Two-Minute Drill
Skill Stalking, an excellent workbook written by Dick Gaither, presents this
as an outline, with nearly perfect examples, of an answer to the "tell me about
yourself" question.
- State the type of work you want. I’m interested in work as a general ledger accountant.
- Expand your job title. I’d also consider other types of accounting work.
- State your total amount of experience. I have three years’ experience…
- State where you got the experience. …at Trimble Corp…
- Create a skills linkage. …where I was a cost accountant.
- Specify your education I have a BS in accounting…
- State the school’s name (if reputable) …from Penn State,…
- Specify your grades (if good) …where I had a 3.7 average.
- Specify supporting course work. I also took computer courses at Penn State, …
- Specify grade point average (if good) …and got a 3.5 in them.
- Define 5-8 job related skills. I can prepare income statements and balance sheets,
track inventory, and use Microsoft Excel for the PC or the Macintosh. I’m also knowledgeable
in Pennsylvania Sales and Use Tax regulations.
- Specify 3-7 transferable skills. I can also troubleshoot problems, direct others,
and cope with deadlines.
- Indicate your reliability. I can work overtime in the evenings and on weekends,…
- Specify 3-7 self-management skills. …and I consider myself a self-starter, a
team player, and a detail-oriented person.
- Indicate a level of loyalty. I’m looking for a career-oriented company similar
to my last employer.
Throw the question back to the interviewer. What else would you like to know about
me or would you like me to give you some examples of the ways I’ve used my skills?