Married Life
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
How do you answer the interview question, "Tell me about yourself?"
I have an interview on Friday for a position I really want, and this question is always the first one they ask. I used to answer this by giving a short summary of my education/previous jobs, but now I've been at enough jobs where this summary is getting rambly.
Do any of you have a go-to answer for this question?
Re: How do you answer the interview question, "Tell me about yourself?"
So, I just recently interviewed and asked several people in the know about how to answer this.
They told me to not recite my (internal) resume, but to gloss over some information, add anything professionally that might be on there, and then a little blurb about my personal life - married, child(ren), enjoy _______ in my spare time.
You don't want to make it more than 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
I thought you weren't supposed to discuss your personal life in an interview, marriage, kids, etc.
This sounds like good advice. I am pretty sure I have been de-shortlisted after second interviews where I talked to much and accidentally revealed that I am a huge nerd.
"No, I don't know any of the songs or TV shows you're talking about, but I did spend my weekend hiding in a duck blind in a swamp, watching herons through my binoculars! Would you like me to share my recipe for vegan banana bread? It was a real hit at my Dr. Who party!"
The trick is probably to say enough to answer the question without saying anything that could make them not like you/make somebody else seem like a better candidate. Damned if I know how to do that, though.
Also, AppleBear, I have heard that if they ask a question like that and you don't mention your personal life at all, some employers may think you are hiding something. Don't know for sure how true that is though since I never worked in HR.
I agree about not discussing certain aspects about your personal life in an interview. I would leave out anything regarding kids, marriage, age, family, etc. However hobbies or what you enjoy in your spare time is acceptable, IMO.
Yes, say something personal, but not about your family. Say something about your hobby (but make it a chill hobby, not like one that takes all your spare time).
Example, "I'm a pretty extroverted person who enjoys working with a team of people. Ever since I graduated from X, I've been finding myself drawn to Y or Z types of projects...I have also recently started trying to grow a bonsai tree as a follow up to my interest in horticulture. So far it's only two inches so, it's teaching me patience. Laugh."
That way you seem intelligent, interested in other things that make you balanced, but still free to do your job.
I agree with PP; this is the time to show your personal side (not necessarily family status) by relating about a hobby or other passion. Also, if you relate it back to why you'd like to have that job, that's a nice touch.
I usually say something about my volunteer work, my background, the farm and then that I'm married with a son- no ages, no names, nothing like that.
I use this as an opportunity to talk about my "soft skills" like team building, for example, I talk about my interest in sailing or my volunteering efforts.
It's personal but it also says that I'm energetic, organized, have leadership skills, etc.
I have no useful information to contribute to this thread, but would like your vegan banana bread recipe and an invitation to your next Dr. Who party. kthx
Bonsai tree - nice touch.
Perhaps answer with where you grew up if it's different from where you are now. You never know if they may have a connection to the place.
This was the first question that was asked at my interview on Monday and I just kept it short and sweet. I said where I was originally from and gave something specific about the area (golf is huge there). His face lit up and he went off on a tangent about how much he looooved golf and it turned into a nice little conversation. This made the rest of the interview very relaxed and enjoyable.
The company I work for is *very* family oriented, and people like to know about this kind of stuff, so that definitely skews my answer. :-D