How to answer “Tell me about yourself”

We often hear this question approaching us during an interview. Many people get nervous and starts babbling around it instead of knowing that interviewer is asking a very simple question about one on-self. In fact, it is not as simple as it looks. Interviewer is not asking your personal story or life story and they have your resume as well. So why this question? What they want to know?

Interviewer wants to know your communication skills, your confidence, your ability to keep engage. Interviewer wants to know how you express your experience, qualifications and why you are fit for the said opening in a nutshell. You cannot bore the interviewer by underlining out much. This question should be answered max in 3minutes.

Three Tips to answer the question

Give snapshot of your work history

You can start by mentioning your total experience and work history from starting of your career to the current job and can mention companies, job responsibilities and accomplishment in a nutshell.

For Eg: I started my career 5 Years ago with XYZ company where I managed all the aspects of HR function right from recruitment, onboarding, development and retention. Your educational qualification overview to be shared. Your industry experience also needs to be emphasized.

Make mini stories of your work history right from your first organization to current company and share quantifiable accomplishment.

Tell the employer what you know about the role:
Try to acknowledge the interviewer that you are well aware about the particular opportunity and the responsibilities of the role and how you are able to relate your experience with their job description. It will help the interviewer to understand your candidature and it will make a positive impression of yours. Not many candidates do this.

Tell why you are right fit for the job
Highlight your key skills and accomplishment relevant to the opportunity and relate it how you will be the right fit for this opening.

Eg: Overall due to my strong background and achievements in xyz role. I am confident I’ll be successful in the role you are hiring for.

So fundamentally, three steps if your answer would be:

  • Who you are?
  • Why you are qualified
  • Why you are right fit?

I can share my answer as an example:

I possess 8 years of experience as HR professional managing all the aspects of HR function right from Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Development & retention. I have worked across IT & ITES industry in my career span and am an MBA +PGPGBM graduate. I started my career with xyz where I was responsible for UK talent acquisition and I did pretty well over there. Then I moved to Xyz where I got exposure in handling a team and managing client. Post that I moved to XYZ for exploring other areas of HR business partnering role. currently I am engaged with -----.

I am highly organized, dedicated and professional individual who is extremely passionate about working in HR. I also want to work in a role where I have lots of responsibilities and make a significant impact to people’s working and deliever on the set goals of the employer. I understand that you are looking for____________ and am well aware about the opportunity and I am confident that I can be the right fit for this.

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