Three Techniques to Ace the 'Tell Me About Yourself' Question in a Job Interview

💡The 'Tell Me About Yourself' question is terrible for employers because it's lazy and ineffective in determining if you're a good fit for the company.

🔑The key to answering this question is to understand what the employer needs and map your skills and qualifications to those needs.

✨One technique is to ask the employer if there's a particular part of your background they'd like you to discuss, showing that you're proactive and responsive.

📝Another technique is to bring a printed job description and use it as a reference to tailor your response to the specific skills and qualifications required.

🔄If you don't have a job description or don't want to ask for clarification, you can make assumptions about the job requirements and highlight your relevant skills accordingly.

Why is the 'Tell Me About Yourself' question so awful for employers?

—It's lazy, ineffective, and doesn't provide specific information about whether you're a good fit for the company.

What is the key to answering the 'Tell Me About Yourself' question?

—Understanding what the employer needs and mapping your skills and qualifications to those needs.

What is the first technique to answer this question?

—Asking the employer if there's a particular part of your background they'd like you to discuss.

What is the second technique to answer this question?

—Bringing a printed job description and using it to tailor your response to the specific skills and qualifications required.

What can you do if you don't have a job description or don't want to ask for clarification?

—Make assumptions about the job requirements and highlight your relevant skills accordingly.

00:00In this video, Andy shares three techniques to confidently answer the 'Tell Me About Yourself' question in a job interview.

01:09The 'Tell Me About Yourself' question is terrible for employers because it's lazy and ineffective in determining if you're a good fit for the company.

02:23One technique is to ask the employer if there's a particular part of your background they'd like you to discuss.

04:13Another technique is to bring a printed job description and use it as a reference to tailor your response to the specific skills and qualifications required.

06:13If you don't have a job description or don't want to ask for clarification, you can make assumptions about the job requirements and highlight your relevant skills accordingly.

06:55To learn more about answering job interview questions and improve your interviewing skills, check out the ebook and webinar mentioned in the description.

08:28For more career and job searching advice, visit the Tips for Work and Life Blog.