How to Tackle the Dreaded “Tell Me About Yourself” Question

Open-ended questions like “Tell me about yourself” can offer you a golden opportunity to discuss your fit for a role. However, it can also induce a long list of irrelevant personal anecdotes due to a lack of preparation.

Recruiters usually ask this question at the beginning of an interview to have a feel for who you are and to put you at ease, albeit having the opposite effect. Here are some tips that can help you tackle this popular ice-breaker question with confidence and kick-start the interview in a memorable way.

Summarise how you got to where you are

There’s no need to launch into a word-for-word recount of your CV unless you want to bore the recruiter to tears. Instead, try to briefly summarise who you are professionally.

As a recent graduate, you can explain why you chose to study your degree. You can also mention your volunteering or academic projects. For example: “I’m a recent graduate in Marketing with 6 months of experience in social media management for my Gaming society on campus.”

Pepper in some key skills you’ve gained that could be useful to the recruiter. It’s important to stay relevant, so don’t mention your nannying responsibilities in an entry-level Marketing interview.

If you don’t have related experience, focus on your transferable skills: “My 2 years of experience working in retail have taught me a great deal about customer service and problem-solving. I polished my communication skills, learned to work under pressure and managed conflict, which I am keen make full use of in my next role.”

Mention any personal achievements

Remember, you’re trying to set yourself apart from other candidates, not winning a humility contest. Past achievements don’t always have to leave your interviewer’s mouth wide open with awe. But the goal is to make them feel like you can add some value to their company. Think about any improvements or creative solutions you’ve suggested in your past roles which can be applicable to the new role.

Briefly discuss your hobbies and interests

Discussing hobbies can add a bit of personality to your answer. Plus, it’s a good way to stand out and be remembered. You could mention a creative hobby, which denotes lateral thinking skills or you could mention your participation in team sports, which shows that you are comfortable with team-working and have a competitive spirit.

Be smart with what you pick: watching TV or walking your dog will most likely fail to impress your interviewer.

Why do you want the position?

Finish off your answer with what drew you to the role. The interviewer will want to know what you’re hoping to achieve from this particular job. Does this position align with your career aspirations? Is it their reputation in your field? Perhaps you know that their employees are passionate leader experts and you can’t wait to learn from them? Reiterate your interest in the position enthusiastically in words and through your body language.

Remember, the recruiter wants a quick 360-degree perspective of who you are, not an autobiography! Keep it concise, preferably 60 to 90 seconds, as you’ll have more opportunities to discuss your profile later on in the interview.

When preparing your highlights, ask yourself whether what you plan on saying is relevant to the employer and showcases your ability to deliver in the role. The interviewer wants to know whether you will be a good fit and how you can help the company achieve its objectives.

Good luck!

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