How to Answer the Dreaded 'Tell Me About Yourself' Question at Interview
Two people sitting across from one another at a table, engaged in conversation.
Tiffany Waddell Tate, Career Coach & Talent Development Consultant
Picture this:
You walk into the interview. You have your best interview outfit on. You’ve got extra copies of your resume. You’re ready to rock this! Then, the interviewer hits you with the “Tell me about yourself” question. You clam up. You start rambling. And before you know it, all the confidence you had when you walked in is out the window.
::Flashback to the night before your interview:: You’re scrolling through your notes to prepare. You read somewhere that knowing the ins and outs of the company is all you need to ace your interviews, right?
WRONG.
Sure, you need to know about the company you’re interviewing for and don’t plan to waltz in like you own the place when you haven’t even taken the time to unpack the job description - but that’s a conversation for another blog post.
When an interviewer asks “Tell me about yourself…” or some other version of that question, do you have a solid answer? Do you know how to answer with depth - and still be succinct? Should you talk about your super cute goldendoodle and affinity for chai tea lattes? Where you plan to be when you retire? How you like to organize your file system?
Nope. None of these is the right answer. Even if your goldendoodle IS super cute.
The number one question my clients often get stuck on - “Tell me about yourself.”
People freeze up, their hands get clammy, and they stumble over random details that don’t connect to the person in the room. Or - even worse, they are over confident and ramble on for days.
Instead of shutting down the next time someone asks you this in an interview, I want you to consider your WHY.
WHY this job? WHY now? WHY you?
Think about where you’ve been - where you are now - and where you’re headed. These three ’train stops’ are great anchors for crafting the arc of your answer. What’s relevant in that context? I am not suggested you create a 30 second “pitch” that you regurgitate to everyone you meet. Definitely do not do that. Instead, take time to think about how your unique career story has propelled you into this moment. What has been a guiding theme or set of projects you’ve nailed in every job you’ve had? What can you do with your eyes closed, and how can taking this next career step help the organization - the world - and your future Self?
Maybe you have been a rockstar project manager and the job at hand requires you to level up in your career and have a slew of project managers working for you. How are you able to not only speak the PM language… but how have you taken on leadership experiences to expand the scope of your capacity? Where have you served as a team lead - and how can your unique coupling of PM experience and team leadership experience add immediate value in this position? For this organization? Long term, how will this next job connect the dots between your past/present experience and your long term career goals? Remember your WHY - and connect the dots for the person / people you are talking to.
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Homework Time! Take out a piece of paper, jot down these three questions and get to work unpacking your why (I have included some of my quick answers to help you envision where you might head with yours):
1. Where have you been? In other words, what are the highlights of your career experience thus far? If you are early in your career, this is a great time to mention add on trainings, internships, or relevant volunteer experiences.
A1. I’ve worked in the non-profit and higher education sector for over a decade, helping early and mid-career professionals craft actionable academic and career plans and hone their “why,” to add values to organizations and the world. My deep coaching experience has added value in 1:1 engagement contexts and team leadership and talent development spheres alike. I am eager to activate these principles for mission-driven organizations.
2. Where are you now? What are the top 2-3 deliverables you are responsible for in your current job? What do you excel at - what are you known for - what do you want to be known for?
A2. By day, I’m a relationship manager - I help people make connections to community engagement and volunteer opportunities that matter to them with the core mission of advancing philanthropic interests in the higher education space. By night, I am a goal digger - I help people take action on personal & professional challenges they are facing.
3. Where are you headed? What long (or medium) term goals do you have? What keeps you up at night?
A3. I’m a career coach and professional development trainer - and long term I want to help 1M women level up and have confidence in their career. I am confident that the opportunity to ______ with ______ organization will allow me to leverage my deep people development skills to move the needle forward on a highly engaged organizational culture, which will in turn lead to more productivity, well-being, and retention of top talent.
...Still working on your why?
Once you write down your answers to these questions - practice in the mirror. Then, practice with a friend. Talking about yourself and your wins should be the easiest part of the interview - you know you better than anyone else. Consider it a gift to have the opportunity to share the things you care about, are good at, and are relevant to the work at hand.
I promise, if you nail this question you MAY just get the opportunity to talk about your goldendoodle (and how cute it is) later on in the conversation.
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