A dog lover, wine connoisseur, and anime enthusiast. Under certain settings, all these three are excellent responses to the question, “tell me about yourself,” but you certainly wouldn’t say this when interviewing for a program manager position. So, what should you say when the interviewer asks this wildering question? Not to worry, in this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know regarding this open-ended question, from why it’s asked to how to answer this crucial interview question.
Why Do Interviewers Ask, “Tell Me About Yourself?”
Believe it or not, some interviewers are as nervous as the interviewees, particularly those with less hiring experience. Therefore, such recruiters ask this question to find their feet. Also, the responses to this interview question will establish the mood of the interview. Ultimately the aim of the question “tell me about yourself” is to help the interviewer learn more about you. Remember, while there’s plenty of information on your CV, it is only during interviews that the employer can make out your skills level, qualifications, and traits.
How to Respond to, “Tell Me About Yourself?”
How most candidates answer:
Boring, long, confusing and does not give the interviewer what they are wanting to here.
1. Follow the tried-and-tested formula
We recommend following this formula when giving your response to the “tell me about yourself question.”
Format: Present, past, future
Therefore it would be wise to start with your current position, providing a brief overview of your tasks and your most recent achievements. To boost your response, talk about a relevant past work experience that led you to where you are. Proceed by talking about your future career goals linking them to the job you’re currently interview for, and detailing why you are a good match for the position.
Note that, on some occasions, you may need to begin with a “past” experience if the present one doesn’t match the one you’re interviewing for, especially if you are doing a career changeover.
2. Give relevant responses
The general principle for responding to the “tell me about yourself” question is to say what the recruiter wants to hear. Remember, you are not the only candidate interviewing for this position. Therefore, we recommend giving a clear and brief response that will highlight your qualifications.
Also, your answer ought to show that you understand the company’s objectives. To get this right, you’ll need to scour the job posting and company’s website to learn how to tailor your response to the company’s goals. For instance, if it’s a tech business, determine whether the organization refers to itself as a marketplace or a tech hardware company.
3. Give professional answers
One mistake to avoid is giving out personal information to the recruiter. These include marital status and political affiliations. First, these responses are counterproductive. Secondly, such information is in no way a factor that can display your ability to excel in the job. We also recommend against mentioning hobbies unless they are related to the job.
4. Express your enthusiasm about the role and company
Remember, we asked you to keep it professional. But this wasn’t to caution against showing how enthusiastic you are about the position and the organization. Being passionate helps to engage the recruiters. Also, it distinguishes you from other candidates.
5. Be concise
While there’s no standard time for how long your response to “tell me about yourself,” should be, the answer certainly shouldn’t be a long one that forces the interviewer to interject. Experts recommend spending no more than a minute. When written down, your answer should total a few sentences.
You wouldn’t want to bore the recruiter, so we recommend only giving a highlight of your career. Also, avoid reciting your CV. Remember, the interviewer will use your responses to gauge how you would speak to clients and colleagues. Remember, this question is usually the first, which means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to infuse other skills into your different responses.
Remember to read the room while responding to this question. Use the interviewer’s expressions as a hint for when to stop or delve into a specific topic.
6. Practice
Practicing your answer not only builds your confidence but also prevents you from being caught off-guard. However, avoid cramming your response as it would only sound inauthentic. It would also make it challenging to infuse your passion for the job. While it is acceptable for fresh graduates to give rehearsed answers, it wouldn’t impress the interviewer if they are more experienced.
First, you should consider practicing alone. You may want to record your answer then play the recording to see if the responses sound authentic and relevant to you. Also, we recommend practicing it with a loved one or a mentor and listen to their feedback.
7. Understand your audience
There’s a high chance that you’ll go for several interviews throughout your career. While you may get this question during these different interviews, we certainly hope you base your answers on the role’s context. For instance, if the interviewer isn’t conversant with the role’s hard skills, it would be best to give general but relevant answers.
On the other hand, if the interviewer is your potential supervisor, you’ll want to expound on every statement. Again, if it’s someone from the leadership team, your best bet would be to mention why the company’s mission enthralls you.
8. Be positive
Your interview with a potential employer is your opportunity to make a first impression. Therefore, even if you were laid off from your latest job, it certainly wouldn’t be the ideal time to bring it up during the interview. Similar to a first date, it would be too early for such a conversation. Also, disparaging your last employer is a no-no. Doing this only gives the interviewer a reason to disqualify you for the job.
Template for answering “tell me about yourself”
Use this template to answer the tell me about yourself question. Instead of giving a long-winded response and boring the interview use this short guide to tell the interviewer what you can do for them.
Question: Tell me about yourself
Answer: I have _____ years of experience in _____, _____, _____, (fill in with experience relevant to the job).
Recently I have been ______
I’m known as someone who _____, _____, _____.
Takeaway
If you want to answer this crucial interview question correctly, you must note that it’s not only about what you say but also about how you respond. To answer with finesse, you must do your research on the role and the company. Remember to practice, practice, practice. Only then will you improve on your delivery and build confidence. Don’t let the lack of preparation prevent you from landing that dream job!