Take a moment to introduce yourself to the hiring team at Progressive.
Progressive may use this question as an icebreaker to start the HireVue interview. The goal of your response is to give the decision-makers a glimpse into who you are as it relates to the job opportunity. You also want to spotlight the factors that make you the best candidate for this position at Progressive.
A HireVue interview may not always ask this question using this exact phrasing. This question is essentially asking, 'Tell us about yourself.' Other forms of asking this question include:
- Take a couple of minutes to talk about your career journey.
- Please walk us through your resume.
- Talk to us about your career.
- Take us through an overview of your professional background.
When answering queries of this nature, there are a few things to consider:
- Keep your answer work relevant. Keep your points job-related as much as possible. You can discuss competitive sports, educational achievements, or volunteer work if you are new to your career.
- Avoid overly personal statements. You can add a splash of personal information; however, choose 'I love to read science fiction books' versus 'I was recently diagnosed with...'
- Be sure to qualify yourself. To qualify yourself means to add in a sentence or two regarding your strengths and why you are a good match for this role with Progressive.
- Remember to talk about your goals. It is essential to discuss what you want to achieve in your career and how Progressive fits those goals.
- Sprinkle in some achievements. Interviewers love to hear quantifiable statements, including numbers, percentages, and measurable accomplishments. For instance, rather than saying, 'I am the best salesperson,' you could say, 'I was awarded Top Sales Rep for three consecutive months.'
- Show your passion for Progressive's mission. Try bringing in words from the company's job description, vision statement, or core values. Show the decision-makers that your goals align with Progressive's goals.
- Practice your response. You will want to avoid sounding robotic or rehearsed; however, the more you practice, the easier it will become to develop a natural-sounding response.
The Past, Present, Future framework can help you build a memorable answer to questions that ask you to review your resume, talk about your background, or introduction yourself.
- Past: Discuss how you got to where you are today.
- Present: Paint a picture of what you are currently doing.
- Future: Discuss what you want for your future. Then, connect how a career with Progressive aligns with your goals.
The average HireVue interview takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. This one-way video interview typically includes 3-5 questions. Depending on the HireVue parameters set by Progressive, the asynchronous interview platform will generally give you 30 seconds to prepare a response and up to 2 minutes to answer each question. It's important to note that HireVue stops recording as soon as your time limit is up, so it's better to run under time than overtime.
"(Past) I have worked in the commercial insurance industry for over fifteen years, focused on business development and nurturing key accounts. (Present) Right now, I work for Insurance Company XYZ as a Territory Sales Representative for regional accounts. My primary responsibilities include initiating and setting up meetings with prospective in-state clients in the automotive industry. (Future) Over the past few months, I've started looking for opportunities that include sales focused on larger, more complex accounts. I also wish to expand my sales experience nationally. I understand that Progressive is looking for a Territory Sales Manager ready to use their strong interpersonal skills while influencing agencies within their territory to market Progressive services and products while also providing marketing strategies. My strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence others certainly make me an ideal candidate for this opportunity."
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
Thank you for meeting with me today, a bit about myself-I come from a construction and estimating background. Prior to becoming an Adjuster, I worked for a Contractor who worked on Insurance renovations. That is where I got my passion for customer care. I soon realized moving forward into Adjusting and Estimating was the path for me.
Marcie's Feedback
Great! What about working for the contractor sparked your passion for customer care? How did you make the transition from that career into adjusting and estimating? Don't forget to discuss the skills, experience, qualities, and education you bring to the table. Conclude your answer by indicating how excited you are about the position. Good job!
Anonymous Answer
I really like helping people and solving problems. I have been doing customer service for 30 years. My real strength is being a self-starter, a hard worker, sociable, and responsive. I am looking for a company where I can add value and join a strong team. Is this what you are looking for?
Jaymie's Feedback
Great start! Give a little more insight into what roles you've held in customer service or the industry. Consider also throwing in a couple more personal details as well (IE, you're new to the area, went to school at X University, or have X education, etc.)
Anonymous Answer
I have been in and out of careers for the last 10 years since my first daughter was born. Being a stay-at-home parent was a priority to me so that I would be able to raise my children and spend more time with them than a childcare provider. Fortunately, my husband and I have prepared our lives well, financially, so that I could successfully be a stay-at-home parent when needed. I picked up photography about 7 years ago as a way to bring in some extra income, but still be at home with my children whenever I could. Now that my youngest will be starting school soon, I am eager to seek a career that provides more consistency and stability for me and my family, as well as flexibility and growth in the company!
Jaymie's Feedback
Well done!
Anonymous Answer
Thanks for taking the time to meet with me today! Just a little about myself, I have a background in customer service and asset protection. I worked full-time through law school and I have been practicing in personal injury for almost five years. Currently, I work for ______ as a litigation attorney. In my role, I primarily handle cases where lawsuits have already been filed but I have also handled pre-lit cases. I am looking to join a team where I can help build a strong and aggressive litigation department, and become a long-term asset. I understand that Progressive is looking to hire a litigation attorney for accident claims in this area. I believe that my background in personal injury litigation and asset protection makes me a great candidate for the role. I have handled hundreds of accident cases on the Plaintiff's side as a personal injury attorney. As a previous asset protection associate, I handled loss investigations to assess and minimize the company's financial losses.
Jaymie's Feedback
Great! Your introduction is brief yet gives the interviewer a high-level overview of your experience and skillsets.
Anonymous Answer
Thank you for meeting with me today, a bit about myself-I come from a Medical background. Prior to becoming a Medical Assistant, I worked for a fine dining store that sold fine china, flatware, and crystal. That is where I got my passion for customer care. I soon realized moving forward into customer service was made to be for me.
Jaymie's Feedback
This is a good high-level overview of your professional experience. If you want to share a personal detail or two in your intro, you can share a thing or two that interests you outside of work.
Anonymous Answer
"(Past) I have worked in the insurance industry for over twenty-five years, first as an agent, and most recently as a regional sales manager.
(Present) Right now, I am working as a combo Insurance Agent and Loan officer. My primary responsibilities include marketing to referral partners and potential clients.
(Future) Over the past few months, I've started looking for industry opportunities that would allow me to utilize my advanced skillset while providing income stability. I hope that you will agree that my strong interpersonal skills, product knowledge, and ability to influence others make me an ideal candidate for this opportunity.
Jaymie's Feedback
This is an excellent introduction! It gives a high-level overview of your experience and qualifications and is just the right length to keep the interviewer engaged in your response.
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