So, Why Don't You Tell Me About Yourself?

"So, why don't you tell me about yourself?" is the most
frequently asked interview question. It's a question that
most interviewees expect and the one they have the most
difficulty answering. Though one could answer this open-
ended question in a myriad of ways, the key to answering
this question or any other interview question is to offer a
response that supports your career objective. This means
that you shouldn't respond with comments about your hobbies,
spouse, or extra curricular activities. Trust me,
interviewers aren't interested.

Interviewers use the interview process as a vehicle to
eliminate your candidacy. Every question they ask is used to
differentiate your skills, experience, and personality with
that of other candidates. They want to determine if what you
have to offer will mesh with the organization's mission and
goals.

If answered with care, your response to the question, "So,
why don't you tell me about yourself?" could compliment the
interviewers needs as well as support your agenda. This is a
question you should be prepared to answer as opposed to
attempting to "wing it".

Follow the four easy steps outlined below to ensure your
response will grab the interviewers attention.

1. Provide a brief introduction. Introduce attributes that
are key to the open position.

Sample introduction: During my 10 years' of experience as a
sales manager, I have mastered the ability to coach, train,
and motivate sales teams into reaching corporate goals.

2. Provide a career summary of your most recent work
history. Your career summary is the "meat" of your response,
so it must support your job objective and it must be
compelling. Keep your response limited to your current
experience. Don't go back more than 10 years.

Sample career summary: Most recently, at The Widget
Corporation, I was challenged with turning around a stagnant
territory that ranked last in sales in the Northeastern
region. Using strategies that have worked in the past, I
developed an aggressive sales campaign that focused on
cultivating new accounts and nurturing the existing client
base. The results were tremendous. Within six months my
sales team and I were able to revitalize the territory and
boost sales by 65%.

3. Tie your response to the needs of the hiring
organization. Don't assume that the interviewer will be able
to connect all the dots. It is your job as the interviewee
to make sure the interviewer understands how your
experiences are transferable to the position they are
seeking to fill.

Sample tie-in: Because of my proven experience in leading
sales teams, Craig Brown suggested I contact you regarding
your need for a sales manager. Craig filled me in on the
challenges your sales department is facing.

4. Ask an insightful question. By asking a question you
gain control of the interview. Don't ask a question for the
sake of asking. Be sure that the question will engage the
interviewer in a conversation. Doing so will alleviate the
stress you may feel to perform.

Sample question: What strategies are currently underway to
increase sales and morale within the sales department?

There you have it - a response that meets the needs of the
interviewer AND supports your agenda.

When broken down into manageable pieces, the question, "So,
tell me about yourself?" isn't overwhelming. In fact,
answering the question effectively gives you the opportunity
to talk about your strengths, achievements, and
qualifications for the position. So take this golden
opportunity and run with it!