This document provides guidance on how to effectively answer common interview questions about oneself. It recommends keeping biographical information brief and positive, focusing on education, skills, accomplishments, and strengths. For the question "Tell us about yourself", the document suggests mentioning family background like parents' occupations succinctly, then elaborating on academic qualifications, computer skills, extracurricular activities, hobbies, and personal strengths and one weakness. A sample response is provided following this structure in 3 minutes or less to make a good first impression.

1. Talking about oneself
Most interviews begin the interview by
asking such questions as:
Tell us something about yourself.
What is a typical day in your life?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?

2.  These kind of questions in fact foxes (confuses)
many candidates.
 What to include?
How to include?
How much to include?
 What to avoid?
 Should I talk about my native place?
 Is it necessary to tell the them if my parents
haven’t attended college.

3.  If I tell my brother-in-law is an IAS Officer, will it
be an advantage or disadvantage?
 What if I tell that sometimes I’m lazy.
 What if I tell that I am ambitious, is it strength or
weakness?
 Is it alright to lie just to impress the interviewer?
SUCH QUESTIONS HAVE PLAGUED
CANDIDATES TIME AND AGAIN.

4. 1. FAMILY BACKGROUND
Don’t go at length about family.
Don’t tire the interviewer by telling about
unnecessary things.
Otherwise the interviewer will get tired by
the time you reach the most important
things about you.

5. YOU COULD SAY:
 I am Rajesh Savanur
 I am from Savanur
My dad is a Police Officer
My dad is an agriculturist (Farmer)
My dad is a jeweler (goldsmith)
My dad works for the State Bank of India
My dad works for the Railways.
 (What is applicable in your case)

6. My mom is a homemaker
My mom works for the Post & Telegraph
Department.
My mom works for the Railways
My mom is a Bank Eemployee.
 (What is applicable in your case)

7.  I have two brothers and a sister
 I have a sister who is married
 I have a younger sister who is pursuing her
Engineering
 I have a older brother who works for the Indian Air
Force
 I have an older brother who works for the Armed
forces
 I have an older brother who is married and settled
in the States
 I have an older brother who is working for a MNC.
 (What is applicable in your case)

8. 2. ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
 Start with your schooling or Highest Degree
 It is better to give your highest degree first
DON’T TELL:
 Your Grades
 Percentage of Marks
How many attempts you took to pass.

9.  Give the interviewer a positive image about
yourself.
Remember not a negative one
However, if the interviewer asks your grades do
tell him.
 If your achievement is outstanding do tell him.
 Merit scholarship / college topper / gold medalist
– its an advantage.

10.  I did my schooling from St. Mary’s High School,
Hubli.
 I graduated in Arts with English Literature as
Major and Political Science as Minor.
 I did my Masters in Arts in English Literature from
Karnatak University.
 I did my Masters in Business Communication
from Institute of Business Management and
Research, affiliated to Karnatak University.

11. You can tell about your specialization:
I did my Masters in Business
Administration from Institute of Business
Administration specializing in
Finance/Marketing/Human Resources
Whatever is applicable in your case.

12. 3. COMPUTER SKILLS:
 These days everyone looking for a job is
expected to be computer literate.
 I have done a Post Graduate Diploma in
Computer Application from APTECH.
 I am familiar with C, C++ and JAVA.
 I very good at SAP.
 I am comfortable with MS Word, Excel and
Power Point.

13. 4. ACCOMPLISHMENTS / ACHIEVEMENTS
 Never underestimate yourself – This is very
important.
 You don’t have to be Sachin Tendulkar or for that
matter an Abdul Kalam.
 Write or say if you have won a prize at Quiz
Competition.
 Paper presented at a Seminar.

14.  Ability to organize funds for flood victims
(Victims of a natural calamity)
 Coordinate and conduct inter collegiate
Chess/Cricket Tournament.
 But sincerity and honesty is important.
 You may have a certificate to prove something
but you many not have.
 The interviewer is very experienced and he will
immediately know.

15. You can say
 I organized cultural programs for Republic
Day/Annual Day Celebrations.
 I was selected as the Best Boy/Girl at the
School/College.
 Raised funds for Tsunami Victims.
 Edited College Miscellany.
 Won Gold Medal for chess at the Inter-University
Competitions.
 Got sponsors for Sports Day Functions.
 Contributed Articles for College Magazine.

16. 5. HOBBIES/SPECIAL INTERESTS:
 Organizations and Interviewers are looking for
multi-faceted personalities.
 Only Academics is not enough.
 It is an advantage to have another dimension to
your personality.
 Hobbies like stamp collecting, photography,
trekking, painting.
 Special interest like Reading books on
Psychology, Autobiographies.
 Listening to Hindustani Music.
 Reading to the Blind, Stargazing, Bird-watching.

17.  Remember a person who participates in games
or sports is a better team member/Leader and
organizer.
 Good at Decision Making and Interpersonal
Skills.
My Hobbies are Stamp collecting and Gardening.
 I enjoy reading auto-biographies and books on
psychology.
 I practice yoga everyday.

18. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
 Many of don’t know what are strengths and
weaknesses.
 Do a SWOT ANALYSIS
 Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, Threats.
 You look at yourself objectively and work
towards overcoming your weakness and
converting them into strengths.

19. STRENGTHS COULD BE:
Ambitious, Sincere, Confident
 A Good Listener
 Hard working
 Honest
Good Team Leader
 Trustworthy
 Punctual
 Patient
 Optimist

20. WEAKNESSES COULD BE:
Procrastination
Pessimist
Nervous
Short Tempered

21. MODEL PRESENTATION:
Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen.
My name is Rajesh Savanur
I am from Savanur
My dad was a Police Officer
My mother is a homemaker

22. I am married and my wife is a homemaker
I have three children – two boys and a girl
(ONE GIRL???)
All the three are pursuing their Engineering
Degrees at BVB College of Engineering,
Hubli.

23. I hold a Masters Degree in English
Literature from Karnatak University,
Dharwad.
I also hold a Masters Degree in Business
Administration from Institute of Business
Management and Research, affiliated to
Sikkim Manipal University. I have
specialized in Marketing and HR.

24. I have done my schooling from St. Mary’s
High School, Hubli.
I hold a Post Graduate Diploma in
computers from APTECH.
I am well versed with computers and can
give presentations on Power Point.
I have been working for two years on SAP
and very good at it.
I am also good at C & C++.

25. During College days I have taken a very
active part in extra-curricular activities.
I was the captain of the Cricket Team and
we won the Inter-collegiate Tourney in the
year 2005.
When Tsunami struck India I was
instrumental in raising funds of Rs. 10 lacs
for the victims.
I was the Sub-Editor of the College
Miscellany.

26. For relaxing I Listen to Hindustani Music
and do Yoga to keep myself fit.
I visit the Home for the Aged and spend
sometime there every week. It makes me
feel better.
I love nature and am a member of the
Dharwad Bird-Watching Club.

27. Regarding my STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
I am hard working, Sincere, Good Team
Leader.
I realized my greatest strength is my
patience, Optimism and determination.
I realized this while we were working on the
Tsunami Fund Raising. We organized a
cultural even and I was the organizer.

28. Regarding my WEAKNESSES
• I have really not given a very serious
thought about them:
• Sometimes I am a bit Short Tempered and
rush up with things. I have realized that
this is not very good for my success hence
I am working on that.
• Sometimes I overeat and especially sweets
are my weakness.
• That’s it, thank you for listening.

29. CONCLUSION
You are like a product
Pack it up and market it impressively.
If you don’t, none will do it.
Whoever listens to you, tell him what a fine
person you are – confident, smart, fine and
human.
Keep aiming at excellence, working
towards it, you will be a winner.