Tell us about yourself.
This introductory question is asked as a personality assessment to see how well you would fit into their work culture and environment. The interviewers need to ensure whomever they hire will complement their teams and help things run more smoothly. So this question is often used to get you to relax and reveal the real you. As PNC says on their careers page, "We know how stressful the hiring process can be for job seekers. We want to hear your unique perspective and ideas, so don't be afraid to show us who you are."
HireVue is an algorithmically driven assessment vendor that uses AI to remove any human components of bias from the interviewing process. It will analyze your statements and non-verbal cues for any tells. So any time you answer a question, avoid rambling. You want to deliver a cohesive response with a beginning, middle, and end. When answering introductory questions, compose a brief bio about your professional self. Describe any information regarding your professional life and journey and how it led you to their doors. You can include your upbringing, role models, educational and professional achievements, and why you are ready for this next stage in your career., Rehearse it, and try to let your personality shine through when delivering your bio. Consider it your pitch for why you are the right person for this job.
"My name is Chris. Numbers are my strong suit, and I've always been intrigued by finance. In college, I started pursuing an accounting degree, but I realized I was too much of an extrovert to be in such a solitary position, so I switched gears to pursue a degree in economics. That was where my interest in the stock market took off, and that evolved into a passion for wealth management. Over the past four years, I've developed my skills, but my current position doesn't foster the opportunity for the career growth I am looking for. I have always admired PNC Financial, and the more I've learned about the company, the more I realized working with PNC would be the right fit for me."
"I grew up in Pittsburgh, and my mom and dad met while working for PNC. They instilled in me a respect for finance from an early age. I earned a degree in investment banking and have worked for a small firm for the last eight years. At this point in my career, I am looking to take my skills in a different direction, and having developed as a professional, I decided to pursue a position with the company where my journey began. If my parents hadn't met at PNC, I wouldn't be here today."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I love interacting with others and have done so throughout my customer service-based work life. My previous education and internship were focused on the values of collecting, analyzing, and mitigating various threats which could be useful in this type of environment.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great start! If you can, incorporate some general personal details like a hobby or interest so they have some insight into who you are outside of work.