How's it going, everybody?
I'm Sinéad, and welcome back to Indeed's YouTube channel.
If you're like me, you have your fair share of experience when
it comes to job interviews.
But whether you're prepping for interview number three
just this month or your very first interview ever,
your next job interview is your opportunity
to tell a really great story about who
you are as a professional.
And your moment to do just that usually
starts with a common interview question,
tell me about yourself?
In your answer, the way that you talk
about your background and your motivations in your industry
is key.
Coming up right now I'll share the three steps
on how to craft a strong response
and how to tailor that response for industries
like food and beverage, construction, tech, and more.
And because sometimes the hardest part
of answering interview questions is just
knowing how to actually start your answer,
I've also got you covered with a bonus tip
to help you start strong, so be sure to stick around
until the very end for that.
Step number one-- follow best practices
for "tell me about yourself."
There are some key strategies for crafting a compelling story
no matter what your industry is, and we
do have an in-depth video on this specific topic
right up here.
But for now, I'll sum up the highlights for you.
Use the present past, future, format
to structure your answer.
Start by explaining what you do now.
You can include information like your current position
title, your current company name, the time that you've
held your current role, or key projects that you're
involved in that are related to the world
that you're interviewing for.
Next, transition to what you did before and finish
strong with what you are looking for in your next career move.
Keep it short and end with confidence.
Hit your highlights, share your impact,
and keep the conversation moving.
At this point in the interview, you really
don't even need to go into too much detail.
If your interviewee is interested in learning more
about a specific area of your experience,
they'll be sure to ask about it.
End your response with confidence.
Don't fall into the trap of not knowing
how to finish up your answer because that can result
in saying things like, well, that's me, or yeah, well,
I think that sums it up.
Try saying, and that's what brings me here today,
or, and that's why I believe this role could
be a perfect fit.
Confidence.
Tailor your answer to the role and the industry.
Your response should be tailored to the role and industry
that you're interested in, and that is exactly what
we're going to focus on today.
Now, before we get into how to create
an industry-specific answer, please give us
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All right, so now that the basics,
it's time for step number two--
conduct industry-specific research.
When it comes to telling a great story,
it's very important to know your audience.
What will impact and move them specifically?
Highlighting key skills and attributes
that an employer is looking for in your response let's
that employer immediately know that you have the experience
needed to be successful.
So here are some example industries
and the qualities and skills that you
can emphasize for each.
Production and manufacturing could
use skills such as organization, logistical coordination,
and time management.
Human resources may be looking for conflict management,
presentation, and continued learning skills.
Software development values programming languages,
testing procedures, and problem solving.
Loading and stocking qualities can include attention
to detail, active listening, and sustained focus.
So now that you know what information to include,
how do you use this information in your answer?
That brings us to step number three-- tailor your response
to different industries.
First up is our baseline example where
someone is seeking to find a job in the same industry
as their current job.
So let's say that Martin is a manager
for a mid-priced restaurant.
However, Martin is making changes and interviewing
for two different jobs--
one at a luxury owned restaurant and the other
at a large fast food company.
The luxury restaurant may want to hear
about how he can deliver high quality guest service,
and they may also want to hear about his experience
with seasonal or rotating menus.
So he should be sure to discuss quality
and exceptional customer service.
For the luxury restaurant, Martin
could say something like, I've been the manager for Joy's Cafe
for the past two years and led a team of 20
in providing authentic, home-style Mediterranean
cuisine.
When I was promoted to the position,
I prioritized improving our training program
to ensure each waiter could meet and exceed
customer expectations.
I applied for the manager role because I take pride
in delivering excellent customer service and experiences,
and I knew I could make the most impact as a manager
because I knew what it took to be successful as a server based
on my own experience.
Working at Joy's Cafe has been a great experience,
but I'm ready for a new challenge, one
that enables me to focus on higher touch quality care
like this opportunity in your restaurant would provide.
Sounds great.
Now let's take a look at the other interview Martin
has with the fast food company who will likely
value efficiency and output.
Yes, of course, quality and exceptional service
are added bonuses, but based on the fast-paced environment,
the fast food company is likely to hire
someone who's adaptable, productive,
and extremely efficient.
Here's an example of how to illustrate those qualities.
I've been the manager for Joy's Cafe for the past two years
where I train and coordinate 20 people.
When I started in this position, I
reorganized our training program,
which reduced communication errors between our kitchen
staff and our servers.
And I maximized the efficiency of the restaurant by doing so.
I'm passionate about streamlining operations,
especially when it positively impacts the customer
experience.
I feel that I'm ready to apply my proven organizational skills
to a higher volume establishment, which
is what brings me here today.
All right, so do you see how that works?
We use the same core skill set, but we
spotlight different elements in order
to create a compelling story, a story that
is suited to each industry.
And with Martin's experience, he could very well
be suited for each of these roles.
It's easy to think that you should just
be changing the future part of your answer
as in what you're looking for next.
But as you just saw, we can actually tweak details
about the projects that you've worked on
and the motivations that you have in your present
and past statements as well.
All right, so now let's look at another example.
Christine has five years of experience
in marketing for a local construction company.
Christine knows her stuff, but she's
interviewing as a marketing manager
for two different industries-- a tech company
and a wellness facility, both of which
will be looking for specific skills requirements
and personal characteristics.
So let's go to the tech interview first.
Some qualities and skills that a tech company
might value in a marketing professional
could include communication skills, meaningful interaction.
Some tech jobs are completely remote,
so this one is important.
Organizational skills.
Tech can be fast paced, so organization
is key to not missing any big steps.
Diversity.
Many tech companies take this very seriously.
And impact.
What kind of mark can you leave behind?
When asked "tell me about yourself,"
Christine may say something like,
I've led the marketing department
at Tom's Construction for the past five years.
When I joined, I was the only marketer on the team
and I had to educate myself on our in-house tech stack.
I came up with a strategy to generate more leads,
which led to an expansion of the team,
and now I oversee, mentor, and educate a team
of three marketing professionals.
Prior to this role, I graduated with honors
from Central University with a degree in communications.
Although I am very proud of all the things I've
been able to establish in my current marketing role,
I've learned that I'm just as passionate about marketing
technology, which is what brings me here today.
I'm ready to take my diverse skill set to the next level
with a company and industry that has more reach.
Christine is showing impact in her response,
showing interest in the role, and expressing her passion
for technology.
Her skills and her experience are transferable
to this position.
You see how she did that?
Now, she's also interviewing for a similar position
with a health and wellness facility.
They are likely to value qualities
such as customer-centric campaigns.
How will you help foster social connections
while making an exercise routine enjoyable?
Motivating others.
Can you encourage members of the gym to enjoy their routine?
Teamwork.
Will you act as a team player?
Christine can still mention what she explained
in the tech interview here.
But knowing that she's speaking with someone
in health and fitness, she can tailor her response
to incorporate some relevant language.
So a great example may sound something
like, I've been a marketing lead at Tom's Construction
for the past five years.
There, I oversee email marketing and I
manage a team of three people.
Prior to this role, I graduated with honors
from Central University with a degree in communications,
but I've always been drawn to health and wellness.
I was a yoga instructor in college,
and I am fascinated by how nutrition
impacts our mental health.
I'm proud of all I've developed in my current role,
but I'm ready to work with a company and industry that
aligns with my personal passions.
That's what excites me about the opportunity with your company.
By highlighting different elements
of your personal background, your work experience,
and your interests, you can support your value
across many different industries.
Now, for even more information on more tricky interview
questions, check out this video right up here.
And then let us know if you'd like us to give you some more
examples on how to tailor the "tell me about yourself"
question for different jobs.
All right, now, let's move on to our final bonus tip.
As with all interview questions, there
is no cut and paste perfect answer
for "tell me about yourself."
But there are some things that you can definitely count on.
This question will likely be asked
at the beginning of the interview,
and you should be prepared to speak confidently
about your experience and how it relates to the role.
All right, so here is the bonus tip.
If you don't know what to highlight
for a certain industry, think critically
about what you would want to hear if you were hiring.
What were some of the highlights mentioned
in the job description?
What were some of the required skills
that they were looking for.
Now think back to your experience
and visualize how your background matches
their description of what a great fit
candidate may look like.
And if you are still struggling to really make that connection
to the industry, focus on sharing your enthusiasm
for the position.
Yes, sometimes hard skills can be taught.
And what ends up being most attractive about a candidate
is the enthusiasm to learn and the desire to work.
All right, now let's quickly recap
how to adapt a "tell me about yourself"
response for different industries.
Stick to the present, past, future format.
Try to keep your answers short.
And remember to end confidently.
Conduct industry specific research
and consider which skills a specific role requires.
Tailor your response accordingly.
The most compelling answers make it
seem like it was inevitable that you end up
in your target industry.
And of course, do not forget our final bonus tip.
When in doubt, identify what you think the hiring manager would
care most about.
Provide value and, of course, share your impact.
Best of luck to you on your next job interview.
Now, if you found this video helpful,
please be sure to give us like, subscribe to our channel
right over here, and of course, hit that notification bell
so that you never miss out on our weekly career tips.
But we do have you covered right now
with more tips about interviewing in this playlist,
or you can check out this video for more common interview
questions.
I'm Sinéad.
Thank you all so much for watching,
and I'll see you next time.