Congratulations! You’ve landed the interview or maybe even snagged that networking conversation you’ve been dreaming about. You’ve already put in some hard work to get to this point (cue the tailored resume or countless cold messages) but you know the hardest part is still to come. You can practically hear the question being asked: “So, tell me about yourself.”
The truth is, almost every interview begins with this basic question. Despite knowing this, for almost every interviewee, the answer that follows is a huge missed opportunity. Most people respond to this question with a chronological summary of their experiences, dating back to their education. The answer is often long-winded and a verbatim description of what is already on their resume or LinkedIn profile.
Here at Bloom Talent, we believe in a better answer. We also believe that your answer to this question creates the opportunity to achieve the immediate goal of the interview: secure another conversation. Just like a sale, more than likely you won’t be able to close the deal in the first round with even a perfected first story. Following these best practices, however, will hopefully assist in grabbing the attention of your listener and ultimately secure another conversation.
Define your “why”
Confidently sharing your story requires a deep understanding of your purpose. Not necessarily your life purpose, but rather your purpose for sharing your story at this moment. You’ve likely shared your story before, but with each prompt comes the need for a clear understanding and tailored response.
For example, if you are interviewing for an Executive Assistant role at a San Francisco start-up, you should ask yourself, why do I want to work for this company? How does supporting this executive align with my long-term vision?
Regardless of the answer, take the time to ask yourself the question. Write it down. Be specific. Your ability to understand your purpose will not only help you craft your pitch but will subconsciously shine through in your answer. Interviewers want to believe and connect with the person they are conversing with, and taking the time to understand your “why” is a great, practical place to start.
Lead with confidence and captivate.
A captivating punchline spoken with confidence is not only an impressive conversation starter but a great tool to capture both the attention and interest of your listener. Instead of trying to explain the totality of who you are, you need to be answering what it is about who you are that brings you to this interview.
This can be an anecdote about a life event like, “my recent exposure to the innovation in Healthcare has fueled a passion to use my organizational skills to support a key leader in this growing industry. Or maybe you begin with a clever presentation of a goal. For example, “when I think about my five-year plan, I am confident of one thing: I want to wake up every day utilizing my administrative gifts to support the dreams of top executives.” However you start the conversation, don’t be afraid to pull from past experiences, but be sure that it's a brief summary and most importantly, speaks to your “why.”
Highlight relevant accomplishments.
Unfortunately, you won’t have all of the time in the world to speak to your multiple talents, skill sets, and strengths. As you prepare for this interview, make a list of the most relevant items that support this role.
If you are interviewing for a Chief of Staff position with a Marketing startup, you might choose to hone in on your entrepreneurial, relationship management, and communication skills.
By reviewing the job description and doing additional research on company values (read more Bloom advice on interview research here) you should be able to craft a list of 3-5 items that you want to ensure are included in your response. Having a list of the most important “selling points” close by will keep your conversation focused and help speak to your strongest qualifications.
Reiterate.
While you may fear sounding repetitive, it’s important to reiterate your main points. Try using the time for questions to further ask about how your talents fit into the current needs. Rephrase your purpose.
You want to walk away confidently knowing your interviewer understands your position and reiterating is a practical way to assist. The truth is, initial conversations can be intimidating. But remember, you know your story better than anyone else. You don’t need to spend hours and hours typing out the perfect speech, just a little preparation, and intentional analysis. Understand your purpose, highlight what’s relevant and reiterate when necessary. With these tools, we have no doubt you will not only successfully share, but in the end, sell your story.
We are rooting for you!