Hi Jessica
I'm least confident in questions about how I spend my extracurricular time. I was hot on this in school (winning public speaking competitions and so on) but I slacked in university. Now a paralegal, I spend my free time doing what I genuinely want to do. The problem is, these activities don't sound good on paper.
I am an active and sociable person, but I'm pretty varied and non committal in my hobbies meaning (a) I haven't got good or achieved much and (b) I haven't assumed any positions of responsibility.
If I were to answer honestly, I do yoga once/ twice a week; I spend my weekends outdoors walking/ sightseeing/ on the beach (currently ticking off all beaches in Cornwall); I play tennis on and off in the summer; I quite like being on the water generally but don't have a particular or regular watersport. I enjoyed literature in school and have seen a tonne of Shakespeare plays- but saying this out loud comes across as pretentious/ a disingenuous attempt to impress. I'm quite big on self improvement and I get up early each morning to make time for this. This encompasses morning exercise/ meditation/ listening to podcasts/ reading philosophical and religious texts/ re-evaluating my priorities in all aspects of life. This is what I genuinely think is important, but I tend not to list this since I'm conscious it comes across as wishy-washy and not demonstrating the typical character traits of a corporate lawyer.
Within work but outside my daily role, I am on the committee of a networking group for young professionals and have organised a couple of well-attended events. I've pretty much assumed responsibility for any visiting work experience students and have made it a more coordinated programme with prepared tasks and a system for the more practical considerations. I try to go for regular networking coffees with people inside and outside the firm.
I'm feeling a bit stuck and would appreciate any advice you may have on (a) how to present my existing activities so that I come across the best way possible (ie not boring!) and (b) what you think I might benefit from taking up/ working on.
Thanks so much for all your time.
