What to Say When Interviewers Say “Tell Me About Yourself…”
Photo by Mr Cup / Fabien Barral on Unsplash
Whether you’re gearing up for a pitch or applying for a job, presentations to new people usually start with the same opening question: “Tell me about yourself…” or “Why are you the right person for this job?” The person asking this question is likely looking to learn something about you, but it can be hard to summarize your many years on this planet into a 5 minute soundbite. So what should you say when this question comes up?
Mostly likely you’ve had many experiences you could share here. Do you give a summary of all of your work experience? Share an anecdote about why you love this work? Talk about the hopes you have for the position? The question can seem daunting at first, but don’t be intimidated. You know this question is coming, so prepare ahead of time and plan exactly what you’re going to say the next time this question is posed.
Instead of launching into a long-winded recitation of your work history, consider structuring your answer in a way that’s likely to highlight things the interviewer wants to hear. One way to organize your thoughts around your personal work history is by talking first about your present, then about the past and finally, paint a picture of your future. Here’s how you do it:
Your present: Start your answer by telling the interviewer what you are doing in your current role. If you have a recent accomplishment, share it. This will showcase your enthusiasm for work and let the listener know what is most important in your work life right now.
Your past: Once you’ve demonstrated what you’re currently working on, talk to the interviewer about what led you to that role. You don’t have to discuss your entire job history (so no need to mention babysitting in the 3rd grade unless it’s relevant to the gig) but you do want to show some linear progress. Try and tell the story in a way so that the listener understands the path you took that led you to the present job you just told them about.
Your future: Finally, segue into what you want to do next (hopefully this job that you’re interviewing for). Share why you think this position (and where it will lead you to in the future) is the best next step.
While there are many ways to answer this open-ended question, thinking about your answer ahead of time and creating a structure will make sure you’re prepared to answer it when it comes up. Approaching this question with a clear answer ending on why you want to work with the interviewer is a great way to showcase your organization and enthusiasm. If you’d like help developing your answers to interview questions or building out your story, book at discovery call with me here.