When employers ask, “tell me about yourself,” in an interview, they usually want to hear about you as a professional. So the safest approach is to keep your answer work-related and share your career story, rather than personal details.
Full Answer
Mar 09, 2022 · How you respond to the “tell me about yourself” question can set the tone for the rest of the interview. Overall, when you practice your answer, you want to tell a great story about yourself that you can share in two minutes or less. In your response, do the following: 1. Mention past experiences and proven successes as they relate to the position.
“My opinion is that most hiring decisions are made in the first minute,” which includes your greeting, handshake, eye contact, and the first thing you say, which may very well be your response to “tell me about yourself.”
Sep 19, 2018 · Jot down notes on what you’d like to convey about yourself in your answer. Or better yet, practice your response for a friend or family member. “Be …
Jun 28, 2019 · Employers say, ‘Tell me about yourself’ to get a sense of your personality, skills and experience and determine whether they fit the needs of the job and the workplace culture. Answering this question is an opportunity for you to share why you think you are a great fit for the position. To prepare yourself for this response, research the company to learn more about its …
“When an interviewer asks that, they really mean tell me about yourself as it’s relevant to the position you’re applying for and this company. I think they’re giving you an opportunity to articulate succinctly why you have the right qualifications,” says Muse career coach Tina Wascovich.
A Simple Formula for Answering “Tell Me About Yourself” 1 Present: Talk a little bit about what your current role is, the scope of it, and perhaps a big recent accomplishment. 2 Past: Tell the interviewer how you got there and/or mention previous experience that’s relevant to the job and company you’re applying for. 3 Future: Segue into what you’re looking to do next and why you’re interested in this gig (and a great fit for it, too).
Stav is a senior editor and writer at The Muse, where she covers careers and work with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Before joining The Muse, Stav was a staff writer at Newsweek, and her work has also appeared in publications including The Atlantic, The Forward, and Newsday.
Lily Zhang, Manager of Graduate Student Professional Development at the MIT Media Lab and a writer for The Muse, recommends a simple and effective formula for structuring your response: present, past, future.
A top-notch answer for “Tell me about yourself”: 1 Conveys your skills, experience, and strengths relevant to the position and company, with a focus on past successes. 2 Clearly states how your current responsibilities and qualifications will add measurable value for the company. 3 Demonstrates that you did your research on the company and the interviewer (s). 4 Shows your passion for and interest in the specific position. 5 Builds on your resume and cover letter, rather than repeating them. 6 Is concise. 7 Is memorable and unique. No one likes a stock answer! 8 Ends on a positive note, with a summary of your current situation and what you’re looking for now.
All about you: the basics of a great response. Conveys your skills, experience, and strengths relevant to the position and company, with a focus on past successes. Clearly states how your current responsibilities and qualifications will add measurable value for the company.
1. “I have no experience.”. It’s the common catch-22 for students and new grads looking for internships and first jobs: You can’t get a job without experience, but you can’t get experience without a job. Not to worry; there are several ways to address this challenge.
Before we get into the do’s, don’ts, and nitty gritty, let’s look at some sample responses. Rachel Meyer, Director of Talent Management with Travelers Haven, provides this example of a great answer.
Joel Schwartzberg oversees executive communications for a major national nonprofit, is a professional presentation coach, and is the author of “ Get to the Point! Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter ” and “ The Language of Leadership: How to Engage and Inspire Your Team .”.
Practicing out loud is key because this is not a mental exercise; it is a physical one: you need your mind and mouth to work in concert to convey an idea.
If you have work experience, both options we’ve covered are very good, and it really depends on what you feel most comfortable with.
As a final tip – make sure you go practice everything you plan on saying when the interviewer asks, “what can you tell me about yourself?”
Many job candidates make the mistake of answering this question with talk of something personal. Some even launch into their life story, starting with their hometown and continuing on through their college graduation.
The best way of knowing how to answer, “tell me about yourself,” is to make sure you succinctly and clearly explain how you’re suited for this particular job and — just as important — why you want it.
Here’s an example of an excellent response to “tell me about yourself” for a job seeker applying for a senior administrative assistant position with a clean-energy company:
Be concise. Don’t take up too much time with your response. You don’t have to tell the hiring manager every single thing that you think makes you a great candidate. Just give a few important details that will spark their interest in learning more about you, and you’ll get the interview off to a strong start.