The first time I was asked this question, it really threw me off. For a split second, I wasn’t sure what angle to take or if the interviewer was expecting me to belt out my whole life story. That’s the point. This open-ended question automatically puts the candidate in defensive mode.

You’ll learn firsthand how your candidate reacts under pressure and how well they can articulate on their feet. Everything else you gain from this question is a bonus, and can range from what someone wants out of their career to how they explain their transitions between past roles. Ask follow up questions accordingly.