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’Tell me about yourself’ - answer this question with extra care
“Could you please tell us about yourself?” This is a question that opens almost every interview. Unfortunately, many candidates fall at the first hurdle, stumped by this deceptively simple, yet surprisingly difficult to answer question. It can seem like a very ambiguous question to pose to a candidate at the beginning of an interview, but from the interviewer’s point of view, it is a simple ice breaker that will allow him to get to know the candidate better, refreshing in his mind the unique skills and selling points that he has to offer without having to re-read the resume all over again.
Through this question, the interviewer is looking to evaluate the candidate as a potential employee. He is looking to find out if the candidate is really a good fit for the position and the organisation, to get an idea of the candidate’s objectives and priorities, and also to evaluate his communication and presentation skills.
To bag a competitive position, you need to differentiate your skill levels, and show that you are a class apart from the rest. A good opening answer can create a great impact and prepare a solid foundation that can be built on over the course of the interview.
Being an open-ended question, there are a number of ways in which it can be answered. However, this is not a cue for you to launch into a lengthy explanation about your background, education or hobbies. Ideally, your response should be one that strengthens your candidacy, you need to make a strong statement that supports your career objectives and work background. It is not tough if you have already prepared a marketing statement of yourself and your skills to sell to the employer. Remember, this question is usually posed at the start of the interview, and a good impression created at this stage can last through the interview and later.
This is a question that is bound to feature in almost every interview that you attend over the course of your career, and it is always a good idea to prepare a standard script. After all, with minor changes, your statement can be used for different interviews.
Begin with a brief introduction. Suppose you are in the HR field you can say something like, “I am currently working as a Senior HRexecutive at XYZ Corporation. I have a MBA in HR management and over three years of experience in the industry.” Explain your current job responsibilities Concentrate on your most recent work history, and avoid going back more than 10 years, unless specifically asked. Ensure that your response caters to the needs of the hiring organisation, and highlight transferable skills, emphasise past experiences, proven successes and personal attributes where they are relevant for the position you are applying for.
Conclude with a statement about future career goals and job aspirations. You can say something like “I would like to join an organisation that values people, where I can have a positive impact on employee recruitment and retention.” You can also end with an affirmative or insightful query that will set the pace for the questions that follow. A good question will give you the opportunity to engage the interviewer in a conversation, alleviate nervousness and give you more say in the direction of the interview.
Remember, a brief, succinct and to the point explanation about what you have to offer to the company is what the interviewer will be expecting.
Get this one right with some preparation and practice, and you will have crossed the first hurdle and remain more at ease for the rest of the interview. You know yourself better than anyone else, so talking about yourself shouldn’t be a problem.
Prepare an answer incorporating the USPs you want advertised to the employer, do some research on what the employer might be looking at in a prospective candidate and script an answer. Practice on it till you are confident, and when the time comes for you to answer that question you will find that it doesn’t seem intimidating anymore.
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BINDU SRIDHAR
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