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So_Why_Dont_You_Tell_Me_About_Yourself
| So, Why Dont You Tell Me About Yourself
"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!
About the author:
Linda Matias is an Internationally Certified Job and Career
Transition Coach and a Certified Employment Interview
Professional. She specializes in career coaching, resume
development, and interview and job search training. Visit her
website at www.careerstrides.com or email her at
careerstrides@bigfoot.com.
So, Why Dont You Tell Me About Yourself?
"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!
About the author:
Recognized as a career expert, Linda Matias brings a wealth of
experience to the career services field. She is President of
CareerStrides and The National Resume Writers' Association.
Visit her website at www.careerstrides.com or email her at
careerstrides@bigfoot.com
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