Yes, that question is a trap. Get the cheese without danger.
Have you asked, “Why didn’t I get the job when the interview went so well?”
Often it is because an interview question was answered wrong.
The most common interview questions are:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Will you work hard?
- Can you do this job?
- Will you make the team better?
- Do you want this job?
Only the first question is usually asked straight out. The rest are so obvious that interviewers don’t want to ask them plainly. They figure you will lie. So let’s deal with #1 today, and the rest later.
Tell me about yourself
When an interviewer can’t figure out what to ask next, they say, “Tell me about yourself.”
You now get to tell the interviewer what to ask next.
Your answer should prepare the interviewer to ask about your greatest accomplishments and your job progression. They don’t need to know about your dog, fishing, or your marital problems.
Set them up to ask about how you can help them. What have you done that would help them the most? What were you recognized for doing very well? Why did you get a past job or a promotion? What have you been doing well in your latest job?
Keep your answer short. 60 seconds is fine. You are setting up your interviewer to ask questions. A 20 minute speech on your part is not going to help.
Practice answering, “Tell me about yourself.” Each interview is different. Make sure you briefly mention the things that are most important for THIS job.
Tomorrow we’ll start dealing with the other questions.
Something To Do Today
Write down the two most important things you have done as far as your interviewers are concerned. Practice working those accomplishments into an answer to “Tell me about yourself.”
Do you think Titus Livius was in a job interview when he said:
I approach these questions unwillingly, as they are sore subjects, but no cure can be effected without touching upon and handling them. (Titus Livius 59 BC – 17 AD)
Later: Unasked interview questions
Other most common interview questions – traps, money, intimidators