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What to Say When Asked: "Tell Me About Yourself"

What to Say When Asked: “Tell Me About Yourself”

Going to a job interview can be scary, but being prepared leave you feeling confident and ready to make it one of the best opportunities for success. One of the most frequently asked interview questions, “Tell me about yourself” is usually one of the first in an interview and it often leads to more complicated follow-up queries Today, we discuss the right way of answering it and some other important interview questions you are about to face in an interview.

Tell Me About Yourself

Introduce Yourself: When interviewers ask, “Tell me about yourself,” they want a quick rundown of your professional history and what you’re all about. Your biography is not necessary at this time; instead special introduction that connects it with the specific job offer.

How to Structure Your Answer:

  • Begin With Where You Are Right Now, “Tell us about your current role and what you do on a day-to-day basis.”
  • · Key Achievements — List accomplishments directly related to the job you are applying for.
  • Connect to the Future: Tell them why you are thrilled by this opportunity and how all of your past experiences converge in a good way for even further success.

Example:

I am currently working as a project manager in XYZ Corp managing a team of five people designing software solutions for healthcare clients. During my time at company, I have led successful projects that improved efficiency by 30% over a period of three years and was especially proud to introduce new agile workflow which cut delivery times down by as much as 20%. I am excited about this opportunity as I have a strong passion for utilizing technology to tackle problems that exist out there in the world, and believe my background working within healthcare IT coincides well with what your company is set up to do.

Why Do You Want This Job?

How to respond to ‘Why Do You Want This Job?’ Show that you know your stuff when it comes to the company and how your career aspirations are in line with their mission/what they do.

Tips for Answering:

  • · Exhibiting Enthusiasm: Demonstrating the enthusiasm one possesses for role and company in question.
  • · Focus Your Goals: Clarify how your greater career goals align with this position.
  • · Company Values: Talk about how the company values or corporate projects align with you

Example:

I am interested in this role because of your companies dedication to innovative future proof technology. I am very interested to get involved in some of your err groundbreaking work, I have been working for the last 5 years on green energy projects. This role is the perfect chance to progress my career in an agency where sustainability is king.

What Are Your Strengths?

The “What are your strengths? This question is your opportunity to promote the skills and traits that make you a perfect fit for that particular job.

How to answer this question

  • — Be Relevant: Pick strengths that are, how to say it…. more relevant than others for the job you apply.
  • · Examples: Always give examples wherever and whenever you can to support your strengths.
  • If possible, provide honest, focus on real strengths that you can actually talk about with confidence.

Example:

And I would say one of my best qualities is, that leading cross-functional teams has never been a challenge for me. While leading a cross-functional project during my last assignment [+Describe what the task was, who were you working with (e.g., marketing/sales/product development), etc.] I am disciplined at communication and keeping all of us aligned; we came out with a product three weeks early.

What Would You Like To Earn?

Be sure to have a well-researched, but flexible response if asked about your salary expectations.

Strategies for Answering:

  • • Do your homework : Be aware of the typical salary for this position in your city and industry.
  • Allow for a Range – Space between what you want and will take is great but also highlight that this is negotiable.
  • Call me crazy, but I would assume that a seasoned professional like yourself has enough content to put out there and your clients aren’t exactly going anywhere else if they’re coming to you in the first place.
  • Be Assertive: The best way to make sure this isn’t happening is being assertive about saying what it is you do better than everyone else on planet earth – hormones notwithstanding (ouch).

Example:

From my research and background in this industry, I should be making between $70K to $80K a year. Still, I will be willing to talk about this more in the context with a full compensation plan and how else you could grow within our company.

What Are Your Goals?

The real reason interviewers ask about your goals is to find out what you hope for in terms of your future career, and how that fits into the particular position.

How to Frame Your Goals:

  • Short Term Goals : What you want to achieve in near-term/recent future wrt the role.
  • · The Future: Elaborate on how this role will soften the blow of some opportunity you should benefit from, 3 years down your career.
  • – Show Alignment: Illustrate how your goals are in line with the company’s vision for where it wants to be twenty years from now.

Example:

Short-term, I would like to enhance my skills in data analytics and work on projects related to deriving business decisions from big data. In the long run, I hope to work in a role where I can lead and mentor others as well more involved on setting up data strategy for company. I feel that this role is the contention to excel in both.

Do You Have Any Questions?

Use this question as a chance to demonstrate that you are keen on the role and firm. It is also an opportunity to do away with any confusion you might be experiencing.

Good Questions to Ask:

  • ˗ About the Team: “Can you describe who I will be working alongside?
  • Company Culture: “What is the company culture like?
  • · Next Steps: “If there are additional steps in the interview process, or what the next step would be.

Why It Matters:

It shows that you are interested and will be ready if/when they need someone very soon. It also helps you determine if the company is right for you.

Why Should We Hire You?

“Why should we hire you?”, Your last opportunity to seal the deal and make yourself a perfect candidate for this position.

Key Points to Include:

  • · Show Unique Value: Share the experiences and skills you have that make you special.
  • · Be Excited: Let them hear your excitement for the position
  • Relate to the Job Requirements: Connect your qualifications with those mentioned in the job description.

Example:

You could hire me because I offer an unusual blend of technical and management skills. My background in software development combined with my experience leading diverse teams, makes me the perfect candidate to drive your next projects towards success! I am especially excited about this role because it combines two things that I care deeply about — innovation in tech.

What are your priorities in the way you work?

This is the classic time management question that potentially applies to any role.

How to Answer:

  • · Review Your Process: Openly talk about how you distinguish between important and unimportant work.
  • · Example: Give an example of how you have previously managed to prioritize work efficiently.
  • · Flexibility: State that you can adjust well to changes in priorities.

Example:

I start by taking a look at all my tasks and seeing how urgent/important each one is. I began by working on the highest-level, most impactful tasks to our teams. In my case, for instance during a project that had very tight deadlines, I structured everything chronologically and prioritized the most important milestones to not fail deliver on time. I stay flexible as well so I can pivot on priorities as necessary.

Your communication skills are…

Communication is always going to be important, no matter what you do for a living — and this question offers an opportunity to demonstrate your aptitude at articulating issues and working with others.

Communication Skills: How to Talk About This?

  • Talk about various contexts — meetings, the way you write reports or collaboration with your team.
  • · Identify Strengths: Talk about how your communication is crisp, you are good listener and adapt the style in which information has to be shared.
  • · Support with Examples: Give examples of when these skills had been in action to achieve a successful results.

Example:

In response, “My communication skills is a stand out feature of mine. Volume Translation I specialize in translating high level (usually complex) objectives into digestible nuggets of information, especially as it relates to communication with cross-functional teams. For example, I recently worked on a project where many gears needed to work together between the development and marketing team because of this clear communications. We launched the product early, by coming together to have open discussions and making sure everyone was on board with how things were.

Conclusion

Preparing for an interview can be daunting, but with the right strategies, you can answer even the most challenging interview questions with confidence. Remember to tailor your responses to the specific job and company, and practice delivering them with clarity and enthusiasm. For those looking to refine their interview skills further, consider booking a “Master Your Mind” coaching session on Learning It Today. With personalized guidance, you can make a lasting impression in your next interview.

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