How to Answer “Tell me About Yourself” and Wow Employers!
Interviews are daunting – there’s no doubt! I’ve worked with hundreds of clients preparing for interviews, and the “Tell Me About Yourself” is the question that trips people up the most. It’s extremely open-ended, which is why employers love asking it! They want to see what you come up with. This is often the first question in the interview, and it can set the entire stage for what’s to come. So how can you nail this question and wow an employer at the start of the interview?
*Remember, Psychologically speaking – we remember most what we hear first and what we hear last!
Below, please see 3 proven strategies for answering this question confidently and powerfully.
Step 1 Build confidence by starting with the easy stuff
The moment you first start talking is when your nerves may be at their highest. The best way to build confidence is to start with what you know. Start the interview off by saying your name (this will help ensure they know how to pronounce it) where you’re from, and where you currently (or most recently) work. Please don’t assume that the employer remembers what’s on your resume. You can quickly run them through your most relevant experiences and accomplishments, and feel free to draw from volunteer and other involvements. Want the guide on the 5 must-do steps to interview with confidence? Check it out here!
Step 2 Reel in the employer by sharing your “why”
Consider what inspires you. What drew you to this job and to this field. If you’re transitioning jobs – even better! Please explain your “why” behind this change. People are drawn to our whys. They want to know what makes you tick and what makes you want to get up in the morning and excel! This “why” is what’s going to make the employer want to lean in and hear the rest of your message. Even if you don’t get asked the “Tell me about yourself” question, make sure to define your “why” and bring this into the conversation. It WILL be remembered and will set you apart. Need help defining your “why”? I’m happy to chat and help with this!
Step 3 Clearly Articulate Your Strengths
What’s your promise of value? What strengths can you offer us? Please feel free to draw on past experiences, and make sure these strengths are relevant to what you’re interviewing for. Want to learn more about this process? Check out our Udemy Course on branding yourself https://www.udemy.com/5-steps-to-brand-yourself-become-the-1-job-candidate/ and my previous blog post on Determining Your Power Strengths!
Bonus: Please share more about you and your interests! Feel free to throw in a few fun hobbies or interests, especially if they relate to the job. The Employer is a person, and he/she wants to get to know who YOU are. Maybe you’ll have a hobby or interest in common and it’ll strike a conversation. The truth is that people like to hire candidates they enjoy speaking and conversing with. Your skills and qualifications for the job are certainly important – but the personality “fit” is also a very large factor.
These strategies will help you start off the interview with confidence and leave employers excited to hear more. Remember that it’s all about dangling the carrot. You DON’T want to spend more than 2 minutes answering this question (and you also don’t want it to be under 45 seconds). Provide a good overview of who you are, while simply skimming the surface so that you’re not over-taking other questions the employer wants to ask.
Good luck, and happy interviewing!
Questions & Action Items:
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What is my “Why” for my career/field?
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How will I use these 3 proven strategies in my next interview?
