How to Answer, Tell Me About Yourself, in an Interview

How to Answer, Tell Me About Yourself, in an InterviewHow to Answer, Tell Me About Yourself, in an InterviewTell me about yourself. Its one of the most common (and tricky) job interview questions. Even so, many job seekers dont take the question seriously, thinking its just an icebreaker meant to put them at ease.But they should carefully consider their response, because tell me about yourself is more than a throwaway opener for most interviewers. When hiring managers pose this open-ended question, theyre hoping candidates will give them some insight as to why they think theyre a good fit for the job. Theyre also using it to learn about applicants priorities, which gives them a better sense of who each job candidate really is.And thats not all Interviewers also ask this question to judge how articulate and confident interviewees are, which in turn gives them a view of how new hires might present themselves to customers, clients and colleagues if they get the job.As a job seeker, know ing how to answer, tell me about yourself, gives you a great opportunity to spotlight the skills and experience that make you the ideal candidate for the job. And because its the question most hiring managers lead with, its also your way to start off on the right foot. Here are a few more job interview tips to help you nail your responseWhat you should not sayMany job candidates make the mistake of answering this question with talk of something personal - their family, kids or hobbies. Some even launch into their life story, starting with their hometown and continuing on through their college graduation.Alternately, others share descriptions of the problems in their current job, explaining that they applied for this sttte because their commute is horrible, their boss is a jerk or their employer wont allow them to work a flexible schedule.And some job seekers simply summarize their resume, going point-by-point through their work experience and education history.All three of these re sponses can quickly send your new-job dreams down the tubes. If you answer with either of the first two, hiring managers see a red flag - an indication that youre not that serious about the position or simply trying to escape a bad situation at your current job.And if you go with the third approach, youre throwing away an opportunity. You can assume the interviewers read your resume before inviting you in for the interview, and they dont need you to walk them through it. Theyd rather hear you highlight what makes you a greatfit for the job.SUBMIT YOUR RESUMECraft an elevator pitchThe best way of knowing how to answer, tell me about yourself, is to make sure you succinctly and clearly explain how youre qualified for this particular job and - just as important - why you want it. So before you start crafting your selling points, spend some time reviewing the job description in the recruitment ad for the position and researching the company. That way youll have a good understanding o f what the hiring manager is looking for as far as qualifications, experience and fit with the organizational culture.Next, prepare a short script that highlights the skills, strengths and expertise you have that make you especially qualified for this particularposition. Follow that with the reasons youre applying for the job, focusing on career-related motivations such as the desire to build your experience and take on added responsibilities. Conclude with a brief statement explaining why working for this specific company appeals to you.A strong sample answerHeres an example of an excellent response to tell me about yourself for a job seeker applying for a senior administrative assistant position with a clean-energy companyIve been working as an administrative assistant for three years. At my current job in the finance department of a midsize company, I handle scheduling, meeting and travel planning for four executives and 20 staff members. I also help prepare correspondence, prese ntations and reports.Im known for being a detail-oriented, well-organized team player. I never miss deadlines, Im a good communicator and I can juggle multiple tasks at once. In my performance reviews, my supervisor always notes that he appreciates my professionalism and enthusiasm for the job.With this experience under my belt, Im looking for an opportunity to take the next step in my career. Im hoping to do so in an organization like yours that works to improve the environment, which is something Im passionate about.A final word on how to answer, tell me about yourselfBe concise. Dont take up too much time with your response. You dont have to tell the hiring manager every single thing that makes you a good fit for the position. Just give a few important details that will spark their interest in learning more about you, and youll get the interview off to a strongstart.Related posts on interview questionsHow to Answer, Whats Your Expected Salary?How to Talk About Your Weaknesses in a Job InterviewBehavioral Interview Questions and How to Answer Them Tags