Tell Me About Yourself How to Tackle a Common Job Interview Opener

Tell Me About Yourself How to Tackle a Common Job Interview OpenerTell Me About Yourself How to Tackle a Common Job Interview OpenerTell me about yourself. Be honest, in reading that, did you automatically start to feel a little anxious? Theres a reason this question (though really its a command) is so difficult for job seekers to tackle. Its very open-ended, and without any direction, a job seeker could take the conversation in any number of directions.The key for job seekers to respond well to tell me about yourself is to prepare a response ahead of time.Here are some basic guidelines that should help a job seeker plan their answer to this common interview openerBe ready to address a few specific things in your answer. Tell me about yourself is probably better phrased as, Tell me what brought you to apply for this job, and some of the main qualifications that make you stand out. And maybe throw in something that helps showcase your personality.But thats obviously too long a stateme nt to make, so were left with the broad version.Job seekers should focus on these four subjects in their answerTheir most recent background that is applicable to the jobWhat made them want to apply for the jobTheir top qualifications for the jobWhat makes them interested in the companyHeres an example of a solid answer to the tell me about yourself commandWell, for the last three years Ive been working as a senior financial analyst at ABC Corporation. I really enjoy manipulating and analyzing data through Excel to make it useful for executives to review. But what I most enjoy doing is working with gruppe members to help them better understand the data, answer their questions, and work with them to improve their own skills. And thats why I applied for this job- Im very interested in moving into a managerial role where Ill get to not just assist my coworkers, but lead a team. And I did see on your companys website that you host monthly potlucks for everyone to attend. I love to cook, and think its great that thats part of your companys culture.Looking for mora ideas? Read this article for three other examples of how to answer this question.Finally, keep your answer short, to about 30 seconds or less. Start by addressing those four subjects in a draft version of your answer. Once youve got a rough version on paper (or screen), its time to start narrowing, focusing, and distilling. Youre aiming for about 30 seconds from start to finish. Yup, it should be that quick.Time yourself to find out how long youre talking, and youll see that 30 seconds is just about right. Any more than that, and it starts to sound like rambling.It might help to remind yourself that this is just an introduction to yourself. During the rest of the interview, even if its just a screening one, youll have further chances to showcase more skills, qualifications, and personality. So, dont try to pack it all in at the beginning.So readers, are you ready to practice? Leave a comment, and tell me a bout yourself