Tell us about yourself.
Most often, this question sets the stage for the rest of the interview. It offers you an opportunity to introduce yourself and deliver your best pitch. Additionally, it's your interviewer's job to get to know who you are as a candidate. They need you to present your best self, which in turn will help them make a more informed decision about who they should hire. If they have trouble getting to know you, there's less of a chance they'll take the risk of bringing you on board. Also, the more forthright and honest you are throughout the interview process, the more accurately Aon's Natural Language Psychometric Talent Assessment will score you on your answers. So, it's in your best interest to make everyone's job easier throughout your interview, which serves as a performance indicator that you would make their jobs easier if you were part of the team.
Throughout UBS's careers site, you'll find advice from their recruiters who put together their "strongest tips for you to stand out in all the right ways." Their advice is intended to help you navigate their application process, from crafting your CV and resume to preparing for their assessments. One common piece of advice they frequently repeat is, "We get it. Interviews can be intimidating (especially when it's on video). Be authentic. All you have to do is be yourself. We want you to do your best. We want to see the real you, so use this time to show us. Answer the questions as if you were in front of the interviewer in person and just be yourself. Keep in mind that there are no right or wrong answers. Have your pitch ready. Practice being able to summarize your professional profile - what you've achieved and what your ultimate goals are. Get comfortable talking about each point on your CV, backing up claims with concrete examples. Have a few anecdotes ready that highlight skills that make you the best fit for the job (these don't always have to be about work)."
As one of their featured employees details in one of their blogs, they prepared for their assessment at UBS by taking advantage of "mock interviews that helped me build up my confidence. I also prepped potential responses using the STAR method." STAR is an acronym for SITUATION, TASK, ACTION, RESULT. It serves as a basic method for structuring your answers and showcasing your strong communication skills. So, start by composing a brief bio using the STAR method. This will help you avoid rambling on in a cyclical manner, which can be difficult to follow. Instead, by structuring your answers in a linear fashion with a beginning, middle, and end, you'll be showcasing strong communication skills which will position you as a more desirable candidate.
"I've been a Capital Adequacy Analyst since I earned my degree in professional accounting back in 2020. When I first started at my current company, I was given important tasks like managing month-end deadlines, conducting analytical reviews, and preparing a monthly report for our stakeholders. But, since I was entrusted with these, I have felt a bit stagnant in my growth, and feel there is less development opportunity than there was in the first year and a half. Morale also seems to be lagging in the workplace, and my leadership often praises me for going above and beyond in being supportive and increasing the morale of my teams. But I've been feeling for a while now that it may be time to find a work environment with a company culture more in line with my own values. It didn't take me long to rank UBS as my top choice, for all the right reasons, so here I am, shooting for the stars."
When taking their Psychometric Talent Assessment, remember you want to choose your words carefully, while aligning yourself with the UBS culture. Use words and phrases that showcase a positive attitude, your personality traits, and how the best version of you responds to the specific situations presented in these questions. Avoid any words or terms that have a negative association with them. Stay focused and positive, and come prepared to showcase the best version of you throughout your interview.
