How to Answer, ‘Tell Me About Yourself,’ in a Job Interview

For some this is easier than others. One of my friends can talk non-stop about himself, not necessarily bragging, but in a nice, confident way that’s very impressive. But we’re not all blessed with this gift.

If you’re an introverted type, ADHD, or maybe just need time to process things, being put on the spot and asked to talk about yourself, can be a challenge. Where do I start? What exactly do they need to know? How much should I give without falling into the trap of ‘oversharing’. And when’s my cue to stop talking?

Let’s look at how to approach this situation. Personally, I find the more prep I’ve done, the easier it is to deliver my ‘script’. When I say script, I don’t mean canned answers but rather a way to response to these types of questions when put on the spot.

One book that’s really helped me is Ros Aktins’ The Art of the Explainer. While the book is mostly about explaining difficult topics, the final section is about responding to questions when put on the spot. One of my books of the year. You can follow him on LinkedIn here.

Responding to Tell Me About Yourself

What do you feel when people say, “and tell me about yourself?” Most of us dread giving the elevator pitch – the story of your life in 60 seconds. Scary, isn’t it? It doesn’t have to be.

The mistake most everyone makes is to take a deep break, force a smile, and then starting ploughing ahead.

You glance at them now and then – no-one seems to be smiling. You talk faster. Maybe that’ll help! It gets worse. You start to stammer. The room begins to swim…

Here’s another way.

Turn the tables a little. Make it as much about them as you. Try to create a dialogue: 

• Who — ask them a little about who they are. Break the ice. If you’re onstage, ask for a show of hands. “Who’s from Glasgow?” Take the pressure off yourself. Next..
• What — “and what industry are you in?” when you get the answer, you try to link it to something you’ve done in this field. That’ll interest them. They may ask a question.
• When – “and how long have you guys been doing this?” same idea. Get them to open up. As mentioned, by creating a dialogue the focus is no longer just on you.
• Why — “and why did you move into this field, technology, product…?” keep it going. You lead the way with these nice easy questions, all the time linking in where you’ve worked, with whom, and what you think.

If you’re onstage:

• Identify the ‘out-going’ types in the audience and create some interaction. Look at these as your ‘anchors’. When things get rocky, you can bring them back in. They won’t mind. Ask their name and thank them.
• Ask for quick questions from the floor. Choose the answers that suit you. Give nice, direct answers.
• Tell people you’ll be at the conference for the hour (create a sense of urgency) and then leave the floor.

The difference is about interaction. Instead of broadcasting to them, see yourself as the host.

During your presentation, you’ll have highlighted:

• Who you want to meet
• Why you are here
• What you can offer

If people are interested, they’ll approach you.