No matter which Interview you apply for, one commonly asked question is—Tell me about yourself. And this question might seem easy for a few but it is a tricky one. Because the answer you give to this question can either make or break your chances to get that job offer you looking for! So, how do you get it right? Let’s break it down.
First off, let’s talk about why this question matters. When the interviewer asks you to introduce yourself, they’re not looking for a rundown of your experience, education, hobbies, or what you do on weekends. They’re trying to see if you’re the right fit for the job and whether you can help them solve a problem that they’ve been struggling with. So, how do we do that? Let’s dive deeper into it!
Step 1: Tell Your Story, Not Your Resume
Many candidates make the mistake of just repeating what’s already on their resume. Where you went to school, what grades you got, your hobbies—boring! The interviewer already has that information. What they really want to hear is your professional journey, your experiences, and how you’ve grown in your field. Think of your introduction as a story, not a list of facts.
For example, if you’re in automation testing or DevOps, start by summarizing your journey in that field. Mention how you got started, what excites you about the work, and how your career has evolved. This approach not only makes your introduction more engaging but also positions you as someone who is passionate about what they do.
Step 2: Highlight Your Projects and Achievements
Next, focus on your projects. Talk about your roles and responsibilities in your current or previous jobs, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. This is your chance to show the interviewer that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who can bring real value to their team.
For instance, if you’ve been involved in automation testing, you could mention how you built a custom automation framework that significantly reduced manual testing efforts. Give specific examples, like how you integrated your framework with CI tools like Jenkins, and how this improved efficiency.
Step 3: Discuss Your Current Tech Stack
Now, let’s get into the technical details. Talk about the tools and technologies you’re proficient in, both in software development and automation. This is crucial because it shows the interviewer that you’re up-to-date with the latest tech trends and can hit the ground running.
But here’s a pro tip: Only mention the tools and technologies you’re truly comfortable with. Don’t try to impress the interviewer by throwing around buzzwords or talking about tools you barely know. It’s better to be honest and confident about what you do know than to risk getting caught in a lie.
Step 4: Show How You Have Added Value
Finally, wrap up your introduction by talking about your achievements, particularly how you’ve added value in your previous roles. Remember, companies hire people to solve problems. So, if you can demonstrate that you’ve saved your previous employers time or money, or improved their processes, you’re already ahead of the game.
For example, you might say, “Before I joined my current team, manual testing took around six hours. But after implementing my automation framework, we’ve cut that down to three hours, effectively saving 50% of the team’s time.
How I Introduce Myself in the Interviews
Hi, my name is Jatin Sharma. I have 10 years of experience in automation testing. I started my career with Infosys and I’m currently working with B2X.
I’m not talking about my intermediate companies over here. Okay? So the start of my career and the current company. Now in B2X, I was the first test automation engineer to be hired and my job over here was to bring automation into their current projects.
So I was responsible for testing the application manually and also creating a testing strategy for bringing automation into the project. Over a lot of trial and error, we decided that API testing brings a better ROI. So we started automating Postman and integrating it with a CI2.
Currently, we have built a custom automation framework that can test mobile applications using APM. Your API test using REST Assured as well as my UI test with Selenium WebDriver. The testing library that we have used is TestNG and the framework is integrated with the CI tool Jenkins.
Alright, now I’ll be ending this introduction with the future plans that I have for my career. Currently, I’m learning cloud technologies because I have a keen interest in DevOps and I want to grow my career in future years in the DevOps field.
Bonus Tips
- Confidence is key– Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Confidence can often be the deciding factor in an interview.
- Keep it concise– Your introduction should be no longer than 90 seconds. Keep it short and informative.
- Be ready for follow-up questions– A good interview is a dialogue, not a monologue. Engage with the interviewer and be prepared to dive deeper into any part of your introduction.
So, there you have it—four simple steps to nail your introduction in an interview. Remember, your goal is to tell a compelling story that highlights your qualifications, experience, and how you can add value to the company.
Got any questions or need more tips? Drop them in the comments below, and I’ll be happy to help. Until then, good luck with your interviews, and I’ll see you in the next video!