Two Quick Thoughts
On an Important Question
It’s no secret that new budget money is in the process of being released for F.Y. 2014. That means project work and permanent positions becoming available, but it's the interviews that will win you the work. You can start your interview out on a positive note by handling one of the most overlooked interview questions more skillfully than your competition.
The opportunity to make a memorable introduction can set the tone for the rest of the conversation. The manager has already read your resume so when he or she says “Tell us a little about yourself” you should interpret that question as if the person on the other side of the desk has just said “Show me a preview that makes me want to see the rest of the movie”.
Here are Two Quick Thoughts to consider.
Just enough - Just like in a movie trailer, don’t try to provide too much detail during this opening scene. 60 to 90 seconds of background about “how you became the professional you are today” should be sufficient. If there are personal points of interest that are directly applicable to the position, such as where you attended school, or unique hobbies that support your fit for the job be sure to limit the amount of time you spend on them. Don’t risk distracting your audience.
Just Right - Just as Hollywood doesn’t “wing it” when they release a movie trailer, you shouldn’t leave your introduction to chance either. Create a brief but specific outline of what YOU feel are the 3 to 5 most important points you want to get across during your introduction, and the script will easily appear. I can’t tell you exactly what those points should be because each career path and the answer to “how you became the professional you are today” is truly unique. But, creating the outline and then rehearsing the answer (yes, out loud) gives you a running start towards winning out over your competition.
Remember that there is no Academy Award for “Best Movie Trailer”. Every great introduction has to be followed up with substance, (the demonstration of your ability as an EDI Consultant, B2B Integration Architect, etc.). Correctly handling this first question will make the rest of the interview go a bit easier for you as well as the manager.
You will know you have nailed the answer when something in your opening is revisited in a positive way during the interview. That kind of follow-up is the sound of people buying tickets to the show.
