Telling `em about yourself
A FEW weeks ago I had written a monograph on soft skills, which inundated me with mail that has, finally, slowed down to a manageable trickle.
The majority of the six hundred and forty two (at last count) respondents, while appreciating the inside story, also asked one common question that I felt I could share with the several others who did not write in. Namely, the all-important answer to the question: " Tell us about yourself."
This question is almost invariably asked in the majority of interviews, and just as invariably answered dismally! What does one say and why do we always seem so flustered by the question? Because we have always been taught by our parents and respected elders not to boast or talk about ourselves!
With a childhood full of such repressive advice, its not surprising that the majority of us begin the answer with a stammer and a blush, almost instantly changing from flash to foolish and ruining our chances of employment!
So what do we say? Frankly, just answer the question as it comes. Most disconcerted candidates dread this question and begin with a silly "Basically, my name is... " Why don't we realise that our CV is there right in front of the interviewer, and he knows this already.
By repeating the stuff that fills our CV, we just demonstrate that we have no imagination and that we are an `in-the-box' kind of person, with little if any skill in innovation and presentation. Actually, a question of this kind is an ideal way to plug in everything we would like to say about ourselves that we had to leave out of the CV! If you have attended a premier institution, say that the institution taught you much more than the diploma it awarded you, mention people who influenced you, talk about the books you like reading, your hobbies and your other interests.
If you have a pet, mention it, perhaps an anecdote about a lesson learned from your pet (an instance of faithful patience is great!) Talk about your strengths; perhaps mention an instance when you used your conflict resolution skills or selling skills or whatever. But make certain that it does not sound like blowing your trumpet. Mention these instances as learning.
Talk about your weaknesses, but make sure that they are `positive' weaknesses! For instance you could say that you sometimes pay more attention to detail than is warranted. You can openly confess a tendency to be impatient with team members who cannot carry their own weight, or who cannot contribute sufficiently.
You can say that you are intolerant of people who do not deliver on time or those who do not live up to their commitments. You can say that the tendency that people have to be unpunctual is anathematic to you and that you are not too happy with prevarication.
How do you start? Well, you could begin by stating, "Coming as I do from a progressive family, I have always felt that education has given me a special advantage over many others.
While many people were busy in the pursuit of wealth, my parents decided to invest in my education, and as a result, I find myself in the happy position of being able to hold my own with the best the world has to offer... " This kind of beginning sets the tone and pace for the rest of your interview. When you follow this up by mentioning the points talked about earlier, the effect is heightened. Sound open; mention how embarrassed you got once when you made a mistake, but remember to mention how you got out of it!
This underlines your ability to think on your feet! Mention how you once got a friend out of trouble. This emphasises your problem solving skill. Finally mention how you managed to diffuse a potentially volatile situation and begin this by saying, "What I am proudest about is... .." This will indicate your conflict resolution ability and your general people skills. Round off this opportunity by brushing all that you have said aside and say, "I daresay I have made several mistakes in my life, but one thing that gives me intense satisfaction is the fact that I have many more friends than I have enemies!"
But first, think today what you want to say and practice! Say it to a tape recorder and play it back till you are word perfect. Get someone to listen and give you feedback! Incorporate it and then get ready for the show.
Remember, if you hesitate about yourself, your interviewers will doubt whether you fit their bill of requirements. After all, if you don't know about you, who does?
S. RAMANUJACHARYA
professor1@sify.com
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