TRAPS: Beware, about 80% of allinterviews begin with this “innocent” question. Many candidates, unprepared forthe question, skewer themselves by rambling, recapping their life story,delving into ancient work history or personal matters.
BEST ANSWER: Start with the present and tellwhy you are well qualified for the position. Remember that the key to allsuccessful interviewing is to match your qualifications to what the intervieweris looking for. In other words you mustsell what the buyer is buying. This is the single most important strategy injob hunting.
So, before you answer this or anyquestion it's imperative that you try to uncover your interviewer's greatestneed, want, problem or goal.
To do so, make you take these two steps:
1. Do all the homework you can before the interview touncover this person's wants and needs(not the generalized needs of the industry or company)
2. As early as you can in the interview, ask for a morecomplete description of what the position entails. You might say: “I have a number ofaccomplishments I'd like to tell you about, but I want to make the best use ofour time together and talk directly to your needs. To help me do, that, couldyou tell me more about the most important priorities of this position? All I know is what I (heard from therecruiter, read in the classified ad, etc.)”
Then, ALWAYS follow-up with a second and possibly, third question, todraw out his needs even more. Surprisingly, it's usually this second or third question that unearths what the interviewer is most looking for.
You might ask simply, "And in addition to that?..." or,"Is there anything else you see as essential to success in this position?:
This process will not feel easy or natural at first, because it is easiersimply to answer questions, but only if you uncover the employer's wants andneeds will your answers make the most sense. Practice asking these keyquestions before giving your answers, the process will feel more natural and you will be light years ahead of theother job candidates you're competing with.
After uncovering what the employer is looking for, describe why the needsof this job bear striking parallels to tasks you've succeeded at before. Besure to illustrate with specific examples of your responsibilities andespecially your achievements, all of which are geared to present yourself as aperfect match for the needs he has just described.
