Better Consultant

On how to nail the start of every interview

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Hi friends,

First impressions do matter, whether we like it or not.

Apparently, half of interviewers decide within the first 5 minutes whether a candidate is the right fit for the role. Almost 90% of them decide within the first 15 minutes.

So, this letter is about how to nail the beginning of every interview.

Specifically, the question that almost every interview starts with: Tell me about yourself.

Before we discuss the actual framework for addressing the question, let’s consider what this question is meant to do.

It’s meant to be a conversation starter.

The interviewer wants to ease into the interview process, get a sense of who you are, how you speak, how you relate to your experience, and what are the most defining aspects of what makes you, you.

So, in that sense, it’s not a download of your experience or a comprehensive summary of your professional career.

It’s the broad strokes of who you are.

You should convey these in a conversational way, being open to the possibility that the interviewer would pick on one of those elements, following their curiosity and asking follow-up questions.

At this point in the interview, you can assume they know nothing about you. (Not all interviewers will read your CV beforehand)

All you need to aim for is a 2-minute answer.

Great.

So, how to structure the answer to this question:

Start with something personal: your name and where you are from. Maybe a point about your cultural background. For instance, if you are from Germany but studying in the US, this would be the right place to mention it.
Give us a sense of your current occupation/project. That could be the school and degree that you’re attending or your current employer. In a few sentences, we should be able to understand what your current focus is and what it entails on a daily basis. If you are an experienced hire, you should communicate what your knowledge and value proposition centre on.
Briefly summarise your professional and academic background. What universities did you study at? Which companies did you work in? For how long? For instance, if you are an experienced hire, mention that you graduated with an Engineering Degree from University X and for the past 6 years have been working in the industry with companies Y and Z. This shouldn’t take more than 30 seconds.
Close with something personal. Give us a sense of your hobbies and interests. This part makes you easier to empathise with, and it might turn out that you share a common interest with the interviewer.

That’s it.

Have these four steps at the back of your mind and you’re golden.

Then, in terms of delivery.

Go slow and relaxed. Slower than you usually speak.

Don’t rush to get it all out. Instead, read their reaction, make eye contact, and seek to connect.

The more relaxed and natural you are, the more genuine you come across.

Needless to say, practice it a few times with friends, but don’t memorise the actual words. Just have in mind the main ideas that you want to get across.

Keep it casual. And try to enjoy it.

Good luck with your next interview!

Until next Thursday,

Cristian

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