To be ready, those looking to make a career move have to be prepared to take advantage of networking and interview opportunities. That means being ready to answer the age-old request, "Tell Me About Yourself". Some in the industry call this a Two Minute Drill. Whatever the name, it is an important tool that every candidate should have prepared and ready to articulate at a moment's notice.

In an interview or networking meeting, we are almost always asked that question, "Tell me about yourself". Many people become nervous, intimidated, even scared at the thought of speaking concisely and interestingly about themselves. It seems some of us are almost embarrassed to speak about ourselves and go into a semi-coma when asked to do so. Others are too ready to speak up and begin to provide every detail about every event in their life, putting the listeners in their own coma. As with most things, the answer is somewhere in between, thus, the title "Two Minute Drill"

What this little prepared presentation is designed to do is keep your story brief, on target and full of the information most important to the interviewer. When putting together your own "Two Minute Drill", keep the following points in mind:

1. The content should flow from your education to your early work career but focus primarily on your most recent 3-5 years of work activity. Fully your two minutes should be on those most recent 3-5 years. Hiring mangers are interested in what you can do for them and they will pay closest attention to what you have accomplished recently. Don't dwell on events too far back in your career. Interviewers are more interested in who you are now and less in who you were.
2. Literally write out your "Two Minute Drill". See it on paper or on your PC screen. Make changes and adjustments like script, which it is.
3. Rehearse it with a close friend or family member. Take their advise on changes and refine your presentation.
4. Make sure you include two or three accomplishments that will be important to the interviewer. They want to know the impact of your work.
5. Get it down to TWO MINUTES. It's important that you actually can present yourself in two minutes. You will never give the presentation the same way twice. You know "your story" better than anyone and you, therefore, can ad lib. So, it doesn't have to be memorized. It's important to have the sequence of events in your mind and the high points that you want to make.
6. Stay on track. You will get interrupted during the presentation. It almost always happens. That's why you must rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse. At the end of and interruption (question, etc.), pick up your presentation and go on.
7. When you get the order, Shut Up! One of the toughest lessons a salesperson has to learn is to stop talking (selling) when they have the order. Interviewing is like selling, except you are the product. If the interviewer gives you a signal that he/she is comfortable with the discussion or that they have heard enough, take their lead and either move on or conclude the meeting.

   The key to a great "Two Minute Drill" presentation is preparation. Writing it out and rehearsing are the two most important steps. A famous actor was once asked if he ever got nervous going out on stage. He thought for a moment and replied, "No, I go the theater, I say the words, I take the money and I go home." That's because he was well rehearsed. Good luck!

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