“ Tell me about yourself “ is their first question in a job interview. This question is challenging for many people who don’t know how to answer it. In this article, we provide solutions to answer this question effectively and tell you how to organize your conversations. Following these tips can leave a positive impression on your interviewer and increase your chances of being accepted and getting the job you want. Stay with us until the end of this article.
Why do interviewers want to tell you about yourself?
It is no coincidence that this question is asked in every job interview. “ Tell me about yourself “ is a common starting point for discussions, making the conversation easy for you and the interviewer. By asking this question, the interviewer gets a summary of your background and skills and can match your ability to the desired job position.
Interviewers will ask you to tell about yourself to check how you respond. The interviewer wants to assess whether you can communicate clearly and professionally. In continuing the conversation, depending on your answers, the interviewer will plan his next chain of questions to understand your abilities and work history better.
Personal development coaches believe that sometimes this question is asked to break the ice of the parties; They know you are dealing with anxiety and try to make it easier for you to talk. Important questions start after this question, but some other interviewers pay more attention to this question. How you manage the conversation, how you introduce yourself, and your ability to answer questions is essential to them, and based on that, they decide whether to hire you or not.
How many ways do they ask, “Tell me about yourself”?
Most of the time, the interviewer will ask you to tell about yourself, but they may ask you this question in other ways; for example, they will say to you :
- I have read your resume, but tell me more about yourself.
- Explain your resume to me.
- I would like to know more about your career path.
- Tell us a little more about your work history.
- describe yourself
- Say something about yourself that is not on your resume.
- Explain your personality.
- Tell us about your work experience in company x.
You should be prepared for this question and answer according to their request.
How to answer the question “Tell me about yourself”?
How you answer this question will determine your success in the interview. There are various ways to answer this question, and the way you choose depends on your past experiences; Definitely, the answer of a person who has just graduated is different from a manager with years of experience.
You must tell a great and captivating story about yourself in 2 minutes or less. You must have practiced this answer beforehand and know what issues you want to include. At the same time, you should express this answer by the atmosphere and conditions of the conversation so that it does not seem like a clichéd answer. Your answer should convince the interviewer that you are interested in this job and have the necessary skills to manage the situation. With the help of the following tips, you can prepare a comprehensive and robust answer to this question.
1. Do not underestimate the importance of the first encounter
The first encounter in a job interview is significant because it determines the atmosphere of the entire interview process. In the first few seconds of the meeting, an impression of you is formed in the interviewer’s mind. This impression will be based on your appearance, body language, and behavior. Based on his initial mindset, the interviewer will check your skills, competence, and personality.
If you can create a positive initial image in the interviewer’s mind, your chances of success in this employment test will increase. On the other hand, a negative impression makes the other party not have much desire to continue the conversation and ends the conversation very soon. At job interviews, dress appropriately, maintain eye contact, and speak confidently and enthusiastically. By doing this, you create a professional look for yourself. You also show the interviewer you are serious about the job and can manage the situation.
2. Describe your relevant experiences and achievements
When the interviewer asks you to “ tell me about yourself,” it lets you briefly explain why you’re a good fit for the position. You must use this opportunity in the best way! The interviewer wants to know whether you are suitable for this job, so you must convince him during the conversation that you add value to the company and that your employment will help the organization toward its goals. Presenting your recent work experience and adding your volunteer work, related training courses, and other occasions is better.
3. Make connections between your previous job and the new position
Before the interview, prepare yourself for the job description. Adjust your story according to your findings. Your words should be such that the person in front of you understands why you are interested in this job and what you will achieve for them. Tell me why you think you are suitable for this job and what practical abilities you have. This question is the best opportunity to share your goal directly and clearly with the interviewer.
If you are applying for a management position, explain how you can take on more responsibilities than your current job. If you are changing your field of work and do not have much experience in the new company, tell how your existing skills are helpful for the new job position. Finally, mention that you can learn quickly and adapt well to the conditions.
Your answer will create a mindset for the interviewer that may lead to your hiring, so you should say why you chose this company, what capabilities you have, and what value you will bring to the organization.
4. Answer in a specific format
Give your answer in a specific format that is clear and concise. This way, the interviewer better follows your speech’s general process and can ask you for the details he wants. There are two standard formulas for describing records:
- Present, past, future
- Past, present, and future
Both methods show your abilities and engage the interviewer with your story, but choosing one of these formats is better based on your personal experiences and the purpose of explaining your skills. For example, if your current job is related to the job description of the new job, start your report from the present tense. If you intend to change your field of work and your old experiences and learnings are more important than your current job, start from the past. In this way, you first state the critical points and then address your other abilities.
5. Focus on your strengths and abilities by giving examples
In job interviews, focus on your strengths and express them with examples. Describe examples of how you have used your abilities to achieve your goals. Focusing on details will attract the interviewer’s attention and increase your chances of success. When you describe your capabilities, quantify your results; For example, if you want to explain your ability to improve customer service, state your customer response rate instead of just stating that you have improved customer service. Say you have increased the quality of customer service by 10.15 % in three months. If you don’t have the exact information, estimate the actual amount.
6. Know your audience
In any conversation, make sure you understand who your audience is. You may talk to a member of the organization at any stage of the interview, and each of them will ask a question, “ Tell me about yourself “; You should not give the same answer every time.
Suppose you are talking to the HR manager for hire, and he does not know the details and job description of the position you are considering. In that case, it is better to focus on generalities and only express the main issues. If you are talking to your potential boss, you should be a little more technical and mention your specialized skills. If you are in front of higher-level managers in the last stage of your interview, note the company’s general goals and name a part of your abilities that will contribute to the company’s overall progress.
7. Show off your personality, but be professional
The “ tell me about yourself “ question aims to get to know you so that you can share your personality traits with the interviewer. Refer to hobbies that show your intellectual development and social participation. An interest in reading, music, and group sports and a desire to learn new skills show that you care about your discipline and strive for success. Express your interests in a professional and casual tone.
They ask the “ tell me about yourself “ question to get to know you better, but you don’t have to share personal issues in your life. In most cases, you don’t need to talk about the details of your hobbies, family relationships, and personal habits. Keep everything professional unless you are sure your issues will affect your hiring process. In this case, you can talk about it briefly. You don’t need to go into details in this part of your answer.
8. Speak with passion
Be professional but at the same time express your passion. If memory or an incident in your past made you interested in this job position, describe it briefly. You don’t have to go into detail, but if you want to succeed in the interview, you must be memorable. People don’t like talking to robots and hiring them! So tell me about your interest and reason for attending that interview.
If you are interested in the position you are applying for, express it in the interview. You can use this sentence: “ I am interested in x and y, which is why I am attracted to your company. “ Allow the interviewer to connect with you and understand your passion for working in the company.
9. Do not exaggerate
Don’t waste your time explaining every detail of your career path. You are not going to present your resume like a university thesis. Talking too much hurts your audience and makes them wonder if you will speak for 10 minutes whenever someone asks you a question.
Although there is no exact time to answer the “ Tell me about yourself ” question, be concise. Some coaches and recruiters say you should answer this question in 30 seconds, while others believe you should speak for 3-5 minutes. So you have to measure the situation yourself and adjust your conversation accordingly. If the other person is bored or distracted, keep your sentences short. If the other person’s attention is drawn to a part of your answer, it is worth expanding the topic a little more.
Remember that you don’t have to tell your whole life story; Think of your answer as a teaser that should pique the interviewer’s interest and give him a chance to ask you follow-up questions about the parts that interest him.
10. Practice, but don’t memorize
You know you’ll hear the “ tell me about yourself “ question in a job interview, so don’t wait until you encounter it for the first time. Before the interview, think about what you want to say and practice it out loud. You can record your voice and listen again after a few hours. Hearing your voice helps you understand whether your answer is clear and precise enough. Go beyond solo practice if you can. Ask a colleague, friend, or family member to listen to your response and react to it. With this, you can strengthen your sentences.
Repeated practice will empower you to be more confident when speaking. However, you should not memorize the sentences and express them word for word. You have to find a fine line between practice and memorization. Recruiters may expect young people and recent graduates to hold back their answers, but it’s considered unprofessional if you have long-term work experience. The interviewer should not notice that you have practiced too much and are parroting your answers. He should follow your story and be eager to continue the conversation.
11. be positive
If you were fired from your last job, now is not the best time to mention it. There is a right time and place for everything. Collecting everything to answer the “ Tell me about yourself “question is unnecessary. The more the interview time passes, the more comfortable you will become. So wait until they ask you a specific question about why you want to change your job and then explain it.
You must have heard often that you should not speak ill of your previous employer, so don’t forget this advice. Complaining about your last employer in a job interview will only damage your professional image. If your former boss was evil and had a problem with you, don’t mention it in the first conversation. Keep everything formal and professional, and talk about your past experiences in a positive light.
last word
Answering the “ Tell me about yourself “ question in a job interview can be challenging and nerve-wracking, but you can prepare for it in advance. If you have the proper preparation and mindset, this question is an opportunity to show your strengths and leave a positive impression on the interviewer.
Finally, remember that the “ Tell me about yourself “ question is just the beginning of the interview process. Consider it an opportunity and establish a good relationship with the interviewer. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and discuss the company and your interviewing role. With practice and the right approach, you can turn this daunting question into an opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and passion.
If this article was helpful to you, share it with your friends so that they appear more professional in their job interviews and their chances of acceptance increase.
