How To Answer 'Tell Me About Yourself'

"Tell me something about yourself..." This question seems to bother every candidate more than anything else. Why is that? Is it because it is usually asked at the beginning of an interview and we are still nervous and don’t know what to expect? Is it because it puts us directly on the spot? Is it because we are scared that we reveal something perhaps too personal?

I think the main reason is that the question is simply so fuzzy. We don't know what exactly the interviewer wants to hear. That is why we may feel intimidated as we try to quickly come up with an answer that is both relevant and interesting.

You will find many "gurus" around the internet that will give you their "bulletproof script" on how to answer this question that, if you rehearse it, will supposedly guarantee you that you will surely impress the hiring manager and get hired immediately.

Well, I am afraid that they may be wrong.

First of all, many times the interviewer doesn't know what they actually want to hear. Maybe they came unprepared. Maybe they want to learn something specific about you but they don't know how to ask. Maybe someone just told them that this is an excellent way to start an interview.

Second, you cannot read the interviewer’s mind. You can only assume what they want to hear — but that may often be completely wrong.

Third, even if you knew exactly what they wanted to hear, telling people what they want to hear doesn't (surprisingly) automatically get them to like you.

Therefore, memorising a scripted answer and delivering it confidently to the interviewer might actually backfire, contrary to your expectations.

So what is the key to answering this dreaded question then?

Forget about memorising answers. It just makes you come across as fake and overly rehearsed, which instantly reduces your credibility in the interviewer's eyes. Understand your work history, strengths, weaknesses, successes, and failures thoroughly, but don't craft a scripted response. During the interview, take a moment to breathe, concentrate on building a connection with the interviewer, let the conversation unfold organically, and try to be the best version of yourself.

For example, you may reply with a question, asking what they would like to hear about you the most. Or you may give them a short walk-through of your CV, focusing on the points that are most relevant to the job you are applying to. Or you can tell them about your recent accomplishment that is highly related to the job you are applying for.

I personally prefer when the candidate summarises their last employment briefly, explains their current situation, how they got to know about the vacancy and why they find it attractive. Regardless of what the interviewer wants to hear, this answer provides them with valuable information that serves as an excellent launching point for the interview. It also gives you an opportunity to draw parallels between your last job and the one you are being interviewed for and show how your past experience can help the company and makes you a great candidate for the job.

As you can see, there are numerous possibilities. Listen to the interviewer, observe their behaviour, and choose one that you prefer and that suits the situation. Ideally, though, you should always find a way to illustrate why you are the best candidate for the job in each response.

Do you want to know how to answer literally any interview question successfully? Follow the unique guide I outlined in my book!

Best regards,

Vaclav

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