zzThe Right Way To Answer "Tell Me About Yourself"

The Right Way To Answer "Tell Me About Yourself"

1. First ask: "Where would you like me to start off?"

A good option, she says, would be to ask your interviewer: "Where would you like me to start off?"

If they don't tell you, or let you decide, then talk about your previous work experiences and tell them why you've chosen the career you're in.

Never reply with: "What do you want to know?"

you want to tell them something positive, like you're a big believer in giving back to the community.

1. Imagine you were paid to consult your interviewer

"Imagine instead that you’re a consultant, and that you’ve already been paid a non-refundable $20,000 consulting fee to attend this meeting. How does that change things?"

Jaffe says this way, you won't worry about selling yourself: "No posing, no posturing, no tap dancing of any kind."

1. There's a fine line between brevity and wordiness

Some things Finn says you need to include: Brief details about who you are, things you're passionate about and areas you focus on, and past positive work experiences.

In fact, your answer shouldn't be more than five minutes

A good option, Fox says, is to tell your interviewer you're going to answer the question in three parts: Past career opportunities, positive personal details about yourself (like interests), and strategic details (like what you can offer the company).

1. Knowing your interviewer's style will help you craft your answers

"Do a little prep on who's going to interview you," says Fox. "What charities are they involved with? What school did they go to?"