In this post, I will talk about one of the most common interview questions – Tell Me About Yourself. I will expand on what the interviewer is really asking for, how to answer and how not to answer, as well as walk through a sample answer, that you can use to tailor for your specific situation.
What is the Question Really Asking?
This question is extremely common because it comes naturally as the interview is starting and serves as a perfect ice-breaker. This is not an open invitation to talk about where you were born, how many siblings you have or what is your dog’s name. Instead, this is an opportunity to showcase your key strengths and convince the interviewer that you are a good fit for the job. This question also sets the tone for the interview. Unless the interviewer has a specific set of questions they need to cover, your answer may serve as a pretext for follow up questions about your experience, skill-set and interests.
So How Should You Answer This Question
Your answer should highlight three to four of your key strengths that will be relevant to the role you are applying for. This is where the Skills Assessment Worksheet will come handy (use this worksheet to create an inventory of your top strengths and examples you can present for them). Women have a tendency to understate their achievements. Don’t be afraid to brag here! You should also talk about your most relevant work experiences, internships or projects, providing one or two examples of your main accomplishments. The experience you cover will depend on whether you are a recent college graduate or a mid/senior hire. Again, remember that being RELEVANT is the key here.
You answer should end with a couple of activities that you really enjoy, as this shows your human side. Choose your words wisely – don’t say you like playing poker or going for long walks, the interviewer does not want to know that! Instead choose activities that align well with the job requirements. If you are applying for a finance job and you volunteer your time to tutor math for high school students, this will be a great example. Always be genuine, as it is entirely possible for the interviewer to expand on your answer and ask follow-up questions about your activity of choice.
Don’t rant! Your answer should be at least 1 minute long, but no longer than 2 minutes to avoid losing the interest of the interviewer.
Let’s Walk Through a Sample Answer
For this post, I am writing about the answer I gave during a recent consulting job interview.
“I have 8 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, working in a variety of roles – operations, engineering and supply chain. I started my career with Schlumberger working on offshore oil rigs in Malaysia. In my very first year on the job, I was supervising the crew, managing round the clock operations and interacting with the client to provide daily updates.
In my previous role as the Supply Chain Manager, I managed a spent of $10M/year, developed several critical technology suppliers, and negotiated pricing contracts with global suppliers. I was also one of the 20 people across my company to be nominated by our senior management for the ‘Product Cost Reduction’ task-force. As part of this team, I analyzed data and developed supply chain models to optimize our sourcing strategy. Our findings were presented to the CEO and Board of Directors of the company!
In my most recent role as an Engineering Manager, I lead a team of 15 people spread across US, Mexico and India, to provide aftermarket support for our portfolio of downhole tools. My role entails translating customer requirements into engineering specifications, negotiating with stakeholders for resources, and ensuring the projects are completed within the tight timeline and budget. I believe that these skills will also be very relevant for managing projects in my new role as a Senior Consultant.
Outside of work, I really enjoy travelling and volunteering my time with organizations that promote education for women.”
Why This Answer is Great
This answer is great because it covers three main points:
1. It talks about my key strengths that are relevant to the new job as a Senior Consultant – leadership, teamwork, analytical skills and ability to deliver within tight resources.
2. It provides an example of my main accomplishment – work that was presented to the company’s senior-most management.
3. It tells the interviewer that travelling, which is an integral part of any consulting job, will not be a problem for me.
What other interview questions would you like me to talk about? Share with me in the Comments section below!
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Thanks for reading and see you next time!