How to Answer: Tell me about yourself.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Wayfair job interview.
2. Tell me about yourself.
What You Need to Know
When thinking about this introductory question, consider your interviewer's goals. Yes, they want to get to know you and get you to open up and relax so you'll deliver a better interview. But the primary goal is to see how good of a fit you would be with their team and culture and how well you would represent their brand and values to their customers. "A workplace that reflects our values. No matter who you are, Wayfair is a place where you can bring your whole self. We know that our unique perspectives make us stronger, smarter, and well-positioned for success."
Written by Kevin Downey on June 18th, 2023
Experienced Example
"I have worked for a few e-commerce startups, the last of which was a Wayfair supplier partner. I have always been a fan and customer of Wayfair, and I identify with your culture and values. In my current position, I don't have the growth opportunities I am looking for. So I had a tough talk with my boss and told them I was considering reaching out to you for a position. They tried to talk me out of leaving but gave me their blessing. They've offered me some nice incentives to stick around, and if this pursuit doesn't pan out, I might consider their offer. But I am very excited to meet with you today and look forward to this conversation and learning more about the Wayfair Way."
Written by Kevin Downey on June 18th, 2023
About the Author
Interviewing and hiring someone is a huge responsibility. You not only need to find someone with the right skills and qualifications but someone who will get along with everyone else on the team and will be able to represent the company and its core values. That hire needs to be diligent and trustworthy while following the standards and processes everyone else adheres to. They need to perform with consistency, be emotionally intelligent, and be respectful of the needs and concerns of the others on the team. They need to seek out proactively a deeper understanding of the nature of the company and their teammates. That’s a tall order to determine when interviewing anyone. But it’s all part of the recruiter’s job.
If the team doesn’t get along with that hire, or that hire introduces an unwelcome attitude to the workplace. One person’s consistent attendance issues can impact the job satisfaction of everyone else on the team, lower productivity, and negatively impact the performance of the company as a whole on either a micro or macro scale. So when an interviewer decides to hire any person, they are putting their reputation on the line.
Looking for the perfect hire requires strong attention to detail. So there were a variety of things I would look for. I’d examine their cover letter, resume, or application for inconsistencies, from formatting to punctuation. I would scrutinize the consistency of their answers from one question to the next. But, I would first and foremost evaluate why they wanted to work for us. If they were playing the numbers game trying to find a job anywhere, it was pretty evident.
But, it was those applicants who seemed to have an inside view, or inherent understanding, of the real qualifications of the job that I’d put at the top of the pile. They understood the job expectations and the culture and already seemed like they were one of the team. So much of this comes through in one simple thing: their enthusiasm. They had an energy that fit right in. This is something that can rarely be faked.
If you invest the time to gain a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what life is like working somewhere, and when the more you learn, the more you get emotionally invested in that opportunity, the better your chances will be for winning that job. For the interviewer, when it comes to identifying how consistent a candidate’s work performance would be, the truest test is determining how well they understand the job and how enthusiastic they are to work there, even after everything they learned. That alone suggests they’ll consistently do whatever it takes to win the job and, once hired, go the extra mile for the team.
Learn more about Kevin Downey