Tell me about yourself

This is one of the most common interview questions and answers are tough to
formulate. Where to start, where to end, what to focus on!

Prepare for this question and you can use it as a great opportunity to sell yourself.
In your answer highlight how your skills, knowledge and experience relate to
the job and the company profile.
Where you were born and grew up, or what pets you have is not likely to show the
interviewer why you are a good candidate for the job.
The interviewer wants to know if you will fit in with the rest of the team, the
department and the company. The interviewer is also trying to find out what
motivates you and whether it is consistent with the position and company.

Refer to your background research and review the job requirements, focus on
how you specifically meet these needs.
For example, if the job requires you to work as part of a team, tell the interviewer
about the projects you have undertaken as a team-member.
Most jobs require an element of team work, so this is a good aspect to focus on
when thinking about answers to this interview question
Use this sample answer to help prepare your own good interview answer to this
question:

"In my previous 2 positions I worked as part of a team on a number of projects. A

big project I was involved with at ABC company was writing a new safety policy.
It was a really in-depth project so I put together a safety review committee. We
worked together for a month to identify the safety needs of the various departments
and what procedures would meet those needs.
Our policy has been well accepted and safety problems have decreased in all areas"
By pointing out to the Interviewer the specific benefits of hiring you for this job,
rather than giving a rambling autobiography, you will be positively remembered and
set yourself apart from the other candidates.
The interviewer has probably already read your Resume or CV, so avoid just
repeating that information during the interview questions and answers.
For example, when talking about your sales experience, rather than telling the
interviewer

"I spent three years in sales at XYZ Company"

draw attention to your success during that time.
"When working at XYZ I focused on growing the customer base in the Northeast and
increased sales by 50% over a three year period"
It is impressive to quantify your success wherever possible.
Use your research on the company to emphasize how you fit in. For example your
information indicates that the company has a strong responsibility to the community,
you can point out why you value that, discuss any volunteer work you have done,
underline why it is one of the things that attracts you to them.
"I know that this company sponsors some of the local youth football teams. This is a
particular interest of mine, last year I got involved in coaching. It is important to me
that the company holds the same values"
If you do not have enough information about the position to prepare adequately for
this question beforehand, ask the interviewer "What areas would you like me to
focus on?" and go from there.

When answering this job interview question you can point out how the determination and
discipline you need to be a good athlete are certainly important strengths in a sales
position. Free interview answers include:
"To achieve as an athlete I had to stick to a tough training program and make sure I
kept myself motivated . I had to be disciplined and determined. I believe these
strengths strongly contribute to my success in sales"

Candidates often find it hard to verbalize their strengths, so spend some time thinking
about this before the interview.
What are your interests? Building beautiful doll house furniture may not immediately
seem to have any relevance to that accounting position, but the attention to detail needed
for this is definitely a job-relevant strength.
What have been your successes, what attributes did you have to demonstrate to achieve
them? Ask your friends, colleagues and family to tell you what they appreciate about you.
How will these attributes benefit a future employer?

Don't just list your strengths, back them up with facts. An attribute is far more
powerful if it is rooted in a relevant example. Sample free interview answers include:

"I'm an adaptable person. I work for three different managers, they have very
different management styles and expectations of me. I am able to adjust my
approach to meet each of their needs"
Avoid over-used, vague terms such as "people's person". Be specific and pertinent.
"I am good with customers. I enjoy the challenge of turning a dissatisfied customer
into a satisfied one. Just last week I had an experience when ......." and quote a
specific example of how you successfully managed an unhappy client.
Focus on three or four strengths. Good examples include organizational and planning
skills, perseverance, persuasive ability, communication skills, leadership ability,
stress tolerance, ability to learn and apply new information and skills, flexibility,
independence, problem-solving, creativity, technical and professional knowledge,
reliability, self-motivation and initiative.
Go to How to identify Your Strengths for a guide to finding out what your strengths
are.

Review the Free Interview Answers to Plan for this Tough

Job Interview Question:
"What are your weaknesses?"
With this typical interview question the interviewer is assessing your self awareness
and insight rather than your weaknesses. The ability to acknowledge a weakness is
often seen as a sign of maturity and wisdom. Refer to a true weakness but then turn
it into a positive by describing it as an area for development. In your job interview
answer relate what steps you have taken to try and improve.
"I'm impatient with people who don't work at the same pace as me but I'm learning
to manage this. I make sure that they have the right resources for the job, I follow
up to see that they are on track and I step in and help when needed"
"I can be disorganized, I am aware of this and make sure I answer my emails and
messages straight away. I update my calendar as soon as I have a new task or
appointment, this really helps"
A good guide is to acknowledge one or two weaknesses, describe the efforts made to
overcome these and end your story on a positive note.
"I've been reluctant to delegate. I have had to re-evaluate this as it was creating a
big workload for me. I assign each person a specific, manageable task and then
follow up to satisfy myself that it is being done properly, this seems to work well"
Some weaknesses can be interpreted as a strength. Examples include:
"I can be a bit aggressive in getting to my goals"
"At times I can get too involved in other people's problems, trying to help them"

"Why should we hire you?"

Answering interview questions such as this in an effective way needs some thought
and preparation. Review the job description and note down the job requirements.
Refer to your skills and experience relevant to the job requirements and the
company's needs. What benefits are you bringing to this job? Refer to your previous
successes and your goals for the future.
Be straightforward and confident about your abilities.
" I have the right combination of skills and experience for this job. I also bring the
additional quality of strong analytical and problem solving ability as shown by my
introduction of a more efficient work flow system at ABC Company.
My commitment to excellent work standards will add value to the team.
I am a fast learner, I had to learn a totally new operating system in my last job and I
was up and running within a couple of weeks.
One of the reasons I want to work for this company is your reputation for staff
development, learning and growth are important values to me. I sincerely believe I
am the right person for this job and for this company"

When answering interview questions like this, don't try to say that you are the best
qualified candidate, you are not familiar with the other candidates' skills and experience.
Rather highlight the reasons why you are the right candidate for this job.
"My abilities in sales really seem to fit this job. My success at ABC in achieving an annual
growth rate of 25% support this.
I have worked with a similar product line and have an in-depth understanding of the
technical aspects.
My experience as a member of a large team will contribute to your department and I am
enthusiastic about the new challenges involved in this position"

Be enthusiastic about why you want this job.

"I really would like this job selling gift items and I strongly believe I will be good at
it. I enjoy talking to customers and helping them find what they are looking for.I am
meticulous about handling cash.I look forward to having regular hours and I am very
reliable. In fact, my reference emphasizes that as one of my strong points"
For a good guide to identifying your strengths that will help you answer this
interview question.

What about answering interview questions

such as
"Why do you want to work for this company?"

Use your background research to prepare for this question, this way you will
differentiate yourself from the other candidates.
"I understand this company is expanding, your website indicates that you are about
to launch a number of new products. I would like to be a part of this exciting growth"
"I have always wanted an opportunity to work with a company that provides such an
important service to the community"
"You are a small company with great opportunity for staff development"
"Your company has a reputation for being innovative and open to new ideas"
Find something specific about the company to hook into. Look at the company
values, mission, vision and successes. How do you complement and contribute to
these?
"I know that your goal is to become the biggest provider of office supplies in the
area. My knowledge and experience of the customer base can make a big
contribution to this. I would really enjoy the challenge of growing this business"
What has been your greatest achievement to date?"

Choose an achievement that is related to the position and is fairly recent. Review the job
description, if you have it, or the job posting or ad. What skills are listed as necessary for
the job?. This will guide you to the most relevant answer for this employment interview
question.
Does the position need superior sales ability, someone with keen attention to detail,
strong management skills or excellent problem-solving ability?
Reflect upon achievements that demonstrated this skill. Describe your
accomplishment and highlight the job-related skills you used. Point out how the
results benefited the company.
If a requirement is problem-solving skills:
"Recently I was asked to implement a new system to reduce our debtors days.
I analyzed the problems with the current system, got input from all the stakeholders,
and developed a faster way of getting the accounts out and monitoring follow up.
Our debtors days reduced significantly and we are currently on target for collections"

If a requirement is attention to detail:

"I am responsible for taking the customer orders by phone.
I listen carefully, ask for clarification and always confirm the order to make sure I
have everything correct. In this past year I am the only person in my department who
has not made an error on the orders.
Errors are often costly and frustrate customers. It was really satisfying receiving that

recognition and I was given a bonus by my supervisor"

When asking employer interview questions about this, Interviewers particularly want to
know about achievements that increased revenues, decreased expenses, solved problems,
were innovative or improved a company's reputation.
"My department manager asked me to investigate a bottleneck in the production
line. I did some research and suggested a redesign of the department layout so that
the production units were in a more efficient sequence.
It worked so well, increasing production by up to 20 percent, that my layout design
has been adopted by all our branches"
If you have little or no work experience, refer to an accomplishment at school or in
an outside activity. Just remember to relate the skills you used to the job in
question.
"I was part of the rowing team that recently won the championships. It was a
particularly satisfying win as we had trained very hard, requiring a lot of discipline
and perseverance, to come up from the bottom of the league.
We also really had to work together as a team and keep each other motivated"
It is often difficult to single out one achievement when answering this question.
"I believe I have had a number of successes to date. It is difficult to say which I
think has been my greatest accomplishment as they were all important. I am going
to focus on my recent achievements as being the most pertinent..."
and go on to describe your relevant, recent accomplishments.
Review your company background research to also highlight how your
accomplishments fit in with the company mission, vision, goals and values.
Aligning your achievements with the job and company needs, when answering
employer interview questions like this, will emphasize why you are the right
candidate for the job.

Feel confident that you are prepared for this tough job interview question and
answer.
"What do you see yourself doing in five years?"
It is not easy to answer this interview question in terms of specific job or company
expectations. One cannot accurately predict what the job or the company will look
like in 5 years time. You can answer in general terms about the type of situation you
would like to be in and the way you want to have grown and developed. Avoid giving
specific time frames or job titles.
Focus on realistic career opportunities you could expect in your industry and what
you hope to have gained from these opportunities.

"It is an uncertain world and one can't predict what is going to happen. However, my
hope is that I will have contributed to the success of the company and grown both
personally and professionally within my position"
Your interview answer should relate to the job you are being interviewed for in some way.
The interviewer does not want to hear that you hope to have published your first novel or be
running your own business.
This interview question is designed to assess a number of things.

How long are you likely to stay with the company?

What is your motivation in applying for this position?

Do you look ahead and set goals for yourself?

Combine your personal growth strategies and goals with commitment to the job and
the employer.
For example:
"I want to have developed new skills and abilities and to have made the most of my
opportunities. This position will give me the opportunity to learn more about
managing a work team, this is a goal of mine. I would like to be recognized as an
individual who has really added value to the company"
When faced with this job interview question and answer, avoid making overambitious predictions about your future potential. This indicates a lack of insight and
maturity. Broadly discuss your work values and goals, not focusing on a specific
career plan.
"I want to have learnt and grown within my work, to have increased my
responsibilities and skills. I enjoy a challenge and would like to know that I am
constantly meeting new challenges. My goal is to be the best at whatever level I am
working at within the company"
Demonstrate that you understand that reward (salary, promotion, responsibility) will
be based on the quality and value of your contribution.
"I want to make the most of my abilities and potential. By always doing my best I
can ensure that there will be opportunities to increase my value and to grow in ways
that benefit both the company and me"
Align your success with the company's success.
"I want to continue to gain experience and be a top -performing employee in a big
company such as this one. I want to contribute as much as possible to the
company's expansion and success"

The interviewer will respond positively if you present yourself, in this job interview
question and answer, as a mature, insightful and self-motivated candidate who
wants to make an important and constructive contribution to the company.

One of the common job interview questions you can expect is to be asked your reason
for leaving your current or last employer.
"Why do you want to leave your job?"
Interviewers want to know your reason for leaving a job.
Be straightforward but avoid negative comments about past employers in the job
interview.
Don't bad-mouth the company, your manager or colleagues, it puts you in a bad
light.
Keep it positive and make the reason for a leaving a constructive one such as a new
challenge, exciting opportunity, increased responsibility or learning possibility.

Use this job interview question as an opportunity to focus on the future.

"I have reached the ceiling in my particular job, and I am ready for more
responsibility"
"After a number of years in my last position I am now looking for a new experience
where I can contribute and grow in a bigger environment"

Avoid stating your salary as a prime motivator for change.

However location is a perfectly acceptable reason for moving.
"I am relocating to this area for family reasons and left my job to make this move"
"I was spending hours each day commuting. I would prefer to be closer to home"
When asked common job interview questions like this, relate how you worked hard in your
last position and now you want to use your skills and experience to benefit this company.

"I am interested in an opportunity to use the skills and abilities I have developed
over the last couple of years in a new and challenging position"
If there is an obvious issue with the company you were working for, such as layoffs,
acknowledge and discuss this.

"There is a great deal of uncertainty about the security of our jobs. I am looking for a
stable company where there is the long term opportunity to grow and advance"
Sometimes, it is just the wonderful opportunity offered by the new position that
made you consider a move.
"In all honesty I wasn't really looking to move jobs, but this looks like such a great
opportunity to use all my skills and experience and I have always admired this
company"
Situations to be considered when asked common job interview questions along these
lines include the following.
You may have taken time out to raise a family. Use this as an opportunity to
reassure the Interviewer that you are now ready to return to the workplace and
detail the child care arrangements you have put in place. Point out to the Interviewer
the efforts you have made to keep up to date in your particular field.
Taking time off to study is a positive reason. Highlight how this has taken your
skills and abilities to a new level, and how it demonstrates your desire for selfimprovement and growth.
A travel break can also be seen in a positive light. Emphasize how it has added to
your life experience, enabled you to deal with a number of new challenges and
increased your self- confidence. The reasons for deciding to spend time traveling
should show you as an individual who is keen to learn and grow.
"I believed that I had reached the ceiling in my previous job. I needed to make a
career move and decided that I would take the opportunity to spend some time
fulfilling my dream and travel before looking for a new position. I have discovered so
much about myself and developed a number of skills dealing with all the challenges I
faced. I am really excited about returning to the workplace and using all I have
learned to contribute in a positive and constructive way"
Make sure the reason you provide for leaving is congruent with the reason you have
provided on your resume and the reason that will be given by your previous
employer when a reference is done.
Common job interview questions like this can be tricky if your reason for leaving is
complicated. Go to the information provided in How to Handle Difficult Questions for
specific advice on how to deal with reasons such as retrenchment, personal
problems, being fired, conflict with your boss and colleagues.

Describe a difficult problem you had to sort out in your last job (Problemsolving)
This behavior based interviewing question is designed to explore your ability to
identify, analyze and solve problems.

Show how you are able to gather and organize the necessary information and
identify the best solution.
Here is a sample behavioral interview answer that you can use as a guide to develop
your own good answer.
"We were getting a lot of complaints about late deliveries. (Situation)

I met with the staff involved in the customer delivery department and discovered that the
problem seemed to be with the stock coming through on time. I investigated and found that
requests for new inventory were not been processed fast enough. The backlog was in the
orders department as they were not following up adequately with the suppliers. A system for
regular follow up was quickly implemented. (Action)

This sorted out the stock problems and the delivery staff were able to meet their
deadlines." (Result)

Describe a new idea or suggestion that you made to your supervisor

recently (initiative)
The interviewer wants to know if you are proactive and able to generate workable
ideas. Show how you are a self-starter who will take action beyond what is asked of
you.
" I work in orders and the company was launching a new product. The sales team
had in-depth training on it but we had none. (Situation)
I suggested that the orders department should also receive the training so that we
would understand what was being ordered and be able to answer any questions if
necessary. It was agreed we would all undergo a short version of the training.
(Action)
This meant that we could deal professionally with the orders and it also motivated
us, feeling part of the launch excitement." (Result)

Tell me about a time that you had to use your judgment and make a
decision in your previous job (judgment/decision-making)
The interviewer is exploring your ability to make logical decisions and take action.
Show how you consider all the relevant facts, weigh up the alternatives and commit
to the most appropriate action.
"I was responsible for ordering office supplies for the company. (Situation)

The company always ordered a month's supply at a time to keep inventory costs low.
I had to decide whether to keep doing this or buy six month's supply and get a
discount for ordering such a big volume and escape possible future price increases. I
did some research and worked out we could reduce our costs by buying for six
months, especially since the amount we used remained practically unchanged month
on month. (Action)
I was right, the prices went up quite a bit during those six months." (Result)
Remember that these are sample answers that can be used to help you formulate
your own examples from your previous jobs or other contexts when answering
behavioral interview questions like these.
Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that
demonstrated your coping skills (stress tolerance)
The interviewer wants to know whether you are able to perform under pressure and
cope with difficult situations. Show that you can stay calm under pressure and are
able to plan to reduce stress.
"I worked for a manager who used to yell at me when he was under pressure to
meet deadlines. (Situation)
I got upset the first couple of times and then I decided to talk to him about it. I
empathized with the stress he was under and suggested that he communicated his
expectations clearly to me on a daily basis so that I knew exactly when he needed
something and I could also give him feedback on progress. We arranged an early
morning feedback meeting every day. (Action)
This helped as we were able to sort out issues immediately and anticipate likely
problems." (Result)
Here is a behavioral question that explores the candidate's resilience.
Tell me about a time when you received negative feedback from your
manager or supervisor. How did you handle this?(resilience)
The interviewer is looking at your ability to handle disappointment and rejection.
Show how you handle criticism whilst maintaining enthusiasm and performance.
"I had worked hard on a presentation to a potential customer. My boss told me that
he was disappointed in the quality of the information I presented and that the
customer had not been impressed. (Situation)
I was surprised as I felt I had prepared well but I asked my boss to go through the
presentation with me again and explain exactly what the problems were. He pointed
out outdated information and I realized that I had not used the most recent financial
information in my preparation. I researched the updated information and asked if I
could rework things and prepare a new proposal for the customer. He agreed. Once I
had sent the proposal I followed up with the customer to ask if he had any queries or
wanted to discuss anything with me. (Action)

We didn't get that particular contract but the company has asked us to submit a
proposal for some other business." (Result)
Tell me about a time you had to quickly adjust your work priorities to meet
changing demands (Adaptability)
In this sample interview question the interviewer wants to know if you can effectively
perform in different environments and with different tasks, people and
responsibilities. Show that you can adjust your actions to meet changing demands
and tasks.
"I was in the middle of drawing up my departmental budget when I was asked to put
together a costing for a big project we were tendering for. (Situation)

I made an outline of the information I needed immediately for the costing and assigned a
portion to each of my staff. I spent the next couple of days drawing up schedules of the tasks
that needed to be carried out to complete the costing and meeting with staff members to
brief them and get feedback. I was then able to re focus on completing the budget on time.
(Action)
The costing was completed on time, each staff member really contributed and I didn't miss
my budget deadline". (Result)

Describe a time that you demonstrated the ability to be an effective team

member (team work)
This behavioral interview question is looking at your ability to build relationships and
contribute to team success. Show how you worked effectively with the team, put
team goals ahead of your own goals and made a valued contribution to the team
output.

" I was transferred to a new department and a new team at my last company. The
team members were not welcoming and displayed this by not including me in
discussions and communications. (Situation)
I asked each team member to meet individually and informally with me to discuss
their expectations of me as part of their team. I was able to explain that I
understood their reluctance to trust and accept me straight off but that I wanted to
contribute positively.
We discussed team objectives, individual roles and working styles and started to
develop a rapport with each other. I made sure that I asked for their advice and
feedback initially and gradually I earned their trust. (Action)

The team learned to be more flexible in their approach to new staff members and I
learned that one has to earn trust and acceptance. Our team works really cohesively
towards its goals now." (Result)

Another of the common interview questions that comes up in behavioral interviews

explores your leadership skills.
Tell me how you went about setting the goals for your department and
gaining commitment from your staff (leadership)
The interviewer wants to know how you lead through goals, vision and values and
how you use appropriate methods to guide staff towards goal accomplishment. Show
how you are able to set goals and influence your staff to achieve them.

"I needed to set the departmental objectives for the next six months. (Situation)
I referred to the company's vision and goals for the next two years to decide which activities
and tasks my department should concentrate on. I clearly communicated the relationship
between our department goals and the company's goals to my staff and explained which
activities would best result in achieving these goals. (Action)

"The staff really benefited from having a clear idea of the company vision and how
we could contribute to achieving this. Understanding the big picture meant they were
able to see how each of them were an essential part of the company's success and
this motivated them towards goal attainment." (Result)

Describe a situation when you negotiated with others in your organization

to reach agreement (negotiation skills)
The interviewer is exploring your ability to communicate information or alternatives
in a manner that gains agreement and acceptance. Show how you are able to look at
the position of others, present alternatives and reach an agreement that is positive
for both parties.
"My manager presented me with an unreasonable deadline to complete a project.
(Situation)
I asked him how he had determined the deadline. He said that it was based on his
deadline to present the project to the CEO. I outlined every step that needed to be
taken to complete the project and how long each step would realistically take. We
discussed possible ways of reducing these time frames. I suggested allocating more
resources to the project. He asked me to put together a project proposal that

covered what we had discussed and he would use this to negotiate with the CEO for
a more realistic time line. (Action)
We were able to settle on a plan that worked for both of us." (Result)
Use these sample answers for questions that come up time and again in behavioral
interviews to help formulate your own behavioral examples.
Describe what you do to control mistakes in your work (attention to detail)
In asking this behavioral interview question the interviewer wants to know if you are
able to accurately complete your tasks with close attention to all aspects of your
work.
Show that you are concerned with maintaining accuracy and check your work for
errors.

In my last position I had to make all the travel arrangements for my manager.
(Situation)

I listened carefully, noted down what she needed and then read it back to her to confirm
that I had it right. I would also follow up with a detailed email to check again.
Once I had made the arrangements I would set up a time to give her feedback and check I
had everything she needed.
I then followed this up with an email with all the confirmed details. (Action)

This was time-consuming for both of us but it meant that no errors were made in the
arrangements. It would have been more frustrating and costly not to have made
such thorough checks" (Result)
Tell me about a time that you were not satisfied with your work
performance. What did you do about it? (Work Standards)
All interview questions around work performance are designed to explore whether
you set high standards for yourself and strive to meet these standards. What do you
consider to be a "high standard"? Show how you attempt to attain high performance
standards and correct substandard performance.
"My performance review rating was lower than I had expected or wanted. (Situation)
I met with my manager to establish a plan of action for improvement and set very
specific targets to be met on a monthly basis. I worked hard to meet these targets
and constantly monitored my performance. I also asked for regular feedback about
my performance. (Action)

After six months, my boss conducted another review and my rating was much
higher." (Result)
Describe a situation in which you had to schedule your activities to
meet an objective (planning and organizing)
The interviewer is exploring your ability to set objectives and schedule and prioritize
your activities appropriately. Show how you are able to establish a course of action,
allocate resources accordingly and plan tasks to reach objectives.
"I had to complete a training report every month. This involved collating and
presenting a large amount of information. (Situation)
I scheduled all the data collecting tasks. Each department was given a monthly
deadline to submit information to me and I scheduled reminders to be sent out
before the deadline. I set aside a time in my diary each month to collate all the
information and check it. Then I allocated time for drawing up and presenting the
report. (Action)
This worked well and I always comfortably met my deadline." (Result)