During my career as a trade magazine editor, I had numerous occasions to hire new staff. The process is pretty much the same with employers in all fields. I would look over the applications, read resumes and cover letters, and then select a handful of finalists for face-to-face interviews. That last part was of course the most meaningful. How you conduct yourself in an interview with a prospective employer will most likely be the most crucial factor determining whether or not you land a coveted job.
One thing I learned early on as an interviewer was to ask open-ended questions and let the applicant do most of the talking. Open-ended questions are those that can’t be answered with a simple “yes” or “no.” If I ask someone whether they’ve ever faced a major challenge, that is a closed-end question that can be answered yes or no. An open-ended way of putting it would be to ask, “How did you respond to any challenges you’ve faced?” The applicant would be compelled to elaborate.
Some people are naturally shy or just don’t like to talk much, and those were the hardest people for me to interview. Quiet persons might be capable of excellent performance, but deep down I know I favored applicants who were well spoken. Most employers are the same way.
One of the standard open-ended questions I – and many other employers – would ask was not a question at all. That was the statement: “Tell me about yourself.” Odds are good that when you apply for a job as a trade worker or trainee, your potential employer will say that or some variation to get you talking about yourself.
The best advice I can give about how to respond is to focus on things relevant to the job you’re applying for. For a trade position, talk about being curious about how things work, how handy you are with projects around the house, about how much you enjoyed taking shop classes in school or watching TV programs dealing with construction or home renovations, like “This Old House.” If you are currently employed in a trade job, talk about the kinds of work you most enjoy and some of the projects you found most challenging and how you performed. Tell the interviewer about your goals for the future, whether it’s becoming a master craftsman or working your way up the ladder, maybe owning your own business someday. Especially tell of problems you have solved.
Keep the tone positive. You don’t want to air gripes about former employers or people you have worked with.
Don’t turn your response into a long-winded monologue. Strive to answer the inquiry in one or two minutes.
Avoid a bunch of personal details – unless you can make it relevant to the job you’re applying for. It’s not relevant that you were a star football player in high school, although you can make it relevant if you emphasize how playing football helped make you a team player and how that carries over into a workplace.
It’s a good idea to assume “tell me about yourself” or some variation will be asked of you in every job interview. Develop a script for yourself that highlights what you intend to talk about. Practice that script in front of family or friends.
One more tip: Tailor your script to the position you are applying for. For instance, if you are looking for a position with a company that specializes in new construction, put more emphasis on your technical skills and interests. If it’s a service job, talk about how much you enjoy interacting with customers. Never go into a job interview paralyzed with the thought: “What should I say?”
Above all, be upbeat about yourself and the job you want.