How to Make a ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ Interview Question

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.

“Tell me about yourself. “

Interview questions can sometimes feel uncomfortable. And since you’re trying to please your employer, you can’t be too polite. On the other hand, having too much cock is a bad idea. How to do it right?

Read on and learn everything you need to know about answering the “tell me about yourself” interview question.

‘Tell Me About You’ — Why Do Employers Ask This Question?

There is a reason behind each question the interviewer asks. And unless you know what the reason is, you will probably fail miserably at your answer. Why do employers ask this question?

However, there are five main reasons:

1. Allowing you to introduce yourself.
2. To start the interview well without stressing you out.
3. Setting the tone and direction for the entire interview.
4. To get a sample of your soft skills in a real life situation.
5. To know you professionally.

Employers only know you from what you put on your resume (and maybe from a short conversation on the phone), so they want to get to know you better. Remember that 78% of employers say personality is the most desirable quality in employees. But that doesn’t mean you should only focus on that.

The way you talk and behave will let them see your soft skills:

• Are you confident and calm when speaking?
• Do you always make eye contact? Are you a good communicator?
• Can you establish a relationship?

Your answer may also determine which questions follow. If you win over an employer quickly, the rest of your job interview can go smoothly.

Of all the common interview questions employers can ask, this one seems the most comfortable to start a stressful conversation. Still, it makes perfect sense. Answering it correctly will allow you to show confidence.

Different Ways to Ask the ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ Question

Do not expect that a particular question will be asked in the same way. The employer may try to get the same answer out of you, by rewording it a little, so keep your ears open.

Here are some variations of the “tell me about yourself” interview question:

• Can you describe yourself?
• Send me your resume.
• I don’t like resumes, let’s talk like people. I would like to learn more about you.
• Can you tell me more about your background?
• I saw your resume, but I’m sure there’s more to you than that document.
• Tell me something about yourself that is not on the resume in front of me.

And these are some examples of many ways to ask the same question. So now, let’s see how you can answer tell me about yourself in the interview.

How to Answer a ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ Interview Question

Before we see some examples, let’s figure out the best way to structure your answer.

1. Use a Simple Formula

Here’s a simple way to answer the “tell me about yourself” question:

1. Start with the core strengths the hiring manager is looking for. Mentioning important skills and relevant achievements is always a good idea.
2. Mention how that skill or quality has helped your employer in the past. Explaining how those features have helped a previous or current employer shows that you know very well that you are really here for your employer and for the benefit of the company, not the other way around.
3. Be sure to provide metrics to show your real life impact. Rating shows that you know what you’re talking about and can give you extra points.
4. Explain how this new opportunity will help you grow your skills. It shows that you have thought about your career goals and can’t wait to achieve them with a new employer for the benefit of all.

Remember that knowing this formula is not enough to give a good answer. It will only help you if you know how to tailor your answer to the situation you are following. Let’s find out!

2. Make Your Answer Relevant

Interviews take place after your CV has passed the selection process. It has passed the applicant tracking system and is marked as resume-friendly, which means you know how to write a resume, and you know that relevance is key.

Now it’s time to make sure that what you plan to say works as well. The first step involves revising the job offer.

There are some hard and soft skills mentioned. Mention recent accomplishments and work experience where available. Perhaps other relevant courses can be found in your field of study.

As you can see, there is a lot to get on your resume. Use everything related to opening a job.

3. Show Your Personality

Being yourself is important because employers really want to learn something about you. The way you answer the tell me about yourself interview question helps them see what kind of person you are. Focusing strictly on what they want to hear can seem fake and forced. And like lying on a resume, you want to avoid that perception.

It might be a good idea to share things from your resume’s additional sections, such as:

• Hobbies and Interests
• Voluntary Work
• Certificates and licenses
• Important Publications
• Language Skills

It’s also a way to answer Tell me about yourself you don’t know. And, if done right, they can model and validate the hard skills and soft skills required for the position you are pursuing.

4. Know Your Audience

You know you need to have a relevant resume that responds to a specific job opening. Remember also to tailor your answer to the person you are talking to.

Different people may interview you at different stages of your hiring process.

If you’re applying for a job as a graphic designer at an HR-related startup, you won’t be discussing which type of tablet pen you like best with your company’s CEO, or even the hiring manager. But you can do it when you talk to a creative director, who speaks your language and knows exactly what he’s talking about.

Here’s a great interview tip: Always adjust your approach to your audience.

5. Practice More and Follow Good Role Models

It’s not just what you say that matters, but also how you say it. The goal is to be able to say exactly what you want, just the way you want. To do that, you may need to practice a little.

Remember, the way you deliver your answer will give the employer a glimpse of your communication and interpersonal skills. Practice will help you smooth out your response, and it will help you when stress sets in.

According to Columbia Southern University, it is also one of the most effective ways to prepare for an interview. Repeating your answer a few times will help you get to that part of your conversation, but don’t memorize it because it will make it sound unnatural.

You know how to create your “tell me about yourself” answer in a job interview. Now it’s time for some examples to help you get inspired.

Tell Me About Yourself: Examples of Best Answers

Next “tell me about yourself” answer examples and explanations of why it works well.

Tell Me Something So – Sample Answer

Question: “Tell us a little about yourself.”

A: “I really enjoy providing solid software solutions. I led a software engineering team of 10 programmers at FuzzyX Solutions for three years. Our proudest moment was receiving the 2018 Bossie Award.

“Before that I worked for two years as a software engineer at SurgeWallop. I reduced security breaches by 70% by winning full employee buy-in for our No-Leave Policy drive. It’s been a great run, but I hope to join a successful DevOps team like the one at Brass LAMP Dev.”

Tell Me About Yourself Answer — Entry Level Candidate

Question: “Tell me about yourself.”

A: “I am a small copyist. During my month-long internship at Twilio Creative Agency, I participated in more than 20 consulting sessions and created social media post copy for our top clients working in the beauty industry, increasing post reach by 15%. That resulted in a 5% increase in sales and an estimated profit of over $20,000.

“In my spare time, I write poetry and songs for my indie band, Lazy Shark. I would like to continue developing my creative writing skills and bring the best ideas to a modern social media company, like SomeSoMe.”

Tell Me About Yourself Sample Answer – Experienced Candidate

Question: “Tell me something about yourself.”

A: “I work well in a fast-paced office where I can work to improve efficiency. At Castle Rock Mineral we used to have over a hundred customers a day coming through the doors. I was able to reduce schedule errors by 25% and resolve complaints 50% faster than the previous assistant.

“Prior to that at TD Dental, I helped increase patient satisfaction scores by 20% by streamlining our intake process. I am ready to grow into a position where my performance can make a difference to a larger team. That’s why I’m happy with this role.”

Tell Me About Yourself Interview Response – Manager Position

Question: “Tell me about yourself.”

A: “I like to use my talents to bring more businesses to the right product. I worked as a marketing manager at Ninequist Interactive for three years. During that time, my team and I oversaw a period of 40% revenue growth.

“Prior to Spintegrity, I was able to increase conversions on email campaigns by 25%. I am ready for a big challenge, and I can succeed as a marketing manager in a fast-growing technology company like Sequoia5 Global.”