Recently, a colleague of mine had a job interview. She was smart, talented, and ambitious. But when the interviewer asked her to tell them about herself, she made a fundamental mistake.
She went into excruciating detail about her many jobs (which were already in her CV), her reasons for leaving, and her career aspirations. She bored the interviewer and missed a golden opportunity to showcase her personality and value.
Friends, don’t make the same mistake. There is a trick to answering this question. And it’s not about reciting your resume.
It’s about showing a more interesting, engaging side of you, and standing out from the other candidates – while tying this to the role you are applying for.
Here’s how you can do it:
Talk about your passion. What drives you? What makes you excited about your work? For example, “I’m passionate about helping people achieve their goals through coaching and mentoring.”
Talk about your reputation. What are you known for in your workplace? What skills or achievements have you demonstrated? For example, “I’m known for delivering high-quality projects on time and within budget.”
Talk about your personality. How would your colleagues describe you? What traits or values do you have? For example, “I’m a team player, a problem solver, and a lifelong learner.”
Talk about something interesting. What is a fact or a story that most people don’t know about you? What makes you unique or memorable? For example, “I once backpacked across Europe for six months and learned three languages.”
Talk about your motivation. Why are you interested in this role or company? What are your goals or aspirations? For example, “I’m interested in this role because I want to work for a company that values innovation and social impact.”
And friends, when the hiring managers are in a room deciding who they want for the role, don’t you want to stand out as “the guy who loves cooking biryani”?
It’s about capturing their attention, standing out, and remaining memorable. And keeping it to less than 2 minutes.
Team, how have you answered this question in interviews? And hiring managers, how would a candidate answer this question to stand out? Share your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.
#leadership #jobinterviews #communication #standout #bememorable
