Tell Me About Yourself – A Good Answer to this Question
“Tell me about yourself” is one of the most popular interview questions and one that is usually the very first thing an interviewer will ask when you go for an interview according to runrex.com. However, even though it is one of the most common interview questions, and, therefore, interviewers know to expect it, it almost always takes them aback. It might seem like an easy question to answer as most of us like to think that we know all about ourselves, but answering this question in the context of a job interview can be more challenging than you might think. This article will look to help by highlighting tips on how to answer this question as well as giving examples of good answers to the same.
Formula to follow when answering the question
When answering the question, “Tell me about yourself”, the gurus over at guttulus.com recommend that you follow the following formula when it comes to structuring your response.
Present – start by talking a little bit about your current role and what it entails, its scope, and, perhaps, a big recent accomplishment.
Past – Then tell the interviewer how you got to where you are and/or mention a previous experience that is relevant to the job and company that you are applying for.
Future – Finally, pivot into what you are looking to do next and why you are interested in this position as well as why you are a great fit for it too.
As the subject matter experts over at runrex.com are quick to point out, this isn’t the only way to build your response, and you can tweak it as you see fit. However, whichever you choose to structure your response, make sure you ultimately tie it to the job and company you are applying for.
Tips for answering the question
If you have got an interview coming up, the following are additional tips to help you nail your answer for the common “Tell me about yourself” question.
Tailor your answer to the role and company
When an interviewer asks you this question, they are not looking for your entire life story, but are looking for you to tell them about yourself as pertains to the position that you are applying for and the company as per the experts over at guttulus.com. Therefore, you should tailor your answer to the role and company and make sure you tell your story in a way that makes it clear what you bring to the table that is in line with the company and role.
Keep your answer professional
An interview is a professional setting, which means that you are best served to keep your answer professional. According to discussions on the same over at runrex.com, in the US, when answering this question, you should avoid sharing personal details, which means avoiding talking about your hobbies and family, unless, of course, you know something specific about the company that would lead you to believe this would be a good idea.
Be passionate
Just because you are required to keep your answer professional doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be passionate when answering this question. As per discussions over at guttulus.com, injecting some passion into your answer will help you stand out from the other interviewees and make you memorable in the eyes of the interviewer.
Be brief
As articulated over at runrex.com, you also should avoid regurgitating every single detail of your career as this will only serve to bore the interviewer. Remember, your answer will also be showing the interviewer how you will be speaking in meetings with clients, co-workers, and bosses, which is why you should avoid rambling on when answering this question. While some people say keeping your answer to 30 seconds, others say that you should avoid going over 2 minutes. Whatever the length, make sure you keep your answer succinct.
Practice but don’t memorize
The last thing you want to do, according to guttulus.com, is waiting until you get to this question in a live interview to try out your answer for the first time. Prepare and think through what you want to convey about yourself ahead of each interview and then practice saying your answer out loud. A useful tip is leaving yourself a voicemail or recording your answer and then waiting for an hour or more before listening to it to give yourself some perspective and distance. You can then see if your answer sounds solid and credible to you when you finally play it back. You can also practice with other people and have them listen to your answer and give you their thoughts. However, avoid memorizing your answer as you want it to come out as authentic during the interview.
Know your audience
“Tell me about yourself” is a question that you will get in practically every interview you will attend, but that doesn’t mean that you have to give the same exact answer every time. Make sure you know who the interviewer is and what they are about so that you can craft your answer accordingly. For instance, if you are speaking to a recruiter who is not immersed in the hard skills of the team you would be joining, you might keep your answer more focused on the bigger picture, whereas if you are speaking to your prospective boss then you might get a little bit more technical as outlined over at runrex.com.
Be positive
You might be going into the interview on the back of having been fired or laid off from your last job. According to the gurus over at guttulus.com, if this is the case, you shouldn’t mention this fact when answering this question. Wait for the interview to progress as you will eventually get asked why you are looking to change jobs or why you have a gap in your resume for you to address why you were laid off or fired. As this is the first thing you will tell the interviewer, keep your answer positive, which also means avoiding badmouthing your previous employer.
Make a good first impression
Finally, remember that you will only have one chance to make a first impression, and you should make it count. As covered over at runrex.com, this includes when answering this question as if you show that you were prepared for this question, then you will have started on the right footing and will have given yourself a solid foundation on which to build your interview, increasing your chances of a positive outcome.
Sample answers to the question, “Tell me about yourself”
If you are wondering how a good answer to this question actually looks and sounds like, the following examples by the gurus over at runrex.com and guttulus.com should be of great help to you.
Well, I’m currently an account executive at RunRex, where I Handle our top-performing client. Before that, I worked at an agency where I was on three different major national healthcare brands, and while I really enjoyed the work that I did, I would love the chance to dig in much deeper with one specific healthcare company, which is why I’m so excited about this opportunity with Axis Health Center.I have been in the marketing industry for over ten years, primarily working in account and project management roles. I most recently worked as a senior PM for a large tech company managing large marketing campaigns and overseeing other project managers, and now I’m looking to expand my experience across different industries, including fintech, which is why I’m extremely interested in joining an agency like yours.
Hopefully, the above discussion will help you prepare for your interview and know how to go about things as far as answering the question, “Tell me about yourself” is concerned. There is more on this topic as well as help with your interview preparations over at the top-rated runrex.com and guttulus.com.