated to sales, or something else back-end, I would say it's at best a small plus. But if you're advising sales teams on strategy, having beer as a passion would likely mean you already understand the craft beer market, already understand the three tier system, and have a fuller appreciation for how to approach that market than someone who didn't care either way and just wanted the job.

And as mentioned, I would doubt that a brewery would not understand that you can homebrew without being an alcoholic. I'm sure they employ quite a few homebrewers.

 

[Norselord]

How do you plan on working homebrewing into the application process?

If you say that your personal interests are volunteer work, coaching youth baseball, and homebrewing - then that is one thing. You have to sell it...

Homebrewing is not about heavy drinking, it is about being a discerning beer consumer...if the subject comes up, it can't hurt to actually say that to a hiring manager or human resource drone.

 

[Hefesaurus_Rex]

Thanks for your responses. I've read this site for a long time and the wealth of information is impressive. This is the first time I couldn't find a past discussion posted.

My understanding is the employees often bring their 'work' home with them, sometimes a case at a time. I agree that they know their employees are casual fans of the product.

The tact comes with weaving it into the hiring process. I'm thinking during the interview and allow it to come up naturally. It is a nice, not a need to have for the position. Like any craft, the homebrewer is the informed and most discerning customer.

Aside: I knew a guy who showed up to an interview drunk. His logic was, "If I only ever interact with my boss while drunk, it will be business as usual. They'd be concerned the day I show up to work sober!" He got the job as a waiter. Perhaps a cautionary tale?

I'll let you know where the path goes.

 

[mongoose33]

I've thought about this quite a bit since you first posted it. I wonder if working for a macro brewery would require a certain respect of the macro brews they produce. Being a home brewer or craft brewer would imply a dissatisfaction with macro brews and thus could you really sell them or support them?

I think a focus on home brewing could be seen as a hobby requiring a focus on details and a concern about final quality. It just depends on what kind of macro brewing they are doing and what kind of product they produce. If it's a standard BMC product, then they may not be that impressed.

If it were me, I would note it. I think hiding things about yourself is not likely to result in a positive response. You are what you are. Celebrate it.

 

[Dcpcooks]

Home brewing would be seen as a positive by all the brewers I know. I doubt it has any negative connotation. I'd use it as a part of your reason for wanting to take the job.

"I am very excited for the chance to work for the Big beer company. I've been so intrigued by the growth of craft beer that I actually started brewing beer at home several years ago. It's been a very rewarding hobby that keeps me in touch with the newest trends in brewing, I can't wait to drill down on the numbers and work with the sales teams."

Yolo

 

[Hefesaurus_Rex]

Thanks for your thoughts. I wanted to confirm your general consensus.

• The employees of macro brewery were very receptive to my home brewing experience and saw it as a strength.
• Citing home brew experience on the resume grabbed the attention of the HR recruiter.

Unfortunately they offered a stronger candidate.

Cheers

 

[ancientmariner52]

Keep trying, Hef. The only industry I've ever heard of that has a prejudice against a candidate with a hobby interest is railroading, no idea why.