How to NAIL the Dreaded Question in an Interview

UGH, WHAT!? This interview question is the broadest, and yet most predictable question asked at nearly EVERY interview you will ever have. We are professional recruiters here at Enhance Recruiting and find this question comes up more often than not. We want to give you the best tips on nailing your answer to this question!

Here are a variety of ways it can be asked:

• Tell us about your experience, training, and education as it relates to this position.
• What makes you the best candidate for this position?
• What have you done to prepare for this position?

As you can see the questions can look very different so you MUST pay attention and respond to the subtle differences in each question.

But what are ALL of these interview questions concerning?  YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST!

What is it about your past that has gotten you in the chair, Zoom, or Teams interview?  Think long and hard about this question and NAIL it because this is exactly what this interview is about. They want to know your capacity to ROCK this position!

Be confident, not cocky.  Be honest, clear, and sell yourself.  Don’t undersell, don’t oversell.  And stick to the point!

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF TIPS – WRITE THIS DOWN

1. Practice and time your answer. It should never be more than 5 minutes long.
2. There is a fine balance between “listing off your resume” and telling your “story”.  At least 90% of what you say should be pointed directly at your RELATED experience for the job you’ve applied for.
3. 10% of your answer can be a fun fact or two about yourself, but don’t get too personal. A little something is thrown into the interview (as it relates) makes you relatable & human! You would be very surprised at the tiny little details that will stick to an interviewer’s mind and make them feel like they know you.

DON’T ASSUME THE INTERVIEWER KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU

Even if you included it in your resume or in your application. We see this mistake all the time, particularly with very experienced candidates. We say, “Please give us a brief overview of your related experience.”  And the candidate says, “Well you’ve seen my resume….. I handle a lot of projects, and I’m excited about this opportunity.”

Keep in mind, the interviewer most likely has looked at 50 more resumes and doesn’t memorize each and every one of them. Plus, we want to hear your story with conviction and passion about what you do & can bring to the table. Don’t hold back and answer the question, even if you think you’re repeating yourself a little.

MORE INTERVIEW TIPS

KNOW THE JOB DESCRIPTION WELL

Know the job description and the details of what the employer is looking for then talk about your experience and education that fits directly into that job.

It sounds straightforward, but MANY people do not do this. It seems like they sit down for their interview and honestly have no idea what the job entails. Some people spend half their time wandering all over the place and only once in a while hitting on information the hiring team really wants to hear.

DO YOU WANT TO BE IRRESISTIBLE? Be the person that has come to solve their problems!

1. If you read in the job description that the employer is looking for someone with skills in specific software or function, please provide the details. Don’t just say, “I’ve worked with that software.”  How? For how long? How well do you know it? Do you have a brief example of a project you did with it?
2. “I am a supervisor.”  Of whom or what positions? For how long? How many people? What kind of work do you direct? What challenges did you face? Give a full and clear picture of your past experience.
3. If you have a job or two in your past that you really can’t find relevant experience in, please mention them, but don’t go into the minute details.  It’s not related.  In fact, sharing too much-unrelated information in an interview typically accomplishes the opposite of what you want

STICK TO A REASONABLE TIMELINE IN YOUR RESPONSE

1. If you’ve been a professional for 20 years, don’t go back to high school and your time as the captain of the football team.  Don’t cut your professional time short either.
2. Summarize the most relevant period of time with the most relevant work experience and education for the job.

BRING PASSION AND ENERGY TO YOUR RESPONSE

Let the passion for what you do shine through your answer as you reflect on your many life experiences.  That passion is contagious, and the interview panel will feel it.

Being overly nervous, reserved, or relaxed can look like you’re uninterested or unengaged. I know interviews are nerve-wracking but try your very best to keep your head high, shoulders back, and eyes on whom you are speaking with. 

PRACTICE TO KEEP YOUR ANSWER RELEVANT

 Unless you are specifically instructed otherwise, keep your answers short and sweet. Limit each response to 5 minutes or less. This should also be generally proportional to your related experience. 5 minutes doesn’t sound like a lot of time, but in an interview, it is. In order to fit your answer into 5 minutes or less, and sound good doing it, PRACTICE!  It will calm your nerves and will ensure you include all relevant information.

1. This is the one answer that you should have ready to go because you can be 99% sure you will get to use it.
2. Write down the key points you want to share with the interviewer and practice making it flow with confidence and clarity.

Now you got it, now go ROCK that interview and in the meantime…..tell me about yourself?!

We are YOUR Engineering Search Partner

To learn more about or apply go to www.enhancerecruiting.com