Nailing your first impression
Some of the best interview tips I’ve received help with what seem like obvious questions. What’s the number one question you’re going to get during your next job interview?
Tell me about yourself.
You know they’re going to ask it. They know you know they’re going to ask it. You know they know you know….. okay.. You get it.
If everyone knows – why do so many job candidates get this wrong? Why do so many candidates waste this opportunity to share how their experience and skills relate to the exact skills the hiring manager is looking for?
I’ve been on both sides – as a job candidate and as the hiring manager for many jobs. I’ve experienced this question countless times in many forms and want to help you benefit from my experience.
In this post I’m going to share what’s behind the question so you can feel confident in your response.
In other words – what is the hiring manager looking for here?
Then I’ll share 4 simple strategies you can follow to consistently stand out as you answer this question.
Preparation itself is not enough
There are countless ways to mess this up. No pressure. One in particular stands out to me – a time when I let a job opportunity slip through my fingers by not intentionally preparing for this question.
Don’t get me wrong – I thought I had prepared. I prepared long and hard to answer the question “Why did you apply for this position?”
Instead, I was asked the more traditional “Tell me about yourself.”
What’s the difference? Ideally, there isn’t a difference in how you should respond. In this case, I had prepared several talking points about my previous experience, what skills I bring to the table, and how this role fits well into my career trajectory. Eloquently, in my opinion, explaining why I applied for this role.
But what did the interviewer hear? Not that. I didn’t get to share any of my well-thought-out answer. Since I had exclusively prepared for one type of question, I was caught off guard by another version of it.
So I ‘told the interviewers about myself’ – my college major, my entire career history, and then for fun I added a little panic into the mix, sharing some sort of funny story. Pretty sure the interviewer didn’t find it as witty and wildly entertaining as I did.
The interviewers moved on to other questions and I never got another chance to tell them all the great things I wanted share.
My point is this: not only should you prepare, you should prepare the right way. Don’t be caught off guard. Set yourself up so you don’t leave the room wishing you had said something different. Learn from my mistakes! Take time to read the strategies below.
What a hiring manager is looking for with this question
When a hiring manager asks you “tell me about yourself”, he or she isn’t interested in learning everything about you.
The truth is, hiring managers want to determine as quickly as possible “what does this candidate bring to the table?”, “Does this person have the skills I’m looking for?” and “Can I see myself working with this person?”
Sound simple to answer? It can be. All you have to do is directly answer those questions as part of your response.
Directly share what skills you have, how you’ve used them, and how you plan to leverage them in this new role.
Of course, this assumes you know what skills they’re looking for. So part of your “must-do” interview prep needs to include writing down the top three skills or competencies you think the hiring manager is looking for.
4 Simple Strategies to Confidently Answer “Tell me about yourself”
It’s almost like cheating. You know what they’re going to ask you as the first question. But, like in the example I shared, you may get asked a slightly different version.
Either way, it’s the same question, the hiring manager is looking for the same thing, and you should prepare accordingly.Don’t be surprised if you get asked:
- “Tell me about yourself”
- “What is your background?”
- “Why are you interested in this job?”
- “Why did you apply for a role in this department? At this company? Etc.?
Ready to tackle the question? Here are the four ways to confidently respond to one of these questions.
Strategy #1: Craft one response that answers all of the questions above
You don’t know which angle they’ll take on the question – but that doesn’t matter!
No matter what they ask, provide the response you’ve prepared. Don’t let yourself be caught off guard.
Strategy #2: Practice, practice, practice.
Practice out loud. Seriously.
Practice in the car, at home, the shower – wherever! The more the better. Many people overlook the opportunity to use their commute and other easy ways to use existing time for interview preparation.
Why is it worth making this its own strategy? Think about it. This is your first impression. And remember – they know you know they’re going to ask this question! So it’s critical to demonstrate not only that you have the right skills, but that you understand the dynamics of an interview and have put in the time.
Nerves play a factor in an interview. Practicing over and over again will build your ‘muscle memory’ of your response. So while it may not come out exactly as you had prepared, it will be far better than if you hadn’t practiced out loud.
Strategy #3: Focus on the right content
The interviewer doesn’t need to know every bullet point on your resume, your life story, favorite color, or foods you’re allergic to.
What you should share is your passion for the position and that you have the skills the hiring manager is looking for. Be intentional. Share why you are a good fit for this role. This is your time!
How should you structure your content for the question?
Try these tips and tricks
- Try the “present-past-future” formula. This puts a different spin on your experience. Most of your competition will take the interviewer on a chronological timeline. If you want to stand out, try this instead.
- List the top 3-5 skills you believe the hiring manager is looking for. Make sure you share that your experience includes at least a couple of these key skills. Remember, this isn’t a time to just share your background. It’s a time to demonstrate that you have what they’re looking for.
- Include language that focuses on what you bring to the table, rather than what you’ll get out of the job. For example, avoid phrases like “I’m really interested in this position because I’ve always wanted to learn about project management and this will give me the chance to learn more.” Instead, try “In my current role I excel at time management and influencing others, and I’m excited to leverage these skills in a new way in this role.”
- Share your excitement and passion! The last thing a hiring manager wants is someone going through the motions. Passion and engagement may be able to overcome a bad interview question as well. Make sure you tell your interviewer that you’re excited and why you’re excited.
Strategy #4: Be succinct
The vast majority of interviewees spend way too long answering this question. Again, this is your first impression – no need to bore the interviewer before things really get going.
As you prepare (and practice out loud, of course) time yourself. Make sure it’s no longer than 2-2.5 minutes. If you’re consistently going longer, the solution is not to speak more quickly. If you’re taking too long, it means you have too much content and need to cut it down.
Trust me – you’ll stand out if you succinctly share your skills and passion in under 3 minutes.
Conclusion
“Tell me about yourself” is one of only a few questions you can all but guarantee you’ll be asked. The good news is you know it’s coming, and you can prepare.
As a result, you get to control your first impression.
Follow these four strategies and you will walk in with confidence, setting you up for a great interview.
Discussion question
I’d love to hear from you! Join the conversation with the Equipped Community – we’re in this together! In the comments section below, share your thoughts on the following question.
What strategy do you think you’ll tackle first? Or, is there another strategy you’ve found helpful and want to share with others?
