40 seconds: describe what you do in just three words

picture credit: bitzcelt

Can you describe what you do in just three words? Is it possible, or fair, to summarise ourselves so sharply?

These questions sprang to mind when I recalled the various job interviews I have observed, where candidates have been asked to suggest three words that their colleagues would use to describe them.

That question is used so often in selection interviews that both parties, interviewer and candidate, expect fairly trite, well-rehearsed answers – thereby diminishing the potential power of the question.

So perhaps we should substitute a new interview question: please describe what you do in three words…

You may think that question is both simplistic and challenging, but that duality is precisely what makes me think that it really is a very powerful question – incredibly valuable for the reflective insights and communicative skills that a properly considered answer will reveal.

Try it for size and think about how you would answer if asked this odd interview question. I think you will find it an interesting exercise.