Tell me about yourself.
This is a common question to start an interview with. Your interviewer has a vested interest in getting to know the real you. They are looking for the perfect candidate; if that's you, they'll need you to feel comfortable and relaxed. They even say so on their website: they need you "to relax so that you can be yourself during the interview." So try to feel confident in your own skin.
"I've always had strong leadership skills and naturally made my way into a career in management. Yet, at a certain point, I found the management niche I was working in unsatisfactory. I didn't feel like I was accomplishing anything meaningful. So, I decided to branch out into another industry and veered to healthcare to find that meaning I was looking for. I found work with a small independent clinic which I managed. It facilitated the meaning and reward I was looking for. However, although I am proud of how far I brought that clinic, the clinic owner and I agree we've hit a growth threshold. So at this point, I wanted to explore working somewhere that had a greater impact and more career growth potential, and Cerner seems to offer the career growth I crave more than anywhere else. Not to mention they offer shared values and a work environment where I truly feel I would thrive. So that's what brings me here today."
One way to muster confidence is to come to your interview fully prepared. Research everything you can about the company and the position. Use this introductory question as an opportunity to deliver your brief professional bio, which can simultaneously serve as an elevator pitch. Share who you are, where you've come from professionally, why you are interviewing with them today, and where you hope this opportunity will take you and your career.
