Answering "Tell Me About Yourself"
Updated: May 30
The "tell me about yourself" question is one of the most common interview questions. It's a great way for interviewers to get to know you and learn more about your background, skills, and experience. But how do you answer this question in a way that makes you stand out from the competition?
Here are a few tips:
Be prepared. Before your interview, take some time to think about what you want to say. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your career goals? What are you passionate about? Once you have a good understanding of yourself, you can start to put together a concise and well-organized answer.
Keep it brief. Your answer should be no more than two minutes long. Remember, the interviewer wants to get to know you, but they also have a lot of other candidates to interview. So make sure you get to the point and don't ramble.
Be specific. Don't just say that you're a hard worker or that you're good at your job. Give specific examples of your skills and accomplishments. This will show the interviewer that you're serious about the job and that you have the skills and experience they're looking for.
Be positive. Your answer should be positive and upbeat. Focus on your strengths and accomplishments, and avoid talking about your weaknesses or failures. The interviewer wants to hire someone who is confident and enthusiastic about the job.
Be yourself. Don't try to be someone you're not. The interviewer can tell if you're being fake, and it will only hurt your chances of getting the job. Be yourself, and let your personality shine through in your answer.
IF possible, answer the question like you are telling a story.
Here is an VERY basic example of an answer to the "tell me about yourself" question:
"Hi, my name is [your name]. I'm a recent graduate/status of [university/high school] with a degree/focus in [your major]. I'm passionate/intrigued about/by [field of interest], and I'm looking forward to starting my career/interning in this field. [List three strengths] I'm a hard worker, I'm good at problem-solving, and I'm always willing to learn new things. I'm confident that I have the skills and experience that you're looking for in a candidate, and I'm eager to contribute to your team."