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Job Interview: How to answer personal questions.

Job Interview: How to answer personal questions.

Date: Apr 17 2009

Topic: Listening

Author: nad1a

Lesson

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One question that you are always going to get at a job interview is "Tell me about yourself". That sounds like an easy thing to talk about. It is open ended and you may think that you can talk about anything you want.

Although this is often supposed to be an ice-breaker and put you at ease, it's still a job interview, not a casual conversation. There's nothing wrong about wanting to give a feel of who you are and what you are interested in but, after all, you are there to convince that person that you are the right candidate for this job. So the best thing you can do while introducing yourself is try to connect that information to the job you are interviewing for. Point out how your personality fits the job you're trying to land.

Watch this video of an expert's advice on how exactly to approach this type of questions that often sound personal but are supposed to be taken more profesionally.



Script:

"I'm Don Varney of Varney Speaks and on behalf of Expert Village. Today we're going to talk about the interview process. Let's take a moment and talk about some of the types of questions that you could be asked during the interview process. Sometimes the questions are misleading because we're taking them personally when they're really talking professionally. A good example would be if they were to say to you, tell me about yourself. You're sitting there saying, well I like to go hunting on the weekends. I like to go camping and take my family fishing, and I really enjoy that. Well, great answer, but that's not what they're asking. When they say tell me about yourself, they are asking you to tell them about yourself in this job environment. They want to hear I enjoy coming to work with people that I get around and I have a good time with. I like an atmosphere of friendliness. Your company being a company that specializes in public relations and customer service, well this is the environment that I like and it would work well for me to work well in your environment. That would be in line with what they're really asking when they say tell me about yourself. When they ask about strengths and weaknesses, again, they're not asking you for you to really tell them I'm very good at this and I'm weak at this, but in essence, they may be asking you about how that would apply to the work force, to the workplace where you are actually going to go to work. One of the simplest examples is you might say, I was told early on in my career that listening was a weakness. I didn't listen very well because I was always ready to answer whatever it was they were saying. The good news was they were right and I figured that out, so what I've done now is I've taken a weakness of not listening very well. I've taken classes on it, I've read books on it, I've done studies on it, and over the last few years what I've determined is I really wasn't a good listener, but now I really trained myself to understand the importance to listening to the person before I try to answer."

Interactive multiple choice and listening comprehension quiz.

Comments

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karykary

karykary

Hong Kong

It's very useful and good to everyone especially me. When I join a new group or meet people in a new place sometimes, people or a host usually ask me to introduce myself although I am not in a interview. I think this is a good way to let people to have a initial impression about your personality or background. Unfortunately everytime I'm really stuck of that. And my reply usually is some silly things. Actually i don't know how to introduce myself. Haha.Now I have to think and plan how and what to give right, good and interesting responses. Thank you

01:36 PM Jul 23 2009 |

siva2k1

siva2k1

India

Really, It's very useful.

Thanks. 

03:58 AM Jul 22 2009 |

ninoroque

ninoroque

Philippines

Very helpful! Thanks

09:22 AM Jul 21 2009 |

glassy heart

Saudi Arabia

yes u are right..

 

05:23 PM Jul 12 2009 |

shekharkc

Nepal

thanks

05:38 AM Jul 12 2009 |

Roshan.libra

India

thanks

04:39 PM Jul 11 2009 |

shekharkc

Nepal

I think you prepared for interview. Well then good luck Eva. You feel must confidence in your self then you success. Some time we are confused about sounds then we little nervous. After all you are there to convince that interviewer that you are the right candidate for this job. So the best thing you can do while introducing yourself.  

09:47 AM Jul 11 2009 |

ahmad133

ahmad133

Yemen

Thanks alot , it would really help me through the interview..

08:03 PM Jul 09 2009 |

eve_127

China

i am preparing for an interview.it could help me a lot.thanks very much for your lesson.

01:28 AM Jul 08 2009 |

passionforluv

Malaysia

that was a good one. I've been into a few interview session and i got so nervous i was thinking to walk away. luckily i didn't and i got the job. love this job i'm doing now

08:38 AM Jul 07 2009 |

heemoo

Saudi Arabia

hello

 

11:58 PM Jul 06 2009 |

Ryan_79

Viet Nam

Thank to your lesson

03:48 PM Jul 06 2009 |

vivi32

China

thank you for your lesson. it will be very useful during job interviews.

12:36 PM Jul 06 2009 |

anandkawasthi

India

relay good lesson i  need more lesion that will be gide for me 

thanks

05:22 PM Jul 05 2009 |

aliali_june

Viet Nam

Thanks for your good lesson!!!<!-Session data->

01:16 AM Jul 05 2009 |

pUpS_23

Ukraine

oh,good

09:12 AM Jul 04 2009 |

ageel2009

Saudi Arabia

i am always suck this interviews<!-Session data->

10:07 PM Jun 30 2009 |

sakasse

France

very interessting

06:53 PM Jun 27 2009 |

wadah moha

wadah moha

Qatar

just one word"" marvelous  video""" 

i realy enjoy it

12:58 PM Jun 27 2009 |

fushutan

fushutan

China

Show your strength and avoid  and improve your weakness

06:50 AM Jun 26 2009 |

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