Tell Me About Yourself!

1
Tell Me About Yourself!
971001017 ??? Cheryl ???
2

• The most frequently asked question
• ?Your response will set the tone for
• the rest of the interview!
• ? What do interviewers want to know?
• ? What information should be included?
• The secret to answer
• ?focus ?script ?practice

3
EX1

• I'm happily married and originally from
  Denver," she began. "My husband was transferred
  here three months ago, and I've been getting us
  settled in our new home. I'm now ready to go back
  to work. I've worked in a variety of jobs,
  usually customer service-related. I'm looking for
  a company that offers growth opportunities.

? she did it once and can do it again.
? she did not emphasize what she did.
?Will she stay content for long?
4
Focus

• List five strengths
• (experiences, traits, skills)
• ex.

Eleanor is strong in communications and
connecting with people. She has a strong
background and proven success with customer
relationships. Her real strength is her
follow-through. She prides herself on her
reputation for meeting deadlines.
5
Scripting

• Begin by talking about
• past experiences and proven success
• ex.

"I have been in the customer service industry for
the past five years. My most recent experience
has been handling incoming calls in the high tech
industry. One reason I particularly enjoy this
business, and the challenges that go along with
it, is the opportunity to connect with people. In
my last job, I formed some significant customer
relationships resulting in a 30 percent increase
in sales in a matter of months."
6
Scripting

• Next, mention your strengths and abilities
• ex.

My real strength is my attention to detail. I
pride myself on my reputation for following
through and meeting deadlines. When I commit to
doing something, I make sure it gets done, and
on time.
7
Scripting

• Last, conclude with a statement about
• your current situation
• ex.

What I am looking for now is a company that
values customer relations, where I can join a
strong team and have a positive impact on
customer retention and sales."
8
Practice

• Practice with the script
• You should NOT memorize it
• ?it will be stiff and rehearsed.

?The more you can talk about your product
(YOU!) the better chance you will succeed!
9

• What are your strengths?

10
Make your Case

• Concentrating on your five best strengths
• focus during the interview
• (easier to remember you!)
• ? Professional suggests
• Tell what you are going to say early
• and repeating your points
• Keep going back to the main point

11
EX2 interviewing a position that
requires organizational skills

• Question Tell me about yourself.
• Begin
• (part of the answer should include your
  organizational skill)

One of my key strengths is being organized. If
you were to ask my coworkers, they would tell you
I am the ultimate planner.
12
EX2 interviewing a position that
requires organizational skills

• Question Tell me about yourself.
• Later
• (repeat your strength in a story format)

One project I worked on was very complex and
detailed. It required a lot of forethought and
planning on my part. I was able to do this using
Microsoft Project software for tracking and
scheduling.
13
EX2 interviewing a position that
requires organizational skills

• Question Why should we hire you?
• Answer
• (you should repeat information about being
  organized.)

From what I have heard throughout the interview,
it sounds like you're looking for someone to come
in and bring order to projects here. Since I am
known for my organizational skills, I know I
would be a real asset.
14

• What are your weaknesses?

15

• The worst interview questions.
• Interviewers want to see job seekers
• ? in which area they need to improve
• ? what they are doing about it
• ? make sure the weakness isnt a skill the
  
• company need
• ? test how they handle themselves under
• pressure

16

• Do NOT say you have no weakness or
• work too hard
• Tell the interviewers
• I am working on improving!

17
Strength or weakness?

• Understand the job duties before the
• interview starts
• What is your strength that someone may consider
  as a weakness?
• ex.

I really take a lot of time to listen to a
customer before I provide recommendations. A lot
of sales people are quick to answer, but I spend
time making sure I understand the customer's
needs
18

• Be honest
• A weakness on one hand
• is a strength on the
  other!

19

• Why should we hire you?

20

• Selling yourself in the interview
• Think yourself as a product

21

• Wrong answers
• ? Because I need a job. x
• ?I'm a hard worker and really want to work for
  this company. x

"What can you do for us?"
why do you choose us?"
22
Good answers

• ? Because I'm a good fit for the position.
• O
• ?I have what it takes to solve problems
• and do the job. O

Be warmer! More details!
A better answer so far.
23

• ?The bottom line
• What can you do for this company?
• Ready to summarize your accomplishments and
  works.

24

• Step 1
• Looking at job description
• Step 2
• Do an inventory (23 key qualities)

• Step 3
• Match what you have to offer and merge 2 of them
  into summary statement

25

• What did you like least
• about your last job?

26

• To test if youre going to be satisfied in this
  company
• Focus on tasks rather than company politics or
  people

27

• Wrong answers
• ? I didn't have enough challenges! I thrive on
  challenge! x
• ?Lack of stability. What I am looking for is
  stability in a job and company. x
• .
• ? My boss was overbearing and wouldn't let me do
  my job. x

"Will we be able to keep him challenged?"
He may have some burnout and flexibility issues.

It sounds like he could be a problem to
supervise.
28
EX3
I've been able to work with some really
interesting people. I have to say that I did have
a job where there was an inordinate amount of
paperwork. Because working with people is my
strength, the paperwork really bogged me down at
times.

• inordinate
• unusually large amount
• kept you from doing what you do best

29

• Was the work or the office environment causing
  the dissatisfaction?
• Create a list of your dissatisfactions
• Will they happen again in the new working
  environment?
• Choose the work you like to do best