One of the most common and challenging questions that you may face in a job interview is “tell me about yourself”. This question may seem simple, but it can be tricky to answer in a way that showcases your skills, achievements, and personality without sounding too vague, too long, or too arrogant. How do you craft a perfect answer that impresses the interviewer and sets the tone for the rest of the interview?
In this post, we will share some tips and examples on how to answer “tell me about yourself” effectively and confidently.
What is the Purpose of This Question?
Before you start preparing your answer, it is important to understand the purpose of this question and what the interviewer is looking for. The interviewer is not interested in your personal life story or your hobbies. They want to get a brief overview of your professional background, your current situation, and your future goals. They also want to see how well you can communicate, how confident you are, and how you fit the role and the company culture.
Therefore, your answer should be concise, relevant, and tailored to the specific job and company that you are applying for. You should highlight your most relevant skills, achievements, and value proposition that make you stand out from other candidates. You should also show some enthusiasm and interest in the role and the company.
How to Structure Your Answer
A good way to structure your answer is to use the STAR method, which stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This method helps you organize your answer into four parts:
Situation: Give some context about your current or previous role, such as the company name, industry, size, and scope.
Task: Explain what your main responsibilities or goals were in that role, and how they relate to the job that you are applying for.
Action: Describe what actions you took to perform your tasks or achieve your goals, and what skills or tools you used.
Result: Highlight what outcomes or results you achieved or contributed to, and how they benefited the company or the customers.
You can also add a fifth part, which is Next, where you briefly mention what your next career move or goal is, and how it aligns with the role and the company that you are interviewing for.
Here is an example of how to use the STAR method to answer “tell me about yourself”
I am a marketing manager with over five years of experience in the e-commerce industry. I currently work at ABC Company, one of the leading online retailers in India, where I manage a team of 10 marketing specialists. My main tasks are to plan, execute, and monitor various online marketing campaigns across different channels, such as email, social media, SEO, and PPC. I also oversee the marketing budget and report on the performance and ROI of each campaign.
One of my most successful projects was launching a new loyalty program for our customers last year. I was responsible for designing the program structure, creating the promotional materials, and coordinating with the IT and customer service teams. I also conducted market research and customer surveys to understand their needs and preferences. As a result of my efforts, we increased our customer retention rate by 15%, our average order value by 10%, and our revenue by 20% in six months.
My next goal is to further develop my skills and knowledge in digital marketing, especially in data analytics and optimization. I am very interested in working for XYZ Company because I admire your innovative approach to online marketing and your focus on customer satisfaction. I believe I can bring my experience and expertise to help you achieve your business objectives and grow your market share.
Tips for Delivering Your Answer
Practice: Practice your answer out loud several times until you feel comfortable and confident. You can also record yourself or ask someone to give you feedback on your delivery.
Be concise: Keep your answer short and sweet, ideally between one and two minutes. Avoid rambling or going into too much detail. Focus on the key points that are relevant and impressive.
Be positive: Use a positive tone and language when talking about yourself. Avoid negative words or phrases such as “I don’t”, “I can’t”, “I failed”, etc. Instead, use words or phrases such as “I enjoy”, “I can”, “I succeeded”, etc.
Be honest: Don’t lie or exaggerate about your skills or achievements. Be truthful and realistic about what you have done and what you can do. The interviewer may ask follow-up questions or check your references to verify your claims.
Be yourself: Don’t try to be someone else or copy someone else’s answer. Show your personality and style when talking about yourself. The interviewer wants to get to know you as a person, not just as a candidate.
By following the tips above, you can deliver your answer in a confident and effective way that impresses the interviewer and sets you apart from other candidates. Remember, this question is an opportunity to sell yourself and make a great first impression. Make it count!
