"Tell me about yourself" - interview
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm currently a first year student at Bath studying BBA. We're now beginning the interview process for our six month placement next year, and most of the vacancies offered are for large investment banks and management consultancies in Central London. I'm comfortable with most questions that could possibly come up but one is really bugging me - "tell me about yourself".
Apparently it quite often comes up but I really have no idea what to say - do I tell them about my life, or my aspirations, or why I chose my course...?! I don't want to ramble on about things they don't want to hear...
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
HH
I'm currently a first year student at Bath studying BBA. We're now beginning the interview process for our six month placement next year, and most of the vacancies offered are for large investment banks and management consultancies in Central London. I'm comfortable with most questions that could possibly come up but one is really bugging me - "tell me about yourself".
Apparently it quite often comes up but I really have no idea what to say - do I tell them about my life, or my aspirations, or why I chose my course...?! I don't want to ramble on about things they don't want to hear...
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
HH
Don't tell them about yourself, tell them what they want to hear, which you find out by researching like hell. Get your body language up to speed and also take opportunities to appear to be listening and noting your interviewers body language, have a structured approach.
"What do they want to gain from this question".
The answer isn't what f
ked up hobbies you're into.
"What do they want to gain from this question".
The answer isn't what f
ked up hobbies you're into. I've used that question when interviewing and hadn't really thought about why I asked it.
However I suppose I'm using it to pull out from the individual what they think is important about themselves that they want to highlight / share with you. It would give me a gut feel insight nto someone's character.
I also use it as the opening question typically as I think it gives the candidate a chance to say what they want to say early on and hence we can then get on with the rest of the interview rather than the candidate trying to shoehorn in a specific fact(s) that they are keen to tell you in response to other questions.
Unless your going for Public Sector or very large corporate roles through a HR department (where the first stage is a tick box exercise), people recruit people they like, so go with the flow don't over prepare and you'll sound more natural. Imagine you're in the pub telling your mates about your experience, your values, your goals and ambitions etc. ie. treat the interview like just another conversation. If you manage to get off topic and end up talking about cars and football then your probably dong quite well!
However I suppose I'm using it to pull out from the individual what they think is important about themselves that they want to highlight / share with you. It would give me a gut feel insight nto someone's character.
I also use it as the opening question typically as I think it gives the candidate a chance to say what they want to say early on and hence we can then get on with the rest of the interview rather than the candidate trying to shoehorn in a specific fact(s) that they are keen to tell you in response to other questions.
Unless your going for Public Sector or very large corporate roles through a HR department (where the first stage is a tick box exercise), people recruit people they like, so go with the flow don't over prepare and you'll sound more natural. Imagine you're in the pub telling your mates about your experience, your values, your goals and ambitions etc. ie. treat the interview like just another conversation. If you manage to get off topic and end up talking about cars and football then your probably dong quite well!
Highlight any strengths or weaknesses, of course your weaknesses are being a perfectionist or other trait that is good for the company possibly even works best under pressure if that is the companies method of working. Mention any worthy or relevant hobbies, captain of a team, leader of club social secretary anything that illustrates team work or management skills. Sometimes the person who shares common ground may win over the academically best candidate.
I had a telephone interview this afternoon which started off just like that - I replied that before we got into the interview proper, perhaps they could explain exactly what they meant by the word 'outbound' in the job title.
From the little I had to go on, it seemed that it was a work from home most of the time with a couple of days in the office type role. That was wrong, they called it outbound as it was to do with outgoing calls
and it was to be located a good 90 odd miles away from where I lived.
In my case it stopped wasting any more of our time as there was no way I'd want to move to their location.
However I do think a quick clarification of job role before interview proper starts is a good idea as some job descriptions are too good to be true
From the little I had to go on, it seemed that it was a work from home most of the time with a couple of days in the office type role. That was wrong, they called it outbound as it was to do with outgoing calls
and it was to be located a good 90 odd miles away from where I lived.In my case it stopped wasting any more of our time as there was no way I'd want to move to their location.
However I do think a quick clarification of job role before interview proper starts is a good idea as some job descriptions are too good to be true
V8mate said:
Ewan S said:
Try to keep it short but sweet - like less than a minute - but neatly wrap it up with why you're there for the interview. This will show them you mean business.
You're unemployed though, right? 
Oh and you're really going to rib me about this, but the job is based approx 2-3 miles from where I live. Would take about half an hour to walk it! Still the money is good and there's lots of perks too.
Back on topic, if the person doing the interview is an HR person do try and keep what you say relevant to the job spec. Remember this is a box ticking exercise. If they're not HR and you'll end up working directly for the person, then try to find out what makes them tick. I missed out on one job because the interviewer and the guy that had got the job had both been in the Merchant Navy and from the sounds of things it just went into a bar stories type chat.
My interview on Friday is to do with the car industry and motor trade. This should be easy!
condor said:
I had a telephone interview this afternoon which started off just like that - I replied that before we got into the interview proper, perhaps they could explain exactly what they meant by the word 'outbound' in the job title.
From the little I had to go on, it seemed that it was a work from home most of the time with a couple of days in the office type role. That was wrong, they called it outbound as it was to do with outgoing calls and it was to be located a good 90 odd miles away from where I lived.
In my case it stopped wasting any more of our time as there was no way I'd want to move to their location.
However I do think a quick clarification of job role before interview proper starts is a good idea as some job descriptions are too good to be true
"Tell me a bit about yourself".From the little I had to go on, it seemed that it was a work from home most of the time with a couple of days in the office type role. That was wrong, they called it outbound as it was to do with outgoing calls
and it was to be located a good 90 odd miles away from where I lived.In my case it stopped wasting any more of our time as there was no way I'd want to move to their location.
However I do think a quick clarification of job role before interview proper starts is a good idea as some job descriptions are too good to be true
"Not until you've told me about the job, the pay, the perks and s
t like that"
From the Interviewers perspective - I would say this question is to determine how good of a communicator the interviewee is, whether they can only give answers to closed questions, or are able to express themselves in a competent manner.
From the Interviewee's perspective - You should mention trait about yourself that apply well to the position you are seeking. "Enjoys challenges", "Good communicator", "Good self discipline", "Able to adapt well to different situations", list experiences with responsibilities/computer systems/processes relevant to the position.
Employers don't mind hearing about your hobbies, but what they are really after is if YOU think YOU are right for the job.
From the Interviewee's perspective - You should mention trait about yourself that apply well to the position you are seeking. "Enjoys challenges", "Good communicator", "Good self discipline", "Able to adapt well to different situations", list experiences with responsibilities/computer systems/processes relevant to the position.
Employers don't mind hearing about your hobbies, but what they are really after is if YOU think YOU are right for the job.
A list of "standard" questions:
1) Tell Me about yourself
2) What are your achievements to date
3) Are you happy with your career to date
4) What do you like about your present job
5) What do you dislike about your present job
6) What are your strengths
7) What are your weaknesses
8) What is the most difficult situation you had to face and how did you tackle it?
9) Why do you want to leave your current employer
10) Why have you applied for this particular job
11) How does your job fit into your department / company
12) What do you enjoy about the industry
13) Give me an example of when you have worked under pressure
14) What kinds of people do you like working with
15) Give me an example of when your work was criticised
16) Give me an example of when you have felt anger at work, how did you cope and did you still perform a good job
17) What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with
18) Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your boss
19) Give me an example of when you haven’t got on with others
20) Do you prefer working alone or in a group
21) This organisation is very different from your current environment, how do you think you would fit in here?
22) What are you looking for in a company and in an employer?
23) How do you measure your own performance
24) What kind of pressures have you encountered at work
25) Are you a self starter – please give examples that demonstrate this
26) What changes in the workplace have caused you difficulty and why?
27) How do you feel about working long hours and weekends?
28) What motivates you?
29) Where do you see yourself in 2 and in 5 years time?
30) If you were to get the role, what would a “good day at work” look like to you?
31) What does success mean to you?
1) Tell Me about yourself
2) What are your achievements to date
3) Are you happy with your career to date
4) What do you like about your present job
5) What do you dislike about your present job
6) What are your strengths
7) What are your weaknesses
8) What is the most difficult situation you had to face and how did you tackle it?
9) Why do you want to leave your current employer
10) Why have you applied for this particular job
11) How does your job fit into your department / company
12) What do you enjoy about the industry
13) Give me an example of when you have worked under pressure
14) What kinds of people do you like working with
15) Give me an example of when your work was criticised
16) Give me an example of when you have felt anger at work, how did you cope and did you still perform a good job
17) What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with
18) Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your boss
19) Give me an example of when you haven’t got on with others
20) Do you prefer working alone or in a group
21) This organisation is very different from your current environment, how do you think you would fit in here?
22) What are you looking for in a company and in an employer?
23) How do you measure your own performance
24) What kind of pressures have you encountered at work
25) Are you a self starter – please give examples that demonstrate this
26) What changes in the workplace have caused you difficulty and why?
27) How do you feel about working long hours and weekends?
28) What motivates you?
29) Where do you see yourself in 2 and in 5 years time?
30) If you were to get the role, what would a “good day at work” look like to you?
31) What does success mean to you?
V8mate said:
condor said:
I had a telephone interview this afternoon which started off just like that - I replied that before we got into the interview proper, perhaps they could explain exactly what they meant by the word 'outbound' in the job title.
From the little I had to go on, it seemed that it was a work from home most of the time with a couple of days in the office type role. That was wrong, they called it outbound as it was to do with outgoing calls and it was to be located a good 90 odd miles away from where I lived.
In my case it stopped wasting any more of our time as there was no way I'd want to move to their location.
However I do think a quick clarification of job role before interview proper starts is a good idea as some job descriptions are too good to be true
"Tell me a bit about yourself".From the little I had to go on, it seemed that it was a work from home most of the time with a couple of days in the office type role. That was wrong, they called it outbound as it was to do with outgoing calls
and it was to be located a good 90 odd miles away from where I lived.In my case it stopped wasting any more of our time as there was no way I'd want to move to their location.
However I do think a quick clarification of job role before interview proper starts is a good idea as some job descriptions are too good to be true
"Not until you've told me about the job, the pay, the perks and s
t like that"
It does come across like that, but if a company has a strange job title...and to use ( in my case) Outbound wine advisors as a job title, without a location in the blurb...what is the prospective applicant to think?It was an agency advert, so the company wasn't mentioned. I've seen agency ads for retail managers where they wont even mention what you're supposed to be selling. It's that scenario I was thinking about
That's a very good list 
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