Tell me about yourself.
"I grew up in Pasadena, CA. As soon as I was legally able to, I got a job in retail during my summer vacation from school. I've always had a strong work ethic. When I graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA I took a gap year before I went to college for business management and administration where I also graduated with a 4.0 GPA. My job promoted me to a manager position and I learned a lot of on-the-job skills during that gap year before I went into college. I always felt that was a good move, having on-the-job skills. When I took my courses, I felt like I had a behind-the-scenes knowledge on how to apply those lessons."
This initial question is an icebreaker. In order to contrast you with other viable candidates, they'll want to get to know you and your individual strengths first. Gaining insights into your personality will help them determine your fit for this opportunity. Emotional maturity, ambition, self-growth, conscientiousness, and integrity are some of the driving components they're hoping to hear from each candidate.
Use this icebreaker to highlight your more interesting work accomplishments or life experiences. Appeal to the personality of the interviewer while maintaining your professionalism. Exhibit forward-thinking. Try not to dwell on the hardships and hurdles you've overcome to get here. Focus on the positive takeaways from your experiences, which helped shape your character. Be personable and conversational in tone, yet remain professional and maintain your boundaries. Remember, it's typical for both the interviewer and the interviewee to be nervous in this situation. So set a friendly tone for the interview by providing them with attractive insights into who you are. This will help frame your personality as a desirable fit into their work culture.
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