The Job Interview

Yeah..."hobbies include wasting hours each day on company time surfing the internet for training and nutrition information to improve my triathlon performance"

And be sure to ask if they have a high-speed internet connection so you don't get bogged down while cruising BT.com

I would not dwell on it.  Sometimes, if you talk about the training and the work required to do Tri's the employer may think that you are more committed to that than the job.  However, if you are in the office interviewing and you see a picture of a bike or a race photo - it could be something in common which would help you land the job. 

Also, if you are interviewing with someone who looks athletic, it might be a help.  It really depends upon the situation.  I would not list it on my resume because you do not know who is reading it.  If a couch potato is reviewing your resume, they may dump it for that reason. 

Use your judgement.  If asked how you relieve stress, you could simply say "I exercise".  If they show an interest, talk a little about it but do NOT spend a lot of time on it.  What you really want to get across to the interviewer is your work skills. 

When an interviewer asks "tell me about yourself" your focus should be on your experience and traits that make you the best candidate for the job. Relate experiences that tie into the responsibilities for the job you are interviewing for; describe your character traits that would make you a good employee.

If the position requires physical activity, is strenous, requires you to be on your feet quite a bit, then your physical condition would be relevant and that's your opportunity to slip in a remark about training for triathlon. However, if you are interviewing for a desk job, this tidbit wouldn't be relevant.

If the person interviewing is obviously not physically fit, steer clear of the topic entirely.

I am new to tri and I have observed somethings about others when I tell them I train for tri:

• Some people feel inadequate and my discipline for training makes them feel inferior (NOT good in an interview)
• Some people are naturally competitive and want to 'one upsmanship' me with their physical accomplishments (You don't want to get into one-upsmanship during an interview. Even if you win, you will lose.)
• Some people are very out of shape and my commitment to getting into shape unnerves them; they see it not as a reflection of who I am but rather as a reflection of who they are not. Obviously, they have issues but these issues could bite you in the butt if you bring it up during your interview.
• Some people assume I'm some kind of sports nut (definitely not!) and make erroneous assumptions about my attitudes and lifestyle. You don't want an interviewer making erroneous assumptions about you, especially about something totally irrelevant to your ability to do your job.

Unless this job requires that you have a competitive nature, I would say nothing or very little about triathlon. If it's a sales job, then by all means revel in your competitive nature. 

Obviously you are proud of yourself - and you deserve to be - but that pride might bite you on the butt during your interview. Know your audience and how (if at all) being a triathlete would be a benefit to your prospective interviewer.