This week we will be discussing the dreaded interview question, "Tell me about yourself."
Now, I'll be willing to bet that if you've been on an interview before, you've heard this question. If you haven't, then you probably will on your next interview. This is most likely the most common interview question and it can be a little scary.
We know you're awesome, you know you're awesome but it's now your job to convince the interviewer you would make the best employee.
You may be tempted to answer like:
I was born in Virginia Beach until I moved to Poquoson when I was five. I grew up there and I was really into sports in high school, I then moved to Richmond where I got my first apartment in Carytown, which was awesome because I could walk to a ton of different places….(on and on)
There's really nothing to tell.
Look at my resume if you want to learn about me..it's all there.
I just want a job.
These answers really don’t give the employer an idea about the type of employee you will be. This will be your first impression and you want to make it count.
The best way to answer this question is to follow the SET model:
S - Skills - What work skills you have gained?
E - Experience - What work experience you have?
T - Time - How long you have been using your job skills
I've been a server for about 5 years now where I have been recognized for my my customer service and time management skills. I really enjoy working in the restaurant industry as a whole and serving customers, which is why I'm so excited about this opportunity.
A couple of things to remember:
1) Be concise - Keep your answer short and sweet.
2) Be excited - Employers will make note on if you actually look like you want to be there. Also, you're talking about youself here, make sure you seem like you actually like you.
3) Be relevant - Don't go on and on about things that don't relate at all to the job. While you may think your rock collection is worthwhile, it really doesn't have anything to do with what type of employee you will make.
Interviewing can cause a lot of anxiety, but by practicing your answers, you will be prepared when you get this question. It is a very common interview question so chances are it will be coming your way at some point!
About Kim Costa