What if you could read your potential boss’ mind?
Interviewing for Your Next Job:
“Tell Me About Yourself.” How to ace this dreaded question
Interviewing is hard enough, but when you are asked an open-ended question like, “Tell me about yourself,” it’s easy to freeze up. What should you say?
Don’t panic. Take a deep breath. And be glad you prepared.
You did prepare, didn’t you?
Preparing for an interview doesn’t mean memorizing answers to all 175 Common Interview Questions. In fact, interviewers can spot that a mile off. They can see an applicant clicking into an automatic response, and it turns them right off. No, there’s a better, smarter way to prepare. One that will let you ace any surprise questions and impress your potential boss.
Here’s the key:
Think about it from your boss’ point of view.
Each question that you are asked is meant to reveal information, and it’s not always, or only, the obvious answer that you give. Understand the “question behind the question,” and you can respond in a way that is truthful, but answers the deeper question.
Here’s an example.
“Tell me a little about yourself.”
This is one of the most common and dreaded questions job seekers face. How should you answer? It’s so open-ended, many people struggle and give vague or unhelpful responses.
Why is the interviewer asking this question?
There are two reasons to ask this question: to listen to what you say, and to observe how you say it. And the “how” part might be even more important than the “what.”
Open-ended questions like this are an interviewer’s dream. They reveal so much. When your interviewers ask this question, they will be watching you closely to see how you respond.
Here’s what they are looking for:
- Poise
- Confidence
- Focus
The most important thing to know about this question, or any open-ended question, is that your potential boss is looking to see how you present yourself. Here’s what they hope to hear: A concise story about why you’re the ideal candidate for the job. And yes, you might be asked that question directly. But here’s a secret: “Tell me about yourself” and “Why should I hire you?” are really the same question.
“Tell me about yourself” requires what is known as an elevator pitch. (You know – if you ran into a potential boss in the elevator, could you describe yourself in a memorable way before the doors opened and you part ways?) This is probably the only time during an interview when you can deliver a memorized answer.
Here’s how to craft a winning elevator pitch.
What your interviewer wants to hear: a short story about why you are the best fit for this job. Remember – your interviewer wants to get this hiring done. They are looking for your success.
What your interviewer is looking for: confidence; poise; and clear, concise and relevant answers. Your interviewer understands that your response reveals how you react under pressure.
In order to ace this question, you must prepare and practice. “Tell me about yourself” in an interview doesn’t mean what it does on a first date. “Tell me about yourself” means, “Tell me about yourself as a candidate for this job.” You can leave off where you grew up, your marital status, and your hobbies. Instead, focus on your career history.
Briefly, mention your work background. Highlight specific experience relevant to this potential job. Touch on your successes, and mention at least one specific example. This should allow you to showcasing your strengths and skills. Lastly, mention something about why you want to work for this specific company. It’s insulting to your potential boss to feel that this is just another interview and you don’t really know anything about this company. On the other hand, it’s very flattering to demonstrate that you know about this company, and seeking a position with them specifically, and feel you can bring them value.
Conclude with a confident “call to action” – not why you want this job, but what benefit you would bring to the company – and boss – that hires you. In other words, answer your interviewer’s unspoken question – Why is it in my best interest to hire this person?
Here is a rough template to construct your elevator pitch.
I have been in the ___ industry for ___ years. My most recent position was ___, doing ___ in particular. I’ve most proud of my accomplishment with ___, where I was able to ___ despite the challenges of ___. I think this is a good example of my strengths of ___ and ____. I’m hoping to bring those strengths, abilities and drive to your department at ______. I believe in the mission of your company, and I am excited about what you do. I know I can be a valuable asset to your team.
Obviously, you should create a brief pitch that sounds like you, and that you are comfortable saying. Your pitch is a presentation, but it should sound like conversation. Practice and edit, practice and polish, practice and practice – and believe in what you say.
Body language speaks loudly, so be aware of yours. If you are unfamiliar with paying attention to your body language, there are many online sources, or you can work with a career coach.
Here’s the bottom line about your elevator pitch: