Ever since the first time you answered “So, why do you want to work at the movie theatre/McDonalds/Target?” as a teenager, you’ve probably learned the ropes around answering basic interview questions. Those same few questions that are standard in any interview quickly become mere dialogues to churn out at a moment’s notice. But what about that one question that is so unexpected that all you can do is stare blankly at the interviewer as you frantically try to figure out what on earth s/he could be looking for?
Most people come prepared to defend and expand upon everything in their resume. Which is why the question “so, tell me about something you’re proud of that’s not on your resume,” can be especially daunting. A typical reaction is the feeling that you’ve already put all the really amazing things that you’re proud of on your resume. But that, of course, is simply not true. And other than yet one more chance to talk yourself up, there’s a ton you can do with this question. You can show that you’re passionate and committed to everything you lay your hands on, outside of work included (“I practice the cello for an hour a day, no matter how many hours I work”). You can prove that you’ve got a solid grasp on how to maintain a work-life balance (“I always make time to run and do yoga, since finding some release helps me stay happy and focused on my work”), or that you are pushing yourself to grow and develop (“I’m not the greatest writer, but I keep up a blog just to get the practice in and push myself to expand.”)
Never forget that each question is a chance to sell a unique personal quality that doubles as an example of why you’d be a great employee. You just have to take a few seconds to take a deep breath, and think about what you’ll say and how to casually spin it to reflect on your ability to be an amazing employee.
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