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Preparing a Soundbite

By Dr. Tom Nitzsche

One of the four “C’s” of a successful job search is Control. As much as possible, in an interview situation, you need to take the interview where you want to go, which is to highlight your skills, abilities and accomplishments as they relate to the specific job for which you are interviewing. Generally, you will be given this opportunity in the interview when the person says to you, “Jim (Jane, George, Mary, etc.), tell me something about yourself.” The interviewer has just handed control over to you, but in many cases control is given right back when the person responds, “I’d be happy to. What do you want to know?” A better way to respond is to use a “soundbite” that tells them your pertinent skills and qualifications in 60-90 seconds. It goes like this:

Interviewer: “Sam, tell me something about yourself.”

Sam: “I’d be happy to. I received an MBA from ABC University in 1990, a BA from XYZ College in 1974, and my Certified Financial Planner license in 1993. I have held a series of progressive and increasingly responsible positions in public and private accounting. These have included Assistant Controller and Controller roles in private accounting, and Supervisor in public accounting.”

“I would prefer to work in an environment where I can use my analytical, accounting, planning and implementation skills. I have counseled management on the improvement of operating performance, and have developed performance reports, performed variance analyses, and evaluated operating alternatives. I also prepared a CPA firm for a review of the company’s quality control system by an independent CPA. This increased client reimbursement, and allowed the CPA firm to receive a favorable report regarding their quality control system policies, procedures, and their auditing and accounting engagements.”

“This is just a brief background, and you may have additional questions. I will be glad to answer them as well as I can.”

As you can see, the soundbite follows a definite sequence:

1. Education and/or training;
2. Work experience: present or former employer;
3. One or two skills/abilities;
4. An accomplishment or two to back up the skill(s).

While it is important not to vary the sequence, you do need to insert skills/abilities and accomplishments that are pertinent to whatever position for which you are being interviewed. However — do not memorize and recite your soundbite. Avoid sounding like a parrot at all costs. Be intimately familiar with your various skills, abilities and accomplishments so you can use whichever ones are appropriate for a specific interview.

The ability to successfully convey what you have to offer an employer in a well-presented soundbite will give you a tremendous advantage over those candidates who can’t.

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