How to answer tell me about yourself ✅

How to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself" in Interviews

June 10, 2023

8 min read

Chinaza Blessing

Career Coach

"One of the most frequent interview questions is "Tell me about yourself," but many applicants find it difficult to provide a strong response. You have the chance to make a good first impression and establish the tone for the remainder of the interview with this open-ended inquiry. We'll go over how to format your response in detail in this article, along with what to include (and what not to), as well as examples you may modify for your next interview.

Reasons Interviewers Pose This Question

Understanding why interviewers pose this question helps you to shape your response. They don't want your personal information or life narrative. Rather, they are:

Evaluate your capacity to arrange ideas and your communication abilities.

Quickly learn about your professional background

Consider how your background fits the role.

Measure your excitement and personal fit.

Pro Tip

Your response should be brief (1-2 minutes maximum) and geared to the unique job. Consider it as your professional elevator pitch.

The Best Format for Your Answer

To create an engaging response, adhere to this tried-and-true format:

1

Current Role

Give a brief overview of your current role, emphasising the duties and accomplishments that are most pertinent to the job for which you are applying.

2

Previous Experience

Highlight 2-3 important positions or experiences that illustrate your suitability for this position. Concentrate on transferable skills and demonstrable results.

3

Education/Skills

Mention any relevant schooling or credentials, particularly if you are just starting out in your field. Instead, for seasoned experts, focus on core competencies.

4

Why This Role

Connect your background to the post and communicate your excitement for the chance. Demonstrate that you have researched the firm.

Example Answer

"Currently, I work as a marketing coordinator at XYZ Company, where I oversee our social media channels and email marketing initiatives. Over the last two years, I've raised our Instagram following by 150% and email open rates by 30% by A/B testing various subject lines. Previously, I worked as a content creator at ABC Agency, where I created SEO-optimized blog posts that raised organic traffic by 40% for our clients. I also interned at DEF Magazine, helping with their digital marketing strategy. I have a bachelor's degree in communications, with an emphasis on digital media. What fascinates me about this marketing specialist position at your company is the ability to use my content development and analytics talents to assist build your brand's presence, especially given your innovative approach to customer engagement."

Do's and Don'ts

Do:

• Maintain professionalism (focus on work/education).
• Adapt your response to the particular job.
• Highlight relevant achievements using metrics
• Try to sound natural, not rehearsed.
• Finish by outlining your reasons for wanting this position.

Don't:

• Provide personal details, such as your marital status and interests.
• Go into extensive detail about your early career.
• Recite your whole CV chronologically.
• Talk for more than two minutes.
• Forget to connect with the current opportunity.

Tailoring for various career stages

For Recent Graduates:

Concentrate on your schooling, applicable coursework, internships, and transferable abilities. Example: "I recently graduated from University X with a degree in Business Administration, where I honed my analytical talents in courses such as Statistics and Financial Accounting. My internship at Company Y provided me with hands-on expertise in market research and data analysis, which I'm eager to employ in this analyst position."

For Career Changers:

Highlight transferable abilities and explain your motivation for the change. For example, "I've spent the last five years working in sales, where I've honed my client connection abilities and consistently exceeded expectations. My interest in data analytics began when I was in charge of our CRM system and analysed sales figures. I've since finished SQL and Python certification training, and I'm now looking for a data analyst position where I can apply both my technical abilities and customer insights experience."

Final Thoughts

Mastering your response to "Tell me about yourself" offers you control of the interview's first impression. Remember, this isn't about telling your life story; it's about delivering a short, compelling narrative that links your background to the opportunity at hand.

Practise your response till it feels natural and not memorised. Time yourself to ensure it lasts 1-2 minutes. With proper preparation, you'll be able to enter each interview with confidence and set yourself up for success.

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