"Look at the donut, not the hole." ...age-old advice from one of my former coaches, reminding us to look at what we have, not what we don't


Remember, Babe Ruth may have been one of the great homerun hitters of all time, but he also struck out a lot, too. The job search is just like that, especially in this economy. Keep getting back up there and swinging for the fence!


"The majority of the word 'can't' is can." ...attributed to Betty Weaver, former CSB school director



Friday, November 16, 2012

Friday's Leads--and a Review of "Tell Me About Yourself"

"Tell Me About Yourself"--The opening interview question...

We all know that question is coming, and we sometimes dread it all the same.  It's a dangerous question for sure, and some people find themselves thinking, "What do they want to know?  What should I say?"

Honestly, what you say is up to you as long as it meets a few criteria:

  1. It must be business oriented.  Do not include personal information that is irrelevant to the job.  Sure, it's great that you have collected every Beanie Baby known to man, but that doesn't make you a good candidate for a job!
  2. Tailor your answer to the job description of the job for which you are interviewing.  Remember, you are there to "sell" yourself as THE candidate for that job.  Show them why you fit the bill!
  3. You shouldn't talk too much.  Aim for 30 seconds to 2 minutes for an appropriate window.  You want to get the interview off on the right foot and establish that you are a good candidate, but you don't want to ramble.
So, what can I include?   Include elements of any of the following, preferably in a way that demonstrates how each helps to qualify you for the position:  previous work history (make connections to your transferable skills), soft skills that help qualify you for the job, your education and training, and relevant volunteer activities.

To help you "see" what it looks like, here is a good example:

Remember, you can make or break your interview with the Tell Me About Yourself question.  Thus, prepare well and get your interview off on the right foot!

Friday's Leads:

Tim Barshinger

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