I. Introduction
No matter how many interviews you’ve been to in your professional career, you’re probably still dreading one of the staples of job interview questions 一 “So tell me about yourself.”
This is a broad, open-ended question that interviewers love. Don’t be scared of it, thinking there’s one correct answer to it. There isn’t. In fact, there are plenty of good answers to this question. However, if you suddenly forget all of them when you’re in the spotlight, that’s normal.
That’s why you must have the answer at the ready. Don’t come up with it on the spot or go into the interview thinking you can wing it. You can, but it will probably cost you.
So, the one question everyone dreads in the interview is “Tell me a little about yourself.” Here’s our complete guide about how to answer it like a pro!
Pro Tip
The interviewer doesn’t care about your childhood, your hopes, and dreams, or your thoughts. They want to hear what you’re all about and see if you’re a good cultural fit for the company.
II. The Significance of the Tell Me About Yourself Question
If you’re at the very beginning of your job search and you haven’t been to many interviews in the past, let me enlighten you. Every single interviewer will ask you to tell them about yourself in one form or another.
This question is a grand opening, and it’s definitely a conversation starter. Who doesn’t like talking about themselves, right? The hiring manager wants to hear your story so they can assess whether you’d be a great fit for the team and the company as a whole. They are also looking to get to know you.
Always remember that this question is your chance to leave a great first impression. So, don’t waste it.
➤ How the Interviewers Can Ask It
- I’d love to hear more about your past experiences.
- I see on your resume that you just graduated. So tell me about your journey so far.
- Walk me through your background.
These are just some examples of how an interviewer might ask you to tell them more about yourself. Either way, the goal is the same. The interviewer wants to hear more about who you are as a potential worker, how you came to be where you are, and what your plans are.
“Tell me about yourself” is a conversation starter but also a great opportunity for you to wow the hiring managers and leave a great first impression.
III. How to Answer Tell Me About Yourself
When it comes to answering this question, the solution is simple. First of all, make sure you avoid the things you shouldn’t say. Your personal affairs are exactly that — personal. So, make sure you keep them that way. The hiring manager doesn’t want to know intimate details about you.
Furthermore, they also don’t want to hear your entire life story. So, don’t monologue about your hometown, your elementary school aspirations, or your personal relationships, etc. Of course, also don’t badmouth your previous position and employer. That’s tacky, and it’s a red flag that says a lot about you as a worker.
OK, so, now that we know what to avoid, let’s see what should actually go into answering this dreaded question.
➤ Plan and Practice Your Answer
Never go into the interview unprepared. Researching the company and preparing sample answers for common questions should be on your to-do list. So, since you know that the hiring manager will most likely ask you to tell them about yourself, prepare your answer in advance.
But how?
➤ Go for the Elevator Pitch
The best option is to go for the elevator pitch. You don’t really have a lot of time to answer this question, as the hiring manager probably has many other questions for you. So, you have to make sure you say everything you want to say concisely.
So, draft an elevator pitch before the interview. Make sure it highlights all your best achievements and traits, and skills you have that would make you a great employee.
➤ Highlight Why You’re a Good Fit for Them
The goal isn’t to make the hiring manager know you’re a great worker but to assure them that you’re the perfect candidate for that exact job. So, you need to make sure your answer to this question includes not only your areas of expertise and skills but also all the strengths that are a good fit for the job.
➤ Mention Traits and Skills That Fit With the Company
Before you craft your elevator pitch, do your research. Look at the job description and see what the company is actually looking for. Which skills do they mention? Do some of your experiences fit well with their demands? If so, mention them as soon as you can. Craft your pitch precisely, so it includes everything that matters to you and to them.
Important
Always make sure to connect your experience, skills, and interests to the job you’re applying to. A general answer that you can apply to every interview won’t get you any points.
IV. Is There a Magical Formula? YES!
Now, to come up with the perfect answer to the “Tell me about yourself” question, all you have to do is follow a simple recipe. Well, actually, there are two different ways to follow the same recipe. They are:
- Past, present, future
- Present, past, future
These formulas have to do with how you format your answer. So, you can either start in the past (by telling the interviewer of your past experiences and how they shaped you into the worker that you are today) or in the present (by telling the interviewer about your current or most recent role).
Both formulas work equally well. However, think about your past experiences and current role. Which one better highlights the skills and attributes you have that the hiring manager is looking for? Once you answer that, you’ll also know which formula to use.
No matter which formula you chose, make sure you mention:
- All major achievements and how they (and, by extension, you) contributed to the company’s bottom line.
- The responsibilities and duties you had in the past and how those prepared you for the role you’re applying for.
- All your most significant strengths and skills that are a good fit for the job you’re applying to. Don’t forget to follow each skill and strength with an example of how you applied them in your past.
- Your personality. You shouldn’t talk about personal matters in an interview, but you should actually tell the interviewer about yourself. So, mention hobbies, interests, and personal achievements.
Now, this is all well and good, but let’s see some actual examples of right (and wrong) answers and how you can tailor them to fit your needs (and the job you’re applying for).
➤ The Right Answers
“I’ve graduated with honors at The University with a degree in Economics. I’ve immediately sought work in the companies I’ve previously interned for and landed a great opportunity in The Company. There, I honed my skills and got invaluable experience while fulfilling my role of The Role. The upper management was impressed with my achievements, given that I’ve increased quarterly revenue by 13% in the first year, so I climbed the corporate ladder and landed two promotions.”
This is an excellent start because it says a bit about your background without going into too much detail. It also mentions your biggest achievement and the rewards your previous company gave you for them.
“I started my career in management 12 years ago, when I got my first promotion to a supervisor. For the past 12 years, I’ve managed to ensure my teams got the support and help they needed to be the top performers I always knew they were. With this kind of experience under my belt, I’m looking to make good use of my leadership and communication skills in a big organization. I’m passionate about increasing efficiency and improving the work environment, and I think these passions would be a good fit for a company like yours.”
That was another example of stating your biggest achievements while highlighting how you joining the team could benefit the company you’re interviewing for.
➤ The Wrong Answers
“I grew up in upstate New York and spent my childhood dreaming of becoming an astronaut. Those plans didn’t exactly pan out, even though I won first place on science fairs several times. I later dreamed about becoming a police officer, but in light of recent events with police brutality, I’m glad this dream never became a reality.”
The previous example is wrong on all accounts. Not only is it going into too many details from the past (that don’t really matter), but it’s also stating personal opinions and mentions politically controversial topics. It’s fine to have those opinions, but a job interview is not where you want to discuss them.
“I’ve worked as a sales agent for five years and, even though I never actually wanted to go into sales, the job kind of fell in my lap, and I figured I must be good at it considering that I got many promotions.”
This might seem like the perfect “humblebrag,” but it actually tells the hiring manager that you aren’t motivated or sure of yourself.
Pro Tip
When answering this question, always follow the formulas:
- Past, present, future
- Present, past, future
V. Extra Tips
As I mentioned at the very start, answering “Tell me something about yourself” is not easy. So, I prepared some extra tips that you should keep in mind while you’re crafting your perfect answer.
- This is your first impression; make use of it 一 in other words, don’t waste a perfectly good opportunity to impress the person you’re speaking to. They are looking for a specific candidate. Show them that’s you.
- Choose the right starting point 一 the past is a vast concept. If you have a lot of experience, it might be difficult to pick a starting point. Think of your greatest achievements and start from there. Not all roles you had in the past are equally important.
- Don’t wander off; stick to work experiences 一 talking about yourself can be a slippery slope, so make sure you don’t wander into insignificant subjects.
- Keep it professional 一 a job interview is a professional setting, so keep it that way.
- Tailor each answer 一 each answer you give in an interview needs to be relevant to the position you’re applying to. This is tricky to do, especially if you’re switching careers.
- Don’t recite your resume 一 this is a given. There’s a specific part of the “So tell me more about yourself” question that you won’t hear (but it’s still there). The full question is, “Tell me something about yourself that I can’t read on your resume.”
- Don’t drag it out 一 your answer should be concise. If you go on and on about yourself, the interviewer will lose interest.
- Don’t sound like a recording 一 practice your answer but don’t memorize it by heart. If you do, you’ll sound like a (bad) recording.
Key Takeaways
- Your answer to the question, “Tell me something about yourself,” is the only chance you have at making a first impression.
- Answer the question by telling the hiring manager who you are, why you’re there, and why they need to hire you. Of course, do it in a subtle way.
- Highlight your vital achievements and skills that can benefit the company and that are a good fit for the role you’re applying for.
- Always mention your current situation (your current role, why you’ve applied for the job, what you’re looking for in the future, etc.).
- Everything you mention in your answer should be work-related and professional.
- That’s not to say you shouldn’t show passion. Just make sure it’s a job-related passion (or at least a passion that’s transferable).
- Don’t recite your resume or waste time mentioning anything that the hiring manager can read on your resume. Instead, take the little time you have to tell them something new.
Do you have the perfect answer to the question “Tell me something about yourself?” Did you find my tips helpful? Generally speaking, this is one of the most challenging questions you can get in a job interview. That’s why it’s vital that you have a great answer at the ready.
Hopefully, this article will help you make one that will blow the hiring managers away. If you found my tips helpful, I’d love to hear all about it! And, if you have some insider knowledge and know more tips on how to answer “So tell me about yourself” in a job interview, help us all out and leave it in a message down below!
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