“Tell me about yourself.”  It’s probably the most common interview question there is. It sets the tone for the interview and interviewers use it to tell them A LOT about you.

And though it seems so straightforward, it’s one of the trickier questions to actually answer effectively. Which is why it can feel pretty intimidating!  

But, this question is also a great opportunity!  If handled correctly, your answer allows you to highlight areas you want to be the focus of your interview. Meaning, all of the ways that you’re amazing and why they can stop looking for anyone better.

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So, first let’s focus on WHAT NOT TO DO.

The main thing to remember here is DO NOT try to answer this question on the fly.  That will inevitably lead to rambling, awkward pauses, and failure to dazzle them with all of your relevant accomplishments.

Additional DON’Ts include:

— Don’t simply respond to the question with a recitation of your resume.  No need – they probably have it right in front of them! And the best interviewers have actually taken the time to review it in advance.

— Don’t dive into a discussion of your personal life.  While personal topics may come up at some point during the interview, now is not the time.  The Tell me about yourself question typically comes at the beginning of the interview as a professional ice breaker.  As the interview progresses, you’ll likely have a chance to get into softer topics.

— Don’t think that you will get a second chance during the interview to wow them with all your awesomeness.  Use the question as an opening to put all of your best skills on the table right up front.    

Now what TO DO.

Interpret the question as asking “Tell me how you’re the right fit for the job.” 

If you think about it this way, then it makes it easier to sift through what should be in and out of your answer.  

That way it’s clear they aren’t asking you about that thing you did in high school, or whether you are married and have kids.

Start with a super-fast summary of your relevant education.  And I don’t mean “I graduated college in X year, and completed graduate school in Y year.”  

Those facts are on your resume and the assumption is that you have the basic educational qualifications for the role.  No need to rehash those barebone facts. Unless, of course, you went to the same college and want to highlight it as a point of connection.  

But if the job description (or your broader research about the specific job and the role industry–wide) reveals that having a certain training or certification is preferred for the position, then make sure you highlight those.

Then dive into your relevant work experience.  

(You’ve probably already noticed the relevancy theme).  

The job description lays out all that they are looking for.  By time you walk into that conference room or hit Launch on that Zoom meeting, you should have thought through a point by point correlation between what they are looking for and what you have to offer.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that you need to be able to check off every single box in the job description.  

If you’ve been following me for a while, then you already know that I don’t think that having every single qualification is necessary.  

In fact, sometimes checking off every single box may mean that the role isn’t as exciting and challenging as you’d like.  (But that’s a topic for another post.)

But for every qualification included in the job description, you should have thought through what experience you have had in your career that satisfies it. And what you can say if they ask a question about a box you don’t check.

For those ideal qualifications you do have, craft a short, targeted narrative to make sure you highlight them.

If there are relevant, special skills that you have that aren’t expressly in the job description, but will make you stand out as a candidate, here’s where you will include those as well.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Then put it altogether and practice.  And then, practice it a little more until it doesn’t sound too rehearsed, if that makes sense.  

Ultimately, you want to so comfortable with the narrative that it flows naturally.  This is your own story, after all.

Additionally, projecting the right tone may require its own set of practice at first.  It’s important that you project positivity and passion in your answers.  

You may be looking for a new job because you hate everything about the one you have now. But you still need to be excited and upbeat when you are talking about your experiences.

Look in the mirror while you’re practicing.  Make it convincing and natural.

Conclusion

Now, there’s a slim chance that the Tell Me About Yourself question will be asked by your interviewer to learn more about you personally.  If that is the case, then they will make that clear after you’ve responded with the above.  

And no harm done.  You can still go on to tell him or her about your kid’s desire to be on the Voice (or is that just mine?), the bread-baking skills you developed during the pandemic, or that time you won the bronze as an Olympic downhill skier.  

Plus, you already let them know why you are the ideal candidate for the role!

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Now, if you’re struggling to even get interviews at all, it may be your resume.  Check to ensure your resume is fine-tuned with my helpful interview-generating resume template. You’ll also see tips I share with my high-achieving corporate women clients, so the template is worth a click!

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