There's nothing worse than being forced to talk about yourself knowing that another person will be judging you. So, you may start to get nervous when the hiring manager says, "Tell me about yourself." What should you say? How long should you speak about yourself? Before you freeze in place, find out how to answer this common interview question.
You might be tempted to answer this question with a lengthy story about your family. But that's not what an interviewer wants to hear. If you get the job, you'll have plenty of time to share stories about your spouse and kids. However, now is not the time to get personal.
The hiring manager wants to know that you'll be a good cultural fit for the company. To determine whether or not you're a match, the employer needs to hear more about what you need and want from a professional perspective. Discuss what makes you right for the position, and make sure you focus on your skills and experience. How can you answer this question in a way that highlights your capabilities?
If you really feel the need to get personal, remind yourself that you may have a second interview. During the next interview, you will have an opportunity to be more personal. For now, there's no need to get too in-depth into your life.
As previously mentioned, an interviewer asks you questions with the hopes of finding out more about your assets and skills. They want to know that you're the best choice for the job. As you talk about yourself, you should always have this goal in mind. It's your chance to show the interviewer that you are the ideal candidate for the position.
Of course, some things are easier said than done. How can you show the hiring manager that you're right for the job? First, you should look over your resume. Think about what skills or accomplishments from your resume translate over to something you can use to answer this question. You can't force everything into your answer, but you should be able to pick out a few pieces of information to discuss during the interview.
As you look over your resume, think about what will make you stand out. Every job applicant might be able to use Google Documents, but only a few candidates might have a very specific certification.
Because talking about yourself is such a general discussion, you should plan ahead and make sure to take an organized approach. Instead of jumping from one thing to another, focus on one bullet point at a time. For the best results, make your points chronological in order. Doing so prevents you from jumping around and coming across as disjointed.
If you need an example, look at someone who is just starting out in their career. You can start with where you went to college and what degree you received. Then, discuss how you started your career. Elaborate on your interests or experiences only as they relate to your career. Afterwards, you can talk about how the job you want relates to those interests. Make it clear that this job is one you would love to have.
People often underestimate the difficulty of this question. Unfortunately, this means that they're not ready to answer it. If you truly want to impress the interviewer, spend an hour preparing for this question. Long before your interview, think about how you can talk about yourself in a chronological, organized manner.
Once you plan your answer for this question, ask a friend or family member to help you. They can host a mock interview and ask you to tell them about yourself. Practice the answer you planned out and ask your mock interviewer to take notes.
After the practice session, ask for feedback. Find out how they think you answered the question. Did they feel as if you showed why you're a good candidate for the job? Although you might usually rely on your friends and family to be your cheerleader, this is the time for them to give you constructive criticism. Ask how you can improve and take their advice.
While this tip is useful for answering this one particular interview question, it's also a tip you should follow for other questions. The more you practice for the interview, the better you will do.
All too often, people answer this interview question with a 30 minute monologue. However, a hiring manager doesn't have time to listen to you recite your autobiography. When you answer this particular question, you should be concise. Try to limit your answer to a few short minutes, or the interviewer may end up cutting you off.
To avoid an awkward interruption, time yourself when you practice answering this question. You don't need to recite every bullet point on your resume, or start your answer from the day you were born. If you find that your answer is too long, consider all of the tips above. Is your answer relevant? Does it do a good job of addressing what the interviewer wants to hear?
People who take too long to answer this question, and that comes across as disrespectful. By answering this question in a concise manner, you may be able to stand out. You also make the words you say much more meaningful. When you speak for too long, the hiring manager zones out and could stop listening.
If you're a humble person or just have nerves about answering this question, you might struggle during this part of the interview. It's particularly important to be confident. To overcome your discomfort, you should practice a few confidence boosters. You should learn a power pose and use it to feel better about yourself. Furthermore, you should dress in a way that makes you feel good.
Most importantly, practice answering this question until you can do so confidently. Your interview may go much better than you expect.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been.