Ever tried Googling yourself? If you ever performed such inquiry chances are you received little to no responses or you may have also gotten way too much information- information that is private and might make it stressful for you in the real world. Well, when you go on a job interview and the interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself,” that same information, rather it’s good or bad is the same response the interviewer may want to get out of you.
“We always ask prospective employees the ‘Tell me about yourself’ question,” says RMG Staffing President Ricardo Michelangeli. “It’s a good way to find out if a candidate can organize their thoughts on the spot. It’s a good way to see if someone can speak well and be able to give honest answers.”
Being honest is the best thing you could do and another thing we suggest in preparation for the “Tell me about yourself” question is to Google yourself and read the information you may or may not want to be exposed. If the information is negative you may want to directly contact the source and ratify the situation. If the information is good then you might want to use that same information and its source in your responses. Also, be sure to review your social media posts. Edit out comments you may have written that might paint you in a negative light. In addition, you can ask friends, relatives or colleagues a few things they may or may not like about you and see if those responses may benefit you at a job interview.
“One should always practice and get feedback from friends and colleagues on how best to answer that question,” Mr. Michelangeli added. “Good or bad the more responses you get the better. You can never be overly prepared for a job interview.”
So if you’re still unsure to how to answer the “Tell me about yourself” question here are some quick suggestions that are straight to the point. Be aware that there are other guidelines and suggestions out there and being open to constructive criticism will benefit you in the long run.
• Connect personal strengths and give supporting examples.
• Mention your overall dreams and aspirations.
• Avoid summarizing your resume word for word.
• Mention past experiences and proven successes.
• Align your current job responsibilities to the role.
• Avoid mentioning personal information related to your marital status, children, political or religious views.
• Highlight your personality and education background
• Avoid rushing into deeper conversations about the role and company.
• Connect your skills to the job description.
• Briefly mention hobbies and give examples of how your work benefit others on a personal level
Last but not least, make sure you remain calm during an interview. Don’t go in there with an empty stomach or dehydrated. Be mindful of your composure and smile. Relax, you got this.
