“So tell me about yourself.” This is a common question that stumps job-seekers. It’s a simple question but deceptively complicated because it’s vague and most people don’t take the time to define themselves.
The best way to be prepared for an interview is to practice and have your answers ready for common questions like “Tell me about yourself.”
Last month I was on a Praxis group video call with a guest speaker, Johnny Roccia. Johnny worked in HR for many years and conducted thousands of interviews so he put together a simple formula for us to follow.
How to create an About Me story
- “Pick a theme for yourself.”
What word describes you professionally the best? Problem-solver? Creative? Driven? Energetic? This can be anything.
- “Craft an answer that contains three facts, explained in no more than 1-2 sentences each.”
-What have you done?
-What are you doing?
-What will you do?
I’ve picked “Problem-solver” as my theme. Here’s how I’ll answer when an interviewer asks me, “Tell me about yourself.”
“I’ve always been a problem-solver, and I learned how to properly respond to angry customers. Because I’m a problem-solver, I decided to create a customer service training manual similar to a Dummies guide. In the future, I’m looking to be a problem-solver for other small businesses and provide efficient and easy-to-learn training. - “Use the theme word multiple times in order to get the image across.”
Notice how I used “problem-solver” for each of the three questions in step two. Be concise when you deliver your story because it’ll leave plenty of room for follow-up conversation.
Once you’ve written down your story, practice!
Practice delivering your “about me” story in front of a mirror or with a friend. I’d also recommend recording it so you can review and see what you need to improve on. Are there any awkward silences? Too many “umms”? Do you sound natural or stiff?