How Teens Can Answer, "Tell Me About Yourself"

EBRPL Career Center

19 Jul 202103:31

Summary

TLDRIn the script, Jessica, a senior at Brulee High School, initially fails to impress in a mock job interview by sharing personal anecdotes unrelated to her professional skills. She then corrects her approach, emphasizing her leadership and teamwork experience from the swim team, and her academic achievements, effectively showcasing her potential as a valuable employee to the hiring manager.

Takeaways

📚 Jessica is a senior at Brulee High School with a keen interest in biology.
🔍 She initially misunderstood the purpose of the 'tell me about yourself' question in an interview.
🤔 Jessica's first attempt was too personal and not focused on her professional attributes.
😐 In her second attempt, Jessica was unconfident and provided no valuable information about her work ethic or skills.
🏊‍♀️ Jessica has experience with the swim team, which she later used to highlight her teamwork and leadership skills.
🏆 She was part of the swim team for two years and had to train new members, demonstrating her ability to lead.
🏅 Jessica received top academic honors, indicating her dedication to her studies and strong work ethic.
💼 The third attempt was the most effective as she connected her school and extracurricular experiences to valuable job skills.
📈 Jessica's improved response showcased how she can offer leadership, teamwork, and a strong work ethic to a potential employer.
📝 It's important to tailor the 'tell me about yourself' answer to highlight relevant skills and experiences for the job.
🤝 Interviewers are interested in what candidates can bring to the job, not just their personal hobbies or free-time activities.

Q & A

What is the common mistake Jessica made in her first attempt to answer the interview question?
-Jessica assumed the interviewer wanted to know about her personal life and interests outside of work, which is not typically the focus of a job interview.
Why did the interviewer find Jessica's second attempt underwhelming?
-In her second attempt, Jessica provided very little information about herself, coming across as unconfident and closed off, which did not give the interviewer any insight into her as a potential employee.
What did Jessica do differently in her third attempt that made it more effective?
-In her third attempt, Jessica focused on her relevant experiences, such as being part of the swim team, which demonstrated her leadership skills, teamwork, and strong work ethic.
What is the main purpose of the 'Tell me about yourself' question in a job interview?
-The main purpose of this question is for the interviewer to understand the candidate's professional background, skills, and how they can contribute to the job.
Why is it important for a candidate to showcase their skills and experiences in a job interview?
-Showcasing skills and experiences helps the candidate demonstrate their value and suitability for the job, even if they lack direct work experience.
How did Jessica's involvement in the swim team contribute to her development of leadership skills?
-Jessica's role in training new members of the swim team allowed her to develop leadership skills by guiding and supporting others.
What does receiving 'tops' indicate about Jessica's academic performance and dedication?
-Receiving 'tops' suggests that Jessica has excellent academic performance and is highly dedicated to her studies.
How can a candidate's body language impact their interview?
-Body language can convey confidence, enthusiasm, and openness, or it can signal lack of confidence, closed-off attitudes, and defeat, which can influence the interviewer's perception of the candidate.
What advice would you give to someone preparing for a job interview about how to answer the 'Tell me about yourself' question?
-Focus on your professional experiences, skills, and how they relate to the job you're applying for. Avoid going into personal details unless they are relevant to the position.
Why might a candidate's extracurricular activities be relevant in a job interview?
-Extracurricular activities can be relevant as they can demonstrate transferable skills such as teamwork, leadership, and commitment, which are valuable in a professional context.
How can a candidate ensure their interview answers are concise and relevant?
-A candidate should practice their answers beforehand, focusing on key points that directly relate to the job requirements and their suitability for the role.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Job Interview Mistakes and Corrections

Jessica, a senior at Brulee High School, shares her initial attempt at a job interview, revealing her lack of experience and a common mistake of discussing personal interests rather than professional skills. The interviewer points out that Jessica's first response was not relevant to what an employer seeks to know. Jessica then tries again, this time failing to provide any meaningful information, which portrays her as unconfident and uninterested. The third attempt is more successful, as Jessica highlights her leadership and teamwork skills from her involvement in the swim team, and her academic achievements, which are more pertinent to a potential employer.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Job Interview

A job interview is a formal meeting between a potential employer and a candidate where they discuss the candidate's suitability for a job. In the video's theme, it's central to understanding the mistakes and strategies Jessica uses when asked to tell about herself. For instance, Jessica initially discusses personal hobbies, which is not the focus of a job interview.

💡Brulee High School

Brulee High School is the educational institution Jessica attends, signifying her current status as a student. It provides context to her lack of job experience and is used to establish her background in the script.

💡Senior

Being a senior typically refers to the final year of study in high school or college. In the video, Jessica mentions being a senior to indicate she is nearing graduation and is preparing to enter the job market, which is why she is participating in a job interview.

💡Biology

Biology is the study of living organisms and their vital processes. Jessica mentions her interest in biology and a memorable classroom activity of dissecting a frog, which she initially uses as an example in her interview, illustrating a common mistake of sharing personal interests unrelated to the job.

💡Teamwork

Teamwork refers to the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way. Jessica later correctly identifies her experience with the swim team as an example of her teamwork skills, which is relevant to the job interview context.

💡Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are the abilities to guide, influence, and inspire a team towards achieving goals. Jessica highlights her leadership skills developed through training new members of the swim team, which is pertinent to what an employer might be interested in.

💡Academic Performance

Academic performance refers to how well a student is doing in school, often measured by grades or other assessments. Jessica mentions receiving top scores, which she uses to demonstrate her strong work ethic and dedication to her studies, qualities that are appealing to employers.

💡Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities are pursuits undertaken outside of a student's academic curriculum. Jessica's involvement with the swim team is an example of such activities, which she uses to showcase skills like leadership and teamwork that can translate to a professional setting.

💡Resume

A resume is a document used by individuals to present their relevant skills, experiences, and achievements. Jessica refers to her resume when she says everything is on it, indicating that she initially struggles to articulate her qualifications beyond what is written.

💡Body Language

Body language consists of gestures, postures, and movements that accompany speech and that can convey a person's feelings and attitudes. In the script, Jessica's body language is described as 'deflated and defeated,' which negatively impacts her interview performance by giving off an impression of unconfidence.

💡Work Ethic

A work ethic refers to a set of values or a collection of traits that are associated with working hard and being dedicated. Jessica's mention of her academic dedication and leadership in extracurricular activities implies a strong work ethic, which is a desirable trait in a job candidate.

Highlights

Jessica introduces herself as a student at Brulee High School and a senior.

She admits to never having had a job interview before.

Jessica initially makes the mistake of discussing personal interests unrelated to the job.

The interviewer clarifies that personal hobbies are not of interest for a job interview.

The interviewer seeks to know about Jessica's professional qualities and potential.

Jessica's second attempt is underwhelming, lacking detail about her abilities.

Her body language in the second attempt is described as sullen and closed off.

Jessica fails to convey confidence and does not provide information on her value as an employee.

In the third attempt, Jessica effectively communicates her leadership and teamwork skills.

She mentions her experience with the swim team, highlighting her ability to work in a team and train others.

Jessica's academic achievements are brought up to demonstrate her strong work ethic.

She successfully connects her school and extracurricular experiences to valuable skills for the job.

The interviewer commends Jessica for doing a good job in her third attempt.

The importance of focusing on what one can offer to a hiring manager is emphasized.

Jessica learns to avoid common interview mistakes and effectively presents her qualifications.

The transcript serves as a guide on how to properly answer 'tell me about yourself' in a job interview.