Why "Tell Me About Yourself" Is a Critical Question
Asking a question “Tell me about yourself” is used by recruiters as an icebreaker to get into the interview. It sparks the conversation to get to know you better. However, you can’t underestimate the question because this is the first impression that will influence the interviewers’ perception of yourself.
In addition to learning more about your experience and skills, here are some reasons for this question:
Assessing your communication skills
Determining if you’re a good fit for the role
Gauging your ability to summarize relevant experiences concisely
So that’s why having a good answer to explain about yourself is essential. Have better preparation to showcase your soft and hard skills and to create a strong first impression.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Successfully answering the question about yourself will give you a positive impression and recruiters likely want to know you more. But, if you make any mistakes, you will be overlooked and possibly won’t get the job. What kind of mistakes are they? Keep reading to know!
Mistake #1:Reciting Your Resume Word-for-Word
The purpose of the interview is to get to know the candidate more. So recruiters want to connect and engage with you in person. Recruiters already know your experience in your resume; they only want to know how good your communication skills are and how your body language is when trying to explain it.
Craft a narrative highlighting key achievements from your resume and practice elaborating and explaining it without reading it so it will sound like you are telling a story.
Don’t forget to mention keywords that relate to the job description or company’s value.
Mistake #2: Rambling or Going Off on a Tangent
We all know when someone answers a different context to the question, it means they don’t pay attention fully. Make sure to have a good sleep before the interview, grab some food, or relax your mind so you will be able to give your 100% when doing the interview. Don’t let small distractions get you off from the job opportunity.
But note this also, answering questions in long sentences can be a red flag. If you only ramble and tell about things that are not answering the question, it’s a waste. Better to respond in a short sentence but every word is meaningful. Try to use a structured approach, like the Present-Past-Future formula:
Present: Your current role or situation.
Past: Relevant experience and achievements.
Future: What you aim to do and why you’re a good fit for this role.
Mistake #3: Being Too Generic
Find two or three things that differentiate you from other candidates. You need to know your own uniqueness that makes you stand out. Don’t merely answer common things or be generic. There are lots of candidates who may have better knowledge, experience, and skills than you.
How to be different? Share your personal achievements or experiences that could add unique value and not many people have that. Ask yourself “What things that people don’t have that I have?” then write it down to find unique things inside you.
Mistake #4: Focusing Too Much on Personal Life
It’s useful to build rapport with the interviewer. But, you need to read the situation. Don’t overshare about your personal life or information, except if the recruiters asked. It could divert the attention from your professional qualifications.
Remember in your mind to focus only on professional experiences and job-relevant skills, other than that, throw it all away.
Mistake #5: Sounding Over-Rehearsed or Robotic
Practicing before the interview is helpful, but it can be a trap if you do it by trying to memorize every sentence. Remember only the keywords and try to elaborate. Recruiters can tell when you talk based on things you memorize and or you just let it flow.
Memorizing things will make you sound like a robot and this also means your communication skills are not good enough, your appearance looks insincere, and you lack enthusiasm. To avoid this mistake, practice yourself with the purpose of a conversational and natural tone.
Mistake #6: Oversharing or Being Negative
As humans, we surely ever make mistakes. It’s common but doesn’t mean you can share it during an interview. When recruiters ask about what things you learn from your experiences or mistakes, focus on delivering the positive message, which is what changes you and how you can improve from those mistakes. Don’t talk about how or what went wrong, especially if it’s relating to other people.
Overshare can dilute your message and negativity reflects poorly on your attitude. Some tips, stick to professional and positive language. Focus and highlight more on what you’ve learned, not what went wrong.
Mistake #7: Failing to Tailor Your Answer to the Role
A good answer is when you successfully showcase your experience and skill and it’s easily understood by the recruiters. But the perfect answer is when what you explain is tailored to the role you apply. For example, when you apply as project manager you highlight more about your experience in managing a team, project, or client.
Not tailor your answer to the role meaning you miss the opportunity to show you understand the job’s requirements. Customize your response to emphasize skills and experiences relevant to the position.
Mistake #8: Lacking Confidence or Enthusiasm
Confidence can be shown from your aura, vibes, and act. If you feel insecure and doubting yourself even though you try to cover it, still interviewers will know. You have to build your confidence from inside, don’t pretend to be confident.
Lack of confidence makes you seem unsure about your fit for the role and how can a company recruit someone who is doubting their ability and skill for the job? To build self confidence, be prepared thoroughly, from how to answer questions, research about the role, about the company, to wear the proper outfit. Your inside and outside appearance influence your confidence level. Last thing, speak with energy and conviction to assure that you are the perfect candidate for this job.
Mistake #9: Talking for Too Long
Preparing for an interview, you need to practice two things: how to talk confidently and how to stop. Some people forget to stop and end up talking too long, it could be because they feel nervous or get too excited.
You need to learn to control yourself so there will be no risk losing the interviewer’s attention. To avoid this, learn to keep your response concise (1-2 mins every question) and focus only on relevant points.
Mistake #10: Ending Abruptly Without a Strong Conclusion
Explain your answers similar to essay structure, which consist of introduction, body, and conclusion. Not ending your answer with a strong conclusion will create confusion and leave the interviewer with a vague impression. It could be a bad sign for your career.
How to have a good ending? Tying your skills and experiences to the role you apply and don’t forget to express enthusiasm for the position.
FAQs
How long should my response be?Keep it concise, around 1-2 minutes.Should I include personal hobbies?Only if they are relevant to the role or demonstrate transferable skills.How can I improve my confidence in answering this question?Practice your response multiple times, ideally with feedback or mock interviews.
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