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 vacations from school. By the time I turned 18, they promoted me to manager. I took a gap year before I went to college for business management and administration. I've always had a strong work ethic. I graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA and repeated this success throughout my four years of college."
This initial question is an icebreaker. In order to contrast you with other viable candidates, they'll want to get to know you and what makes you unique. 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 their ideal candidates.
Use this icebreaker to offer up a quick bio as an introduction to who you are as a person. Appeal to the personality of the interviewer while maintaining your professionalism. Try not to dwell on the hardships and hurdles you've overcome to get here. 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.
