What You Can Tell Employers About You

Anyone who has ever been in an interview can tell you that “Tell me about yourself” is the most popular question any employer uses to learn more about you. This is probably the most important part of the interview because it sets the tone and direction of the meeting. While this is an almost universal question, it can be asked with very different intentions. When asked by the prepared interviewer who has gone through the resume, s/he is really giving the candidate a chance to sing his own praises (moderately of course)- a chance to see what s/he will choose to highlight about him/herself. But, when an unprepared interviewer asks the same questions, he is simply buying time- giving himself an extra few minutes to read the resume, or just taking it easy and waiting for the candidate to give him material to work with. 
 

Many candidates feel uncomfortable with this question because it seems vague, and they are not sure which direction their answer should take. But tackling this question successfully is straightforward and simple. Here is how we suggest you deal with the situation. This is the chance to say a lot of little things that have no place on your resume but are important. (Whatever you do make sure your answer is not an oral rendition of your resume!!) 
 

Know Your Audience: 
 
You need to know what your interviewer(s) wants to know. There is no point in giving details that add nothing to the impact you create or mark you off as a bad playwright. Employers do not want to hear about your personal life, your problems with your previous boss, etc… They are looking to see how you fit with the job and company. You need to focus on getting to know the culture of the company through research and asking people to get a clear idea of what you should focus on. 
 

Think About You: 
 
What you need to do with any employer/recruiter, whether in a one-on-one interview, meeting a representative in a recruiting event, or any other potential client (remember that potential employers are YOUR potential client) is sell yourself. What you need to create is a personal commercial. This personal commercial should highlight your strengths, experience, achievements – anything that makes you shine: You should take in account the job you are interested in, the company, and what they require. Your commercial will probably remain with the interviewer a lot longer than you think, whether good or bad. 
 

Start with your experience: Tell your interviewer about your relevant experience. If you worked in a familiar industry, this will make a big difference in how you are profiled. Highlighting some work achievements and relevant duties in past jobs will also offer a positive impact. If you are a fresh graduate, tell the employer about your summer training or any extracurricular activities you took part in. 
 

Then your skills: Is the position you are applying for a technical one? Then list your technical skills. Employers look for skills like attention to detail, strong communication, dealing with deadlines, etc. But make sure that these pertain to you and the position you’re interviewing for. Having programming skills doesn’t mean much to an employer when you are seeking an administrative position! 
 

Now your education: Although this will not have much influence for more experienced candidates, it is vital for the less-experienced. Does your degree support the career field? If not, do you have relevant course work or training? Although more weight will be given to your work experience, this information is vital to fresh grads. 
 
And finally your ambitions: Tell your potential employer about what you are looking for and what you are seeking to fulfill. 
 
Anything Else?: There may be other information that is important to the job. This includes travel experience, associations and activities. Include it! 
 
Remember, the interviewer sometimes dictates the order you start with. For example, s/he may ask you to start with your education first, so make sure you listen out for the instructions. 
 
Whatever you do, make sure your answer doesn’t drag on endlessly- take your cue from your interviewer. If he she seems distracted or starts shifting in their seat, or looks like s/he is waiting for a moment of silence to interrupt you, be brief- the worst thing you can do is bore an interviewer! 
 

Put It In Writing:
 
Put all these things together in writing. Here is an example, which you can use as a guide: A sales representative job in a software company requiring 2 years experience would need a “personal commercial” that goes something like “I have been following a sales career for the last 2 years in the software industry. I have been handling various account sectors, especially the tourism and hospitality sector. At my last job, I was noted for surpassing my target, and helped raise sales by 30% in one year.” “My strengths are in communication. I pride myself on being able to establish a relationship with my clients and being able to maintain them. I am always meet deadlines, and work well under pressure.” “My degree in business has helped me get a grip of this career, as well as my coursework in psychology.” “I have participated in several sales-oriented workshops.” 
 

Now Practice:
 
Practice what you wrote. Don’t memorize it. You don’t want to sound like a robot at the interview. Instead, try to be relaxed. It should sound natural and not rehearsed. You can rehearse with a friend to get feedback. 

Good Luck!