How to Answer This Question Effectively
Interviewers ask this question to get a glimpse of who you are beyond your listed experiences. They want to understand your personality, values, and what drives you as a professional. Your answer should highlight qualities or experiences that reinforce why you’re a great fit for the role.
Here’s a structured approach to crafting a compelling response:
1. Choose a Story or Experience That Adds Value
Your response should reveal something that enhances your candidacy, such as:
✔ A challenge you overcame that shaped your professional mindset.
✔ A passion project, volunteering experience, or personal achievement.
✔ A skill, strength, or lesson learned that isn’t explicitly on your resume.
✔ A unique perspective, hobby, or side endeavor that demonstrates leadership, adaptability, or creativity.
2. Relate It to the Job You’re Applying For
While it doesn’t have to be directly related to your job title, the story should showcase a strength or quality that aligns with the company’s culture or job responsibilities.
3. Keep It Structured and Engaging
A great way to ensure clarity and impact is to use the STAR method:
- Situation: Set the context of the story.
- Task: Describe your role or responsibility.
- Action: Explain what you did and why.
- Result: Share the outcome and what you learned.
Sample Answers
✅ Leadership & Initiative
“One thing that’s not on my resume is that I took the initiative to start a mentorship program in my previous company. I noticed that many new hires, especially those fresh out of university, struggled with adapting to the company’s work culture and expectations. So, I proposed a structured mentorship program, pairing experienced employees with new hires. I worked with HR to formalize the initiative, created a simple tracking system, and conducted check-ins to measure its impact. As a result, employee retention among new hires improved by 30%, and we saw a significant increase in job satisfaction scores. This experience reinforced my belief in proactive leadership and problem-solving, skills that I believe are essential for success in this role.”
✅ Resilience & Problem-Solving
“Something not on my resume is that while pursuing my degree, I worked two jobs to support myself financially. I had to learn how to manage my time efficiently, juggle responsibilities, and stay focused on my long-term goals despite the challenges. This experience instilled in me a strong work ethic, resilience, and the ability to thrive under pressure—qualities that have helped me throughout my career. In my previous role, when faced with tight deadlines and unexpected changes, I drew on these skills to stay organized and find solutions rather than get overwhelmed. I believe that being able to adapt and push through challenges is a key asset in any professional environment, especially in a fast-paced role like this one.”
✅ Innovation & Impact
“One of the things I am most proud of, but isn’t on my resume, is a side project I worked on for a nonprofit organization. They were struggling with budgeting and financial forecasting, and I volunteered to help them optimize their financial reporting. Using simple data analytics tools and restructuring their reporting framework, I helped them improve budget accuracy by 40% and streamline their expense tracking. This experience not only allowed me to contribute my financial expertise to a cause I cared about, but it also reinforced my passion for using data-driven solutions to solve complex problems. That’s the kind of mindset and impact I bring to any organization I work with.”
✅ Passion & Work Ethic
“Beyond my professional career, one thing that isn’t on my resume is my deep passion for continuous learning. I make it a habit to read at least one book every month on leadership, business strategy, or industry trends. This has helped me stay ahead of changes in the market and continuously refine my skills. For example, when I transitioned into a leadership role, I took an online course on strategic decision-making and applied those principles to optimize my team’s performance. I believe that personal growth directly translates to professional excellence, and I bring that same mindset of self-improvement to my work every day.”
Key Takeaways
✔ Be Authentic – Choose a real experience that reflects who you are.
✔ Make It Relevant – Even if it’s not directly job-related, show how it adds value.
✔ Tell a Story – Structure your answer using the STAR method for clarity and engagement.
✔ Keep It Positive – Focus on lessons learned, growth, or impact.
