Confirm with everyone

If you feel there is fog ahead of you due to opacity in the interview process and the multiple rounds, you can simply ask the next steps of the process and the timeline for a decision.

If you think the employer has an elongated set of rounds ahead, request to consolidate them if possible.

Instead of bluffing your way through a question that you are completely stumped with, it is better to be upfront and handle it with honesty and grace. Tell them straight away that you do not know the answer to this question and what similar things you have done which have been effective.

Your life experiences are unique and not identical to what the interviewer is trying to ‘slot’ you into.

• Spend some time reviewing the job description in the recruitment ad for the position and research the company.
• Prepare a short script that highlights the skills, strengths and expertise you have that make you especially qualified for this particular position. 
• Explain the reasons you’re applying for this particular job. Focus on career-related motivations.

Your purpose to the question "tell me about yourself" is to give just enough details of yourself to spark the interest of the interviewer.

Answering this question gives you a great opportunity to spotlight the skills and experience that make you the ideal candidate for the job.

It might be a good idea to share something about yourself that is doesn't relate directly to your career. 

For example, interests like running might represent that you are healthy and energetic. Pursuits like being an avid reader might showcase your intellectual leaning. Volunteer work will demonstrate your commitment to the welfare of your community.

This is a simple formula to construct your response.

• Start with a short overview of where you are now (which could include your current job along with a reference to a personal hobby or passion).
• Reference how you got to where you are (you could mention education, or an important experience, internship or volunteer experience).
• Finish by describing a probable goal for the future.

"Tell me about yourself" doesn’t mean “give me your complete history from birth until today.”  It doesn’t even mean “walk me through your work history.” It means “give me a brief overview of who you are as a professional.”

Interviewers who ask this question are generally looking to get a broad overview of how you see yourself, as a sort of introduction or an icebreaker before starting to dive into the specifics. 

• Summarize where you are in your career, note anything distinctive about how you approach your work and end with a bit about what you’re looking for next.
• Your answer only needs to be about 1 minute long.
• Don’t drag yourself. This isn’t the time to explain you were fired from your last job or to confess your difficulties finding the right career path.
• Keep your focus professional, not personal.

• Prepare a brief summary of the high points of each of your past positions, but do not turn it into a very long monologue that makes the interviewer glaze over with information overload.
• You do not have to brag, but don't rely on the interviewer to see past your humble exterior and figure out how great you are. Find a way to present yourself to your full advantage.
• This is not the time to talk about all your personal details. Focus on who you are as a professional.
• Because this question can be interpreted in many ways, do not be overwhelmed by it. Delve right in with your prepared answers.

• Address what your primary selling points are for this job. The number of years of experience or special skill.  Focus on the qualifications in the job description and how you meet and exceed it.
• Explain why you are interested in this position. 

First, research the role and the company to make sure you understand what teamwork looks like at this particular organization.

Then, consider how you can best contribute to a team.

• Stick With Recent Examples: Relaying outdated examples don't usually grab attention.
• Blow Your Own Horn: Pick an experience that shows how you contributed to a team that achieved spectacular results.
• Consider Relevance: Choose an example that's most relevant to the company you're interviewing with.
• Add Value: Select an example that demonstrates your added strengths.
• Focus Your Response: Highlight your story in bullet point form.

• Present: Talk a little bit about what your current role is, the scope of it, and possibly a recent achievement.
• Past: Tell the interviewer how you got there and/or mention a past experience that’s relevant to the job and company you’re applying for.
• Future: Continue with what you’re looking to do next and why you’re interested in this job.

Interviewers want to know how your answer about yourself is relevant to the position and company you’re applying for.

This is an opportunity to articulate why you’re interested and how your objective fulfills their goals. In order to do that, spend some time researching the company. If your answers resonate with them, it shows that you really understand the role.

Have an introduction and a concise story to tell about your work history. Stack questions are mostly inappropriate here but you can ask the following:

Prepare well for this. At the end of the meeting, they should ask if you have questions and you can ask as many as you need to help you decide to work there or not. You can use that to build rapport if the interview was a little off.