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The first question graduates are going to be asked in an interview…

There is one question that graduates are always asked in an interview. It is usually the first question. If you are prepared, there is a good chance your answer will help you ace the interview.

The question is… “Tell me about yourself.” (or similar wording)

This is not an invitation to tell the interviewer your life story. This is your opportunity to tell the interviewer:

Why you are there
What you know about the company
Why you feel you are perfectly suited for the job

If you think you can make up an answer on the spur of the moment…think again.

Your answer will probably be the first thing you say in the interview. Be prepared. Be impressive.

A well crafted answer, hitting all the points the interviewer needs to know will take planning and practise… Be ready for it.

If you cannot tell the interviewer about yourself, who can?

Next Read: 3 things every interviewer wants to know »

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markewicken: Mark Wicken is a marketing professional with over 30 years of advertising, communications and strategic planning experience within the retail and packaged goods industries. He has been a senior member of agency management teams with both account and brand management responsibilities. His strengths have always been on innovative thinking, solid organization and strong interpersonal skills. Starting in the advertising agency industry, Mark held senior account management positions at several multinational agencies including Leo Burnett, Foster, Caledon, Vickers & Benson and Saffer Advertising, and has been responsible for the management of accounts like IBM, McDonald’s, Esso and General Motors. Mark moved from his agency roles to the Client side and held the position of Divisional Vice President of Marketing for Domino’s Pizza International and Director of Marketing for KFC, Hardee’s and Sbarro restaurants in the Middle East. In 2002 he established The Mark Wicken Group, a business specializing in executive search, training and consulting within the marketing, advertising and communications industries. In addition to executive search, Mark has devoted much of his lifetime to teaching, education and youth development. He is President of MusicFest Canada ‘The Largest Annual Music Festival in North America’ and has been an instructor at the International Academy of Design and The Toronto Film School since 1998. Mark graduated from The University of Toronto, took post-graduate studies at Northwestern University, and is married with two sons.