‘can You Tell Me More About ‘
Show your interest in the company throughout the interview by asking specific questions regarding its goals, needs and challenges. Learning more about the company during the interview will make it easier for you to understand their expectations for your role. You can use this information, along with the job description, to prove your qualifications align with the role’s requirements and that you can add value to the company. This information may also help you assess whether this is the right job for you.
Be Honest And Be Yourself
The most important thing in an interview is to be yourself, regardless of what you’re asked. Trying to give answers you think the interviewer wants to hear instead of what you truly think or who you really are will get you in trouble down the road. Job and cultural fit are essential to success in any position, so it’s better to know during the interview if you’re not thrilled with the company’s culture or if you and your potential manager’s personalities clash.
Example Answers To Tell Me About Yourself
Seeing an example can be helpful, though the answer to each person’s Tell me about yourself will be different. Here are two example answers that can help you craft your own response:
Example 1:I began my career in retail management, but a few years ago, I was drawn to the healthcare space. I’ve always been skilled at bringing people together and working toward common goals. My experience successfully leading teams and managing stores led me to consider administration, and I’ve been building a career as a driven health administrator for the last four years. I recently earned a certificate in healthcare administration, and I plan to start taking master’s classes soon.
In my spare time, I help organize 5Ks in the community for various causes. The most recent race I organized had over 1,000 participants.
Example 2:In my current role at BC Medical Center, the efficiency of the office has been a personal focusespecially as it relates to patient outcomes. I set and oversee goals related to department budget and patient volume. Last year, I worked with our IT department to implement a communication system for scheduling procedures and protocols to ensure that all departments were adequately staffed at all times. With our new online scheduling portal, we increased communication efficiency by 20%. To stay informed about their ongoing concerns, I hold regular meetings with physicians, nurses and other healthcare staff.
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Remember This Is Often Your First Impression And It Matters
We really only have one chance to make a first impression, Davis says. My opinion is that most hiring decisions are made in the first minute, which includes your greeting, handshake, eye contact, and the first thing you say, which may very well be your response to tell me about yourself.
Even if the powers that be arent making an irreversible determination shortly after the conversation begins, a first impression can color the rest of the interview. If you have to spend the rest of the time making up for a bad opening, youre in a very different position than if you gave a succinct, confident, and relevant answer right off the bat.
Be prepared for this question and show interviewers you prepared for it, Campos says. The confidence that comes across in this is a really good place to start from.
‘thank You For Your Time And Consideration’
Before leaving the interview, express your gratitude to the interviewer by thanking them for taking the time to meet with you. Interviewers may need to interview many candidates within a day. This phrase helps you leave a positive and professional impression because it shows you respect their time and efforts. Using eye contact and smiling as you leave also helps you appear friendly and confident, two qualities that employers often appreciate in candidates.
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Follow Up After The Interview
No introduction is complete without a goodbye. After your interview has ended, follow the lead of your interviewer: stand when they stand, shake their hand again and thank them for their time with a smile. You can prepare to say a few phrases that will end the conversation on a positive note, like,
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It was a pleasure meeting you, I appreciate your time today.
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Thanks for a great conversation, hope you enjoy the rest of your day.
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It was great to hear more about your role here, I hope to be in touch in the future.
If you have multiple rounds of interviews, be prepared to stand and greet your next interviewer, repeating the steps above.
After youve had some time to process and review your interview notes, remember to send timely follow-up notes to your interviewers, whether that be via email or handwritten. Sometimes recruiters dont give out interviewer emails, so be sure to ask for their business card or ask the recruiter if they can pass a thank you message to the interviewer. If youre sending handwritten notes, an easy way to get them to your interviewers is to send to the office address under their name.
Related:
Here are a few additional considerations for making a great first impression.
Sincerity Authenticity And Sounding Natural Go A Long Way To Showing Your Interviewer What Kind Of Candidate You Are
15 Ways to Describe Yourself in a Job Interview was originally published by American Marketing Association.
In just about every interview, the interviewer asks the question, How would you describe yourself? While this is something that should be anticipated and practiced, many job seekers overlook the importance of this question and fail to take the time to formulate the right answers.
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Can You Tell Me About Yourself
The first rule of thumb for answering the Tell me about yourself question is to discuss what interests the interviewer. That means focusing on the experience and skills you have that will add value to the position.
Relevancy is key to properly answering this interview question. Carefully consider the most important job requirements when you prepare your answer. Keep it concise and targeted.
Providing evidence of your skills by detailing your accomplishments will set you apart from the other candidates. A clear and concise summary of what you can do for the company is what the interviewer wants to hear.
Giving proof of your suitability for the position will quickly convince the interviewer that you are a serious contender for the job.
If you are moving into a different industry you should highlight the transferable skills you can bring to the job in your interview answer.
Study the job and decide which of your competencies are relevant. Keep your answer focused on those qualities that are pertinent to the job.
When you are an entry level job candidate it is important to focus on your qualifications and any work experience you have. Your answer should include what you hope to achieve with your first job.
Remember that you don’t have to provide a long description of your qualifications, your time at college or your internships. Interviewers will pick up on those aspects they want to learn more about and will ask you questions to get further information.
A Complete Guide To Answering Tell Me About Yourself In An Interview
Are you preparing for an important interview?
If youve made it through to the interview stage, there is a good chance the employer is interested in you. However, there are usually a lot of other people also being interviewed for the same position.
The key to effectively landing the job you want is being able to provide interesting answers to questions. There are several standard questions that the interviewer is likely to ask.
So, I decided to write a complete guide to answering Tell Me about Yourself in an interview to help you prepare.
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Saying What You Want From The Company
Whatever you do, don’t say I’m looking for a company that will help me grow. Not only does this not really answer the question, but hiring managers take this “Tell me about yourself” interview answer as a serious red flag. To them, it means several things all of them bad. They may think you hit a slow patch and need a pick-me-up. Or they may read it as a sign you made a serious mistake that has kept you from achieving higher goals. Either is not a message you want to send.
Think Past Present Future
Using this simple three-part formula can help you craft a professional, informative answer to Tell me about yourself.
Well, Im currently an account executive at Smith, where I handle our top performing client. Before that, I worked at an agency where I was on three different major national healthcare brands. And while I really enjoyed the work that I did, Id love the chance to dig in much deeper with one specific healthcare company, which is why Im so excited about this opportunity with Metro Health Center.
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Preparing For Where Do You See Yourself In Five Years
No one has a crystal ball and knows where they will be in five years, and the hiring manager is aware of this. They are not looking for you to lay out a specific plan, detailing everything you are going to do. Instead, focus on what your dreams are, where you would like to take your career path next, and how you plan to do this. Also, be sure to focus on how you plan to help the company. Hiring managers want candidates who will add value to the team and help advance the company. And don’t forget to be realistic hiring managers are as likely to reject a far-fetched idea just as quickly as no idea at all.
Think about the answer to this question ahead of time. Consider practicing your response out loud with a trusted friend so you can hear yourself speak and make tweaks if needed. While developing your answer, keep in mind what the hiring manager or interviewer wants to know when they ask you this question: your work-related goals, ambitions, desired training, and so on. What type of positions do you see yourself occupying? What type of training? Are you interested in leadership positions, or would you like to keep your focus on the technical aspects of your work? Provide quantifiable answers when possible.
Write And Rehearse Your Introduction
After gathering your research, you can create and practice your introduction. Try to keep this short and direct. Include your full name and the position you’re applying for. For example, you might say:
“Hi. My name is Jason Webster, and I’m here to interview for the sales manager position. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. I look forward to talking more about the role.”
After drafting your introduction, leave time to practice it a few times. Having your introduction written in advance can help you look prepared. It can help you start the interview in a prompt and focused way. Rehearsing can make you familiar with the interview process, which can help you feel more confident.
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Keep It Professional And Brief
When answering, try to keep it under 1-2 minutes, at most.
No, the HR manager doesnt want to know your entire life story.
They dont care about which kindergarten you went to, how your first internship went, or what you studied in high school.
You want to stick to your main selling points that are relevant for the job.
Pro tip: If you can see that the interviewer is getting distracted, you should take that as a sign that it might be time to wrap up.
Heres how you WOULDNT answer this interview question…
Incorrect answer:
Well, Ive always been interested in tech.
But it all probably started when I was a kid, and at the age of 9 I first got my computer.
I always loved playing around with code and learning new things. But it wasnt until that high school where I first had my first class about it that really made me fall in love with the subject.
Since then, I started learning more about it and decided to major in IT at University X where I learned how to.
Stand Out By Tailoring Your Answer To The Company
The end of your interview answer is a big opportunity to customize your answer for the company and job youre interviewing for.
When you talk about what youre looking to do next in your career, try to mention whatever you see this company providing for your career
That shows them why youre excited about their job, which will help you get hired!
Before we move on to more tips and a HUGE mistake to avoid, heres one more example interview answer for this question.
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Begin By Greeting The Interviewer
Meeting and greeting is an important part of the assessment during an interview. The initial few minutes of greeting each other let the interviewer get an idea of how confident you are. First, greet the interviewer with a big smile and go for a handshake. Describe yourself stating your full name and a brief introduction. Just give a small detail about your family. Always keep your body relaxed with confident body language. Maintain an eye-contact with them and nod at appropriate times. This should initiate the process of introduction in the interview.
Describe Yourself As A Constant Learner
Question: How would you describe yourself?
Sample answers:
I like to study new things. Being knowledgeable about or any subject is an ongoing process, and Im always proactive about seeking new opportunities to develop and grow in my role. Those opportunities could be in the form of training, a conference, listening to a speaker, or taking on a new project, but the motivation is to increase my knowledge of the field.
Summary:
This answer is reserved for interviewing for a position where you may not have enough experience, but youre willing to learn. Be sure to have examples ready that prove youve been proactive about your learning experiences. Thus, knowing how to describe yourself in an interview without making yourself look inadequate is key.
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Tailor Your Answer To The Role And Company
When an interviewer asks that, they really mean tell me about yourself as its relevant to the position youre applying for and this company. I think theyre giving you an opportunity to articulate succinctly why you have the right qualifications, says Muse career coach Tina Wascovich.
Take advantage of the opportunity! In order to do that, youll want to spend some time combing through the job description, researching the company, and figuring out how you can tell your story in a way that makes it crystal clear why youre interested and what you bring to the table that aligns with the role and company.
This is the best chance to be very direct and share your objective. But your objective needs to fulfill their goals, says Muse career coach and recruiter Steven Davis.
For example, a client he worked with was leaving a job where shed worked on a team developing a new antibacterial cream and getting it ready for clinical trials. The new job she wanted entailed working on an entirely unrelated product, so the important thing for her to mention in this case was that prior to her current role, shed never had experience working on antibacterial creams and was able to come in and figure out how to move the process forward, just as she could do in this new role.
Generally the that always resonate with me show that they really get the role, she says, as well as why they applied. I get more engaged because I can see that its going to go somewhere.
I Can Learn The Job Duties Quickly
When an interviewer asks you about your ability to do the job you are applying for, expressing that you are able to learn the job duties quickly is essential. This can be a beneficial addition if you lack experience at the tasks that are directly related to the job because the employer will likely appreciate knowing the speed at which you can learn new skills. Be prepared to explain how you learned various job duties and skills in previous employment experiences to give the interviewer a reason to consider you even when you dont have as much experience.
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You Can Show Your Confidence
Your introduction can help establish a positive mood for the rest of the interview. By showing your confidence during an introduction, you can show the hiring manager why you’re the right person for the role. When you show confidence, it might suggest you’re confident in your abilities to perform the job well. To demonstrate confidence, try to stand up straight, maintain eye contact, and speak clearly.
How To Answer The Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question
Although it might be tempting to share a list of your most compelling qualifications for the job, a more low-key approach will probably help you to develop a personal rapport with your interviewer.
One option for your response is to share some of your personal interests which don’t relate directly to your career:
- Examples might include a hobby that you are passionate about like quilting, astronomy, chess, choral singing, golf, skiing, tennis, or antiquing.
- Interests like long-distance running or yoga that help to represent your healthy, energetic side are worth mentioning.
- Pursuits, like being an avid reader or solving crossword puzzles or brain teasers, will help to showcase your intellectual leaning.
- Interests like golf, tennis, and gourmet food might have some value if you would be entertaining clients in your new job.
- Volunteer work will demonstrate the seriousness of your character and commitment to the welfare of your community.
- Interactive roles like PTA volunteer, museum tour guide, fundraiser, or chair of a social club will help show your comfort with engaging others.
Remember, as with “tell me something about yourself that’s not on your resume,” one of the goals of this question is to get to know you a little bit beyond your career and on-the-job attitude and experience.
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