How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Question

How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Question How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Question So. Tell me about yourself.Its the interview question we all dread. And we dread it for good reason. Its way too broad and we have no idea what the interviewer wants us to say.Just be honest is the advice given by many careers experts. So hows this?Well, Im 29. Im scared of heights. I sometimes take a teddy bear with me when I go travelling. I love Coldplay. I still smoke even though I told everyone I quit. I cry when I go into an animal shelter because I want to adopt all the pets. I have a rash on my left foot thats not responding to treatment. Oh and I have a hard time with commitment.Thats honest, but its probably not what theyre looking for.My honest opinion is that tell me about yourself is a lazy interview question. It tells the interviewer nothing meaningful and it unfairly discriminates against those who dont have a talent for pithy, perfectly pitched answers to pointless ques tions. But regardless of what I think, you will find yourself sitting across a room from a stranger who rustles papers for a minute or two before looking up and saying so tell me about yourself.So what do you say?I dont believe theres one answer to this question because I think your answer should always be tailored to the needs of your employer. (Im not a big fan of the elevator pitch for this reason. If youve prepared it and learned it in advance, how relevant can it be to this particular employer at this particular time?)I think there are 3 steps to preparing a good answer to this most dreaded of questions and you must do them all in advance of each interview. That way youll be prepared when those papers departures to rustle. Step One Assess whats important to the company No matter how smart and succinct your answer is, it wont resonate unless it relates to the needs of the job. So if youre applying for a absatzwirtschaft manager job in the music industry, consider whats import ant in this type of role and within this industry. If you dont know, researchSo our marketing manager knows that its very important to do more with less in the music industry. Declining music sales mean declining budgets. He also knows that an understanding of the industry will be important.Step Two Make a list of things that make you a good fit for the role You wont use all of these in your answer, but thats OK. Just making the list will increase your confidence for the interview. And whats more, some of the items on your list will help you answer additional questions later in the interview.Our marketing manager is experienced at viral and street marketing, hes accustomed to working within tight budgets, and he has always delivered good results. His past experience has been in a related field (he marketed movies previously) so he understands entertainment. Step Three Plan your answer Remember, the recruiter doesnt really want to know all about you. She just thinks this is a good wa y to assess your ability to perform under pressure, or your talent for speaking off the cuff, or some other character trait she feels is important.The most common mistake people make (Ive done it myself) is to start rambling about ancient history, literally trying to tell your whole story. This is a mistake and will cause the interviewers eyes to glaze over while she plans her next moves on Candy Crush Saga.Instead, choose one of these 3 approaches to ensure that you pass the test with flying colors.1) The story response. With this answer, you simply tell a short story (and do keep it short) that demonstrates your ability to meet their requirements. Stories are memorable, which is why this approach works so well.For example, our marketing manager could sayI have 8 years of experience in entertainment marketing and during this time Ive learned to work within tight budgets. For example, I recently had to promote a documentary with almost no budget. I created a video that was designed to go viral and then promoted it across all social media channels. Within one week, the video had indeed gone viral and the documentary performed much better than expected as a result. These are the situations I genuinely enjoy.2) The others say responseWith this approach, you frame your answer in terms of the things other people have said about you. This allows you to boast about your skills without sounding as if you are boasting at all. So our manager could sayIve had 3 managers so far in my career, and they have all praised my ability to do more with less to create buzz and excitement even with the tiniest marketing budget. Ive been in entertainment marketing for 10 years now, and I think this is the thread that runs through my entire career. See how this answer shows what a great match he is without ever actually coming out and saying it?Another way to use this approach is to start with The 3 words people most often use to describe me are 3) The I believe approachWith this app roach, you answer the tell me about yourself question by explaining your philosophy on work (or marketing or sales or people management choose whatever is most relevant to your employer). This answer works particularly well for management or leadership roles, although I think it can be effective for anyone. The reason its so effective is that it shows you have really thought about your approach to your work. It conveys a seriousness and dedication that you couldnt convey any other way.So here our manager could sayI believe that effective marketing is all about connecting. I think too many companies throw money at a problem and then wonder why sales dont increase. Ive always believed that when you truly connect with your audience, results naturally follow. As an example, I recently had to promote a documentary film with almost no budget. I felt the best way to get results was to connect with the potential audience via social media, so I created a video that was designed to go viral (etc. etc.)Tell me about yourself is actually an opportunityWhile I may think its a lazy question, and you may find it intimidating, the truth is that tell me about yourself is actually a wonderful opportunity to take control of the interview. With some planning, you can forget about feeling tongue-tied and instead turn those first few minutes into a chance to make a perfectly targeted pitch. Good luckPhoto credit Gatto Mimmo via photopin cc