How to Ace the ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ question

“Tell me about yourself” is a question that is almost guaranteed to come up at the beginning of any interview regardless of your industry or job type. Since it’s often the first question, by answering it well, you can set a positive tone for the entire interview.

To start with, you need to understand why you are being asked this question. While some interviewers might approach it as an icebreaker to strike up a casual conversation with you, it is always advisable to steer away from disclosing information about political and religious affiliations.

The general motive of this question is for the interviewer to acquaint themselves with your background and skills in a nutshell but more than that, it gives them an insight into what experience and qualifications you think are most relevant to the position that you’re interviewing for. In other words, the question ‘Please introduce yourself’ actually asks ‘Why do you think you are suitable for this job’. This is why you must always do your homework in reading and researching about the company and the profile you’re interviewing for beforehand.

How should you approach the question?

• Now even though it is already mentioned in your resume, you should start by stating your name, where you come from and your educational qualifications to give a rounded and complete introduction.

• Then talk about some of your current roles and responsibilities, perhaps a big recent accomplishment. (Try to build a bridge between your current role with the position you’re interviewing for.)

• Further, you should talk a little bit about your family. Talk about your parents and siblings; tell them who’s your inspiration and why. (You can score brownie points if you can think of something unique about your background that makes you stand out from other applicants.)

• In the end, segue into why you’re interested in the offered job role and why you are a great fit for it. Here you can talk about your hobbies and ambitions, tell them where you see yourself in the next few years. (Brainstorm why this position excites you and how it fits into your larger career goals.)

Points to Remember:

1. Maintain your body language: Even the smallest of things like maintaining eye contact, smiling and sitting straight can heighten the impression that your answer makes. Make sure your posture is right while sitting and your arms are not crossed in front of your chest.

2. Don’t elaborate on your strengths & weakness: A question about your strengths and weaknesses will definitely come along later in the interview. Therefore, it is advisable not to stray on those points in this answer.

3. Be prepared but don’t mug up: Think about what you want to convey about yourself ahead of each interview. Practicing it over in your head a few times will make you more confident but make sure that you don’t sound overly rehearsed. Your answers need to come off as authentic and organic.

4. Be concise: Keep the answer simple, to the point and give space and time for further questions. Do not stretch it too much. Make sure that your response does not exceed minutes.

All in all, you just need to know that through this question, an interviewer expects your brief introduction which can give an insight into your profile. Therefore, it is recommended to be prepared with a well-structured and crisp answer. After all, first impression is the last impression.