What is the one question you KNOW you will get asked at the beginning of each and every first interview?
“So, tell me a little bit about yourself…”
My clients continually share with me that although it seems like this should be an easy question to answer, they struggle with exactly what to say!
Well good news! I am going to give you a short script template to answer this question, and you will only have to fill it out once. This is a simple way to break down what to say each time you are asked to share a little about yourself that will work for multiple interviews.
You will want to keep your response under a minute to ensure that you don’t lose your listener.
Your script should begin with a statement such as:
“Well, as you can see from my resume, I have…”
At this point, include any relevant academic information, years in the industry or position, and short highlights of the key positions you have held. It may sound something like this:
“Well, as you can see from my resume, I have 15 years of experience in the construction industry. After graduating from X University with a bachelor’s degree in construction management, I was hired by Company A to work as a project manager in their hospitality division. That’s where I got my feet wet in project management. I quickly developed a reputation for bringing projects in on time and under budget.
Then I was recruited by Company B…”
Continue your script through to your current position. Invest the most time talking about the positions that are most relevant to the one for which you are interviewing. In most cases, this will be the position(s) you have held in the last 5 to 7 years.
Your script should end with the statement:
“I am really excited to be here and to learn more about the qualities you are looking for in a top candidate. Would it be okay to talk about that now?”
Your interviewer(s) will love your positive attitude and you will get to learn more about the position – right from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Be sure to jot down the key points they share with you, because these are your talking points for the rest of the interview!
Don’t forget to practice your template several times out loud until you feel comfortable. This will reinforce your confidence, too.
By using this simple technique, you will calmly and confidently answer this question, and impress your interviewer in the process.
