How ironic is it to write about a question that could be answered almost instinctively. But the truth is, at a really important job interview you have been wishing to crack, where your answer could practically decide whether you land the job or not; it becomes vital to know exactly what could be the ideal answer to this question.
1.Avoid Telling Your Life Story
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Omit any detail that fails to circumvent the job requirement. Your family background, number of Facebook friends, etc. needn’t be discussed. Your answer should be completed in 3 minutes, not more.
2.Don’t Replicate the Resume
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The interviewer already has your resume. Don’t repeat it bullet by bullet when you are asked this question. Say something other than what has been mentioned, or perhaps, just elaborate upon the points that you have mentioned in your CV.
3.Take It As A Career pitch
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Highlight the best that you have been, professionally. Build up your pitch with talks of things like fellowships, major achievements at your workplace, external recognition(s) received, etc. Think of it as self-advertisement.
4.Use The Past, Present And Future Formula
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First, start with the present, highlighting the current awesomeness you are producing (seriously, make the employer feel that your work is nothing short of awesomeness); then go to the past projects you’d been part of, post which you could highlight your future plans – in alignment with the job description, of course! But try to be honest. An acquaintance, who is still confused about her career changes her future plans with every job interview she goes to!
5.Talk About Larger Goals And Your Passion About The Job
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These days, companies don’t look for employees. They look for partners – who can be a part of the business story. Tell the interviewer about how the job connects with you on an interplanar level. For example, if you are a business analyst, you can say that you have loved math and calculations ever since you were five – how you won Olympiads, etc. About your larger goals, you can say you want to be a change maker in your field. Broader and larger goals are a more powerful statement to make, than merely talking about position elevations.
6.Tell Stories And Anecdotes
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We all love stories. To get a (slight) edge over the other applicants, you should bet on the power of a simple story/ anecdote. Tell them about how your boss complimented you when you stepped in her shoes and managed the whole show while she was gone, how your job started out of your favorite hobby in your childhood or anything that connects you with the job you’ve applied for. Take it – if they aren’t stonehearted, they will like you!
7.Humor Them, Just A Little
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Job interviews are anything but relaxed. But if you can loosen the situation with a little bit of humor here and there, you can really win the interviewer over. For the question in focus here, you can say that, in comparison to your childhood where you broke parts of the computer, you have now become quite adept at it!
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