Sometimes the easiest questions are the hardest ones to answer. Many jobseekers spend hours preparing for very specific questions only to be undone by a few simple ones.
“Tell me about yourself” is one of the most common interview questions, and yet it’s one that often catches out even the best prepared interviewees. When you’ve spent hours getting ready to give highly detailed answers to really specific questions, it’s very easy to get thrown by a question, which, on the face of it, seems pretty basic.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that “Tell me about yourself” isn’t an important question, it is. Many interviewees falsely assume that the interviewer wants to hear their life story. They tell them about their hometown, their siblings, their kids, their hobbies, their favourite holiday destinations and so on and so on. Others just repeat their resume word-for-word without ever explaining why their previous jobs and qualifications are relevant to the job they’re interviewing for.
The interviewer isn’t likely to be impressed by either approach. Remember, they’ve already read your resume. They already know your work history. As for your life story, while it may build you some rapport with the interviewer, it’s not likely to be relevant at all to the role.
State your case
When an interviewer asks you “Tell me about yourself,” what they’re really asking you is “Tell me why you’re best qualified to do this job.” It’s an open invitation to state your case. Use it to explain how you’re the best candidate for the job. When you’re preparing your answer, have a thorough look at the job description to see what the interviewer is looking for. You should get a pretty good idea of how your qualifications, experience and personality fit with it.
Focus on the experiences, skills and qualifications that are most relevant to the job description, and are most likely to impress the interviewer. When preparing your answer, make sure to do the following:
1. Explain your relevant experiences
Look at the required skills in the job description and show how you have those skills. Ideally, you will have regularly used them in your most recent job, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to demonstrate them.
2. Talk up your successes
Remember, you need to state your case, so be sure to talk up your successes. Being as succinct as possible, tell the interviewer about specific cases when you have used your skills to achieve positive outcomes.
3. Back it up with facts and figures
Whenever possible, back yourself up with facts and figures. For example, if you made a lot of sales in your last job, don’t just say “I greatly increased sales” when you can say “I increased sales by 50%.” If you can’t give an exact figure, give an estimated one.
Keep in mind that the interviewer is likely to ask you “Tell me about yourself” early on. If you can deliver a succinct answer clearly, you will make a great first impression, which is sure to keep you front of mind when it comes time for the interviewer to make a decision.
