How to Answer Tell Me About Yourself In An Interview

How to Answer Tell Me About Yourself In An Interview So, tell me about yourself, your bewerbungsgesprcher says over the phone. Its an age-old question but you think to yourself, Um, everything? My last job? What I do for fun? What exactly does this person want to hear?Answering the dreaded and extremely open-ended bewerberinterview question can leave you hanging with your jaw open. But before you allow an awkward silence to take over, have a game plan for how to answer this common interview question in a confident and strategic way. Think of this as an opportunity in your job interview to give an elevator pitch in your response andhighlight the skillsand work experience you have that are a good fit for the job description.How to Answer Tell Me About Yourself1. Start with a description that can apply to both your professional and personal self.Use a simple phrase or sentence that captures the essence of who you are professionally. For instance, you might say, I like to think of myself as a relationship engineer.2. Discuss your strengths.Share your most recent accomplishments, as long as they align with the job for which youre interviewing. For example, explain, I connect graduates with top technology companies like STATS LLC and ReviewTrackers while helping them achieve their short and long-term goals.3. Continue with specifics on what you can bring to the table.Job seekers need to stand out in a crowded field to a hiring manager. A sample answer might highlight your passion and skills I truly enjoy getting to know graduates as well as companies and helping them find their technical direction, so Im very excited about bringing those strengths and interests of mine to this role.4. Use examples of current projects.Go on to discuss something specific that youre working on right now. For example Currently, Im organizing a morning hiring event and personally inviting top tech companies in the Chicagoland area to attend.Tips for Acing This Question Dont regurgitate yo ur resume.At first thought, you think you should point to the highlights on your resume or discuss every goal you reached in each of your prior positions. But Im going to suggest you donot do that. Nine times out of 10, the hiring manager or recruiter will have your resume in front of them during a job interviewor theyve read it minutes before your discussion. Dont be too humble.Remember This is an opportunity to brag a little. That doesnt mean you should exaggerate or show the interviewer that you have a huge ego, but you shouldnt minimize your accomplishments, either. Use concrete examples.Pepper your response with examples of things you did or ways you improved your company. If you can quantify your experience with figures and numbers, that will only make it stronger. Adjust your response according to the scenario.In a phone interview, keep your response short and sweet. In a face-to-face interview, you can expand a bit. Youll also be able to gauge your interviewers reaction, so you can tell whether shes responding well to your answer or appears bored. (If she looks bored, find a way to wrap it up gracefully.)Examples of Responses to Tell Me About Yourself.Example 1 Over the phoneAs an award-winning salesperson, I consider myself a relationship-builder first and foremost. Over the years at X company, Ive maintained a strong sales record, winning X and retaining X number of accounts.Example 2 In personMarketing is truly my passion. Over the years, Ive climbed the ranks at X company due to my passion for launching creative ad campaigns and developing innovative ways to gain new clients and build relationships with existing ones. For example, my social media campaign for Y product increased our following by Z percent. Currently, Im working on a new project involving...The Bottom LineInterviews are often going to be a blur after the job interview process from the hiring managers perspective. They may phone interview more than ten candidates and narrow the in-pe rson interview to several finalists, so having practiced answers to this open-ended interview question is a good idea. It can also be the first question in a face-to-face interview, so you want to start off on the right foot.In short, your response to this job interview question can segway into a discussion about why youre a good fit for the role as a job-seeker. It doesnt have to be a tough question and you dont need an interview coach to improve your answer to this common interview question. Remember to keep your answer succinct but specific It doesnt have to be a tough interview question if you are prepared--Molly is a Career Coach specializing in relationship building, communication, emotional intelligence and goal making. When not working, you can find her adventuring Chicagos hidden gems, playing pick-up soccer with friends and making plans to travel around the world.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer