What the interviewer is looking for:
Often the first question asked, this question aims to break the ice and gauge your communication skills, according to Lambert. Make sure to keep the answer brief; focus on recent experience, and not every single role you’ve had before.
Start with a brief personal introduction. Include your name and a bit of your background, like where you went to school (if you’re a fresh graduate) or your last job.
Highlight relevant experience and skills. Play up your previous roles and high points in your career.
Explain how your experience and skills make you a good fit for the position. Use examples to demonstrate why you say what you are.
Examples of good and bad answers
Good answer: “I’ve worked in the corporate social responsibility team at ABC Inc. for the past five years. As a specialist in the HR department, I was responsible for planning and implementing CSR initiatives that aligned with the company’s purpose. I enjoyed helping the firm give back to the community. I’d love to support communities in a broader capacity, and I believe I can be a significant contributor to your non-profit organisation because we have similar values.”
Bad answer: “I graduated from university 15 years ago, and I got a job at A Corp., but I didn’t like my boss, so I moved to B LLC and stayed there for a couple of years. I had a few part-time jobs after that, but I stumbled upon working in CSR about six years ago and have been working at ABC Inc. since then. To be honest, I’ve gotten bored with my job.”
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