Tell me about yourself.
This opening question is your interviewer's first attempt to assess your suitability for the role. It also serves as an ice breaker, with the hopes of determining how comfortable or nervous you are. Their goal is to get you to relax and to present your authentic self. This will help them use your sincere responses and will serve as a benchmark against which they can evaluate any perceived insincerity or performative answers.
On Maersk's website, their recruiters offer candidates some general advice for conducting an interview with them. "Be yourself. Remember, we want to meet the real you! You don't have to answer everything perfectly or memorize your responses like a script. We're more interested in hearing about you, your interests, your career goals and why you think Maersk is the right place for you. Interviews are also a chance for you to ask us any questions you may have about Maersk and the role. Our dress code is business casual. Feel free to wear whatever you feel comfortable."
"Well, after I finished high school, I took a gap year before I launched into college, and I needed a job. A friend of my uncle owned a small logistics and distribution company and he got me a job there. Right away, it felt like a good fit, even though I just fell into it. I enjoyed both the work and the lifestyle. After that year, I went to college, and despite all the career options presented to me, I just enjoyed that industry more than any other. I then landed a position at my last job as a seafarer, which suited me even better, because I love the ocean and I love to travel as well. The routes for the logistics company I currently work for are limited, and the career advancement opportunities are limited as well. So I recently made the decision I am ready for something new."
