Generally talking about yourself in an interview is so much more difficult than being asked a specific question. This ‘Tell me about yourself’ question is given to see how you handle general and open-ended questions that focus on the “big picture†of the interview, meaning who you are as a person, what you have to gain, and what you have to offer.
While it may seem to be a simple interview question for a job or educational endeavor, it is not always so easily answered. The question can also be the deciding point in whether or not your interview goes any further. It is the one key question you should always be prepared to answer adequately. Follow this expert advice below to perform well in your interview.
Do
Do prepare for this question ahead of time
The average person who goes to an interview wants to be asked specific questions, which they can answer directly. They want to be prompted and feel secure that they are answering the question properly. When asked the ‘Tell me about yourself’ question, there is no prompting or correct answer. It is all about how you process the question, formulate your own guidelines for answering the question, and deliver the answer in the most personable way possible.
Go into the interview expecting this question and having already prepared your answer. This way, you can look the interviewer directly in the eye, be at ease, and communicate with positive energy.
Do know your key accomplishments
You are not just going to interview for a job or to get into an educational establishment. You are marketing yourself just the way you would a product. Due to this newly-commercialized marketing world, think of this question as an advertisement that people will look at to decide if you have what they want.
As you provide key accomplishments, be ready with short anecdotal stories to support this information. No one wants to hear of someone’s success or accomplishment without understanding the struggle and journey it took for you to accomplish the task, and what you learned and gained from it all.
Do include your passions and interests
Especially share your passions and interests that demonstrate your ability to be creative, be resourceful, and show leadership potential. Talk about your background in art, music, sports, acting, nature, engineering, writing, etc., and the extent of your accomplishments in these areas. Focus on leadership roles in your area of expertise and how you developed and promoted your own projects.
Do include a problem that you have solved
Share a situation where you were faced with a problem in the real world and solved it. Succinctly explain what the problem was, how you felt about it, how you solved it, and what you learned from it. If you don’t have a solved problem you could share, you could include a philosophical statement if it fits into your well organized statement.
Do know a great deal about the company’s background
You’re interviewing for a company, academic institution, or educational endeavor, so shouldn’t you know as much as you can about it? On top of learning about everything you can, prepare one or two good questions to ask the interviewer. It will show that you’re not only their to market yourself and look good, but have a genuine interest in the company, institution, or program that you’re interviewing for, and that you want to genuinely contribute toward its goals.
Don't
Do not use the memoir format
For example: I was born in Chicago, Illinois and have three brothers and sisters. Saying something to this effect does not answer the question directly with prioritized information.
Do not hesitate
Be prepared to answer this question. Write out the answer, but don’t memorize nor read your interviewer the content. Practice, going over your answer many times, before your interview.
Do not ramble on
When nervous—or unprepared—it’s easy to ramble on about unrelated activities that do not have a direct relationship to the type of position you are seeking, to the schooling you want, or to the “big picture†of this interview. It is better for the answer to be shorter, than too long.
Do not end on a downbeat or non-dynamic conclusion
As in all writing or speaking, you need an attention-grabbing beginning, a competent middle, and a strong finish. After interviewing numerous students with potential employers, I have found that what the employers are looking for is what they call the “Wow Factor.†When a person gets through talking, they want the interviewer to be left speechless, with nothing more to say than, “Wow!â€
