Tell me about yourself

• Why is the employer asking me this question?

• What do I want this employer to know about me?

• Then, develop a response that lets the interview know that you are enthusiastic about this opportunity and unequivocally qualified.

Formula example

• Most experts agree: Keep your answer short (one to two minutes).

• For example, Liz Branstead, a career consultant in Pleaston, California, suggests the following formula: My name is . I have years of experience as a . Recently, I worked for as a . Before that, I worked for as a . My strengths are (general) and (technical).

Two Minutes Drill

• Patricia Haskell, a career counselor in Bethesda, Maryland, suggests a two-minute drill that includes four 30-second quadrants: your early life and your education, followed by your work experience and your qualities/skills.

• She recommends scripting out quick sketches that discuss all four areas.

Contextual component

• Memorize the formula and rehearse it, but make sure you take the time before each interview to change the words or focus to match the employer’s values. There also should be a contextual component

Rapport-building

• Some counselors like to further enhance the rapport-building possibilities in the tell-me-about-yourself statement by including some personal information. However, it may be too risky.

• Express enthusiasm can be a good way of opening statement such as, “I’m excited to be here. I’ve heard a lot about your organization.”

• Remember “When in doubt, express enthusiasm.”

Short is beautiful

• First, it forces the interviewer to ask more questions and provide more direction;

• second, it prevents you from digressing into a long-winded chronology or life story that not only bores the interviewer to death but is largely beside the point.

• In general, when offering the open-ended tell-me-about-yourself query, “employers are most interested in hearing how candidates organize the information they present.” “People who wander all over the place don’t make a very good impression.”