In an interview, one of the most critical questions that an interviewer may ask is “tell me about yourself”.
It is important to answer this question in a way that is beneficial to you and increases your chances of getting the job you are applying for.
There are three common types of questions that you may encounter:
- Professional Experience: Depending on your level of experience, you should share your previous job experiences.
If you are a novice, you could say anything that you think would be relevant for the job. You may also provide a scope of your educational capabilities and strengths or any of your hobbies, etc. - Education: You should talk about your educational qualifications and any other relevant courses that you took.
- Personal Details: You may provide any other personal details that you choose to share.
Effective Responses to “Tell Me About Yourself”
This article provides tips and examples on how to answer the common interview question, “tell me about yourself” effectively.
The article also discusses how to answer the follow-up question, “tell me more about yourself,” with useful tips.
The main takeaway is to focus on the interviewer’s needs, highlight your strengths, and provide relevant information in a brief and memorable way to increase your chances of success.
Read on.
4 Basic Tips for Answering the Question Effectively
To answer the question effectively, there are four tips that you should follow:
- Be clear, precise, and honest.
- Keep it relevant: Try to give as much information as possible in the least amount of time. Don’t provide irrelevant information.
- Don’t repeat information from your resume as they have already read it.
- Don’t disclose too much information – Stick to the basics and avoid sharing personal details that are not relevant to the job.
Also, be prepared to answer further questions about any facts and figures that you have provided.
Make sure that you provide relevant proof if asked.
1.) Focusing on Your Professional Background
To start, you should focus on the interviewer’s perspective and consider what they are hoping to learn about you.
You may want to start by discussing your employment history, rather than beginning with details about your education.
If the interviewer would like you to go back to your first job, it is better to focus on the highlights of your career and discuss your current position or your last place of employment.
2.) Focus on What they Want to Hear
It is important to keep the focus on what the interviewer wants to hear, rather than answering the question in a way that does not address their needs.
A better response to the question would be “What part of my career would you prefer I discuss?”
This answer allows the interviewer to choose a specific area to focus on and provides you with an opportunity to highlight your qualifications.
3.) Talking about your Professional Experience
When answering the question, it is essential to provide specific examples of your experience and how it is relevant to the position you are applying for.
For instance, you might say –
“I’ve been interested in building things since childhood, so becoming an architect was no surprise. I’ve been with XYZ firm for many years and designed a high-rise featured in Modern Design. I also solved the issue of the hospital addition being unable to continue construction due to an ancient burial ground by creating a design that took the building up and around the area.”
On the other hand, a response like “My name is Joe, and I was born in a small town in North Dakota that’s home to 400 people.” does not provide relevant information that is useful for the interviewer.
In conclusion, when asked to talk about yourself in an interview, it is important to focus on the interviewer’s needs and highlight your strengths. Practicing at home before the interview is an excellent way to be prepared and put your best foot forward.
Remember, a good answer will set the tone for the rest of the interview and increase your chances of success.
4.) How to Answer “Tell me More About Yourself”
The initial question in a job interview is usually “Tell me about yourself”.
This is a chance for you to introduce yourself and present your professional profile in a positive way.
However, if the interviewer then asks you to tell them “More” about yourself usually at the end of the interview, they are likely looking for more specific information about your strengths and what sets you apart from other candidates.
When you’re in an interview, it’s likely that you’ll be asked the question, “Tell me a bit more about yourself.”
This is a crucial question as the difference between answering it well and poorly can determine whether you get the job.
Useful Tips for Answering “Tell me More About Yourself”
This is your chance to showcase your strengths and present yourself in a positive light.
To help you answer this question effectively, here are some useful tips:
1. Be Yourself – It’s important to answer the question with enthusiasm.
2. Promote Yourself – This question presents an opportunity to sell yourself as the best candidate for the job.
Highlight your skills and experience that make you a good fit for the position.
3. Highlight What You Can Do for the Company – Instead of talking about personal matters, focus on what will interest the interviewer.
Highlight a few of your key accomplishments and how they relate to the job.
4. Be Brief and to the Point – Don’t drone on and put your interviewer to sleep. Keep your answer brief and to the point.
Your goal is to pique the interviewer’s interest and make them wonder what more you’re capable of and how you could become an asset to the company.
5. Be Memorable – Make your answers memorable by telling short and to-the-point stories of how you achieved specific goals in your current position, even against tough odds.
This shows that you’re a tenacious individual who is highly motivated and can think on your feet.
6. Be Prepared – Just like you would practice for a theater production, practice your answers for your audition with the company.
The more you practice, the more effective your answer will be. You can even rewrite your script and fine-tune your answer by practicing.
Practice speaking slowly and articulating what you’re saying to make sure your answer is clear and concise.
How to Answer
To answer this question effectively it is important to avoid discussing personal matters and instead focus on your professional strengths.
Many candidates will simply repeat their experience, skills, and qualifications, but this is not enough to make you stand out from the crowd.
Instead, you should provide examples to back up your claims. For example –
- Instead of saying “I am a motivated person and have a track record of delivering results”, you could say “I am motivated because I have taken many professional courses throughout my career in IT.
- I have good leadership skills because I was the only manager last year to receive a bonus, as confirmed by my reference.
- I have a track record of delivering results, such as handling large-scale projects and budgets of x $.”
By providing specific examples, you make your speech more credible and memorable. Remember that generalized statements about yourself will not make you stand out from the other candidates. Instead, real achievements and factual examples are what will differentiate you and make you a strong candidate for the position.
Remember, answering the question “Tell me a bit about yourself” can effectively make or break your chances of getting the job.
Use these tips to help you present yourself in the best light and stand out from the competition.