This question forces the candidate to describe a negative situation. Do so in the context of an early career mistake based on inexperience; then demonstrate the better judgment you now have as a result of that learning experience.
"The first time I had to give a presentation to our board, I failed to anticipate some of their questions. I was unprepared for anything other than what I wanted to report. Now my director and I brainstorm all the what-ifs in advance."
Describe two or three skills you have that are most relevant to the job. Avoid clichs or generalities; offer specific evidence. Describe new ways these skills could be put to use in the new position. If you have to talk about weaknesses, be honest without shooting yourself in the foot-avoid pointing out a weakness that could be a major obstacle in landing the job. For example, it might be wise to mention you barely have the required work experience for the job; the interviewer has surely noticed this much, and then you can explain how you're qualified nonetheless.
"My strengths are interpersonal skills, and I can usually win people over to my point of view. Also, I have good judgment about people and an intuitive sense of their talents and their ability to contribute to a given problem. These skills seem to me directly related to the job. I notice that you require three years' work experience for this job. Although my resume shows I've only two years' experience, it doesn't show that I took two evening college courses related to my field and have been active in one of the professional societies. I also try to gain knowledge by reading the industry's trade journals. I'm certain that my combined knowledge and skill level is the equivalent of that of other people who do have three years' of work experience. I'm also currently enrolled in a time-management course; I can already see the effects of this course at work on my present job."
Do not be distracted by the mention of two other candidates, you don't know anything about them and they could be fictitious. Focus on what strengths you bring to the table. These should be consistent with the four things most employers are looking for in candidates during the job interview: competence, professionalism, enthusiasm, and likability. Remember, they are looking for chemistry between you and them. Be prepared to summarize in 60 seconds why you are the best candidate for the job. Also, let the employer know you want the job and you will enjoy working with them. A lack of interest in the job may indicate a lack of enthusiasm for the job and them.
Give an example of a goal you both set and achieved. Ideally, this should be a professional goal; such as improved time management skills, achieved new performance targets, or learned a new skill. A personal example can also be appropriate if it reinforces your pattern of accomplishments. For example, if you take a great deal of initiative and quickly move into leadership positions, you might use a personal example relating to your recent community work: organized a community walk-a-thon that raised Rs.30,000 in matching funds to purchase new computers for the local library. Talk about results of achieving your goal. This indicates you set realistic goals and that you can focus on outcomes. Select an example that has interesting outcomes related to your efforts. The example should showcase your skills and abilities.
You may tell the educational goals such as, you had set a goal of scoring 90% and you got succeed at certain level by getting 85%. For this you just need to analyse yourself, we always keep looking at outside world, give few minutes of your life and have a deep look into yourself.
For example,
"In five years I hope to be working with an employer in an increasingly responsible position, that enables me to utilize my talents and work closely with my colleagues in solving important problems. I see myself taking on new and exciting challenges in an enjoyable environment and hopefully this will be with your company."
Do not indicate that you hope to start your own business, change careers, or go back to school. Such responses indicate a lack of long-term interest since you do not plan to be around for long. While some may respond that they honestly haven't really thought that far ahead, the interviewer infers that the applicant lacks vision and goals.
Honestly speaking I don't think any one can assure you that. A long association is not something which entirely dependant on me. Its the company as well which is equally responsible and if both me and the company will keep taking care of each other rational expectations, then I don't think I will even think of moving from here, what I can assure is that if I will keep getting good working environment and competitive growth, hike & recognition, then I will try my level best not to disappoint my employers, not even slightly
So in this post I am going to give you brief on How to answer to the most commonly asked interview question "Tell Me Something About Yourself". Almost in all Intrviews, the Interviewer is bound to ask about yourself so as to know about you. The another purpose of this question is to check how you can showcase yourself precisely with good communication skills. The interviwer is most interested in the way of your speaking, how you can modify your sentences accordingly, he/she might be least interested in knowing you. So better be precise and concise. While answering this question dont go more deeply with your family background, just speak about youself, the interviewer is not interested what your father, mother, siblings doing. So "Be upto yourelf".
Before going for an interview, practice it at home by speaking in front of the mirror, this will really help you. Don't just go with the thought in mind that you will handle right in front of interviewer.
1. Name, age, Residence
2. About your highest education
3. About your work experience
4. You can tell your qualities
5. Your interests
1. Name- Don't start with "Myself < your name>", always start with "My name is < your name>"
Age- Its not necessary to tell your age(mostly for girls), but if you comfortable with it, then tell the age. "My age is < for eg. 20>"
Residence- Don't tell your full address, just the name of your city, "and I am residing in < for eg Mumbai>"
2. About Your highest education - Here you speak on your educational degrees, what was your highest education, if your job profile is related with technicality then speak about your technical education(if you posess any degree, don't tell lie). Eg. "Talking about my highest education, I have completed my < ur education eg. graduation> from < mention the institute name>(it is better if u mention university < eg. Mumbai University> if the institute is not very much well knwn)."
3. About your past working experience- Share your previous work experiences, telling the name of the company, your post, job profile, your responsibilities. Eg. "I have worked wid < company name you worked with> for < duration> years, as a < your position in company>(freshers can say that they are freshers). I was handling < your responsibilities>". Here also, don"t tell lie, because you will be asked to provide the proof of your experience. So be ready with your documents.
4. Qualities you posess- You may tell the main plus points in you, and how that wil help you while performing your task in the company. I am giving you an eg of how you can express yourself in this section. Eg. "Talking about me as a person, < mention ur qualities> eg. I am a person with strong interpersonal skills and have the ability to get along well with people. I enjoy challenges and looking for creative solution to problem. Besides the details given in my resume I believe in character values, vision and action. I am quick in learning from mistakes but its different thing that I make mistakes rarely.(while saying this you must have that expression on your face that u posess all dis qualities)(keep changing expression on ur face)"
(after a short rest not more dan 1-2 sec)
5. Your interests- In earlier, the interviewers were not much interested in knowing your interests but now-a-days interviewer will ask your interest if you forget to mention it in your answer. The reason is to know what you do at home when you are free, and he/she will also come to know about what kind of person you are(your nature). Suppose you are saying that, you like cricket, that means you are more goal and target oriented person. Eg. My hobbies are < your hobbies>.(mention hobbies about which u knw very well, interviewer may ask u going deeply into it. So mention only those you are familiar with).
You may tell the persons that inspires you the most. Eg. "The persons who inspires me a lot < mention names>(NO need to mention only BIG NAMES like BILL GATES etc, you can take these names only if you know about them because interviewer may ask why he inspires you, what you know about him, so you must be very well knwon about them.), < take for eg. MS DHONI>(then tell the reason) because I like the way he handles any critical situation by staying calm and cool all the time and snatching the victory from the opponent"
"Thats all about myself"
You may also end up with the question "is there anything else that u wanted to know and i didn't cover so far??"
(You should done with this in around 1 to 1.5 minutes.. )
Note: While you speaking the interviewer may interrupt you in between, so you must make changes and modify the sentences accordingly.
In the next post I will be coming with few more commonly asked questions in the Interviews.
