Acing the Interview Question, “Tell Me about Yourself”

by Jill Olsen, Head Editor, INALJ Nevada

Acing the Interview Question, “Tell Me about Yourself”

jill-olsenI don’t know about you, but I used to be unsure of how to answer the interview question, “Tell me about yourself.”

Now I’m happy to say I know exactly how to answer that question.

First, let me say that this open-ended question and how you answer it will tell the interviewer(s) a lot about you.  Bottom line – it is the perfect opportunity to sell yourself and how you can solve their problems and meet their needs.

Here are 3 ways to be sure you ace this question in an interview setting:

Research.  Learn everything you can about the job, the organization and the people you will be interviewing with.

Prepare.  Review your experience, skills and qualities and create a short 2-3 minute statement of how they relate to the position you are applying for.

Practice.  Yes, practice speaking your statement aloud (in front of a mirror or others).

Remember this is not the time to share your life story or ramble endlessly.  If you have done your homework, prepared and practiced you will present a confident, succinct overview of who you are, relevant work experience and accomplishments all while connecting the dots in how you will be able to succeed and solve their challenges.

Good luck, and remember to smile. 🙂