The 2-minute drill is an industry term for how you should respond to the interviewer’s opening statement: “So, tell me a little about yourself.” In short, it is a synopsis statement of your skills, experience, and achievements in the work environment.
Most people, when answering this question, often give a mundane answer that describes who they are and what they like to do, as well as providing personal information. The reason for this is because the candidate did not expect the question, or simply did not anticipate the question. Anyone who has been to a few interviews is familiar with this opening statement from an interviewer.
So why do interviewers use this statement so often when opening an interview? Reason is fundamental to human nature and etiquette. Most interviewers want the candidate to feel comfortable and at ease, and this is a gentle way to do it.
In reality, the interviewer doesn’t really want to know about you as much as he or she wants to know if you are a valid candidate for the open position. The opening statement is nothing more than an icebreaker. However, you need to take advantage of this and answer the real question about your suitability for the job.
Note that most interviewers are not proficient in this exercise. They are usually managers in their field who are quite skilled at management, but rarely trained in the fine art of interviewing. They usually know what they want in an employee, but they don’t know how to get the right information from the candidate. The 2-minute exercise helps you get over this hurdle and piques the interviewer’s interest from the get-go.
The 2-minute drill is a rehearsed statement that must be delivered unrehearsed. The statement should flow as if it were just a casual response. However, the content should be packed with demonstrable achievements backed by measurable data. Two minutes can seem like an eternity when you’re giving evidence of your worth. That is why this is not an easy task, but it is worth all the effort to do it effectively.
Here is a plan for the 2-minute exercise:
- Detail your skills, i.e. organization, communication, etc.
- Describe at least three accomplishments from your current job: a. What was the state before the achievement of it? B. What did you do to improve the state? against What was the measurable result?
- Weave the information into a well-constructed and concise statement. For example
“The current methodology for storing and retrieving data used an outdated Excel application. This method would not accommodate projected growth needs and required a time-consuming system for error recognition and correction..”
After researching alternative options in a database application and estimating the costs of switching, I was able to demonstrate to senior management that the database approach would be profitable and break even in less than 18 months.
The new system was explored and a comprehensive study completed, which I led. Results included programming time and cost, as well as an initiation schedule. Estimated operating cost savings exceed 21%, and storage availability, access, and retrieval are virtually unlimited. The break-even point actually came three months ahead of schedule.
The achievement described above takes less than 45 seconds to recite.
The achievement of the sample says a lot about this candidate. For example, the recognized candidate has a need beyond the normal scope of his job responsibilities and took steps to anticipate a future catastrophe. This demonstrates ownership of the job by the candidate.
The candidate not only recognized a potential problem, but took the initiative to resolve the problem in a professional manner by offering a workable solution. The solution was adopted, and the organization realized substantial savings in operating costs, as well as significant room for future expansion.
The 2 Minute Exercise requires a lot of thought in its creation and presentation. Pass the time, it’s worth it.