One of the most common questions in a job interview is, "Tell me about yourself." Let’s look at the best and smartest ways to answer this question.
With that in mind, an excellent first step is to choose the right starting point based on what the company is looking for. This will help with leading off your story. Highlight your impressive accomplishments and work experience as it relates to the job description of the position.
As this is your chance to set a great first impression, it’s also imperative to demonstrate that you have excellent verbal communication skills. Make sure to be positive in your response while keeping your answer concise.
Demonstrating that you have excellent non-verbal communication skills to hiring managers and recruiters is equally important. Maintain a firm posture while sitting, maintaining eye contact while speaking and listening. Conclude your answer by explaining your current job and why you’re looking for a new job—specifically this particular job.
“I graduated in 2010 from the University of Blank, then interned with company X, where I was later offered a junior position. I loved the dynamic work environment and working with some of the company’s top clients, which helped me improve my X, Y and Z skills. I left and took a similar position at company Y, where I worked for X years and achieved X, Y and Z results. Now, I’m ready to take my career to the next level.”
“I graduated from University of Blank X months ago with a Y major. I chose that field because of my love for X, Y and Z. My academic highlights include speaking at X conference, where I networked and landed my first internship at Y company and developed my X, Y and Z skills.”
Companies ask this question because they want candidates to offer insight into their past work experience, goals and priorities. This helps them get a clearer picture of each candidate.
Some good career advice is to keep your answer professional and work-related and avoid overly personal answers. This can mean avoiding going deep into your life story. It’s also best to keep your answer to the point like you would in an elevator pitch where you quickly summarize your background and strengths.
Some common questions that interviewers ask that are similar are:
Could you walk me through your resume?
Tell me something about yourself that’s not on your resume.
ResumeHelp uses cookies, as well as our third party affiliates. No personal data is collected via cookies until you opt-in to build a Resume or Cover Letter. Find Out More