Vol 14 No 1 (2023)
Article

So, tell me about yourself: How Erving Goffman and symbolic interactionism help us answer a difficult job interview question

Josephine Choi
Athabasca University
Bio
Published July 26, 2022

Abstract

Applying the theories of Erving Goffman and symbolic interactionism, the author of this essay demonstrates how everyday experiences – such as a job interview and a train ride – can be understood through an interesting theoretical lens. This essay is structured around the trick version of a classic job interview question “tell me about yourself”. Three possible answers are then further analyzed using Erving Goffman and symbolic interactionism.