“Tell Me About Yourself”: Answering the First Interview Question
Posted July 1, 2013 & filed under Interviewing
There is no question that is more open-ended during an interview than “tell me about yourself.” Interviewers ask this as an easy introduction to the conversation and really aren’t looking for any specific answer. It is essentially a hiring manager’s way of passing his turn and letting you make the first move. Because it asks something so personal of you there really is no right answer. However there are certain answers to avoid.
“Well, my last job was with…”
The last thing you want to do is jump right into your resume, regurgitating word for word the contents of your job history. If the hiring manager is even the slightest bit prepared for the interview you can be sure he or she has already read it. This is your first chance to set yourself apart from everyone else. Do not bore the hiring manager with the details of your career especially if they are already right in front of him or her.
“I was born in 1976 to a working class mother and father…”
The hiring manager is not asking for your life story, and chances are yours is not that interesting anyway. Unless you have a riveting tale about escaping from a war torn country or spending 5 years as a POW, all of which ties into how you got into this line of work, avoid giving a detailed synopsis of your life. Hiring managers are looking for a story that is unique and sets you apart, and you only have two to three minutes to tell it.
“I’m a Gemini who likes reading and long walks on the beach”
This answer is perfect if you are seated in a small café and the hiring manager is your next match in a speed-dating roundtable. Since you are most likely sitting in an office and the person across from you is conducting a job interview you may want to shy away from the steamy details of your social life. This question is meant to be an introductory paragraph to your job history, not an intimate peek inside of your social life.
“I’m a hard working team leader who is driven, loyal, and motivated to succeed!”
Have you seen this commercial before? I can guarantee you that the person interviewing you has. The above statement may be true, but there are two problems with it. 1) You can’t prove any of it, so the interviewer is stuck with nothing more than your word, and 2) It is the most generic way to answer a profoundly deep question.
There is an old adage in writing known as “show, don’t tell”. It is essential to show your skills through the challenges you have faced, your achievements, and your goals. Don’t list your soft skills like technical specs for a computer, demonstrate them through a compelling abstract of your career.
There are many pitfalls in answering the “tell me about yourself” interview question but there is a solid framework in which to answer it successfully. Next week will feature how to use The Three Act Structure to successfully tell a great story that summarizes your career and goals.
By Kevin Withers
