[BizCareers] Put thought into interview responses

During an interview, more often than not, you will be asked to tell them a little bit about yourself. Rather than go for the generic responses, get them to see you as an innovative candidate.

By Juliette Attwell

27 Jan 2014

[BizCareers] Put thought into interview responses

I would like to find out, when an interviewer asks you to tell him/her about yourself, what exactly do they mean as this has always confused me? - Jennifer S.

Hi Jennifer,

When in an interview, one needs to remember that the point of the meeting is for you to show the organisation what it is that you have to offer. A prime fault that most candidates make, is telling the interviewer what you think they want hear. Generic answers such as saying you are reliable, dedicated and hardworking will immediately deter the interviewer, making it difficult to get them to see you as an innovative candidate who put some thought into the answer.

It is always best to describe yourself as a person as well as even give them a brief background about who you are and where you come from - without getting too personal. Mention some of your positive traits, and elaborate on how those traits could be beneficial to the company. We all have traits that we may deem undesirable however; you can change these into constructive qualities by relating them to the role that you are interviewing for, in a positive light.

Honesty is key, so be upfront and open about yourself rather than create an improper expectation and not meet up to it, assuming that you end up in the role as the outcome.

Hope this helps.

Remember to always love what you do!
Juliette

Email your questions for publication on Bizcommunity to moc.ytinummoczib@snoitseuqreerac.

Please note:

To see your questions answered in the BizCareers Column, please word your recruitment, job or career queries carefully, paying special attention to spelling and grammar.
Answers and advice provided will be based on your questions/industry issues, so the more complete and the more accurate your questions, the better. Answers will only be provided through Bizcommunity.com and not as direct responses from Juliette Attwell.
The answers provided to questions submitted by readers will be based on the content of questions themselves, current recruitment practices and current legislation in force at the time of writing, and are intended as advisory only and such advice is provided in good faith.
Readers' questions are submitted on the basis that neither Juliette Attwell, Recruit Group, Bizcommunity.com, their management nor associates may be held liable in any manner whatsoever for any consequences that might result from the correspondence following the advice provided. Juliette Attwell, Recruit Group, Bizcommunity.com, their management or associates shall under no circumstances be held liable for any error in responses provided in this column as to the references of the candidate, relating to his or her qualifications, skills, personality and experience; as to the compliance with the various legal and medical requirements relating to the performance, by the candidate, of his or her work, or any consequence whatsoever connected to the use of false/incomplete information.

Juliette Attwell

About Juliette Attwell

Juliette Attwell is Head of Marketing & Operations at Recruitgroup. Recruitgroup has won Careerjunction Recruiter of the Year in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 as well as Fast Growth Business of the Year at the National Business Awards 2014. Juliette holds a Bcom Honours in Marketing Management and is the resident "agony aunt" on the BizCareers Column, she was also a finalist in the Top Young Executive at the National Business Awards 2014.