What to say in the interview, when asked to talk about yourself
Work And Study / / December 25, 2019
Experience, skills, goals and other topics that you can talk with a recruiter.
Firstly, do not be afraid of such a request. The person who conducts the interview, most of all want you to have passed it successfully, because he needed an employee. Secondly, remember that just is not worth to talk about some things. For example, do not retell my whole life. Employers do not need to know which school you attended, what clubs attended and who dreamed of being a child.
Focus on useful information: tell us about recent professional achievements, and about which you have been educated. Think about useful skills and light up their career goals. And be sure to explain why you are interested in this company. Give each category not more than 30 seconds, and the amount of your story will take 2.5 minutes. Let us examine each item in detail.
1. Recent professional successes
This part - the most important. Prepare thoroughly in advance, so as not to delve into the memory the interview.
What to talk about
- Select three to five recent achievements, important for the position for which you are comfortable with.
- Briefly describe them, naming specific examples.
- Tell us about the case from his practice, which characterizes you as a professional.
what to avoid
- literally recount summary. The interviewee himself can read it. Now, focus on what you do with it steep.
- Talk about their experiences, without backing word examples. You may think that you have to embellish reality or even're lying.
- Mention achievements that do not belong to the profession. It's great that you are baking tasty buns. But this is unlikely to help get a seat accountant or editor.
2. Education
It is important to show not the availability of education and a diploma, and the experience gained in practice - during the project or at the master class.
What to talk about
- Tell us what you have learned on the last job.
- Explain how these skills will help cope with new responsibilities.
- Describe the experience that you have working on the most big project.
what to avoid
- Take place at all points of their education (school, university, courses). It's too much. In addition, the school is unlikely to help you much skills at work.
- Brag honors. One of his presence is not talking about your professionalism.
- Mention each course that you have passed, and every conference in which visited. What are the latest - it's enough to show that you develop in the sphere.
3. Useful skills
This extra points in your favor. If you lack the experience, focus on them.
What to talk about
- Think of two or four useful skills that I know well and that will be useful in a new place. If you do not know what it will have to deal with, select the universal: the ability work in a team, Willingness to learn new things.
- Explain how these skills have helped or will help you to practice.
- Tell us how you got them.
what to avoid
- Lie about your skills. Such a lie quickly opened. Perhaps, at the second interview, or at the stage of the test task.
- Talk about the skills that are not related to work (I had a rock band, my pictures shown on the show). This characterizes you as a versatile person, but not necessarily talking about professionalism.
- Dismiss trite phrases about stress and multitasking. These words mean almost nothing.
4. career goals
If you have not thought about what you want to achieve in the future, it's time to do it. This will help to decide which job to respond, and in the interview to show off highly motivated person.
What to talk about
- mention goalsThat are consistent with the company's mission. For this pre-study of its website. If there is no necessary information, try to imagine what the organization wants to achieve its activities.
- Tell us how the company can help you achieve these goals and what you are, in turn, help her.
- Show that you want stability and career growth.
what to avoid
- Talk about general life goals (I want to buy a house, have kids and a dog). Perhaps you already knew: everything that is not connected with the profession, it is better to omit. Unless, of course, you will not be asked about it directly.
- Mention the goals that the company can not help you achieve. This will create the impression that you are moving in different directions.
- To say that you do not have a particular purpose. If you do not know what you want, you may be disorganized person who does not think about the long term. It is unlikely that it will arrange for you to the employer.
5. The reasons why you are interested in company
This is a banal question, but that he can win the recruiter. Try honestly to tell what exactly attracted you to this vacancy.
What to talk about
- Say that you are close to the target company (and list which ones). This will show that you are close in spirit.
- Describe how the new post will help you become better.
- Hint that you can see yourself in this company in the future. Just do not say you want to lead it through the N years, it's overkill.
what to avoid
- The first thing to mention an attractive salary. Everybody needs money, but again it is better to tell about the interesting tasks, professional growth, and other advantages of the company.
- Saying "I just need a job." It does not exactly enhance the confidence to you.
- Refer to the fact that there are good people. You go not to make friends, and carry out their duties and profitable company. you can praise professionalism employees and say what you want to learn from them, but do not expose the next team the only plus.
By following the above rules, you will get rid of awkward pauses and does not force the employer to listen to the information that he did not need. This will significantly increase your chances for a successful job interview.
see also🧐
- 50 life hacking for successful interviewing
- "I have so written in the summary?" What we can not say at the interview
- Job interviews in English: how to be prepared to get a job