Tell me about yourself

When will this question be asked?
After the initial pleasantries and explanation of the interview process, most interviewers will cut right to the chase and ask you to tell them about yourself. It’s their way of saying “Go on, impress me!” and your answer could influence the hiring decision in a big way.

It’s an opportunity for you to settle down and feel comfortable in the interview situation. You want to aim to talk for around five minutes, which should be plenty of time to cover off the main points you want to get across.

Why is this question asked?
You’ve been invited to an interview for one reason, and one reason only – to prove you’re the right fit for the job. That fit doesn’t just mean that you have the right skills and experience as that should already be evident from your CV, they want to know about the journey you have taken to be sat in front of them.

They want to know about why you’re in the career you’re in, the choices you made and how you have used your education to complete the various tasks and challenges you’ve faced in your various jobs.

If you’re a first jobber, this question is more slanted towards finding out if you’re going to be a committed employee who can develop and excel in the role. You should focus on things like your willingness to learn new things, your passion about the industry you’re entering, and how you see your future.

How can you prepare for this question?
There’s nothing worse than getting stuck on this question as if you can’t sell yourself, how are your prospective employers supposed to believe you’re right for their company? It’s a subject you should know everything about already, but very few of us know how to analyse our career and describe it in a way that will make sense to somebody else.

You need to think about why you have made the choices you have and the main skills you possess. Make sure you know your CV inside out so you can use it as the basis for what you will say. Think back across your career and make sure you have a reason for each of the steps you have made so it shows a good natural progression.

What does the interviewer want to hear?
Employers all want to employ people who are aware of their own abilities and how they can be used to achieve specific business goals. The best way to prove that you’re a results driven individual is to associate certain skills with tasks you have completed and include and figures you can back up with evidence. For example:

“After completing my degree in Marketing I decided that the Public Relations part of the course was the area I wanted to specialise in. My first role as a PR Assistant allowed me to use my copywriting skills to draft press releases and develop good working relationships with the media. I was able to help improve the public perception of the company and we saw a 30% increase in sales during my time there.

“After moving into an agency role as a PR Account Executive, I have developed a range of additional skills and have successfully planning PR campaigns for clients in a variety of industries. This has included arranging events like press launches, news conferences, exhibitions, open days and sponsorship and we have established over £1m worth of contracts with big name clients due to successful campaigns I have spearheaded.”

You want to have a good opening statement, a solid and progressive middle and end up with an evaluation of your main strengths that will prove why you’re the perfect candidate.

What follow up questions might there be?
After taking in what you’ve had to say, and probably scribbling down a few notes, your interviewer will usually want you to explain in more detail something you have just mentioned.

Don’t let this make you think that your original answer wasn’t comprehensive enough. They have listened to you and picked up on an area they feel is relevant to the role you’re applying for. It’s an opportunity for you to show them you have the experience and know-how to complete the tasks that will be key to the job, so make sure you pick something appropriate where you can prove your abilities.