During a job interview, the express request of your potential future employer to “talk about you” can put you in a difficult situation if you are not prepared for it. Finding a job, especially in a shaky economy, is worrying enough without adding the awkwardness of answering such a personal and open-ended question.
You may not really know how to respond to this request, because talking about yourself without having guidelines in mind is difficult. On the other hand, talking confidently about your successes can be much easier if you prepare in advance.
So here are our tips for formatting and giving your answers successfully.
Why do recruiters want you to tell them about yourself so much?
A motivational interview is about getting to know you. The recruiters’ “Tell me about yourself” is there to bridge the conversation between technical and behavioral questions.
The examiner wants to know if you are able to communicate clearly and professionally. If you stall the first time you are put in the hot seat, it will give the wrong impression. The recruiter hopes that the candidate can answer the question in a way that is natural and shows that he is prepared and interested in the interview. A good answer can help you stand out in a job interview.
If you are asked this question during a video or telephone interview, you may have your answers in front of you. If the interview takes place on site, you must be prepared to answer without consulting your notes.
There are other ways to ask this question
The request of the potential future employer “Tell me about yourself” can sometimes be formulated differently. For example :
- Tell me more about your background.
- I am interested in knowing more about you.
- Tell me about your work in this company.
- Can you tell me more about your experience?
- Tell me something that’s not on your resume.
Be prepared to answer any variation of this question, with a structured and prepared answer.
Precisely, how to respond well to the request “Tell me about yourself”?
There are many strategies to respond to this injunction. How you choose to structure your answer may depend on your previous experience. A fresh graduate will have a much different response than a director who has been in business for decades.
While it’s important to prepare your response, you still need to leave room for spontaneity and make sure it doesn’t look like it’s been over-rehearsed. Once you find the answer that best fits your experience, practice. Write down your answer so you can edit it, make sure it flows, and keep track of key points.
Whichever method you choose, be sure to link it to the position and company you are interviewing for. Your answer should convince your interviewer as well as possible that you are interested in the position.
The elements of your answer
Your answer should describe your current situation, your past work experience, why you are a good candidate for the job, and how you align with company values.
Current situation
Tell your interviewer about your current position and a recent significant accomplishment or positive feedback you’ve received. Avoid speaking negatively about your current job. The recruiter wants to know how your current position is similar to the one you are applying for.
If you’re a student, take the opportunity to talk about your relevant school experiences, such as classes you’ve taken, projects you’ve enjoyed, or internships.
Previous work experience
Your interviewer probably has your resume in front of them: don’t just tell them what they already know. His request is an opportunity to discuss your professional background and highlight areas related to your current position. Describe your past professional experience in descending or ascending chronological order.
If you have changed industries, explain why, for example, by telling a brief personal anecdote that demonstrates your passions or interests.
Your “why”
Why did you choose to apply for this job? State why you are the best candidate for this position. Take advantage of this moment to “sell” yourself to your interlocutor.
Explain how this position aligns with your personal career goals to show you’re willing to put in the effort to succeed.
Align and connect your goals, passions and strengths with the company and the role
Understand the company culture. If you and the company value teamwork or individual work, talk about it here. Don’t forget to mention if you have any other interests or skills you’ve worked on that make your application an asset to the company.
Know the general mission of the company to help you adapt your “why”. If you’re interviewing for an outdoor apparel company that values work-life balance, don’t say you like working nights and weekends to get your projects done…
How long should your answer be?
Remember that recruiters want to know more about your work experience and your personality. Answering this question in just a few sentences may seem lighthearted and talking for ten minutes is a red flag that you could do the same in a meeting!
Try to limit your answer to one or three minutes. Observe the person’s body language and feel free to expand on any part that seems to excite them.
Good advice on what to do and what not to do during this exercise
There are certain rules for speaking well about yourself in a motivational interview. Recruiters have expectations for how you answer that “tell me about yourself” question, and you shouldn’t deviate from them.
One of the most important and basic interview tips is to keep it professional. If you are too negative or if you talk too much about your private life, you are likely to disappoint.
things to do
To stay positive
No business is perfect. Talking negatively about other companies you’ve worked for can give the interviewer the impression that you won’t be happy in your potential new company either. If your interlocutor asks you why you left a job, keep it simple by answering, for example: “I was looking for a new challenge.”
Avoid making long-term plans
You wouldn’t talk about your plans a month from now on a private first date, so why do the same during a job interview? Rushing into conversations about future goals with the company may seem premature. Save these conversations for later stages of the interview process.
Know your audience
It is essential to find out in advance about the company you are interviewing with. You can tailor your answer by focusing on what fits the company culture. In order to be able to ask more relevant questions at the end of the interview.
Focus on examples you can quantify.
Saying you brought in new customers is fine, but saying you “increased website visits by 27% in one quarter” is far more meaningful and impressive. If you don’t know the exact numbers, make a realistic estimate.
Highlight your personality
Mentioning that you like quilting or playing chess is significant about the nature of your hobbies, it shows part of your personality. Your social activities and interactions like volunteering or playing on a softball team indicate that you are likeable and able to communicate well with others.
Things to avoid
be too personal
Avoid disclosing too much information about your private life. Talking about politics or religious affiliation, your marital status or your children could work against you. You would not want the examiner to choose a candidate based on the answers to any of these questions.
Systematically bring out your answers
Giving a ready-made, ready-made answer may seem inauthentic. Pick out a few of your main points and then expand. Systematically repeating the answers could even push you to make mistakes if you forget a few words and cannot find where you left off.
List your strengths without examples
Saying you’re good at teamwork doesn’t mean much without a supporting example. Add a sentence telling where you demonstrated each character trait you emphasize in your career.
Drown your interlocutor
Pick three or four strengths and stick to those. If you talk long and wide about yourself, you risk ruining the first impression of your interlocutor. Be brief, cordial and professional in order to arouse the interest of your interlocutor.
Present your CV point by point
The person giving you the motivational interview has already read your CV, so telling them exactly what it contains could make them lose interest… Instead, pick out the strengths that are most relevant to the position you are apply and add a few things you liked about each one.
Source: “ZDNet.com”