Two Interview Questions to Introduce Yourself

The Task

1. Select any two of the questions below.
2. Answer each one of the questions you select in about 250 words (but don’t obsess about word count). 
3. Work in your word processor or in Google Docs.
4. When you finish writing, review your work to ensure it uses business-appropriate grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
5. When you are finished, submit your work in one of these ways:
   • Save your work as an *RTF, *.DOC or *.DOCX file, and upload your file.
   • Set the SHARE permissions for your Google Doc so that I can comment (tengrrl@vt.edu), and submit your SHARE link.

The Interview Questions

These questions are the kind you might be asked in a job interview. I am using them to get to know you. There are no wrong answers. Just choose information that you want to tell me about yourself.

• How would you describe yourself?
• Why did you choose Virginia Tech—and are you happy with the choice?
• What are your long-term career objectives—and how do you plan to achieve them?
• What motivates you to go the extra mile on a project?
• What is the biggest mistake you have made, and what did you learn from it?
• If you could retake one college class, what would it be and why would you want to take this class again?
• Describe one of the most rewarding job or volunteer experiences you have had.
• What have you done that demonstrates the university motto of Ut Prosim (That I may serve)?
• How have you demonstrated a commitment to Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community Links to an external site. in a prior situation on campus or in a job or internship?
• If you had multiple projects and limited time, how would you go about managing your priorities?

Some Advice and an Example

When appropriate, try to frame your answer in the form of a story, but make that story address specific goals.

For example, if you are asked to “tell me a little about yourself,” don’t begin with “Well, I was born in 1997 Chester, VA.” Bleh—that is the death stroke.

Consider answering that question with a story that shows a strength. Here’s an example answer that tells a story: 

One of my proudest moments was working as a Literacy Volunteer in the summer between my junior and senior year of college. With my help, a 50-year-old steel worker and father of two learned to read. When we began our daily sessions, he knew the alphabet and could sign his name, and by the end of our summer, he was reading at the high school level. His commitment and dedication motivated me to design lessons and readings that would challenge him. Watching him sit at the kitchen table with his middle school children and do his homework was inspiring. At that moment I knew that being a teacher was the career for me. I wanted to be a part of helping individuals reach their full potentials.

Grading Process

I will award the points for this activity after I check your response and ensure that it meets the basic requirements listed in the rubric.