If there is one question that everyone who sits in an interview chair it is this one “Tell me about yourself.” You have spent a lifetime up to that point, so you have plenty to talk about, yet knowing what bits to choose and where to start is overwhelming.
Before we go any further, if your answer looks as if it will include where you were born, raised and went to school or college, there is a good chance your interviewer has already stopped listening.
It is true that the interviewer will want to get to know you, yet when they ask this question they are more interested in how you answer rather than what you are saying.
At this point, they are figuring out if you are the best candidate for the position or indeed in the running for a second interview. This point is where you have the arduous task of showing them that you are indeed the best candidate for the position.
Don’t Hurt Your Chances
To make sure you do not shoot off at a hundred miles per hour relaying all of your past life. The “tell me about yourself” question can be broken down into three parts.
- Begin with a condensed version of work history and make sure it is concise.
- You can then follow with a simplified summary of any specific achievements which might catch the interviewer’s attention.
Whatever the accomplishment, it should be easy to explain or illustrate, and it should have a bottom-line value for your prospective employer. - Three: Closing up your answer should highlight what direction you wish to go in your career, and what you are aiming to accomplish. This final part of the answer should also be geared toward the position that you are being interviewed for.
When you start to answer the question, you should show why you are an excellent candidate for the position rather than a broad overview of yourself with a few personal details thrown in.
While explaining the benefits, you will bring to the job; you will quickly brand yourself as a professional person. The employer or interviewer will see you are someone who understands the value of what they can give to the company.
Before You Get To the Interview
As this is such a common question to ask interviewees, it is worth doing some research and practice to make sure you are ready to answer the question.
A considerable number of interviewers throw this question in at the start and base the remainder of the interview on your response to that one question.
This preparation will not only lead you to come up with the best answer that you can reply with without overthinking, but it will also stop you from mentioning your hobbies that the interviewer has no concern of knowing at that point.
If you are asked this awkward question, you might notice it is unstructured. The interviewer will have done this on purpose to create a response form yourself and how you react.
Although you have done your research and practised your reply, there are still some things that will whizz through your head.
What type of worker and thinker are you?
Have you memorised the words off your resume and repeat them word for word?
Can you think on your feet or do you need clarification before taking action?
Which is the most important? Your needs or the company’s
Do you know the company’s values and what they do?
Do you fully understand what is required for the position you are interviewing for?
Will you answer with relevant professional information or will you reply with personal information?
What Sort Of First Impression Do You Leave On People?
Do you become confused and flabbergasted?
Are you confident and can you be articulate in your reply?
When you answer this question or any of them you need to make sure you reflect the fact you know all about the company’s values and needs. However, your tone should portray you as someone who is prepared, confident and can reply articulately.
It might be hard as you have practised over and over, yet trying not to sound robotic is a must. Even if you are of a nervous disposition, you can do it. When you seem as if you are only reciting words it can lead to an impression that is not too healthy.
Take a deep breath and talk naturally. If you make the odd mistake here and there that is ok, everyone is human, and it is much better you reply as natural as possible.