<ul><li>Starting with something personal like family or hobbies, or launching into your life story.</li><li>Sharing the problems with your current job.</li><li>Summarizing your resume, point-by-point. Assume that your interviewers read your resume before inviting you in for the interview.</li></ul>

What you should not say

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

Craft an elevator pitch

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.

Your purpose to the question

"Tell me about yourself." It's one of the most common (and tricky) job interview questions. Even so, many job seekers don't take the question seriously, thinking it's just an icebreaker meant to put them at ease. But they should carefully consider their response, because "tell me about yourself" is more than a throwaway opener for most interviewers.

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How to Answer, 'Tell Me About Yourself,' in a Job Interview

<ul><li>Who you are. Your introductory sentence is about who you are as a professional, an overview statement about your strengths, and showing a little of your personality. </li><li>Expertise Highlights. Briefly highlight 2-4 points that you think make you stand out.</li><li>Why You’re Here. End by telling them you want the position and why. Be concise and positive.</li></ul>

The Big Interview Formula

<div>You need a short summary of yourself as a job candidate. Keep it focused, ideally less than a minute, and no more than two minutes.</div><ul><li>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.</li><li>Explain why you are interested in this position. </li></ul>

Your elevator pitch

<ul><li>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.</li><li>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.</li><li>This is not the time to talk about all your personal details. Focus on who you are as a professional.</li><li>Because this question can be interpreted in many ways, do not be overwhelmed by it. Delve right in with your prepared answers.</li></ul>

How Not to Answer

When the interviewer asks you, “Tell me about yourself”, he is hoping this question will get you talking. It will give him a first impression of you, and set the tone for the interview. He wants to establish if you can be a good fit.This is a good opportunity for you to highlight the points that you want this potential employer to know about you.

The Interviewer’s Perspective

There are some job interview questions that are guaranteed to come up in most (if not all) of your job interviews - regardless of your industry, your experience level, and job type. At the top of this list is the universal and much-dreaded classic: "Tell me about yourself."

Pamela Skillings

At this point, you are just a face with a name and one of many candidates.  Refrain from repeating what is on your resume or telling your life story. It might become more important to expand later if you prove to be a viable candidate.

“Tell me about yourself”

<ul><li>Highlight the most important aspects of your resume. </li><li>Mention a passion that shows that you’re a self-starter. This is a great chance to display your quirks and interests in order to connect with the interviewer.</li><li>End with why you’re here in the first place. You want the interviewer to think, “Wow, I really think this might be the one.”</li></ul>

Leave an indelible mark

You get the long-awaited call from the recruiter. Finally, you think. You set up the interview. The day of the appointment arrives. Hopped up on coffee, you locate the building. Inside the office, you shake hands with your interviewer, hoping you don't get points deducted for sweaty palms. You're seated now, back straight, presenting a facsimile of your personality.

"So, Tell Me About Yourself"

This is a simple formula to construct your response.<ul><li>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).</li><li>Reference how you got to where you are (you could mention education, or an important experience, internship or volunteer experience).</li><li>Finish by describing a probable goal for the future.</li></ul>

The “present-past-future” formula

<ul><li>Move from personal to professional. After sharing a few interesting personal aspects, mention some key professional skills that would help you to add value.</li><li>Share your expertise which would help you to excel in the job for which you are interviewing.</li><li>Be brief. Be more specific about your strengths as the interview unfolds.</li><li>Be honest.</li></ul>

Tips for Giving the Best Answer

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.

How to Answer the Question

<ul><li>Don’t share too much or too little information. </li><li>Avoid potentially contentious subjects.</li><li>Don’t talk about a hobby that might seem to be more important to you than your career.</li><li>Avoid sharing personal information about your family.</li></ul>

What Not to Say

Interviewers ask questions like "tell me about yourself "  to determine if you're qualified to do the work and if you will fit in with the team.

The reason for the question

Interviewers will sometimes start an interview with an open-ended question like, "Tell me about yourself." This question is a way to break the ice and make you feel more comfortable during the interview process. However, some people might find this - and other interview questions about you - slightly stressful.

Tips for Answering Tell Me About Yourself at an Interview

This introductory question serves as an icebreaker to lend an easy flow to the conversation. It helps the recruiter to get to know you in terms of hard and soft skills.It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate that you can communicate clearly and effectively.

Why Interviewers Ask to Say Smth about Yourself

<ul><li>Present: Talk a little bit about what your current role is, the scope of it, and possibly a recent achievement.</li><li>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.</li><li>Future: Continue with what you’re looking to do next and why you’re interested in this job.</li></ul>You do not have to respond in this order. Tweak it to suit you. Make sure to tie it to the job and company.

How to Present Yourslelf

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.

Tailor Your Answer to the Question about Yourself

Keep It Professional: This isn’t the time to talk about your family and hobbies unless you believe that it would be relevant.Share Your Passion: Tell your story from a passionate perspective, even if that touches on the personal territory.Be Concise: Think of it as a teaser that should attract the interviewer’s interest. Give them a chance to ask follow-up questions about whatever intrigues them most. Know Your Audience: Are you talking to a recruiter or a prospective boss. Keep It Positive: Do not speak bad about your previous employer. It is a big turn-off.

Checklist for answering the About You Question

I always wondered why I am being asked this one on all interviews

When Muse career coach Theresa Merrill does mock interviews with her clients, she always leads with, "Tell me about yourself." It's good practice because that's often the very first thing an interviewer will ask you to do-whether you're having a preliminary phone screen, speaking to your prospective boss, or sitting down with the CEO during a final round.

How to Answer, 'Tell Me About Yourself,' in a Job Interview

Pamela Skillings

"So, Tell Me About Yourself"

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

Tips for Answering Tell Me About Yourself at an Interview

CURATED BY

How to Answer, 'Tell Me About Yourself,' in a Job Interview

Pamela Skillings

"So, Tell Me About Yourself"

It's time to Read like a Pro.

Tips for Answering Tell Me About Yourself at an Interview

CURATED BY

It's time to
Read like a Pro.