Top Interview Questions - 3. Tell us about yourself

Talking about yourself should be the easiest thing to do. Right? Who knows you better than…You?

But for some strange reason, nearly every interviewer can agree that giving a good answer to the question “Tell Us About Yourself” during a job interview can be one of the toughest and most stressful things to do. But what is it about this seemingly simple question that is such a thorn in your side? You might be wondering...

* Why are they asking this?
* What are they looking for in my answer?
* What is the best strategy for giving them what they want?

As these questions start to mount inside your brain, it’s likely that your level of stress is growing along with them, and that doesn’t make for the most comfortable of job interviews. And if you aren’t comfortable, chances are the panel can sense it and we all know what that means…there goes the job offer!

Today's blog addresses this critical interview question and gives you some handy answers that you can use for your interviews. You need to answer this question without giving out too much or too little personal information. One good approach is to start sharing some of your personal interests which don't relate directly to work.

Want some suggestions? Well next time you are faced with this rather intimidating question, try one of the following:

* I can summarize who I am in three words: this response grabs their attention immediately. and demonstrates your ability to be concise, creative and compelling.
* The quotation I live my life by is: this proves that personal development is an essential part of your growth plan and also shows your ability to motivate yourself.
* My personal philosophy is: companies hire athletes and not shortstops. This line indicates your position as a thinker, not just an employee.
* People who know me best say that I’m: this offers insight into your own level of self-awareness.
* Well, I googled myself this morning, and here’s what I found: this show you are tech-savvy, fun, cool, unexpected and memorable.
* My passion is: remember people don’t care what you do – people care who you are and what you’re passionate about is who you are. Additionally, passion unearths enthusiasm.
* When I was seven years old, I always wanted to be: this demonstrates that you’ve been preparing for this job your whole life, not just the night before.
* If Hollywood made a movie about my life, it would be called: once more an engaging, interesting and entertaining answer.
* Can I show you, instead of tell you: then, pull something out of your pocket that represents who you are. This will make your answer unforgettable and memorable. 
* The compliment people give me most frequently is: while this is almost like a testimonial, this response also indicates self-awareness and openness to feedback.

You’re hireable because of your answers. When people ask you to tell them about yourself, make them glad they asked.

Here is another article which provides you guidance and some smart responses to have in your pocket for that next interview when you have to answer this question - Tell Me About Yourself Job Interview Question.

My next blog will delve into the 4th of the most commonly asked interview questions - Why should we hire you. This is all about selling yourself - that marketing pitch that will set you apart from the other candidates. So you better get this one right!