Tell Me About Yourself

The purpose of this question is to quickly get to know you and establish whether you might be a good fit for the job. The interviewer does not want to know where you were born or the story of your childhood.

To best answer this question, you want to focus on your career-related abilities, achievements, and goals that are connected particularly to the job.

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Your first sentence should be an introduction to who you are professionally, an overview statement that shows off your strengths and gives a little sense of your personality too. This is not easy to do gracefully on the fly. It pays to prepare a bit in advance.

This question is an opportunity — an opening for you to set the tone of the job interview and emphasize the points that you most want this potential employer to know about you.

Don’t waste the opportunity by simply diving into a long recitation of your resume. This also isn’t the time to ramble on about hobbies and personal preferences. Instead, try a concise, enthusiastic response that summarizes your big-picture fit for the job.

Fundamentally, “Tell me about yourself” really boils down to “What do you want the interviewer to remember about you?” Answering this opening question effectively gives you the power to make a good first impression and structure the rest of the interview to your benefit.

• What are your primary selling points for this job? This could be number of years of experience in a particular industry or area of specialization. You might also highlight special training and technical skills here. Focus on the qualifications in the job description and how you meet and exceed the requirements.

• Why are you interested in this position right now? You can wrap up your answer by indicating why you are looking for a new challenge and why you feel this role is the best next step.

How to Prepare 

Before you ever go to an interview, you need to KNOW YOURSELF in terms of qualifications for the job and match for the company.

To know this, you should:
1. Carefully review the job description to note where you meet or exceed the requirements, and
2. Research the company, and
3. Identify, catalog, list, and review your expertise, strengths, and unique value, and
4. Practice, practice, practice so you sound natural and confident.

Then, you will be ready to put yourself in the employer’s shoes and emphasize what will make you stand out for the company and for the job.

Start with an overview sentence about who you are. Include what you consider your most impactful selling features. Imagine yourself as the product that the interviewer needs to be convinced to buy. Next, focus on personal qualities or skills that make you a good candidate, without listing them off. Follow that with relevant experience, training or technical skills, and how you meet or exceed the requirements of the position. Use the job description as your guide. You can finish off with a brief description of your current work situation and why this opportunity appeals to you.

Do’s:

• Outline the educational and career history which could be useful for the role

• Talk about the relevant skills and expertise you developed throughout your education and professional experience. And, you must also be able to support this part of your answer with measurable examples. 

• Mention achievements that relate to the position you are applying for

• Explain how the abilities and knowledge you gained can be leveraged to successfully satisfy the position’s requirements

• Discuss skills that fit the job duties. Explain how you gained these skills. Give examples and references.

• Talk about goals that show you are forward thinking

• Demonstrate that you want to build a stable career

• Describe what you are looking for in your next role and why this role appealed to you

• Mention and Explain how the company can help you achieve your goals

Don’ts:

• Reciting your resume: ell them something about yourself that a resume can’t. Go beyond the facts in your resume by highlighting why this path interested you. 

• Rambling or talking for too long: Keep your response clear and organized.

• Over-sharing: Stay away from overly personal responses or sharing interests or hobbies

• Anything negative: Avoid saying anything less than positive about former bosses, co-workers, or employers.

• Unprofessional behavior: Keep your language, demeanor, and stories safe for work.

Hiring managers want to know that you understand the rules of behavior in the workplace and that you have high ethical standards. Don’t share any anecdotes that demonstrate the opposite.