What do you want your interviewer to know about you? By Dana Leipold
One of the most frequently asked questions in an interview is: Tell me about yourself. This can be the most challenging question in your entire interview, as your response will set the tone for the rest of the interview. Don’t wing this answer. Think about what you want the interviewer to know about you by doing the following:
Focus
List three to five strengths you have that are pertinent to this job. They can be experiences, traits, or skills. Then decide what you want the interviewer to know about you. Let’s say:
1. You are strong in communications and connecting with people.
2. You have some proven success in dealing with customer relationships.
3. Your real strength is follow-through.
4. You pride yourself on meeting tight deadlines.
Scripting
After you have a list of your strengths, prepare a script that includes the information you want to convey. Begin by talking about your past experiences and successes. An example would be something like:
“I have been in the customer service industry for the past five years. I really enjoy the opportunity to connect with people. My most recent experience has been handling incoming calls. In this position I formed some significant customer relationships that resulted in a 20 percent increase in sales in a matter of months.”
Next, highlight your strengths:
“My real strength is following through and meeting deadlines. When I commit to doing something, I make sure it gets done on time.”
Conclude with a statement about why you’re at the interview:
“What I am looking for now is a company that values customer relations, where I can have a positive impact on customer retention and sales.”
Practice
Practice with your script until you feel confident about what you want to emphasize in your statement. It should help you stay on track but don’t try to memorize it or you’ll end up sounding too stiff. Even if you are not asked this question, preparation will help you focus on what you have to offer. You will also find that you can use the information to assist you in answering other questions. The more you can relate your experience and skills to the job—the better chance you’ll have at getting it.
Dana Leipold is a professional writer who helps individuals reach career goals with high-impact resumes. She also publishes resume and interviewing tips aimed at gaining a fulfilling employment experience. Visit www.excellent-resumes.com to subscribe or request a FREE resume critique. Mention Unlimited Mom and get a discount on any service.
