Will you go personal or professional, precise or broad, brief or lengthy?
Job interviews, by nature, can induce anxiety among interviewees. Depending on the level and format of the job interview, it is crucial that an applicant answers all questions asked by a virtual recruiting officer or hiring manager to draw a positive impression.
Admittedly, among open-ended, hypothetical, and closed-ended questions, the former requires the most thoughtful answer. Such types of questions reveal attitudes and opinions of applicants that are of great value for the companies in determining the person ideal for the job.
The ‘Tell me about yourself’ question is what interviewers ask first, as it is often the opening gambit to find out what an applicant is all about quickly. However, although this is one of the most common interview questions, it can be tricky to answer this question. It is challenging because it poses too much freedom for an applicant to maneuver the interview itself.
The following are guidelines from NKR’s experienced virtual recruiters on how to crush this common but complicated question during a job interview.
Make the most of the time and opportunity
The moment the interviewer drops the question, that signals you to do a quick pitch to sell yourself for the role. You can professionally highlight not only your primary selling points, the reason for wanting to work in the industry, but also your personal approach to work. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a good impression, which, who knows, can pave your way to your desired job offer. For quick virtual job interview tips, read this blog.
Do not oversell yourself.
The first tip comes with a little reminder not to overdo it. While you shouldn’t miss to build relevance to the job during this part, be careful not to oversell yourself. Balance the time you talk about your success in your previous careers, your time to talk about how you are as an employee, and your personal approach to dealing with business problems.
Prepare a brief outline of any relevant work experience
The ‘Tell me about yourself’ question is a way for hiring managers to initiate the actual interview and grasp a general idea of what you’re all about. Hence, to avoid missing out on any significant elements in your answer, preparing an outline and practicing how to sincerely and genuinely answer the questions is the key. Relevant experience includes those you did in the past and your current role. If
So, the next time you are invited for a job interview, make sure to nail this particular question. It can literally make or break the application process. Depending on how you answer, it is going to be the anchor of the interviewer on what to ask next and how to go over the interview. Remember, a lasting first impression pays.
NKR Recruit is a dedicated team focused on staffing the right Virtual Professionals for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs), Entrepreneurs, and Solopreneurs. We help our clients grow by bringing them quality talent through our excellent staffing and recruiting solutions at a fraction of the cost.
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