"TellMeAboutYourself"
“请你谈谈你自己”
DonStraits,CEOandDragonSlayer,CorporateWarriors
面试中必会被问到的问题之一就是“请你谈谈你自己”。很多人对这个问题的回答就是简略的背一下简历。事实上这样的回答枯燥无味。那么，该怎样回答这个问题呢？
Whenyou,asajobseeker,areaskedthemostcommon,andtoughest,interviewquestion,"Tellmeaboutyourself,"youranswercanmakeorbreakyouasacandidate.Usuallyjobseekerswillrespondwiththeir"30secondcommercial,"andthenelaborateontheirbackground.Whilealmosteverycareerbookandcareercounselorwilltellyouthatistheappropriateresponse,Itotallydisagree.
Manypeoplefailintheirjobsearchbecausetheyaretoooftenfocusedonwhattheywantinajobincludingindustry,typeofposition,location,income,benefits,andworkenvironment.Their"30secondcommercial"iscenteredaroundthispremise.Thecommercialdescribesthejobseeker'scareerhistoryandwhattheyarelookingfor.Toooften,thisisindirectcontrasttowhatemployersarelookingfor.
Therearetwodominantreasonswhyjobseekersaresuccessfulinthejobsearch.Thefirstisfocusingontheneedsoftheorganization.Thesecondisfocusingontheneedsofthepeoplewithinthatorganization.Inthisarticle,wearegoingtoexaminehowtofocusontheneedsofthepeoplewithinorganizations.Thiswillassistinrethinkingyourresponsetothatall-importantquestion,"Tellmeaboutyourself."
Inordertolearnhowtorespondtotheneedsoftheinterviewer,let'sfirstlearnmoreaboutourselves.Wecanthenapplythatknowledgeaboutourselvestoknowinghowtounderstandandrespondtotheneedsofothers.
Mostsocialpsychologistsrecognizefourbasicpersonalitystyles:Analytical,Amiable,Expressive,andDriver.Usually,eachofusexhibitspersonalitycharacteristicsuniquetooneofthestyles.However,wealsopossesscharacteristicstoalesserdegreeintheotherstyles.Todetermineyouruniquestyle,youcantakeaMyers-BriggsassessmentorgotothefollowingsiteforafreeKeirseyTemperamentSorterassessmenttest:www.keirsey.com
Herearethecharacteristicsthataremostcommonlyassociatedwitheachofthestyles:
Analytical:分析型
PositiveTraits:Precise,Methodical,Organized,Rational,DetailOriented
NegativeTraits:Critical,Formal,Uncertain,Judgmental,Picky
Amiable:和蔼可亲型
PositiveTraits:Cooperative,Dependable,Warm,Listener,Negotiator
NegativeTraits:Undisciplined,Dependent,Submissive,OverlyCautious,Conforming
Expressive:表达型
PositiveTraits:Enthusiastic,Persuasive,Outgoing,Positive,Communicator
NegativeTraits:EgoCentered,Emotional,Exploitive,Opinionated,Reacting
Driver:驱动型
PositiveTraits:Persistent,Independent,DecisionMaker,Effective,StrongWilled
NegativeTraits:Aggressive,Strict,Intense,Relentless,Rigid
Gaininganin-depthunderstandingofyourpersonalitystylehasenormousvalueinyourcareeraswellasyourpersonallife.However,ourfocustodayislearninghowtousethisknowledgetomakeyoumoresuccessfulinyourjobsearch.
Onceyouhavelearnedaboutyourownstyleandhavestudiedtheotherstyles,Iencourageyoutohavealittlefunintryingtodeterminethestylesofothers.Whenyoumeetsomeoneforthefirsttime,trytoidentifyhisorherstylewithinthefirsttwominutes.Youcanoftenidentifystylesbyobservingaperson'sdemeanor,conversation,bodylanguage,appearance,andpossessions.
TodemonstratewhatImean,let'stakesomeexamplesfromthebusinessworld.Whiletherearealwaysexceptions,generallyspeakingthestylesfittheexample.
AnalyticalStyle:FinancialManager(orprogrammers,engineers,andaccountants).财务经理(或程序员、工程师和会计）。Theylikesystemsandprocedures.Theyareslowtomakedecisionsbecausetheywillanalyzethingstodeath?buttheirdecisionsareusuallyverysound.Theypreferworkingindependentlyandareusuallynotverygoodinteamenvironments,buttheyarealsodependable.Theybuycarswithgoodresalevalueandgreatgasmileage.Theyareconservativedressers.Attheparty,theywanttoknowwhysomuchmoneywasspentonMichelobwhenwecouldhavepurchasedBusch.Theycometothepartywiththeirlaptops.
AmiableStyle:HumanResourcesManager.人力资源部经理。Verypeople-focused.Theyaredependable,loyalandeasygoing;verycompassionate.Theywillgiveyoutheshirtofftheirbacksandthelastnickelintheirpockets.Theyaregoodlistenersandvalueteamplayerswhodon't"rocktheboat."Theyareusuallyconformistsandfollowers?rarelyleaders.Theyavoidconflictandarenotgooddecisionmakers.Theydrivefour-doorsedansormini-vanstotakethekidstosportingevents.Theyusuallycleanupafterthepartyisover.
ExpressiveStyle:SalesManager.销售经理。Veryoutgoingandenthusiastic,withahighenergylevel.Theyarealsogreatideagenerators,butusuallydonothavetheabilitytoseetheideathroughtocompletion.Veryopinionatedandegotistical.Moneymotivated.Theycanbegoodcommunicators.Theyprefertodirectandcontrolratherthenaskandlisten.Theydriveredconvertibleswithgreatstereos;toheckwiththegasmileage.Theycomeupwiththeideaforacompanyparty,butneverhelpcleanup.Theyareontheirwaytoanotherparty.
Driver:CorporateCEO.公司CEO。Intelligent,intense,focused,relentless.Theythriveonthethrillofthechallengeandtheinternalmotivationtosucceed.Moneyisonlyameasureofsuccess;itisnotthedrivingfactor.Theyareresults/performanceoriented.Theyhavecompassionforthetrulydisadvantaged,butabsolutelynopatienceortoleranceforthelazyorwhiners.Theydriveprestigecars,notbecausethecarattractsattention,butbecauseitwasawiseinvestment.Theywanttoknowwhywehadaparty;whatwerethebenefitsoftheparty,anddidweinvitethebanker?
Ok,nowyouarereallygettingsomeinsightintoyourstyleandthestyleofothers.Itistimefortheinterviews.Throwoutyour30-secondcommercial.Thinkonyourfeet.
Youwillbeinterviewingwiththehumanresourcemanager,thefinancemanager,thesalesmanager,andtheCEO.Thefirstquestioneachofthemwillaskyouis:"Tellmeaboutyourself."Howshouldyourespond?Rememberthesecondreasonforsucceedinginajobsearch:focusontheneedsofthepeopleintheorganization.Herearejustafewexamplesofhowtorespondtothatquestion:
"Tellmeaboutyourself?"
ResponsetoFinanceManager:"Ihavebeensuccessfulinmycareerbymakingwell-thought-outdecisionsbasedoncarefulanalysisofallfactors.Iapproachproblemswithlogicandsoundreasoning.Iwouldenjoyworkingwithyouindevelopingtheappropriatesystemsandprocedurestomakeourtwodepartmentsfunctionefficientlytogether."
ResponsetoHumanResourceManager:"Mycareerhasbeencharacterizedbymyabilitytoworkwellwithdiverseteams.Iseekoutopportunitiestoinvolveothersinthedecision-makingprocess.Thiscollaborationandcommunicationiswhathasenabledmetoachievesuccessinmydepartment.Peoplearethemostvaluableresourceofanyorganization."
ResponsetoSalesManager:"ThroughoutmycareerIhavealwaysadheredtotheprinciplethateveryoneintheorganizationmustbesales-focused.Mydepartmentisalwaystrainedincustomerservice,providingoutstandingsupporttothesalesteamandtoourcustomers.Withoutsales,therestofusewouldnothaveajob.Ilookforwardtohelpingyoudrivesalesinanywaypossible."
ResponsetoCEO:"IhaveachievedsuccessinmycareerbecauseIhavebeenfocusedonthebottomline.Ihavealwayssoughtoutinnovativesolutionstochallengingproblemstomaximizeprofitability.Regardlessofthetaskorchallenge,Ialwaysestablishedbenchmarksofperformanceandstandardsofexcellence.Ihaveneversoughttomaintainthe"statusquo."Anorganizationthatdoesnotchangeandgrowwilldie.Iwouldenjoyworkingwithyoutohelpdefinenewmarketopportunitiesinordertoachievetheorganization'sgoals."
Ineachinstance,werespondedtothe"needsoftheindividual."Itisalmostguaranteedthat,whenyourespondappropriatelytothediverseneedsofthedifferentmanagers,youwillbecomethestandardbywhichalloftheothercandidateswillbemeasured.
Ichallengeyoutolearnaboutyourpersonalityandleadershipstyle,learnaboutthestylesofothers,andlearnhowtothinkonyourfeetwhenrespondingtoquestions.Whetheryouareseekingajoboryouaregainfullyemployed,byunderstandingtheneedsofothersyouwillbecomeamorevaluableperson,employee,managerandleader.