What can you tell about yourself

101 Fun And Interesting Facts You Can Say About Yourself

Whether you’re at a party, on a date, in a job interview, or just meeting someone new for the first time, revealing some fun facts about yourself can be a great icebreaker.

When you tell people these interesting tidbits of information, you become more human and more likeable.

But it can be hard to think of these things on the spot.

You may be asking yourself, “What are some fun facts about me?”

Do you need some examples of interesting things you might drop into a conversation?

We go one better and give you the facts – you just need to fill in the blanks.

With this list, you’ll never run out of ideas for good fun facts about yourself.

And there is no shortage of ways to use them…

…spice up your dating profile.

…make a fun game out of it with friends.

…create a more relaxed, open atmosphere in a work meeting.

…make your resume more interesting to potential employers.

…introduce yourself with a bang when starting a new job.

…incorporate them into a speech you have to make.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Are you ready to come up with some fun facts about yourself?

‘Like’ Facts

1. My favorite cuisine is ___, especially ___.

People bond over food – both eating it and talking about it. Do you love Thai food, French cuisine, traditional African recipes? Why? What’s the best dish you’ve ever eaten?

2. The hobby that I could never give up is ___.

Are you so passionate about tennis that you can see yourself playing until your body gives up on you? Do you love to potter about in the garden so much that those green fingers will never leave you?

3. My favorite season is ___ because ___.

Do you love the long, hot summers? Are you amazed by the colors of fall? Do you enjoy snuggling up in winter? Does the new life of spring excite you?

4. I have seen [insert favorite movie][insert number]times.

Have you watched The Matrix seventeen times? Do you binge the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy in one go (extended versions, of course)? Have you sung along to Frozen every night since it was first released?

5. I support [insert sports team]and have done since I was [insert age].

Is there a sports team that matters a lot to you? If you’re passionate about it, that will show through even if others aren’t into sport.

6. My favorite ice cream flavor is ___.

Who doesn’t love ice cream? Are you a chocolate lover? Is cookies and cream your number one choice? Or do you go for a blueberry cone whenever you can?

7. My non-alcoholic drink of choice is ___.

It can be helpful for others to know what sorts of drinks you like. Do you cool down with an iced tea? Or warm up with a coffee? Perhaps a fruit juice combo?

8. My alcoholic drink of choice is ___.

Do you like to kick back with a beer? Or a G&T? Maybe you are partial to a cocktail of sorts?

9. The thing I find most attractive in a person is ___.

What personality trait do you look for most in a person? Kindness? Positivity? Calmness? This one is great on dates.

10. I mostly listen to ___ music.

Most people enjoy listening to music on a regular basis and your taste can spark all sorts of conversations about bands, concerts, and festivals.

‘Dislike’ Facts

11. I’m allergic to ___.

It’s a bit of a talking point if you’re allergic to something unusual such as pumpkin, but even common allergies can be interesting topics to discuss, especially if you have to be extra careful with what you eat.

12. My pet peeve is ___.

What really annoys you? Do you hate it when people don’t put their coffee mugs on your carefully placed coasters? Or when other drivers follow close behind you?

13. I hate the smell of ___.

Does the scent of lavender drive you crazy? Does fresh fish make you retch? Does a carton of soured milk put you off your breakfast cereal?

14. I’m most scared of ___.

Show a little vulnerability and reveal your darkest fears. Do snakes give you the creeps? Are you terrified of walking alone at night?

15. I can’t stand the sound of ___.

Do bagpipes make your ears bleed? Is the sound of a crying baby enough to put you off having kids?

16. People who [insert behavior or trait]really annoy me.

Do loud chewers get your back up? Does it give you rage when someone corrects others all the time? Are judgmental people just the worst?

17. I don’t like how ___ feels to touch.

Do you hate preparing raw chicken or fish? Is Styrofoam your nemesis in life? Do you have an aversion to cotton wool balls?

18. The most boring sport to watch is ___.

We get it, not all sports are that exciting. Would you rather watch paint dry than watch golf? Is cricket enough to send you to sleep?

19. The word that most irritates me is ___.

Moist? Totes? Guesstimate? What word makes you want to punch whoever said it?

20. The most stressful thing for me is ___.

Thinking up things to say about yourself in small talk? No, seriously… this is actually a fun thing to talk about because the other person will no doubt relate.

Talent Facts

21. I can play the [insert instrument].

A you a grade 8 bassoonist? Can you just about string a tune together on a guitar? Are you a master of the harmonica?

22. I can speak ___ languages and ___ was the hardest to learn.

It’s impressive enough to be able to speak more than one language, especially if you learned them after your early childhood. Show off your lingual skills and teach others a few phrases.

23. I can cook the most amazing ___.

What’s your signature dish? Duck a l’Orange? Chilli con carne? A pea and asparagus risotto?

24. I once [insert some amazing feat of skill or endurance].

Did you once climb El Capitan? Have you completed an Ironman triathlon? Show off a bit once in a while – you don’t have to be humble all of the time!

25. I once made a ___ from scratch.

Have you sown yourself a Japanese kimono? Did you build a boat? What practical skills do you have that might be worth shouting about?

26. I can do a really good ___ accent. (Then proceed to prove it.)

This one can be really impressive or really funny depending on how good you actually are at the accent. Either way, it’s sure to make an impression.

27. I once wrote a book/short story about ___.

Have you ever created your own work of fiction, no matter how long or short? Perhaps it was at school or simply in your spare time as an adult.

28. I can [insert something unusual you can do with your body].

Are you double-jointed? Can you walk bent over backwards on your hands and feet? People love to hear and see about this sort of thing.

29. I once played ___ in my school production of ___.

Were you the Genie in Aladdin? Did you follow the yellow brick road as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz?

30. I ___ better than most people.

What are you really talented at? Something you do better than anyone you know. Are you a yo-yo pro? Are people envious of the way you dance? Do you know how to tell a really good joke?

Travel Facts

31. I have visited ___ countries in my life.

Have you travelled a lot? Where to? This can initiate conversations as you compare lists with others. It also shows your adventurous side.

32. My favorite country so far is ___.

Of all the countries you have been to, which one did you like the best and why?

33. I first traveled solo when I was ___.

When did your love of travel start? What was your first solo trip like? How old were you at the time?

34. The scariest moment of my travels was when ___.

Have you ever come face-to-face with a mountain gorilla? Did you have a near miss when white water rafting? Did you get lost in the jungle?

35. The most amazing place I’ve ever been is ___ because it ___.

What’s the one place that sticks in your memory more than any other? This might be a city or a famous attraction or one of the great natural landscapes of the world.

36. My next trip is to ___.

Where are you going next? What has drawn you to that place? When are you going and who are you going with?

37. I love travel so much because ___.

Why do you love travel? Is it the new cultures you experience? The sights you see? The freedom you feel when you’re on the road?

38. The one thing I always take on my travels is my ___.

What could you not do without when you’re away? Do you take a childhood teddy with you? Has your Shewee come in handy more times than you’d like to admit?

39. When I go on an adventure, I like to [plan the whole thing / make it up as I go – delete as necessary].

Are you a spontaneous traveler who sees where the winds take her? Or do you like to have a meticulous hour-by-hour itinerary to ensure you maximize your time away?

40. The most remote place I have ever been to is ___.

Have you been hundreds of miles from civilization in the Australian Outback, the Arctic peninsula, or the Amazon rainforest?

Family Facts

41. I have ___ siblings.

How many brothers or sisters do you have?

42. I am the [eldest/middle/youngest] child in my family.

Whereabouts are you in the sibling pecking order? First born, middle child, last one out? How has that shaped who you are?

43. My [brother(s)/sister(s)] taught me that ___.

What have you learned from your siblings? Did you have to speak up if you wanted to be heard? Are you tougher because of the scraps you got into with them?

44. I have ___ dogs/cats/hamsters/snakes/etc. Their names are ___.

Many people have pets and most pet owners love to talk about their various animals. It’s also good for potential dates to know because if they’re allergic, the relationship probably won’t get very far.

45. My fondest childhood family memory is ___.

When you think back to the time you spent as a child, what memory sticks out the most? A trip to Disneyworld? The summers you’d spend at the beach?

46. I have been with my spouse/partner for ___ years.

How long have you and your partner been together? It doesn’t matter if it’s a long or a short time – it’s nice just to talk about them.

47. We have ___ children. Their names are ___.

Do you have any kids? How old are they? What are their names? Why did you choose those names? What are they like?

48. My parents/grandparents emigrated here in ___ from ___.

Are you a second or third generation immigrant? Where are your family’s roots originally? Is that a big part of your family life still?

49. When I was ___, I [insert funny story about your childhood].

Did you fall down a slide backwards into a giant muddy puddle whilst trying to show off to your friends? Did you bury your brother in the sand and put jam on his face to encourage the ants to get him?

50. My family name means ___. (you can look up your surname here)

Find out what your family name means and use that as an interesting snippet of information.

Friend Facts

51. When I was younger, I had an imaginary friend called ___. He/She was a ___.

Many people had imaginary friends as a child and it can be fun to tell stories about them and what you used to do with them.

52. My childhood nickname was ___.

Were you known as Scooby or Hootie or Beanie by your friends or family? How did that nickname come about?

53. I have known my best friend for ___ years.

How far back do you and your best friend go? 10 years? 20? 50?!

54. My friends would describe me as ___.

If you asked your friends to describe you, what would they say? And, more importantly, is what they say true?

55. In my group of friends, I am considered the ___ one.

Are you the sensible one? The creative one? The loud one who is often at the center of conversations?

56. My friends and I most often talk about ___.

What do you and your friends chat about most regularly? Sports? Music? Movies? Philosophical ponderings?

57. I have been a bridesmaid / best man / usher at ___ of my friends’ weddings.

Have you been entrusted with a special role at one or more of your friend’ weddings? Have you had to do a speech? How did that go?

58. My friends and I used to spend our long summers ___.

When you were younger, what would you and your friends do during the long summer school holidays? Were you always out in the woods building tree houses and swimming in lakes? Or did you start little side-hustles to earn a bit of money to spend?

59. My friends once played an awesome prank on me when they ___.

Have you been pranked by your friends in a funny or creative way? Tell someone about it.

60. I went on my first friends’ holiday when I was ___ and we went to ___.

At what age did you ditch your family and opt for holidays with your friends instead? Where did you go and what did you get up to?

Education And Work Facts

61. My favorite subject at school was ___.

What lesson could you not wait for at school because you enjoyed it so much? Art? Music? Drama? P.E.?

62. My dream job is ___.

Whether or not you are in the job now, what would you love to do for a living? Are you working toward that now or is it more of just a pipe dream for the future?

63. But when I was a child, I wanted to be a ___ when I grew up.

The career options we think we would like to go into as a child can be very different to the paths we walk later in life. Did you want to be a chef? A pilot? A firefighter?

64. My first ever job was ___.

Did you pack groceries? Stack shelves in a shop? Wash cars?

65. My first proper job after graduating was ___.

What would you say your first real job was after you left school, rather than your weekend or holiday job?

66. My most embarrassing job was ___.

Did you have to dress up in a costume at a kids’ restaurant and dance around? This is the kind of story that has to be told.

67. The thing I like most about my job is ___.

What’s the best thing about what you do now? The way you have to think outside the box? The interesting people you get to meet? The free samples you get to take home?!

68. I am a qualified ___.

Maybe you have a qualification you no longer use in your job. Are you a qualified dentist? An accountant turned entertainer?

69. I volunteer as a ___.

Do you give your free time to a good cause? What is it and how did you first get involved in it?

70. If I had my time at school again, I’d ___.

We don’t always appreciate our school days until they’re over. What would you do differently if you could go back in time? Pick different subjects? Get your head down and work a bit harder? Be more confident putting your hand up in class?

Random, But Interesting Facts

71. I’m practically addicted to ___.

Do you polish off a jar of peanut butter in a few days? Do you watch old re-runs of Friends on a loop? Is there a computer game that you can’t let go of no matter how many times you play it?

72. The famous person who inspires me most is ___.

Greta Thunberg? Nelson Mandela? Elon Musk? Who is it for you and what is it about them that you find so inspirational?

73. The most embarrassing thing to ever happen to me was ___.

Did your dress come undone and fall down whilst shaking your booty at a wedding? Have you ever laughed so hard that you peed yourself? Sharing these moments of vulnerability is incredibly endearing.

74. I collect ___.

Do you have a thousand Beanie Babies? Is your collection of teapots proudly on display around your home? Beer bottles from around the world?

75. My guilty pleasure is ___.

Is there something that you secretly (or not so secretly) enjoy that is perhaps a little geeky or unusual? Do you dress up in Cosplay? Do you still watch your favorite TV shows from your childhood?

76. The achievement I am most proud of is ___.

Brag a little – it’s healthy in small doses. Whether you’re most proud of raising your kids, starting a business, the degree you got at university, or something else, tell it to the world.

77. My idea of Heaven on Earth is ___.

A hammock hung between palm trees on your own private beach with someone serving you cocktails with little umbrellas in them? Riding your horse through the open countryside? Diving the Great Barrier Reef?

78. The best advice I ever received was ___.

What advice has someone told you that has stuck with you the most? How has it changed your life?

79. My first car was a ___.

Most people’s first car is somewhat embarrassing, but maybe you bucked that trend and had a cool motor as soon as you passed your test.

80. I have never tried [insert food or drink].

Random fact but still a fun one – which food or drink have you never tried that you would really like to, either because it looks really nice or it’s really weird?

81. I have ___ tattoos and/or ___ piercings.

Whether or not some of them are visible to others, it’s often a talking point that can create a bond with other ink or piercing lovers.

82. If I had 1 hour to live, I’d spend it ___.

Time is running out… how would you like to spend your last hour on this planet?

83. My favorite childhood toy was ___.

Were you a Lego monster through and through? Did you carry around a Barbie doll for years and years?

84. My favorite color is ___.

Everyone has one, so which is it for you? Yellow, red, turquoise, amber?

85. The most romantic thing anybody has ever done for me is ___.

Did it involve rose petals, a sunrise, candles, singing for you? Romance is underrated!

86. I [do/don’t] believe in love at first sight. (delete as necessary)

Can you really fall in love at first sight? Why do you think so or not think so?

87. I spend far too much money on ___.

Is your bank balance being hurt by your love of takeaway burritos? Or twice-weekly neck massages? Or pimping out your ride?

88. I have broken ___ bones in my body. I broke them ___.

Everyone loves a story about how you broke some bone or another. Did you fall out of a tree and break a leg? Were you balancing on a chair trying to find something on top of a cupboard but slipped and broke your nose on the cupboard door?

89. My celebrity crush is ___.

Which celebrity does it for you either in looks or personality or both?

90. My first thought when I wake up in the morning is normally ___.

Is it: “man that alarm is annoying,” or, “I want to go back to bed,” or, “hell yeah, let’s do this!”?

91. My earliest memory is ___.

What’s the first thing you remember in your life? Having a goat steal all your animal feed at the farm? The crashing waves of the ocean? You uncle’s tickly moustache?

92. If I could live in any other era of history, it would be ___ because ___.

Would you go back to Roman times? Or perhaps the ways of the Ancient Egyptians fascinate you. How far back in time would you go, and why?

93. I would most like to learn how to ___.

Is there something you don’t know how to do but really want to learn? Like playing an instrument or coding a website or swimming?

94. The thing I love most about me is my ___.

What is your very best trait or characteristic – physical or otherwise? Is it that you take risks that others are afraid of? Or that you care deeply about the well-being of others?

95. My worst habit is ___.

Okay, we’ve done your best bits, now for your worst bits. What habit do you have that you know annoys others? Do you pick your nose? Are you always late to things?

96. My favorite artist / form of art is ___.

Perhaps you are dumfounded by Damien Hirst’s pieces or the sculptures of Rodin set your heart ablaze. Maybe you are more of a painting fan with Dali’s surrealism topping your favorites.

97. If my life were made into a movie, I’d like ___ to play me.

Who do you think would capture you and your life the best in a movie? Chris Hemsworth? Margo Robbie?

98. If I could live anywhere on the planet, it would be ___.

If you had the opportunity to live in any place in any country, where would it be and why would you wish to settle down there?

99. I am superstitious about ___.

Do you have a thing about magpies or black cats? Do you believe that getting splattered by bird poop is good luck?

100. I [do/don’t] believe in extraterrestrial life. (delete as necessary)

Do you believe aliens exist? Why or why not? If they do, what might they be like?

101. I once met [insert celebrity].

Did you serve Tom Hanks whilst working in a shop? Have you rubbed shoulders with bona fide royalty at a charity event? Spill the beans – people love a celebrity story.

There you have it, 101 examples of fun and interesting facts about yourself that you can tell other people.

So, no more straining your mind trying to think of something to say when people ask to know more about you.

Now get filling in those blanks!

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58 Fun Facts About Yourself That Everyone Wants To Hear

You’re about to embark on an adventure of sorts.

It involves being social, which can be daunting when you are engaging with people you don’t know well.

But you know that good relationships have to start somewhere.

Whether you are on a first date or a job interview, being prepared to share something interesting about yourself is an excellent icebreaker.

Knowing what to share about yourself is the hard part because we’re often not prepared when the situation arises.

If you were to make a list of “fun facts about me,” what would you include?

What’s in this post:

How to Come Up with Interesting Facts About Yourself

You likely don’t spend a lot of your spare time thinking about yourself and interesting tidbits to share with others.

But when you’re trying to get to know someone new, or you just want to keep the conversation going, it’s good to have some fun fact ideas top of mind.

Here are some ways to come up with these ideas:

If you’re having trouble thinking of enough fun facts to share about yourself, try some of the suggestions we’ve curated in this article.

You never know what will start a long and enjoyable conversation — or a lifelong friendship.

List of 58 Examples of Fun Facts about Yourself to Tell Others

Use the following examples of fun facts about yourself to start a conversation or take one in a different direction.

And don’t forget to invite your conversation partner to share fun facts about themselves.

1. “One of my favorite things to do is…. “

Whether it’s a hobby or just something you enjoy doing (for yourself or someone else), if it’s a favorite thing of yours, it says a lot about what matters to you.

And if this is the first of more than one date, this is useful information for both of you to share.

2. “Right now, I’m reading about….”

Whether you’re a bookworm or are just determined to keep learning, your new conversation partner might want to know what you’re reading this week (or today, if you go through books more quickly than most).

Maybe you’ll discover a shared favorite.

3. “If I could have any superpower, it would be….”

This isn’t a “DC vs. Marvel” question. Awesomeness isn’t exclusive to either camp, and adults in both can get along just fine. But superpowers are always a fun topic to discuss.

What would you most like to be able to do better than most?

4. “One thing I know I do well (or better than most) is….”

Maybe you already have a superpower (or something like it). And whatever it is, you’re probably proud of it — if only secretly.

Why not admit you’re good at it? And what do you most enjoy about this ability of yours? How have you developed it?

5. “I look up to….”

If there’s someone you admire and want to emulate, this is the person you want to mention here, along with a brief explanation as to why.

What specific traits do you admire in them and want to cultivate in yourself? What have they done that impresses you most?

6. “One thing I cannot live without is….”

Name something you use every day — enough that you sometimes take it for granted.

Maybe the thought of living without it makes you feel naked and vulnerable, even if being deprived of it wouldn’t actually kill you (not quickly, anyway).

When was the last time you lived without it?

7. “Something I’d love to get rich by doing full-time is….”

If you were assured of earning more than enough, no matter what you did full-time, what would you do?

Why would you do it and how would your life change?

For extra credit, what could you do to earn at least some of your income doing what you love?

8. “The people I grew up with influenced me by….”

The people you grew up with shaped the person you are today. And if you don’t have siblings, that shaped you, too.

What personal traits do you attribute to the people with whom you were closest growing up? What are you most grateful for?

9. “I would love to meet (and even have lunch with)….”

Name a celebrity whom you’d love to meet and even have a conversation with — over lunch or at least a beverage of choice.

Or maybe you’d like to meet a dream mentor of yours and chat for half an hour or more. Whose face comes to mind?

10. “One struggle I’ve had that has made me who I am is….”

This can get personal in a hurry, so if you want to take a step back, you can also discuss a moment or experience that changed your life.

Did anything crazy happen that challenged a belief about what was possible?

11. “My perfect day would start with _____ and end with _____.”

Maybe it starts with strong coffee and ends with a glass of Scotch. Or maybe the words you’ll put in those blanks are “sunrise” and “meditation.” Whatever. Go wild.

Just try and keep it legal (and more or less socially acceptable).

12. “If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be….”

If you’re tempted to answer with “anywhere but here,” try to be more specific.

Do you prefer beachy, tropical getaways or have you dreamt of touring Europe or Africa — or exploring New York City? Let your imagination lead.

13. “One thing on my bucket list is….”

Even if you haven’t actually written out a bucket list — i.e., things you want to do before you die — you probably have some ideas here.

Maybe there’s something you’ve wanted to do but have put off for the time being.

14. “My best friend is my best friend because….”

How did you and your best friend meet, and why do you call them your best friend?

What have you been through together? What have you done for each other?

And how has their friendship changed you? Would you name a child after this person?

15. “An accomplishment I’m particularly proud of is….”

This doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking. Just think of a moment when you felt deep satisfaction over something you did or a challenge you faced.

Think of something that scared you — until you did it. Is it something you’ve crossed off your bucket list?

16. “One very memorable summer, I….”

Think of a summer that stands out because of something that happened to you — or something you did — or someone you met.

What was it about that summer that made it so memorable? Would you relive it if you could?

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17. “One thing I use every day that I could probably live without is….”

Name something you use in your day-to-day life that you could probably live without.

Maybe you don’t want to — or maybe you’d like to try living without it for a while?

Have you thought of taking a break from gluten, for example? Or Netflix?

18. “The most embarrassing thing that happened to me at work was….”

Did something happen to you on a job that you can’t remember without cringing (or even feeling an involuntary shudder)?

What was it, and what did you learn from it? Who was responsible? And has it changed anything? Has it changed you?

19. “I volunteer at….” or “If I were to volunteer, it would be for….”

What causes inspire you? If you have volunteered — or if you currently volunteer somewhere — what do you do?

And if you don’t currently volunteer, for what local causes would you consider volunteering?

20. “My favorite comfort food is….”

If a food genie popped up and said, “Today, I’m cooking your favorite meals — from breakfast to dinner and dessert. Money is no object, and you can have people over for dinner if you like.”

What’s on the menu, and whom would you invite?

21. “I’d most like to be remembered for….”

What would you like your loved ones to think of when they remember you?

What do you want to accomplish that will outlast you in its impact?

And whom will it benefit most? What would it say about your priorities or about your life’s purpose?

22. “If I won the lottery, the first thing I’d buy would be….”

Maybe you need a new car, or maybe you’ll just celebrate with a latté. Or maybe you’d call the realtor for that house you’ve been sighing over for the past month.

What comes to mind first? And how many people would you tell?

23. “If I could make anything happen for someone, I would….”

Is there someone in your life who needs help with a difficult problem?

If you could make anything happen for them to instantly improve their life or open a door for them, what would that be?

And would you want them to know you were behind it?

24. “If I could keep any animal as a pet, I would choose…”

Maybe you’re a self-described dog person or cat person, or maybe you’d rescue any animal that needed a home.

But if you can think of an animal you’d love to have in your home — to share your space and to spend time with — what would it be?

And if you already keep a boa constrictor or a large, aggressive dog in your home — and you’ve always wanted a pet monkey — these would be interesting facts for anyone who might want to come over.

25. “If I could win a lifetime supply of one type of clothing, it would be…”

This could be anything you wear — from your favorite type of underwear or your favorite socks to a sweater or t-shirt with just the right cut and shape. Maybe it’s your jeans, because no other brand or style fits you as well as the ones you’re wearing.

Whatever it is, if you could never run out of new pieces, what would you want that to be?

26. “If I had to eat one type of food for the rest of my life, it would be…”

This could be breakfast food, sandwiches, Indian food, pizza, etc. What type of food comes to mind that you could see yourself eating every single day for the rest of your life?

In the case of breakfast food, for example, it doesn’t have to be the exact same thing every day, but it has to fit in that category. Same goes for any ethnic food category (Korean, Italian, Mexican, etc.).

27. “My dream home would be…”

Maybe you dream of living in an elaborate “tree mansion” designed with echoes of Rivendell or Lothlórien. Or maybe you imagine yourself living in a spaceship or in a flying RV with a cloaking shield. Maybe you just want a nice apartment in Manhattan.

What fun and interesting facts about yourself would help answer this question. Don’t limit yourself to what sounds realistic. And don’t settle for what you can afford right now.

28. “If I had to be trapped in a movie or a video game for a day, it would be…”

Ever wanted to be part of the cast for Jumanji — or to jump into your favorite video game or RPG to make things happen? If you had to be stuck in a movie or video game for a day, which fabricated world appeals to you most?

This would be your reality for a full 24 hours. So, if you could choose, where would you go?

29. “My favorite type of art is… because….”

Whether it’s abstract paintings, scrap metal sculpture, or something else, what art would you buy for your home if you could afford it? What artist would grace your walls (if you’re leaning toward paintings or drawings)? Or of whose art would you pay to see more?

If you can’t think of a specific artist, that’s okay. Think of the kind of art you’d put on your own walls or end tables to decorate your space. What do you picture?

Funny Fun Facts about Yourself

If you’re looking for some funny things to tell about yourself — things that don’t make you look too weird or crazy — we’ve got you covered.

Consider some of the following ideas:

30. “My most embarrassing moment was…”

We all have them. And unless you were arrested or caught running through the woods naked, you likely have a couple of embarrassing moments you wouldn’t mind sharing.

Telling a story about an embarrassing moment is a great icebreaker and is sure to generate some laughs.

31. “I know it’s crazy, but I love to eat…”

Pickled pigs feet? Peanut butter and pickle sandwiches? Pizza for breakfast? If food happens to be the topic of discussion, throw in one of your favorite but strange food preferences.

You may get some cringes, a few laughs, and perhaps someone outdoing you with an equally weird or disgusting food love.

32. “When I was growing up, my parents made me…”

Parents do the darnedest things, and sometimes the things your mom and dad made you do when you were young are truly confounding now that you’re an adult.

Share something funny that your parents made you do as part of their rules, a family ritual, or a get-together with relatives.

33. “As a kid, I once did this really stupid thing, and it was…”

Jumping off the roof? Hiding in the dryer? Seeing if the lighter would ignite the cat’s fur?

What is something you did as a kid (and survived relatively unscathed) that you now see as pretty hysterical. Once you tell your story, others are bound to tell you their crazy kid shenanigans.

Are particularly persnickety about certain things other people do, like slurping their coffee or clearing their throats?

Or maybe you have some slightly OCD behaviors yourself that might make others giggle. You wear your underwear inside out because you hate the tag in back, or you still refuse to step on a crack (even though you can vouch for the safety of your mother’s back).

Share some of your goofy-isms for some good-natured, funny reactions.

35. “Before I started my career, would you believe I was a…”

Maybe you were a clown, a toilet paper tester, or work for the Tiger King. Whatever craziness you were up to, it makes for a great story.

If you once had one of those jobs that people exclaim, “You’ve got to be kidding me?!” when they hear about it, then you might be a source of entertainment for hours.

36. “Have I told you about my crazy Uncle Joe?”

Or whatever relative in your family who seems to be the subject of wide-eyed, laughter-filled stories.

We all have that one (or several) wackadoodle relative whose past behaviors are so off the charts that they’re almost unbelievable.

Who would guess that upstanding, law-abiding, competent you would have a relative who did that?

Good Secrets to Tell about Yourself

Perhaps the funny things above are secrets that you haven’t spilled before, but we all have secret longings, fears, and dreams as well.

If you’re looking for something interesting to say, here are some safe secrets you might want to share to let others know more about you.

If you’re several years into a career, you may not have allowed yourself to articulate your secret desire to do something different.

This is especially true if what you really want to do seems unrealistic, silly, or not reflective of who you appear to be. (Accountant to rockstar?)

But sharing this secret dream will give others a deeper insight into who you are and what you feel passionate about.

38. “Not many people know this about me, but when I was younger, I…”

When you start a sentence with, “”Not many people know this about me,” you’ve immediately got the attention of the room. Everyone wants to know something others don’t know.

What is the secret thing you did when you were younger that gives a glimpse into your mindset back in the day? Or your mindset now?

39. “One thing I’m very afraid of is…”

What type of horror movie scares you the most? Or what nightmare scenario would keep you up at night, sitting in the corner with a flashlight and your weapon of choice?

Maybe you have a lifelong fear of spiders and imagine an apocalyptic scenario where the spawn of Shelob is taking over the planet. That’d do it for me.

Or maybe you’re afraid of something completely different — and closer to reality. How would you finish the sentence?

40. “When I was a teenager, I never told my parents that I…”

Oh, we all have a few of these secrets, don’t we? And some of them would make your parents flip their lids — even today.

As long as your parents aren’t in the room when telling this secret, it’s sure to provide some gasps and entertainment for those listening. And you can finally get rid of that guilty conscience!

41. “If I had to do it all over again, I probably wouldn’t…”

This can be a tricky one because you don’t want to offend anyone in the room or have something get back to a person you’re close to (ie: “I probably wouldn’t get married.”)

But there are likely some choices in your life that you’d like to claim a do-over on — some that aren’t too controversial. Maybe you wouldn’t have moved to a particular city or attended the university you graduated from.

Interesting Things About Me

42. “One of my favorite life hacks is ….”

Maybe you’ve learned unusual hacks for removing stubborn stains. Or you know how to turn a single meal into three different dinner menus to avoid waste.

Whatever hacks you’ve learned to make your life easier or more fun, others can probably benefit from knowing them, too. So, share away. Who knows what hacks you’ll learn in exchange.

Time-saving and money-saving tips and tricks are meant to be passed on and enjoyed — not kept secret.

43. “If I could go back in time, I would change _______ so that ______.”

Most people would love a chance to go back in time and change at least one little thing in the hope that it would create a better outcome. It’s probably good that we can’t, but that doesn’t stop us from wishing.

Humans are great at making mistakes. And even when we learn from them, it’s hard not to want to go back and fix it — if not for our benefit then for someone else’s.

So, is there anything you’d like to change if you could?

44. “If I could get paid to blog about anything, I’d write about…”

If you could earn plenty of money keeping a blog on the subject/s of your choice, what would you write about? How much time would you want to spend each week working on this blog?

What could you easily spend hours a day writing about? If you don’t already have a blog of your own, have you considered starting one, just so you can write about those topics?

What would you need to get started?

45. “If I could download a how-to book directly into my brain, it would be for… “

Maybe you wish someone could just download a course on “How to Be a Functonal Parent” directly into your brain — just like on the Matrix when Neo learned Kung Fu in seconds.

How sweet would it be if you could learn something essential to your life and/or chosen career (writing computer code? building a bookshelf?) in less than the time it would take to drink your morning coffee?

So, what would you want to learn?

46. “If I had to leave my native country, I would go to ______ because _____.”

What if you had to leave the country you’ve always lived in — if it was no longer safe for you and your family to stay? Where would you go? Is there a country that immediately comes to mind?

Or would you become a refugee, traveling through one country after another, hoping for a welcome from one of them?

What would you be willing to do to survive and to keep your loved ones safe?

47. “One thing I wish I’d learned before I left home is… “

Whether it’s life skills in general or something more specific — like budgeting or cooking for yourself — most of us can think of something we wish we’d learned before we started living on our own.

Think of something you had to learn on your own that others your age seemed to already know how to do. Did they give you any grief over it?

Maybe it’s something you wish you’d known but that no one around you could teach. Because they hadn’t learned it, either

48. “A TV series I’ve watched all the way through more than once is…”

What shows come to mind whenever someone asks you, “What series should I watch, now that I’m done with ______?” What show is so good, you’ve seen it more than once — and some episodes maybe three times or more?

Is it a fairly new show or something you remember watching years ago that you’ve only recently revisited? And why do you love it so much? Who are your favorite characters?

Pick something you wish you could forget and then rediscover as you watch it again.

49. “The last time I made a fool of myself, I learned…”

Think of a time you said or did something that backfired in a big way.

Whether it cost you a friend or just made you the butt of a joke for years afterward, what did you learn from it that you might not have learned otherwise?

If you don’t want to get into specifics, you’re welcome to generalize. And if someone asks for details, share them at your own discretion. Your rep may not be the only one at stake.

50. “If I could have the world’s best collection of something, it would be…”

Are you a collector? And by that, I mean, do you allocate a significant amount of money and time to building a collection of something that has meaning for you?

Maybe you already collect something — geodes, Star Wars figures, porcelain dolls….

Or maybe you don’t. But if you could collect something, what would it be, and why? What would you willingly surround yourself with? And would you show them off to everyone who came to visit?

51. “If I get to choose my next life, I want to be…”

What would you want to be in a different life and as a different person?

Maybe you want to experience life as someone of a different gender. Or maybe you want to come back as a cat — or as a dragon.

Assuming you won’t consciously remember the life you’re living now, is there something you want to experience that you can’t experience in your current form?

And would your new life be on the same planet or somewhere else in the universe?

52. “My hidden talents and skills are…”

Maybe you can play the harmonica or do a backflip. Or perhaps you are really great with animals or know how to cook traditional Moroccan food.

All of us have talents or skills we don’t talk about much. Often these are talents that we take for granted or assume others wouldn’t find very interesting.

But you’d be surprised at how your set of hidden abilities can impress others. After all, not everyone can make a dog stop barking on command or whip up a dish of Tagine.

53. “If I could do anything, my dream job would be…”

The career world was your oyster when you were a kid. Nothing was stopping you from being a teacher, doctor, movie star, or whatever job seemed intriguing to you.

Life, education, and luck (or lack thereof) led you to a career that might not be the job of your dreams. But we’re sure you’ve pondered what you would do if – if you could go back and do it again. If you had the talent or skill. If you didn’t have to worry about money.

What is the job you’d be proud to tell your little kid self that you are doing now?

54. “My dreamiest dream vacation is…”

If money were no object, and you could go on the vacation of your dreams, consider what it would be.

Think about all of the details of the perfect vacation that would be life-changing and memorable.

55. “My biggest fear of all is…”

We’re all scared of something — usually many things. But often, there’s that one creeping fear or anxiety that keeps us up at night and causes us to worry during the day.

You might have a phobia of something — like getting on a plane, a fear of heights, or encountering a snake. Perhaps clowns make you run away screaming, or just the idea of public speaking soaks you in sweat.

Some fears aren’t situational but just linger around us like a bad rash. You may constantly worry about getting a dire disease or dying. Whatever your particular fear happens to be, admitting it and even discussing it with a trusted friend can help you feel better about it.

56. “My secret guilty pleasure is…”

A guilty pleasure is something love but know you shouldn’t do because it’s bad for you, slightly wicked, or a bit embarrassing.

You don’t need to share all of your guilty pleasures, but some might be worth admitting just for the fun of discovering that others imbibe too!

Do you sneak down for ice cream at midnight when you get the munchies? Maybe you binge-watch a trashy Netflix series or have a second glass of wine while taking a bath.

57. “The season I love most is…”

Everyone has their season – the one that makes them come alive and feel excited. Or the season triggers good memories or allows for special activities, indoors or out, that you enjoy.

Spring is often a favorite time because it marks a new beginning as trees start to bud and flowers bloom. But what can beat summer with the warm weather, days at the beach, and long, lazy days?

Autumn is awesome as the warm days start to turn cool again, the leaves turn their glorious colors, and you get to pull out your sweaters. And, of course, winter brings that warm and snuggly feeling with the holiday season and time with friends and family.

58. “I could watch this movie a hundred times…”

You have that one movie you just can’t get enough of. Maybe it’s a tradition, like watching The Wizard of Oz or The Grinch Who Stole Christmas every year.

Perhaps you love a movie because it’s so well-crafted that you appreciate the art form and never tire of it. Or the movie speaks deeply to some part of you and your life experiences.

Whatever the reason, your movie is special because it means something special to you. Talking about it with others is sure to spark an interesting conversation.

Fun Interesting Things About Yourself Not to Say in an Interview

We know you’re a fascinating person with a life full of experiences and relationships. But the topics you’d share with your friends and family aren’t necessarily what you should share in a job interview.

A potential boss mind find your guilty pleasure relatable, but throwing it out there isn’t likely to get you the job. Here are some fun facts about you that you want to avoid in an interview:

How Much You Hated Your Last Boss

Really? You won’t win many points with a new boss if you’re throwing shade at the last one. Keep it classy, even if you couldn’t stand the past manager.

The State of Your Love Life

There’s no place in an interview for stories or shared information about you latest or previous relationships.

When the interviewer asks you about yourself, they don’t need to know you’re looking for a new job to get away from your ex who still works at the old one.

These kind of comments can be a red flag suggesting that you might not fit into the culture of the organisation.

Your Financial Situation

Whether it’s good or bad, the state of your finances isn’t an appropriate topic for an interview.

They don’t need to know you had to borrow money for an Uber to get to the interview. Nor do you need to wear your Manolo Blahnik pumps to scream how in the green you are.

Politics or Religion

These topics are dangerous enough around the family dinner table.

Why would you want to jeopardize a potential job offer by making an offhand comment, however innocent, that might offend the person interviewing you?

Your Family Plans

An interviewer can’t ask you whether or not you plan to get pregnant or your relationship status, but you may find yourself letting it slip.

Times have changed, but not so much that some employers may still view your future plans as a liability. Even if they don’t, you don’t need to tell personal information to a stranger.

Anything Potentially Controversial

You don’t need to share any legal situations, possibly strange hobbies, or past improprieties in an interview. Just don’t let them slip.

Keep it professional and relevant to the job you’re applying for. Even if you’re hired, most of these topics should stay out of the workplace altogether.

Bonus: How to Answer, “What Are 3 Fun Facts About Yourself?”

Don’t get stumped with this question, either with friends or in an interview. Prepare in advance with some interesting but relevant topics that might make you a more desirable candidate. Here are some ideas to consider:

When coming up with your three fun facts about yourself, consider the audience and the setting. For an interview, think of facts that reinforce you are a good candidate for the job.

Share some fun facts about yourself.

So, now that you’re armed with 58 examples of fun facts about yourself, which ones appeal to you the most?

Did any get you thinking about how to generate even more fun facts you can share with others?

Or maybe you’re thinking of making conversation cards that ask “fun facts about me” questions.

After all, you don’t want to be the bearer of cheesy pick-up lines or stale one-liners. These prompts remind you to relax and just be you.

The folks worth hanging out with will appreciate your authenticity and look forward to learning more about you.

Wherever you go, any of these prompts can serve as a conversation starter. And a fun conversation can lead to friendships, job opportunities, and other adventures.

Как успешно пройти собеседование на английском

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2. О чем нельзя говорить и что нельзя делать на собеседовании на английском языке

Собеседование о приеме на работу можно отнести к важнейшим событиям в нашей жизни. И для того, чтобы это событие прошло на отлично, крайне важно правильно подготовиться к вопросам, которые нам задают.

1. ТОП-10 вопросов для собеседования на английском языке и примеры ответов на них

1.1 Tell me about yourself — Расскажите о себе

Достойный рассказ о себе на собеседовании – отличная возможность произвести впечатление на потенциального работодателя. Звучать он может по-разному: «Could you describe yourself?», «Please describe yourself», «What should I know about you?». Отвечая на этот вопрос, важно выделить именно те качества и профессиональный опыт, который непосредственно касается вакансии. Многие соискатели теряются и начинают подробно рассказывать о своей частной жизни, детях, домашних питомцах и т.д.

Однако единственная цель интервьюера на собеседовании – выяснить насколько ваши личные и профессиональные качества соответствуют той или иной вакансии.

Представьтесь и объясните, кто вы в профессиональном плане, кратко расскажите о вашем образовании. Высшее или дополнительное образование, курсы повышения квалификации или онлайн-курсы – главное, чтобы это имело отношение к выбранной вакансии. Если вы только начинаете свою карьеру, постарайтесь убедить собеседника в том, что обладаете высокой мотивацией к обучению и готовы горы свернуть на благо компании.

I graduated from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and I have a degree in General Physics.

Я окончил Московский физико-технический институт, и у меня есть степень в области теоретической физики.

I advised customers on financial matters. After I consulted the customer, I completed a customer inquiry form and catalogued the information in our database. I then collaborated with colleagues to prepare the best possible package for the client.

Я консультировал клиентов по финансовым вопросам. После консультаций я заполнял опросную форму клиента и заносил информацию в каталог в нашей базе данных. Затем, вместе с коллегами я готовил наилучший возможный пакет для клиента.

I have spent the last six years developing my skills as a customer service manager for Megacompany Inc., where I have won several performance awards and been promoted twice.

Последние 6 лет я совершенствовал навыки менеджера по обслуживанию клиентов в корпорации Megacompany Inc., где был несколько раз награжден за отличную работу и дважды получал повышение.

I have been working as a system administrator for three years.

Я работаю в качестве системного администратора в течение трех лет.

I’m an HR manager with 8 years of experience for Fortune 500 companies.

Я менеджер по персоналу с восьмилетним опытом работы в организациях из списка 500 крупнейших компаний США.

Не стоит рассказывать о своем детстве в Череповце (хотя это уникальный город со большой историей) или о том, что всегда мечтали стать водителем троллейбуса, но случайно в кино увидели известного актера и жизнь поменялась.

Забавные случаи из жизни или медали на школьных соревнованиях также вряд ли будут полезны.

1.2 What are your strengths? — Каковы Ваши сильные стороны/достоинства?

Не скромничайте и не стесняйтесь, перечисляя свои главные достоинства, но старайтесь выделить именно те, которые непосредственно относятся к желаемой должности. Расскажите более подробно о 2-4 своих качествах, обосновав на примерах – чего они позволили добиться на прошлой работе или в жизни. Укажите среди перечисленных и то качество, за которое вас ценят окружающие.

I work well under pressure. When there is a deadline, I can focus on the task at hand (current project) and structure my work schedule well. I remember one week when I had to get 6 new customer reports out by Friday at 5. I finished all the reports ahead of time without having to work overtime.

Я хорошо работаю в стрессовых ситуациях (под давлением). Если установлен крайний срок для выполнения задания, я хорошо организую свой план работ. Помню одну неделю, когда я должен был выдать 6 отчетов по новым клиентам к 17-00 пятницы. Я закончил все отчеты досрочно, и мне не пришлось работать сверхурочно.

I am a trouble shooter. When there was a problem at my last job, the manager would always ask me to solve it. Last summer, the server at work crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my help) to get the server back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I detected the problem and the server was up and running (working) within the hour.

Я умею улаживать проблемы. Когда на моей предыдущей работе случались проблемы, руководитель всегда просил меня решить их. Прошлым летом произошел сбой сервера. Руководитель был в отчаянии и вызвал меня (попросил моей помощи), чтобы восстановить сервер. Просмотрев суточное резервное копирование, я обнаружил проблему, и сервер был восстановлен и запущен в течение часа.

I’m a creative thinker. I like to explore alternative solutions to problems.

Я изобретателен. Мне нравится находить альтернативные решения к задачам.

People who know me best say that I’m…

Те, кто хорошо меня знают, говорят, что я…

Монолог не должен быть очень длинным, но в то же время, лучше перечислить более одного качества, которые, по вашему мнению, имеют отношение к вакансии.

1.3 What are your weaknesses? — Каковы Ваши слабые стороны/недостатки?

Конечно, рассказывать о своих сильных сторонах приятней и легче, однако, если правильно преподнести свои недостатки – они тоже будут вашим плюсом.

Во-первых, нужно быть честным и не скрывать свои минусы. Сегодня недостоверную информацию очень легко проверить, а любая ложь может вычеркнуть вас не только из претендента на вакансию, но и из профессии в целом.

Во-вторых, «наши недостатки – продолжение наших достоинств», т.е. минусы всегда можно переделать в плюсы. Над этим в престижных компаниях работают как сами сотрудники, так и работодатели, которые стремятся создать благоприятные условия для работы и оптимизации труда. Абсолютно у каждого человека есть недостатки, поэтому работодатель нормально отнесется к тому, что у вас они тоже найдутся.

Говоря о своих недостатках, дайте собеседнику понять, что вы прекрасно о них осведомлены и работаете над ними.

I definitely get impatient with team members who are making mistakes or delivering substandard work.

Я определенно теряю терпение с теми членами команды, которые ошибаются или делают некачественную работу.

It doesn’t come naturally to me but I think the blame game is just a waste of time and it’s better to focus on where to go from here.

Это удалось мне не сразу, но я думаю, что игра «Кто виноват?» — это потеря времени и лучше сосредоточиться на поиске решения проблемы.

So I recently started attending discussion сlub meetings and I am already starting to feel much more comfortable speaking in front of a group.

Не так давно я начал посещать собрания дискуссионного клуба и уже чувствую себя гораздо спокойнее при необходимости выступать перед группой.

Being organized wasn’t my strongest point, but I implemented a time management system that really helped my organization skills.
Я не всегда был так отлично организован, поэтому я освоил систему управления временем, которая действительно помогла мне с моей дисциплиной.

I tend to spend too much time making sure the customer is satisfied. However, I began setting time-limits for myself If I noticed this happening.
У меня есть склонность затрачивать слишком много времени, чтобы бы удовлетворить клиента. Однако, я начал устанавливать для себя лимиты времени, если замечаю, что это происходит.

1.4 Why should we hire you? — Почему нам следует выбрать Вас?

Вопрос, который вам могут не задать напрямую, но он будет висеть в воздухе на протяжении всего собеседования: «Убедите, проявите, докажите, что вы именно тот, что нам нужен. Мы же здесь не для красного словца собрались?»

И вам нужно быть готовым к этому заранее. Изучите информацию о компании, ее сфере деятельности, позиции на рынке, целях и направлении развития. Выпишите основные требования к вакансии и сопоставьте из со своими профессиональными качествами и навыками.

На собеседовании при ответе на вопрос вам нужно будет объяснить, что получит компания, если выберет вас. Выделить какое-то уникальное качество, которое будет полезно организации и которое выгодно выделяет вас на фоне других.

Three reasons: I meet deadlines, I deliver on what I promised, and as a result I always make my managers to be proud of me.

Вам следует нанять меня по трем причинам: Я всегда укладываюсь в сроки, достигаю обещанного, и позволяю моему руководителю гордиться мной.

I think I should be hired because I’m a hardworking, well-organized and responsible. I’m also effective.

Я считаю, что заслуживаю быть принятым, так как я трудолюбивый, хорошо организованный и ответственный.

I have the experience, contacts, and knowledge to contribute to the rapid growth of this business.

Я обладаю опытом, контактами и знаниями, которые позволят обеспечить стремительный рост этого бизнеса/компании.

I am experienced in the areas this company needs to grow, and my ability to plan ahead will help facilitate that growth.

Я обладаю опытом именно в тех областях, от которых зависит рост компании, и способностью планировать наперед, которая будет способствовать этому росту.

You should hire me because I’m not only qualified for this job due to my experiences, but also because of the positive attitudes that I have towards the tasks given to me.

Вам следует нанять меня не только потому, что я обладаю необходимой квалификацией и опытом, но еще и из-за моего положительного отношения к заданиям, которые мне поручили.

Не стоит чрезмерно захваливать свои умения и отвечать в духе «таких, как я вы не найдете» или «я лучший специалист в этой области». Это звучит неубедительно, непрофессионально и надменно.

Будьте решительны, говорить неуверенно недопустимо, почувствуйте разницу между уверенностью и самоуверенностью – собеседнику эта разница очень хорошо видна.

1.5 Why are you leaving (have left) your job? — Почему Вы собираетесь уйти (ушли) со своей работы?

Непростой вопрос, на который стоит отвечать спокойно и без эмоций. Не стоит жаловаться, обвинять во всех грехах, банкротстве, осуждать бывших коллег по работе или непосредственного начальника. Смотрите в будущее и дайте понять собеседнику, что вас интересует только сегодня и завтра.

Если вы работали фрилансером и решили вернуться в офис, так и скажите, это адекватная причина смены деятельности. Если вы работали на полставки и хотите перейти на полную, по причине переезда или изменения семейных обстоятельств, то также не умалчивайте об этом.

This job seems like an excellent match for my experience and skills. I was not able to fully utilize them in my previous position.

Мне кажется, в этой работе я смогу наилучшим образом применить свой опыт и навыки. У меня не было возможности полностью задействовать их на моей предыдущей должности.

I am interested in a new challenge and an opportunity to use my technical skills and experience in a different capacity than I have in the past.

Я заинтересован в новых задачах и возможности воспользоваться моими техническими навыками и опытом в другом объеме.

I am interested in a job with more responsibility, and I am very ready for a new challenge.

Я заинтересован в работе с большей зоной ответственности, и я готов к новым вызовам и задачам.

I relocated to this city due to family circumstances that is why I had to leave my previous position.

Я переехал в этот город по семейным обстоятельствам, поэтому вынужден был оставить свое предыдущее место работы.

Although I love my current role, I feel I’m now ready for a more challenging assignment and this position really excites me.

Несмотря на то, что мне нравятся мои текущие должностные обязанности, я чувствую, что готов к более ответственным задачам и эта вакансия меня по-настоящему вдохновляет.

1.6 Why do you want this job? — Почему Вам интересна эта работа?

Основная цель этого вопроса – понять, насколько ответственно вы подготовились к собеседованию и по какому принципу вы выбрали работодателя (возможности роста, уровень зарплат, социальная роль компании). Для ответа на этот вопрос вам также понадобится осведомленность о деятельности организации, ее социальных проектах и целях, положения на рынке и т.д.

Ответы будут схожи с ответами к пункту 1.4. Дайте понять, что вы хорошо разбираетесь в специфике отрасли, с которой связана компания.

Не стоит в качестве причин упоминать близость к дому, разнообразие, «престижность», «увидел вакансию и позвонил».

I’ve read about the company’s future projects that are designed to move the company forward towards achieving its mission. I want to be a part of this company because I believe I can be of assistance in its growth.

Я читал о будущих проектах компании, которые помогут ей в реализации своей миссии. Я хочу быть частью компании потому, что верю, что смогу помочь ей развиваться.

I’ve always taken an interest in IT and the enterprise is considered one of the best is this field

Я всегда испытывал интерес к IT, а ваше предприятие считается одним из лучших в этой области..

1.7 What are your goals for the future? / Where do you see yourself in five years? — Каковы Ваши цели на будущее? / Где Вы видите себя через пять лет?

Этим вопросом интервьюер хочет понять, насколько на вас можно рассчитывать в дальнейшем, останетесь ли вы в этой роли на большой промежуток времени или скажете «нет» через два месяца. А также как вы умеете строить долгосрочные карьерные цели и умение прогнозировать.

Расскажите о своем профессиональной карьере именно в этой компании, но помните не только о вертикальном росте, но и о горизонтальном (расширение обязанностей или команды сотрудников).

Если вас собеседует потенциальный непосредственный начальник, не стоит говорить, что вы планируете занять его место. Также как и о том, на каком острове в Тихом океане будете отдыхать и на каком автомобиле добираться до офиса.

By then, I will have my knowledge enhanced and become more independent in what I do.

К тому времени я улучшу свои знания и стану более свободным в том, что делаю.

My goal right now is to find a position at a company where I can grow and take on new challenges over time. Ultimately, I’d like to assume more management responsibilities and get involved in product strategy. But most importantly, I want to work for an organization where I can build a career.

На данный момент, моя цель — найти именно ту должность и компанию, где я бы смог расти и постоянно принимать новый вызов. В конечном счете, я бы хотел больше ответственности по руководству людьми, а также, быть больше вовлеченным в стратегию разработки продукта. Но самое главное, я бы хотел работать на ту организацию, где бы я смог сделать карьеру.

Where, I can take the decisions for the betterment of the organisation. Where I should be proud off my achievements and where my peer and subordinates gave example of my talent and hard work to motivate others.

Там, где я смогу принимать решения по улучшению и благосостоянию организации. Где я смогу гордиться своими достижениями, а мои коллеги и подчиненные могли бы приводить в пример другим мой талант и трудолюбие.

1.8 What are your salary expectations? — На какую зарплату Вы рассчитываете?

Наниматель хочет узнать, соответствуют ли ваши запросы его возможностям, насколько вы амбициозны и адекватны. При ответе на этот вопрос будет не лишним уточнить, какой уровень зарплаты предусмотрен для данной вакансии

Однако на первом собеседовании на этот вопрос лучше отвечать расплывчато. Скажите, что вы будете готовы обсудить вопрос зарплаты более подробно, только если первое собеседование окажется удачным.

Идеально — выяснить у нанимателя, какой уровень зарплаты предусматривает данная вакансия, чтобы потом, если возникнет вопрос выбора между несколькими компаниями, вы могли бы ответить согласием на более выгодное предложение.

Не стоит называть конкретные суммы, это лучше сделать после того, когда интервьюер подробно расскажет вам о работе. Лучше намекнуть или ответить расплывчато, но уверено. Но и не отвечать на него тоже недопустимо.

Также некорректно будет переспрашивать, какую сумму готов предложить работодатель, или рассказывать о зарплатах конкурентов.

I’m sure, you’ll offer a salary that’s considered competitive in the current field.

Уверен, что вы предложите заработную плату, которая считается конкурентоспособной в данной области.

I need more information, pertaining to the position, before we could start salary discussion.

Мне необходимо больше информации относительно вакансии, прежде чем мы могли бы начать обсуждение заработной платы.

Согласно моему опыту, я думаю, что 30 000-45 000$ в год — средняя зарплата на рынке.

1.9 Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of — Расскажите мне о достижении, которым Вы больше всего гордитесь

Здесь вы можете описать реальный пример успешного решения возникшей в коллективе проблемы (между вами и начальником, например), о заключении непростого контракта, о получении премии Грэмми, но только если это непосредственно касается вашей потенциальной работы. Рассказывать о достижениях, не относящихся к работе, нельзя.

Last summer, the server at work crashed. The manager was desperate and called me in (requested my help) to get the server back online. After taking a look at the daily backup, I detected the problem and the server was up and running (working) within the hour.

Прошлым летом произошел сбой сервера. Руководитель был в отчаянии и вызвал меня (попросил моей помощи), чтобы восстановить сервер. Просмотрев суточное резервное копирование, я обнаружил проблему, и сервер был восстановлен и запущен в течение часа.

I improved the inquiry management system at the company where I previously worked. I decided to set up a system grouping inquiries according to region. This approach enabled the entire marketing team to come up with more efficient solutions to our distribution problems.

Я усовершенствовал систему рыночных опросов в компании, где я раньше работал. Я решил внедрить систему групповых опросов по регионам. Этот подход позволил всей команде маркетологов разработать более эффективные решения для наших проблем сбыта товара.

1.10 Do you have any questions? — У Вас есть какие-нибудь вопросы?

Пункт, который является обязательным на любом собеседовании. И задать интересующие вас вопросы рекрутеру – это не только хороший тон, но и проявление своих профессиональных знаний и навыков. Правильные вопросы помогают понять, насколько комфортно будет вам работать в команде и сможет ли компания удовлетворить ваши карьерные интересы.
Уточните непонятные вам моменты, возникшие в ходе собеседования, или об аспектах, которые не были затронуты, но касаются возможной работы.

Говорить «Спасибо, мне все понятно» будет неправильным. Тем самым вы выдаете себя как неизантересованного или индифферентного, безразличного к результату собеседования, да и работы, соискателя.

How many employees work for the organization?

Сколько сотрудников работает в организации?

Before you’re able to reach a hiring decision, how many more interviews should I expect to go through and with whom?

Сколько еще собеседований и с кем мне нужно будет пройти, прежде чем вы сможете принять решение относительно моей кандидатуры?

How advanced is the hardware and software I will be expected to use?

Насколько сложное оборудование и программное обеспечение я должен буду использовать?

How did this job become available?

Почему эта должность освободилась?

Please tell me a little bit about the people with whom I’ll be working most closely.

Пожалуйста, расскажите мне немного о людях, с которыми мне надо будет наиболее тесно сотрудничать.

2. О чем нельзя говорить и что нельзя делать на собеседовании на английском языке

В завершении перечислим основные моменты, которых не следует касаться на собеседовании.

1. Говорить плохо о предыдущей работе.

Если у вас остались только негативные впечатления о прошлой работе, начальнике, коллективе, лучше эту тему вообще не затрагивать. У собеседника скорее всего возникнет ощущение, что вы не умеете коммуницировать с людьми, что-то недоговариваете или потенциальная работа вам также наскучит через непродолжительное время.

2. Рассказывать о своих личных проблемах

Никто не любит тех, кто жалуется. Свои личные проблемы и нужды лучше оставить при себе.

3. Давать работодателю советы

Свои предположения, рекомендации и стратегии лучше приберечь на момент, когда вы будете трудоустроены. Собеседование – не лучшее время для критики собеседника.

4. Первым задавать вопрос о деньгах

Этот вопрос очень важен для обеих сторон, но подождите, пока работодатель сам затронет эту тему, и тогда этот вопрос можно обсуждать в деталях. Иначе создастся впечатление, что кроме зарплаты вас ничего не интересует.

5. Отвечать на какой-то вопрос фразой «Я не знаю»

Самый неудачный ответ, который можно придумать. Будьте готовы к любым вопросам, в том числе и каверзным или, как кажется, не имеющим отношения к вакансии, проявляйте фантазию и смекалку, иначе вы моментально потеряете привлекательность в глазах работодателя.

6. Не задавать вопросы

Напомним, что задавать вопросы интервьюеру очень важно. Часто кандидаты настолько выматываются за время собеседования, что к его окончанию в силах только встать со стула и выйти. Но старайтесь все-таки в ходе разговора мысленно «ставить галочки» в тех моментах, которые вам до конца не ясны. Задавать вопросы на собеседовании – это правильно!

7. Опаздывать

Тут все понятно. Опаздывать на собеседование, а затем и на работу – это верх безответственности. Такие работники никому не нужны. Бывают форс-мажорные обстоятельства, по которым вы не можете вовремя приехать на встречу, в таком случае нужно обязательно звонить рукретеру и сообщать о причине опоздания.

8. Звонить и отвечать на звонки

Перед собеседованием выключите или поставьте на бесшумный режим ваш телефон и не пользуйтесь им до конца встречи. Если у вас на это время действительно ожидается важный звонок, встречу лучше перенести.

9. Лгать

При необходимости всю информацию о вас можно узнать в интернете, в открытых источниках, или на предыдущем месте работы. Да и вообще, разглядеть, что собеседник лжет во время диалога, для опытного рекрутера не составит труда.

10. Просить закончить побыстрее

Выделите достаточно времени для прохождения собеседования. Потенциальный работодатель не обязан под вас подстраиваться, поэтому не спрашивайте, когда закончится интервью, и не просите закончить его поскорее.

How To Answer Questions Like Tell Me About Yourself In An Interview

Tell me About Yourself

Interviews can be daunting, and it is more nerve-wracking when you are a fresher. You have nervous energy around you, and there’s a mix of excitement and anguish for your very first interview. Interviewing for a job is not easy for experienced folks either. It needs as much preparation as you required when you got your first job.

So, speaking of interviews, here we will talk about the most common, and you can say, a mandatory question asked in every interview: Tell me about yourself. Nobody prepares you for this question. The way you tell about yourself to the interviewer will prove how confident you are, how well you know yourself and how articulate you can be. This is the first impression you create. So, make it a good one.

Here we will be sharing with you some useful tips on ace the tell me about yourself answer.

What NOT to Say in the Tell me something about yourself answer:

Before you know what to say about yourself, you should probably know what you should not say in the tell us about yourself answer:

Do not start ‘tell me about yourself’ answers speaking about what you used to do in high school or which subjects you had in school. No, never do this! The interviewer must interview many other candidates, so he/she won’t have all the time in the world to listen to you from the beginning until now.

Do not start speaking about where you were born and what your parents do, and so on. We know your parents are important to you, as they should be, but do not speak about their professions no matter how influential they have been in your formative years. Be thoroughly professional, start from your educational background and then move on to your professional experience.

Do not give yourself compliments. In a ‘tell me about yourself’ answer, you can speak about what you have achieved but refrain from saying things like, “I am a great team leader”, or “I am a passionate engineer”, “I have seen it all” and words that glorify yourself. Keep it subtle.

If you are an experienced person and have achieved something in the past, do not start speaking about how you have achieved it. ‘Tell me about yourself’ for experienced candidates can be a little easy as you have your past achievements and experience to speak about, but just mention the achievements, do not keep rambling about how difficult it was and how you did it. Save that for later.

Do not speak for more than 2 minutes. You may want to speak more about yourself but refrain from doing so. Your every ‘tell me about yourself’ interview answer should be crisp, professional and articulate. You should adhere to no particular time duration, but try to keep it short and crisp.

How to Answer, «Tell me about Yourself»?

So, if this is the first question you will answer in an interview, make sure you make it a great one. You do not have to give some groundbreaking answers but keep it interesting and professional. It should not feel forced. Just flow.

Here are a few ways you can craft the best answer for ‘tell me about yourself’:

Customize your answer according to the role and the organization – Keep the job description in mind and answer the question. Go through the company’s vision and job specifications and craft your answer accordingly. Explain what qualities or achievements you have that are perfect for the role and the organization you are interviewing for.

For example: If you are applying for the manager’s position, speak about your experiences in management in previous companies.

If you are a fresher, then the answer of ‘tell me about yourself’ for freshers won’t involve any mention of professional experience. Still, you can speak about your internship experiences where you did a similar role or exposure gained during completion of various projects in college.

Have a definite structure to your answer – It is highly possible that if you don’t maintain a structure for your ‘tell me about yourself’ answer, you may start fumbling and rambling along the way because, after all, there’s so much to you than being a qualified professional.

You should start your answer with what you do presently, where you work, and your responsibilities. Then you can speak about your job in the past a little, then you can end your answer by speaking about what you aspire to do in the future.

Example of a ‘tell me about yourself’ best answer: “Sure, so my name is Srija, and I’m a business graduate from XYZ University.

I’m currently working at ABC. My responsibilities include managing the dairy technical team, organizing weekly meetings with my team and other clients, directing new sales strategies and planning and coordinating team activity.

Before that, I used to work in a start-up company as a product manager and was responsible for devising marketing strategies for their new products.

As much as I loved that job and I enjoy working in the current company, moving forward, I’d also like to grow and diversify my skills and experience soon. I wish to implement my knowledge in doing better and newer things, which is why I’m interested in working with your organization.”

Know about who you are speaking to – Different people from the organization can take your interview, so know who you are speaking to. You don’t have to ask; obviously, they will tell you their designation. It can be the HR Manager, the CEO, the recruiting manager, CTO, anybody.

Suppose the HR Manager is taking your interview and you are interviewing for the role of a nutritionist. In that case, you will bore the interviewer if you keep speaking about the benefits of intermittent fasting for the ‘tell me about yourself’ answer.

Here, you can speak about why you are interested in the company and why you think you tick all the boxes for getting this job and your future goals. Etc.

If you speak to a senior dietitian or any experienced doctor, you may speak about your subject.

Be inclined to your ‘work’ – ‘Tell me about yourself’ answers can get a bit tricky, and you may stray off along the way. So, keep in mind to speak about your skills, achievements, and experiences in work-related stuff.

‘Tell me about yourself’ answer for freshers can get a bit irrelevant for lack of proper real-life job experiences but remember to speak about your academic career and academic performance and achievements.

Do not mug up answers There are numerous ‘tell me about yourself’ sample answers available on the internet. So, you may think that you will pick one up, edit according to your role and specification, memorize it, and recite it as it is during the interview. Do not do this.

When you give a memorized answer, it may sound robotic. You don’t want to do that. Think and speak about yourself. Just speak as if you are talking to another human being at a place. Do you memorize your sentences whenever you speak? No right! So, do not do it here too. The advantage of this question is there is no right or wrong answer. You just say what you know about yourself. Make it conversational. You can certainly practice in front of the mirror but do not decide to cram up the night before.

Sample Answers for Freshers:

Well, ‘tell me about yourself’ for an experienced candidate can be a little less intimidating because you saw it coming, and you’ve been through a lot of these. However, we have an amazing example for ‘tell me about yourself’ answer for experienced candidates:

Interviewer: Good morning, Jake! I am the HR Manager of this organization, and today I’ll be taking your interview for the position of assistant nutritionist. Can you please tell me about yourself?

Fresher: Sure. So, my name is Rehan Sharma, and I’m currently 23 years old. I’m an alumnus of XYZ University, where I’ve pursued my B.Sc degree in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics. My academic performance has been consistently good, and I maintained a 9 CGPA throughout my entire graduation.

While in college, I have thoroughly studied various subjects related to food, nutrition, diet, health, and I’ve always been keen on the role of nutrition in our body and the benefits of a balanced diet, which is why I took up this course. I also achieved the ‘Food Doctor’ award while in college, and I’ve had a lot of experience while planning different customized diet charts for patients during the 6 months internship in the hospital.

Moving forward, I’m enthusiastic about implementing my knowledge into something practical and contributing to the organization’s further development and growth.

Sample Answers for Experienced Candidate

‘Tell me about yourself’ for freshers can be easily answered by following all the tips mentioned above. However, here is a ‘tell me about yourself’ interview question and answers example for freshers:

Interviewer: Good morning, Gina! I’m the HR Manager of this organization, and today I’ll be taking your interview for the position of a senior dietitian. Can you please tell me about yourself?

Fresher: Sure. My name is Gina Patel, and I’ve been a registered professional dietitian for the last ten years now.

Presently, I am working for XYZ Company for six years as a Quality Manager for their packaged food products. Inspecting the quality of the products, planning the nutritional requirement for a new product are a few of my responsibilities here. Here. I’ve personally launched 8 new supplementary foods for babies and teenagers, which have been very successful in the market.

Next, I want to diversify my skills and use my knowledge in doing something new and better. Therefore I’m looking forward to joining your organization which will lead to the mutual growth of both the company and me.

‘Tell me about yourself’ interview question can stump you for a moment but do not worry when you can tell everything about yourself in only 160 words in your Twitter bio; then you can speak a few minutes about yourself in an interview to get a job!

Q. What are 5 words that you can use to describe yourself in an interview?

A. You should use positive words like enthusiastic, loyal, organized, skilled, reliable, versatile, etc.

Q. What are a few words that you should not use to describe yourself in an interview?

A. Try avoiding negative words that create fluff and have no real substance like world-class, unsocial, team-player, expert, obsessed, out-of-the-box thinker.

Q. Should I mention my strengths and weaknesses during the interview?

A. You should mention your key strengths and talk about them during the interview but try not to speak about your weaknesses right away. If the interviewer asks you to talk about your weaknesses, then definitely mention a few. Do not say, ‘I don’t have any weaknesses.’ A person can’t be flawless, and knowing your weakness is one of the ways you can improve in the future and the interviewer judges you on the fact, whether you are acknowledging your flaws or brushing it under the carpet.