I panicked the first time a prospective employer asked, "So, tell me about yourself." I briefly described my background and listed my
journalism experience — singular — writing for my school's student
newspaper. Desperate to appear more qualified, I highlighted some
extracurricular activities that showed my skills and work ethic. I didn't have much of a resume following my first
year of college. In fact, the content barely reached half a page. That's
including the education and contact information at the top. I remember frantically thinking of ways to apply my
role as a student writer to an established media company during that
first interview. Realistically, I had minimal responsibilities,
especially compared to a seasoned reporter. Mentors told me, "Show your best self." But what does
that mean? I managed to think of some responses after struggling
through a few more interviews. But to help you, CNBC Make It went to experts Joan Kuhl and Sandy Gould for tips on how to talk about yourself in your next interview.
1. Keep the job in mind
"List the job's required skills and match your skills
to the list," says Kuhl, founder and CEO of Why Millennials Matter.
"Whether they were professionally
learned skills or those you developed through extracurricular activities, volunteer work, class, everything counts."
2. Prepare in advance
"Do your research about the company and who you are
interviewing with," says Gould, head of talent at Oath. "You can easily
search for your interviewer on LinkedIn and find out a little bit more
about the person you are talking with," then focus on the strengths he
or she would find interesting and relevant.
3. Have confidence in your experience
"Be prepared to succinctly represent your work
experience as far back as possible. Do not feel like your experiences
are not 'good enough,'" says Kuhl. "Every experience can teach you
valuable lessons and transferable skills. It is all about how you sell yourself."
4. Express your interest
"Showcase eagerness and excitement about the
opportunity, as well as willingness to try new things and to grow your
task management and execution skills," says Gould.
5. Show off your critical thinking skills
"Be prepared to share a story that demonstrates you
have good judgement when faced with business challenges or tricky work
situations," says Kuhl. "
Practice explaining this scenario with a mentor, friend, or family member to ensure it translates positively."
6. Be genuine
"Honesty and candor can speak volumes about a
candidate's qualities and values. Be yourself because the rest is what
is on the resume," says Gould. "There is not a lot of experience to
discuss when you are just starting out, so
talking about a passion will give the interviewer an idea of who you are."
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