Talking about oneself

Most interviews begin the interview by asking such questions as:

Tell us something about yourself.What is a typical day in your life?What are your strengths and weaknesses?

These kind of questions in fact foxes (confuses) many candidates.

  What to include? How to include? How much to include? What to avoid? Should I talk about my native place? Is it necessary to tell the them if my parents

haven’t attended college.

If I tell my brother-in-law is an IAS Officer, will it be an advantage or disadvantage?

What if I tell that sometimes I’m lazy. What if I tell that I am ambitious, is it strength or

weakness? Is it alright to lie just to impress the interviewer?

SUCH QUESTIONS HAVE PLAGUED CANDIDATES TIME AND AGAIN.

Don’t go at length about family.Don’t tire the interviewer by telling about

unnecessary things.Otherwise the interviewer will get tired by

the time you reach the most important things about you.

1. FAMILY BACKGROUND

YOU COULD SAY:

I am Rajesh Savanur I am from Savanur My dad is a Police Officer My dad is an agriculturist (Farmer) My dad is a jeweler (goldsmith) My dad works for the State Bank of India My dad works for the Railways.

(What is applicable in your case)

My mom is a homemaker My mom works for the Post & Telegraph

Department. My mom works for the Railways My mom is a Bank Eemployee.

(What is applicable in your case)

I have two brothers and a sister I have a sister who is married I have a younger sister who is pursuing her

Engineering I have a older brother who works for the Indian Air

Force I have an older brother who works for the Armed

forces I have an older brother who is married and settled

in the States I have an older brother who is working for a MNC. (What is applicable in your case)

2. ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Start with your schooling or Highest Degree It is better to give your highest degree first

DON’T TELL:

Your Grades Percentage of Marks How many attempts you took to pass.

Give the interviewer a positive image about yourself.

Remember not a negative one However, if the interviewer asks your grades do

tell him. If your achievement is outstanding do tell him. Merit scholarship / college topper / gold medalist

– its an advantage.

I did my schooling from St. Mary’s High School, Hubli.

I graduated in Arts with English Literature as Major and Political Science as Minor.

I did my Masters in Arts in English Literature from Karnatak University.

I did my Masters in Business Communication from Institute of Business Management and Research, affiliated to Karnatak University.

You can tell about your specialization:

I did my Masters in Business Administration from Institute of Business Administration specializing in Finance/Marketing/Human Resources

Whatever is applicable in your case.

3. COMPUTER SKILLS:

These days everyone looking for a job is expected to be computer literate.

I have done a Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Application from APTECH.

I am familiar with C, C++ and JAVA. I very good at SAP. I am comfortable with MS Word, Excel and

Power Point.

4. ACCOMPLISHMENTS / ACHIEVEMENTS

Never underestimate yourself – This is very important.

You don’t have to be Sachin Tendulkar or for that matter an Abdul Kalam.

Write or say if you have won a prize at Quiz Competition.

Paper presented at a Seminar.

Ability to organize funds for flood victims (Victims of a natural calamity)

Coordinate and conduct inter collegiate Chess/Cricket Tournament.

But sincerity and honesty is important. You may have a certificate to prove something

but you many not have. The interviewer is very experienced and he will

immediately know.

You can say

I organized cultural programs for Republic Day/Annual Day Celebrations.

I was selected as the Best Boy/Girl at the School/College.

Raised funds for Tsunami Victims. Edited College Miscellany. Won Gold Medal for chess at the Inter-University

Competitions. Got sponsors for Sports Day Functions. Contributed Articles for College Magazine.

5. HOBBIES/SPECIAL INTERESTS:

Organizations and Interviewers are looking for multi-faceted personalities.

Only Academics is not enough. It is an advantage to have another dimension to

your personality. Hobbies like stamp collecting, photography,

trekking, painting. Special interest like Reading books on

Psychology, Autobiographies. Listening to Hindustani Music. Reading to the Blind, Stargazing, Bird-watching.

Remember a person who participates in games or sports is a better team member/Leader and organizer.

Good at Decision Making and Interpersonal Skills.

My Hobbies are Stamp collecting and Gardening. I enjoy reading auto-biographies and books on

psychology. I practice yoga everyday.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Many of don’t know what are strengths and weaknesses.

Do a SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, Threats. You look at yourself objectively and work

towards overcoming your weakness and converting them into strengths.

STRENGTHS COULD BE:

Ambitious, Sincere, Confident A Good Listener Hard working Honest Good Team Leader Trustworthy Punctual Patient Optimist

WEAKNESSES COULD BE:

ProcrastinationPessimistNervousShort Tempered

MODEL PRESENTATION:

Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen.My name is Rajesh SavanurI am from SavanurMy dad was a Police OfficerMy mother is a homemaker

I am married and my wife is a homemakerI have three children – two boys and a girl

(ONE GIRL???)All the three are pursuing their Engineering

Degrees at BVB College of Engineering, Hubli.

I hold a Masters Degree in English Literature from Karnatak University, Dharwad.

I also hold a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Institute of Business Management and Research, affiliated to Sikkim Manipal University. I have specialized in Marketing and HR.

I have done my schooling from St. Mary’s High School, Hubli.

I hold a Post Graduate Diploma in computers from APTECH.

I am well versed with computers and can give presentations on Power Point.

I have been working for two years on SAP and very good at it.

I am also good at C & C++.

During College days I have taken a very active part in extra-curricular activities.

I was the captain of the Cricket Team and we won the Inter-collegiate Tourney in the year 2005.

When Tsunami struck India I was instrumental in raising funds of Rs. 10 lacs for the victims.

I was the Sub-Editor of the College Miscellany.

For relaxing I Listen to Hindustani Music and do Yoga to keep myself fit.

I visit the Home for the Aged and spend sometime there every week. It makes me feel better.

I love nature and am a member of the Dharwad Bird-Watching Club.

Regarding my STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

I am hard working, Sincere, Good Team Leader.

I realized my greatest strength is my patience, Optimism and determination.

I realized this while we were working on the Tsunami Fund Raising. We organized a cultural even and I was the organizer.

Regarding my WEAKNESSES

• I have really not given a very serious thought about them:

• Sometimes I am a bit Short Tempered and rush up with things. I have realized that this is not very good for my success hence I am working on that.

• Sometimes I overeat and especially sweets are my weakness.

• That’s it, thank you for listening.

CONCLUSION

You are like a productPack it up and market it impressively.If you don’t, none will do it.Whoever listens to you, tell him what a fine

person you are – confident, smart, fine and human.

Keep aiming at excellence, working towards it, you will be a winner.