CAREER COUNSELING: Tell me about yourself...

For recruiters, “Tell me about yourself” is a phrase that is as common as “paper or plastic” from your local grocer.  You know the question is coming, and yet many interviewees are still befuddled as how to best answer. On one hand, it may feel like a deceptively easy way to kick off a conversation. Are you as prepared as you could be to answer? More importantly, are you taking full advantage of this open opportunity to sell yourself to the person across the table?

From an interviewer’s perspective, this statement is a generally a good way to assess how a person presents themselves. As an interviewer, I can read the background and work history from a resume, but I really want to know the WHYs and HOWs of the decisions you have made in your career. Tip: Remember that how you answer this question will help guide an interviewer’s questions throughout the remainder of the interview.

So, as a candidate, what do you want to communicate? Given the copious amount of times I have asked this question, I have unfortunately seen and heard many candidates run through the chronological history of their employment. Remember, that is already available on the resume. Candidates who are nervous also have a tendency to ramble a bit and lose the attention of the interviewer. Tip: When you communicate, think of it as a summary and focus on your passions and transferable skills. Essentially, guide the interviewer to the things you are proud of and relevant to the job you are interviewing for.

Next point! As the candidate, how do you communicate the key aspects of yourself that are appropriate for the job?

I suggest thinking about a favorite place, either your grandmother’s living room, the lobby of your favorite museum or that great little coffee shop where you have been spending your time applying to jobs. You generally don’t describe a place in chronological order, it wouldn’t make sense. When people talk about space or place, they generally summarize with a few key words and elaborate on the specific details that enhance the space, right? For example, you would describe an area as warm, sunny, with a comfortable feel that makes you want to relax in the corner of a big sofa for hours. From there, you can focus on more specific information, such as floor to ceiling windows and muted yellow walls that focus your attention on the hardwood floors original to the building. Is there a picture in your head yet? Good. Now think about your career the same way and come up with a picture of your work experience using that analogy.

Don’t worry, this discussion point is not over yet. More specifics to come in the next post.