What information does an employer typically want to hear when they ask this?

Do they want biographical information? Hobbies? Only work-related stuff?

7/25/2007 8:49:45 AM

I've never been on the interviewer side of the table but I usually answer with a little biographical, a couple of hobbies, but mostly information related to what I am interviewing for.

7/25/2007 8:55:21 AM

I told my company I was an only child originally from a small town and grew up playing in the creeks and on the soccer fields from when I was 5. I decided to go to NC State in lieu of a small college to play soccer because I didn't think I could make a career of soccer. At State, I tried to balance school and play to get the total college experience. As I got more interested in electronics/software, I would occasionally play around with small side projects like web design and installing a computer in my car for the purposes of playing .mp3s.

Etc.

For me, it was more of a dialouge where they asked questions along the way about whatever interested them. They are trying to get a feel for what you are about and if you are going to be a good fit for the company. It's more about trying to glean what your personality is like than what you are specifically doing. If you show enthusiasm about whatever you are talking about, they'll like you. If you come off as a code monkey, well then that might be the job you get.

7/25/2007 9:00:45 AM

Dialogue to get you talking and ease into the interview. Have an intelligent answer, normally not work related. They will ask you work related questions soon enough.

7/25/2007 11:35:59 AM

When I ask this question, I'm generally wanting the person to loosen up a little bit and maybe to show me he or she isn't a douchebag.

Seriously.

7/25/2007 11:38:38 AM

agreed...although i think there are better ways to loosen a candidate up rather then essentially a meaningless question

7/25/2007 11:40:21 AM

like liquor

7/25/2007 11:41:32 AM

'lets take a shot then start the interview'


i would take any job offered at a place doing that haha

7/25/2007 11:47:28 AM

^but how would you know it wasn't a trick to test your ethics?

7/25/2007 3:07:50 PM

Just whip your dick out.

7/25/2007 3:11:50 PM

If a company is going to waste my time and 'test my ethics' then I don't want to work there. I'm a hard worker but I also am a human being. If drinking is the worst of my sins and they can't get past that then fuck 'em.

7/25/2007 3:37:26 PM

Quote :

"Tell me a little bit about yourself"

"I think I can sum me up in one word: bigot."

[Edited on July 25, 2007 at 4:15 PM. Reason : .]

7/25/2007 4:15:14 PM

If they ask you "What do you do outside of work?" do not do what I did.

I was very nervous about this particular interview because being right out of college I thought this job was going to be the one that saved my ass from going into debt. The interviewer asks me that exact question and being the dumbass that I was gave out a laugh thinking it would keep the interview light and carefree (it was until this point). The interviewer took it the completely wrong way and stared at me dead on and said:

"I mean legally"

That one laugh dug me a hole a mile deep and the interviewer's response threw me off for the rest of the interview. I didn't get the job. (For the record I don't do drugs or engage in criminal activity).

My advice is to have something prepared and answer with it quickly. Don't try to joke about things that would get you fired if you had the job. Of course, I hope you're smart enough to have that figured out already.

7/25/2007 4:17:50 PM

DOH, that sucks dude.

7/25/2007 6:08:06 PM

keep it short and simple : they really dont want to know what you do outside of work or how old u are..or what u weight!

Sum up what u have on ur resume....but make it sound like you've learnt something fromt that experience out in the real world or in college......

example:

as you've seen from my resume ...blah blah..i've graduated w/ a degree in ____ ... i've had X no. of years of experience in this field...i enjoyed working in xyz field bcoz.....i learnt how to ____ (be a good leader and how to work well in teams ) throw in some adjectives .....make something up....

be prepared to answer this Question...or any as a matter of fact....
ALWAYS pause for abt 3 to 5 seconds before answering ANY question...this shows that you're putting some thought into it...and not just memorized all the interview answers! cuz the more no. of interviews you do...it pretty much bcomes standard......


during ur interview...do your best to use action words and adjectives...

Sample characteristics/adjectives: Adaptability, attention to detail, communication, decisiveness, energy, entrepreneurial, flexibility, initiative, innovation, integrity, judgment, leadership, negotiation, persuasiveness, resilience, risk taking, teamwork.

7/25/2007 10:42:18 PM

http://www.ncsu.edu/career/students/interviewing/style.php

use this website..its full of good information!!!!

7/25/2007 10:42:52 PM