Frequently Asked Question At Job Interview

“So, why don’t you tell me about yourself?” is the most frequently asked interview question. It’s a question that most interviewees expect and the one they have the most difficulty answering. Though one could answer this open-ended question in a myriad of ways, the key to answering this question or any other interview question is to offer a response that supports your career objective. This means that you shouldn’t respond with comments about your hobbies, spouse, or extra curricular activities. Trust me, interviewers aren’t interested.

Interviewers use the interview process as a vehicle to eliminate your candidacy. Every question they ask is used to differentiate your skills, experience, and personality with that of other candidates. They want to determine if what you have to offer will mesh with the organization’s mission and goals.

If answered with care, your response to the question, “So, why don’t you tell me about yourself?” could compliment the interviewers needs as well as support your agenda. This is a question you should be prepared to answer as opposed to attempting to “wing it”.

Follow the four easy steps outlined below to ensure your response will grab the interviewers attention.

1.	Provide a brief introduction. Introduce attributes that are key to the open position. Sample introduction: During my 10 years’ of experience as a sales manager, I have mastered the ability to coach, train, and motivate sales teams into reaching corporate goals.
2.	Provide a career summary of your most recent work history. Your career summary is the “meat” of your response, so it must support your job objective and it must be compelling. Keep your response limited to your current experience. Don’t go back more than 10 years. Sample career summary: Most recently, at The Widget Corporation, I was challenged with turning around a stagnant territory that ranked last in sales in the Northeastern region. Using strategies that have worked in the past, I developed an aggressive sales campaign that focused on cultivating new accounts and nurturing the existing client base. The results were tremendous. Within six months my sales team and I were able to revitalize the territory and boost sales by 65%.
3.	Tie your response to the needs of the hiring organization. Don’t assume that the interviewer will be able to connect all the dots. It is your job as the interviewee to make sure the interviewer understands how your experiences are transferable to the position they are seeking to fill. Sample tie-in: Because of my proven experience in leading sales teams, Craig Brown suggested I contact you regarding your need for a sales manager. Craig filled me in on the challenges your sales department is facing.
4.	Ask an insightful question. By asking a question you gain control of the interview. Don’t ask a question for the sake of asking. Be sure that the question will engage the interviewer in a conversation. Doing so will alleviate the stress you may feel to perform. Sample question: What strategies are currently underway to increase sales and morale within the sales department?

There you have it – a response that meets the needs of the interviewer AND supports your agenda.

When broken down into manageable pieces, the question, “So, tell me about yourself?” isn’t overwhelming. In fact, answering the question effectively gives you the opportunity to talk about your strengths, achievements, and qualifications for the position. So take this golden opportunity and run with it!

Editors and publishers are welcomed to reprint articles found on our website as long as the following byline appears intact.

Recognized as a career expert, Linda Matias brings a wealth of experience to the career services field. She has been sought out for her knowledge of the employment market, outplacement, job search strategies, interview preparation, and resume writing, quoted a number of times in The Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, Newsweek, and HR-esource.com. She is President of CareerStrides and the National Resume Writers’ Association. Visit her website at www.careerstrides.com or email her at linda@careerstrides.com.

How to Say It: Job Interviews
Amazon.com's Bestseller In It's Category
Buy Your Copy Today.

How to Say It: Job Interviews

Written by Linda Matias a Certified Interview Coach and director of Certified Interview Coach Institute, How to Say It® Job Interviews provides the nuts and bolts you need to interview successfully. Order How to Say It® Job Interviews through Amazon and learn how to ace any job interview.

The CareerStrides Difference

Your own virtual career professional at your service:
All our services are provided by certified career professionals. We're at your disposal via phone, fax, email, and mail! Get a Comprehensive Resume Evaluation today!

Affordable, flexible prices: Unlike other resume writer services and career firms, we don't offer "canned" price lists. Your project is given thoughtful consideration and we develop a customized price for the services you need. Take our Resume Quiz for starters!

Expertise in all career areas: We aren't just a resume-writing service. CareerStrides offers assistance in all phases of your career: from career coaching to interview coaching, from the start through the end of your job search process, and into your next position.

Visit our job search tools section to get a jump start on your career today.

Get up-to-date on your Career Skills!
Subscribe our FREE
e-newsletter "CareerStrides"
You’ll receive a copy of our guide “Best Job Search Strategies” just for subscribing

Written by a nationally published career expert, the President of The National Resume Writers’ Association, and a certified career coach, this newsletter offers ongoing support and advice on your career development needs.

resumes writer services,New York,NY,NRWA,executive sales it teacher resume,career coaching coach,professional certified published resumes writers,interview advice,interview preparation,interview coach,certified career coach,interviewing

Web Design by: Southern Winds Online

Return to Top

Frequently Asked Question At Job Interview