‘Tell me …

Published 5:38 pm Sunday, November 22, 2009

Lots of questions can pop up in a job interview. No. 1 most dreaded may be this deceptively simple probe: “Tell me about yourself.” Some job seekers view it as the “killer” question.

Few questions put an interviewee on the spot quite like this one. If it’s the first question asked and a candidate handles it poorly, the entire interview can go south. If the candidate handles it well, the strong, positive first impression can boost the entire interview.

How should you handle this open-ended query? It’s important to understand that this is not the time to introduce yourself as you might at a party. Information regarding pets, favorite songs and celebrities is not what you want to talk about. An effective answer should relate to your accomplishments, skills, qualities and problems you’ve solved.

It is safe to say that the interviewer hopes to get some sense of how you might fit in at the company and evidence that you would be productive in this job. Your reply should get them thinking “this is the one.”

To make the most of this question requires thought, organization and practice. This is no time to wing it. Think about your traits and talents as they might be expressed in this company or in this job. Think about the qualities most needed for this job. Ask yourself: What would I be looking for if I were hiring someone for this job?

One effective way to prepare for this question is to write out your thoughts about your qualities, skills and experiences and what you think the employer is looking for. Answers to these questions will give you the material to organize your response.

After that exercise, use your notes to prepare a more finished response of no more than 300 words. It should take no more than two minutes to present verbally. The goal is to present the qualities you have identified in yourself as relevant and essential to the job you seek.

A prepared response can help give you control. Instead of reacting with fear to the “tell me about yourself” request, you can use it to launch your interview in the direction you want it to go. This is your time to shine. Be ready with your own personal mini-commercial. The message: Hire me.

Begin with a brief introduction. Follow the introduction with a list of key accomplishments – and not necessarily job accomplishments. What strengths do these accomplishments demonstrate? How would these accomplishments and strengths be of value to this employer?

Obviously one response will not be appropriate for every job interview. A job applicant will emphasize different qualities when seeking employment as a fast-food worker than he would when interviewing for employment as a security guard. Your commercial for yourself should end with why you want to work for the particular company in the particular position and end with a question.

Your reasons for wanting to work for the company should not be self-serving. I remember one job seeker explaining that he wanted to work at XYZ because they had paid sick leave. The interviewer called me, the man’s job counselor, to explain why he did not hire this young man: “I could see that he was already planning to be sick.”

Bring along a question to conclude your commercial. It should be about the company and demonstrate that you know something about them. For example, you might say, “I read in the paper that you are opening new offices. What did you do to increase your business?”

Finally, practice your personal commercial. Do not memorize it or you will sound like a recorded announcement. Find a friend and practice your commercial and other interview questions you anticipate. A friend is one who will not be afraid to point out areas for improvement. Accept suggestions and polish your response until it shines.

“Tell me about yourself” may be the most infamous interview question, but it’s not the only challenging query you are likely to encounter in job interviews. Consider these – and perhaps start to prepare some well-considered responses:

Who are your heroes? Why?

What do you like best/least about yourself?

How do others describe you? How would you describe yourself to others?

Give five adjectives that describe you.

What was your greatest failure? What did you learn from it?

What is your greatest weakness?

What kinds of people do you like/dislike?