How to Answer the “Tell Me About Yourself” Question

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Have you ever ever questioned easy methods to reply the “inform me about your self” interview query? Readers had an ideal threadjack some time in the past, so we thought we’d spherical it up and add a few of our personal.

As a part of our normal interview recommendation, we’ve rounded up 5 things to always bring to interviews and how to deal with post-interview anxiety. Relying on the place you might be in your profession, you might need to try our best general interview tips, best on-campus interview tips, the best job application tips for mid-levels, or readers’ tips for women interviewing at high-level jobs.

The best way to Reply the “Inform Me About Your self” Interview Query

If the “inform me about your self” query is requested in the beginning of the interview, most readers agreed that that is the time to

• speak about skilled accomplishments in broad strokes
• assist clarify something uncommon on the resume

{associated: do you still apply even when you don’t meet the job requirements?}

Inform Them How Your Profession Historical past Means You’re a Nice Match for This Job

One commenter used Ask a Supervisor’s widespread “teapot analogy” to write down a steered script:

Over the previous decade I’ve been steadily advancing in teapot manufacturing, and at present supervising a staff of 20. Nevertheless, as a part of that position, I’ve began to grow to be conversant in the tea taste improvement discipline and need to transfer into that a part of the trade. I do know I’ll have some “studying the ropes” to do and in order that’s why I’m on this particular person contributor place now.

One other reader agreed, chiming in together with her personal script:

I’m a seasoned widget govt with 20 years of expertise in senior management roles. I’ve efficiently constructed new widget making strategic plans and scaled widget startups at X, Y, and Z corporations, rising income to $X (or no matter metrics you may simply summarize), which is why I’m enthusiastic about this position to launch your new widget manufacturing facility. All through my profession, I’ve realized that I actually excel when constructing and mentoring a staff, a talent that interprets to this position. I used to be completely satisfied to listen to from you and look ahead to additional exploring how my abilities and expertise could possibly be useful on this position, so thanks for reaching out.(assuming they reached out through LinkedIn) I used to be significantly impressed together with your firm’s focus/worth/success on X (insert one thing attention-grabbing from their web site) and wish to hear extra!

{associated: here’s how long your resume should be}

However: Maintain Your Reply Centered On The Most Essential Issues!

For instance, some readers famous that beginning chronologically in your resume isn’t a great use of time as a result of it isn’t memorable and even that informative.

Use the “WAT Methodology” to Reply the Query

One reader talked about Instagrammer apowermood, who has some nice recommendation involving what she calls the “WAT methodology” — W = what you do, A = accomplishments, T = tie-in to the interview. You’ll be able to see her full steered reply to the query here!

Use the Previous/Current/Future Methodology

One other reader steered giving one sentence concerning the previous, one concerning the current, and one concerning the future.

Use the Query to Clarify a Labyrinthine Profession Path

I even have an entire idea about what number of, many nice ladies have a form of twisted profession path with a number of totally different begins… and that’s OK! However in the event you’re feeling self aware about it in your resume, one reader had nice recommendations on easy methods to use the “Inform Me About Your self” query to clarify that profession path and the emotional/mental causes behind the profession adjustments and strikes.

Right here’s what she mentioned:

I principally undergo every step, ranging from faculty, and point out a fast factor that I did in every place plus the rationale why I made a change, and customise it to the particular person.

I used to be working at a consulting agency however wished to do one thing extra quantitative / work in a Particular Area so I went to grad college. If I do know the interviewer or firm has some connection to my faculty or grad college contact on that.

Point out virtually emotional causes – I wished to do a distinct kind of labor, I wished a much less intense surroundings in the identical discipline (everybody understands, that is advantageous and relatable to say), I wished to complete out a undertaking that I began. I try to tie issues to the present job, or simply what pursuits me within the job. I like drawback fixing, I like engaged on an enormous staff and NewCompany additionally has these groups like JobILoved had, I like working within the discipline and the variations that brings.

Nice recommendation!

Closely Customise This Reply To Your Interviewer, the Job Opening, or the Firm!

Because the scripts above reveals, there are a TON of the way to customise this reply for each job interview. This does contain plenty of analysis and preparation, however you need to be doing this a lot preparation for each job interview anyway.

{associated: 6 new rules for resumes you may not know}

What to Say If The Interviewer Desires to “Know One thing That Isn’t On the Resume” on the Finish of the Interview

It is a associated query, in some methods — the query will not be “inform me about your self,” however it could be “is there something about you that I ought to know that isn’t in your resume” or one thing like that… in that case, you may hopefully do a little bit of prep work earlier than the interview to determine which persona traits you need to spotlight — after which, provide you with tales (private or skilled!) that illustrate these traits.

As I’ve famous in earlier posts with interview advice (aww, again within the first few months of the weblog!),

Take into consideration which of your persona traits to focus on. Attempt to acknowledge what it’s about you that makes you an ideal catch for an employer. Are you inventive, an outside-the-box thinker? An incredible supervisor? Somebody who pulls groups collectively? These are the kinds of issues that received’t seem in your resume and may not even come up by your references.

Now, when you’ve recognized these traits, sift by your experiences to seek out examples of these traits in motion, as a result of exhibiting is all the time higher than telling relating to this stuff. Armed with two or three tales, you’ll be all set to casually drop them in while you interview. It’s an effective way to arrange for these questions you may’t put together for — (“What does your resume not inform me?”) — and it’s an effective way to sound clever and charming however not rehearsed.

Readers, what’s your finest recommendation on easy methods to reply the “inform me about your self” interview query? Do you’ve gotten any ideas we haven’t lined?

Inventory picture through Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio.