"The Worst Interview Question"
Well, you’ve finally done it. After months of toil, anxiety and effort, you have gotten that interview for your dream job with XYZ Corporation and here you are, sitting with the Director of HR for an interview!
The Director finishes studying your resume, lays it down on his desk, folds his hands, smiles pleasantly and says: “Tell me about yourself.”
TELL HIM ABOUT YOURSELF?!?!!?
A wave of dismay grips your stomach....Your mind reels…
If this has happened to you, you’re not alone. That question is #1 in all the HR recruitment manuals. It represents a significant problem in that the interviewee must decide what the questioner is really asking and then satisfactorily answer that question.
What are they asking? Do they want a verbal mini-autobiography? ...a discussion of your career to date? ...personal items like family, kids, interests? Problem is, you don’t know and can’t afford to guess incorrectly.
Actually, it is easy to decide what they are asking. This question, like almost all interview questions, boils down to one, and only one, query:
Why should I hire you?
The sole reason you are there is for the interviewer to ascertain the answer to that question. That answer will determine if your candidacy continues or you join the list of “we’ll keep you in mind” job seekers.
What are the three or four best reasons they should hire you?
Is it a combination of your education, experience and personal traits?
---Or---
Is it the fact you have extremely specialized skills suitable to their organization?
Whatever the 3-4 reasons are, think them over prior to the interview, prepare a logical and reasonable response, keep it in the 60-90 seconds range and practice it so it is convincing and interesting.
That way, you will be absolutely ready when they ask you to “Tell me about yourself.”
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