How to Answer the Question “Tell Us About Yourself” Correctly When Interviewing

While you can’t forecast every question you might be asked during a job interview, it’s wise to equip yourself for some of the most common ones. “Tell us about yourself” - the perennial kickstarter to interviews at all levels, can be a tough one to answer. How do you encapsulate who you are in just a few words? The recruiting experts at Pinnacle Accounting & Finance share tips for answering this sometimes tricky question.

You’ve done the difficult (and sometimes elusive) part of getting your foot in the door. After being in the application process for weeks, finally making contact with a potential employer, and what’s more, learning that they might be interested in adding you to your team, gives you plenty of reason to be excited. However, a vital step in the process still stands between you and the position you are striving for: the interview.

Preparing for interviews can be a job in and of itself, with brain teasers and reflective questions sometimes tripping up even qualified candidates. While you can’t forecast every question you might be asked, it’s wise to equip yourself for some of the most common ones. “Tell us about yourself” - the perennial Kickstarter to interviews at all levels, can be a tough one to answer. How do you encapsulate who you are in just a few words?

Fortunately, the interviewer probably isn’t looking for your entire life story. There are a few key strategies to answering this question that can paint you in a positive light while giving your potential employer all the info they need.

Cover the Basics

There is a chance that the person interviewing you has not read your resume before you enter the room. In some cases, this question is absolutely necessary for the interviewer to have an idea of what your qualifications are and why you are applying. However, in the (more likely) event that your interviewer has some base-level awareness of who you are, you don’t want your answer to be perceived as too elementary or redundant. Aim to strike a nice balance between informative and succinct.

Key points to address in your introduction:

● Name

● Current occupation (if applicable)

● Place you are from (if you are comfortable sharing)

● Relevant education

● Synopsis of your experience in the industry

● Your skills, interests, and passions

Focus on sharing major details with easy, flowing speech. If you breeze through these categories in less than a minute, and it feels like there is room to expand further, feel free to touch on:

● How you found the job posting

● Why you decided to apply

● Major reasons why you are an excellent fit

These final points will help lead into the next part of the interview, and may even preemptively answer some of the interviewer’s prepared questions.

Keep It Relevant

As you discuss your experience, education, and interests, make sure to highlight the details that are most relevant to the position you are applying for. If you are interested in a sales role, be selective in your synopsis to include anecdotes of key client conversions, relevant courses taken or certifications earned, or specific instances of how your efforts propelled business growth. Don’t succumb to the temptation to regurgitate the bullet points on your resume - in most cases, they have already read it. Take this opportunity to elaborate on one or two specific experiences that color whom you are and have shaped your skillset.

Most of all, the answer to this kick-off question should not come off as boilerplate or rehearsed. Speak naturally, make eye contact, smile, and tell your story in a way that is expressly relevant to the person you are currently speaking to.

Show Your Personality

One of the primary purposes of interviewing candidates - whether an interviewer might admit it, or not - is to gauge whether the candidate is the type of individual that is easy and enjoyable to work with. As you answer the “tell us about yourself” question, the interviewer is not just listening to your words; they are processing a variety of nonverbal cues such as posture, body language, eye contact and movement, vocal tone, pace, and even sense of humor. The interview serves to give each resume in the stack an appearance and a voice, so don’t miss your opportunity to express yourself.

In the vast majority of cases, being confident but good-natured will go a long way. Overly aggressive or nervous candidates will be remembered negatively, so practice speaking with a relaxed, assured, easy brand of confidence. Beyond that, feel free to use words and stories that reflect who you are. Express what matters to you, and how those values have shaped your desire for this role. Allow your personality to shine through and become more than just a name on the top of the resume.

To learn more, please contact me at 412-343-6300 ext. 104 or [email protected]