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“Tell me about yourself...”
... Do you dread being asked this question?
It's true that people take as few as 3 seconds to form a first impression of you. Are you likeable and trustworthy? In these first few moments, they will decide whether you're likely to follow-through on what you promise, and if you're the type of person who can get things done.
When you want to make a positive initial impression at job interviews, you’ll need to put together a strong elevator pitch that concisely highlights your background, skills, training, development and where you want to go in the future. This is your opportunity to control what you emphasise from your resume.
You’ll likely get the chance to use it, as one of the interview questions will inevitably be “tell me something about yourself."
Here's 3 tips that will ensure your introduction makes a good first impression. We're here to help you tell your story with confidence!
1. Inspire Curiosity
Whether it’s an in-person or online conversation, when you talk about yourself, you should aim to create a feeling of curiosity in your listener. Inspire them to want to hear more!
Your focus should be on the unique value you offer and the impact you create through your work.
The phrase “you know how”, or “you know those people who” is an excellent way to begin, as it sets the tone of curiosity in your listener and gives you immediate opportunity to show your understanding of the people you serve through your work.
You want to inspire your listener to say: “Tell me more”.
2. Display Understanding
Showing your listener that you understand key issues builds trust and gives you credibility. It highlights your unique strengths and how you can make a positive impact.
Showing you understand is important for many reasons:
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
It gives you credibility. People assume that if you can articulate their problem well enough then you must know the answer too!
It highlights your unique strengths and core values as person, which helps you build a stronger connection with your listener.
You can display understanding in your introduction using the 'ABC' method. Describe what your work helps to:
Avoid
Become
Create
3. Share an Insight
This part of your introduction should take the form of a short, useful piece of information and highlight the unique difference you make in your field.
Ask yourself: What’s the most unique and interesting thing you could share? The thing that your listener will be amazed by?
Share a short story around that. As you're beginning a new relationship, you want to put your best foot forward, otherwise they may never see you again.
When giving this anecdote, remember to do this in a way that leaves them wanting more. Let them know the benefits, the overview of the process, or the unique difference in your approach etc. But don’t give them every single detail, otherwise your listener may lose focus and the conversation will stall. Leave room for questions and discussion.
Summary
Your elevator pitch should concisely highlight your background, strengths and where you want to go in the future. When preparing your elevator pitch, consider the following:
Avoid tangents.
Focus on what you can offer - the impact you make or your unique selling points.
Share how your work helps people in a meaningful way; the more specific you can be, the better.
Think about your goals and use that to inform your introduction. Are you seeking more responsibilities or want to make the world a better place?
Ensure to highlight the skills and strengths you possess to deliver significant value.
A great elevator pitch is one which shows your potential contribution to the company by highlighting the strengths that would be relevant to the new role.
We'll write your introduction with you
Are you ready to take your elevator pitch to the next level of professionalism? Or perhaps you're just short on time, or too close to it on your own. We can help!
Book your session with us now. After this session, you’ll have the perfect way to answer: “tell me about yourself”!