If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time. Therefore, as you prepare for your ministry job interview – and yes, you should most definitely prepare – it’s vital to make a great first impression while answering the initial question. Most search teams will throw you a softball the size of a beach ball for the first question:
What can you tell us about yourself?
If you swing and miss with pregnant pauses, “well…”, and “umm…” on the initial inquiry, you’re setting a tough tone for the rest of the conversation. If you know the first question (which now you do), put your answer to memory and set the stage for an interview worth having. There’s a simple formula for how you can hit a bullseye on the first interview question: present ~ past ~ future. Think of it as an archer nocking the arrow, drawing back the bow, aiming at the target, and releasing the arrow.
Present
Start your answer with who you are, where you are, and what you’re currently doing. You can’t hit your intended target if you never load your proverbial arrow onto your bowstring. Let the search team know how your current position has prepared you for this new post. As you set the tone for your answer, ask yourself the following, “Why am I looking to leave for this new position?”
Past
The next movement of your answer should have you drawing back your life’s bow for experiences that help you aim at the target – that is, the job for which you’re interviewing. As you prepare to draw on your past work, compare your resume against the job description to tease out your proficiencies for the work ahead. Ask yourself, “What has prepared me for the work ahead?”
Future
Your current position and your past experiences have prepared you for the future and for this position. Convey your anticipation for the position by releasing your arrow toward the target. To hit a bullseye, you need to be clear about who you are, what gifts you bring, and how your values align with the organization, congregation, or company. As you formulate your response, ask yourself, “What parts of this new job resonate with me?”
Present + Past + Future = Winning Formula
Why am I looking to leave for this new position?
What has prepared me for the work ahead?
What parts of this new job resonate with me?
Practice your answer out loud to help you refine your response and cadence. Your answer should not exceed 60 seconds, so choose your words wisely. Consider “Tell us about you” as an obligatory question from the search team. If you spend too much time answering the first question, you won’t be able to spend ample time on more substantive questions that help everyone discern the best path forward. Hitting the bullseye on your first question will help you establish the mood for the rest of the interview and leave a lasting impression.
Let’s practice together. Send me a message with your answer to “What can you tell us about yourself?” and I will provide you some encouraging feed-forward. Seriously, message me your answer or leave it in the comments.