By: Helen Godfrey
Let’s face it. Interviewing is hard. For one, it’s nerve wracking. We are trying to put our best foot forward and a lot is on the line. We know that first impressions matter and, once the interview officially starts, one of the first questions we will be asked is, “Tell me about yourself.”
This tends to be one of the most confusing questions for most applicants. “What does the interview panel want to know?” “Where do I start?” More importantly, “When do I stop so they can move on to the next question?” One reason this question is confusing is because we may hear a similar question in a different context. For example, when we are sitting next to someone on an airplane. When we are at a networking event or at a party, trying to get to know someone on a more personal level. So that can make this question a bit confusing when we hear it in an interview. However, what this question really means in this context is, “Why should we hire you?” That’s right. What they really want to know is, “Tell us about yourself so we know how you will fit in the company and the job. How has your experience prepared you for this job?”
So, what is the best way to answer this question? I’ve been a career coach since 2000 and I’ve found the most effective way to answer this question is to find what you like the most about this job and connect it to what you’ve done in the past using an example. What have you enjoyed the most about your job in the past and how is it similar to this one? What did you accomplish in your past role? How can you connect that accomplishment to this role? What are some similarities? What do you like about this company in particular? What is it about their mission and vision that is appealing to you?
So, rather than walking the interview panel through your whole resume, unless asked, you may want to stick to the highlights, the most relevant points, maybe even a key skill that caught your attention about the job and boldly and enthusiastically connect your past to this particular role. Weave in some specific information that stands out to you about the company and you will have created a strong case for yourself.
Remember, just as you are looking for a job that’s a great fit for you, the company is looking for an applicant who is a great fit for them. When you give clear, concise, specific examples, you will stand out as an applicant and give the interview panel a sense of the type of employee you will be if hired. Be sure to prepare answers and practice them out loud before the interview using the STAR interview method.
STAR stands for:
- S: Situation-What was going on? Where were you? What company did you work at?
- T: Task-What did you need to do? What was your role in this particular problem?
- A: Action-This is the most important part of your story and where you should spend the most time. HOW did you solve the problem? What steps did you take? “I remember one day…”; “I remember one time…”; “I remember this one customer….”. Be specific.
- R: Result-What was the final result? What happened? Even if you failed, what did you learn?
Your stories should take 1-2 minutes to tell. Be specific. Most job seekers give general responses when they interview and tend to simply list adjectives rather than tell stories. If you give short, clear examples that demonstrate how you solved various problems, not only will you answer the interview questions, you will be showcasing at least 5-10 transferable skills to the interview panel.
Good luck!