JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: "Tell me about yourself?" How to answer this question.

Author: S. Gordon-Jeffery

This is the question that has many job seekers worried and afraid to answer. Before I am able to help you with answering this question, I have to explain why it is important to the employer to ask it. 

In recent times this question, "tell me about yourself?", has become more popular as it gives the employer/recruiter insight into your skills/abilities, experience, but also who you are as a person!  

The question gives insight into: 

• You abilities (skills and qualifications)
• Your work experience relative of course to the position you are applying for.
• It also reveals how well you communicate information (how you get your points across)
• It reveals your personality - while it does show the employer whether or not you have the requisite technical skills to fit the position it also reveals how you see yourself and gives a glimpse of your personality (example; cheerful, cautious, personable or reserved, etc.) Yes personality traits may also determine if the employer sees you as the perfect fit for the position and also the work environment you may be placed in. 

All this information your prospective employer needs to know! 

I suggest then that you use this question to your advantage rather than hold negative views about it. Instead approach it as an opportunity to highlight your strengths (relative to the position, of course) and to give focus to the qualifications that make you the perfect fit and helps you stand out during the interview process.

Note well that this question may also be presented in other ways such as, “Who really is Marcia?”, “Tell me more about you?”, or “Give us an insight into your background?”. Whatever the presentation, the interviewer's intent is the same. He/she is looking for strong indications that:

1. You can do the job (person to job fit)
2. You will fit into the organisation (person/personality-organisation fit)
3. There are accomplishments you can speak of which substantiate your claim to being the right person for the job
4. You have what it takes to help the organisation achieve its goals

Please do not answer this question by telling your life story or only present a list of personal attributes. Also, there is no need to restate your name --the interviewer already knows that. If in the past your response was along the line of Jane Smith's answer below, it's time to re-consider.

“Well, as you know, my name is Jane Smith. I live in Manchester but I'm originally from a district in Clarendon called Gimme-mi-bit. I am kind, compassionate, eager to learn, highly motivated, a team player and I can hit the ground running. I love to cook and make pastry. And later in the future I would like to own my own catering company.”

Your response to “Tell me about yourself” is your 30- to 45-second commercial or elevator sales pitch that will have the employer interested in learning more about you and that will assure him/her that inviting you to interview was a good decision after all. The golden rules to responding well are:

1. Focus on what interests the employer
2. Highlight your most significant accomplishments
3. Don't make a long speech

I am also recommending a three-step approach to constructing your personal commercial/elevator sales pitch.

Tell who you are professionally
What is most impressive about you as a potential employee. Do not give too much detail or a chronology of all your experience and accomplishments. Instead, highlight what is most impressive about you as a professional. It's okay to make reference to how your competencies/skills are being applied at your current job. For good measure, mention personality traits that may have direct bearing on the position you are seeking.

Say why you are qualified
Highlight two to four of your accomplishments that will convince the interviewer that you are the perfect fit. This could be a classic reverse chronological summary of your accomplishments in your last two positions. Again, bear in mind relevance to the position.

Clearly state why you are there (at the interview)
Express enthusiastic interest in the position. In one or two sentences, show that you are fully aware of the company's needs and that you are more than prepared to help them meet those needs.

Even as you follow the golden rules and the three-step approach, try not to sound rehearsed as you respond. Your confidence, enthusiasm and true personality must shine through for the message itself to be convincing.

I wish you all the best on your job hunt journey!