Several answers came across as long balls knocked right out of the park.  Still many responses to this question missed the target.  Focus was off.  Responses too literal.  Souls were bared leaving themselves completely unconnected to the position being sought [Tell me about yourself].    Responses were self-absorbing from a personal view not linked to company needs.  Probably the candidate put themselves in a hole from the opening question.  Their response may have resulted in being dropped from the selection process right away.

Do not give the employer reasons to eliminate you.  The employer obviously saw something of value if you are being interviewed.  Everybody has skills, value and talent.  It may be paid – it may not.  You might have been a volunteer.  You might be a stay at home parent.  Successful Interviewing is being able to demonstrate you can do the job.  Interviewing is a good time to forget what you what from the employer.  Huge salary, health benefits, vacation, paid schooling – it matters not.  Who cares? Not the employer. What you want makes no difference unless you are offered the position.  My suggestion is to find the nearest wastebasket and dump into it everything that you seek from an employer.  An effective interview is being able to focus on employers’ needs and demonstrate how you can fix the hole they are trying to plug.  you must be demonstrate you can hit the ground quickly.  Only when they offer you the position should you pull all of your wants from the wastebasket in order to state what you seek.  The time to negotiate is when you are offered the position.  What you want prior is irrelevant.

Success at an interview comes quickest when you provide clear examples to support your initial responses to the interview questions.  Job seekers who respond to an interview question by stating only “yes” will not be remembered as well as the candidate who states, ”Yes. At my last position I saved the company from having to reprint a 5,000 unit clerical error.”  Or, “Yes, for the past three years, I handled the annual awards banquet which served 1,500 attendees flawlessly. I was the volunteer coordinator of the program.”  It is responses like this that move you up at the interview.

Do not go into an interview without being aware of which skills are being sought.  Visualize the position.  Recognize how you fit.  You may not have worked as a cashier (or an analyst) but you certainly have errorless math skills and can make change without errors, or maybe your logic is unique and insightful and you have a unique ability to analyze and reason reaching decisive conclusions.  Another example is you may not have worked in an office however you are great on a computer, skilled on several software applications and am particularly good working with difficult people.  See?  There are lots of abilities, skills and talents you may possess.  Think about it for a minute. Can you speak and write well (Communication skills)? Did you enjoy digging deep into your assignments (research skills)?