Learn how to give the PERFECT answer to the interview question - "Tell me about yourself". Also see - MOST COMMON MISTAKES IN ENGLISH & HOW TO AVOID THEM: • 50 MOST COMMON MISTAKE...
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Transcript:
“Tell me about yourself” - this is usually the first question you will hear in an interview. Giving a good answer means that you will create a strong, positive impression on the interviewer. In this video, I will give you a three-step formula to give the perfect answer to this question every time. So let’s talk about it. So you go into the interview room, shake hands with the interviewer (or interviewers, if there’s more than one person), and you sit down. And then comes the question - “Tell me about yourself.” How do you begin? Well, the best way to start your answer is with a 1-sentence introduction. This sentence should summarize who you are. For example, if I were applying for a teaching job, I would say “I am an English teacher and teacher trainer with 7 years' experience in the ESL industry.” ESL means English as a Second Language. Notice that this sentence tells you that I am an English teacher, I’m also a teacher trainer (meaning that I train other teachers), and that I have 7 years’ experience in the field. So it’s a good summary of me as the candidate for the job. Now, if you just graduated from college, and you’re applying for your first job, you can say: “I am a recent graduate with a BBA in Operations Management” for example. So, this is the introduction. After this, you should say three to five sentences about your achievements. These sentences should show why you are a good fit for this job. This part is where you impress the interviewer. If I were a candidate, I would talk about my successes as a teacher: I would say that I specialize in teaching business English to professionals. I’d mention the fact that I have trained executives from multinational corporations. I’d then say that the success of my training programs have made these clients repeat customers - meaning that they have come back to my company for more training. Finally I would mention that I do teacher training, helping English teachers to deliver better lessons in their classrooms. These are my strong points. When you prepare your answer, think of three to five points about your achievements. If you are a recent graduate, mention your accomplishments in college (like your projects), and your other academic successes. Now, at this point, the interviewer must be impressed with you. They will have gained a good deal of respect for your skills. But, they might be thinking - well, you’ve done all this and you sound like a real professional, but why do you want to come and work here - in this company? So, your closing statement should be your answer for why you want this job. And here, it’s never good to say “I hate my boss” or “all my coworkers are plotting against me” or something else that’s negative about your present job. Instead, if you’re changing jobs, you should make it sound positive. I might say “I’m very happy in my current job, but I’m looking for a more challenging role. One where I can use my skills in a managerial position. That’s why I want this job.” Or, if I were a recent graduate, I would say “I am looking for a job where I can put my education and skills to use, where I will be challenged to grow and learn, and contribute to the success of the company.” And with this closing statement, you end your answer. OK, now that you know the formula, let me show you my complete answer as an example. Imagine that I’m applying to be a senior English teacher at a language school. I go in for the interview, and the interviewer says “Tell me about yourself”. Here’s my answer: I am an English teacher and teacher trainer with 7 years' experience in the ESL industry. I specialize in teaching business English to professionals and have trained executives from a number of multinational corporations. My training programs for these companies have focused on making their executives better communicators, particularly in working with their overseas colleagues and customers. Thanks to the success of these programs, many corporate clients have become repeat customers for the company I work for. Aside from teaching business English, I have also delivered workshops for teachers, aiming to help them teach English with a more practical, communicative, skills-based approach. Needless to say, I’m very happy in my current job, it’s extremely fulfilling, but I’m looking for a more challenging managerial role where I can apply my teaching expertise, and that’s why I’m here today. So remember the formula - start with a strong introduction, then talk about 3-5 of your achievements, and finally, end with a statement on why you want this job.